How to beat Lord Jabu-Jabu in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Lord Jabu-Jabu has been pulling The Legend of Zelda players into his TARDIS-like stomach since The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The Lord Jabu-Jabu of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom also wants you to get in his belly, but not for the reasons you’re used to.

Like most of the other usually benign characters that have suddenly started running amuck in EoW, the Lord Jabu-Jabu rampaging up and down the rivers and beaches of Jabul Waters and Zora Cove turns out to be a Rift-born imposter. So when you sabotage his attempts to undermine the River and Sea Zora chiefs’ friendship, he marks you as his next meal.

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of this fight, I recommend backtracking and picking up the Zora Flippers from the Jabul Waters store. I know they’re expensive, but you’ll be glad you spent those 400 Rupees once the fight starts.

Screenshot via Destructoid

Speaking of fights and starting, Jabu-Jabu will kick things off by upchucking a random assortment of things from his stomach. Boats, crates, Tanglers, and even the odd heart can come from the overgrown carp, so be ready for anything. Once the torrent ceases, swim to the nearest piece of debris and spawn a monster Echo that can survive in water to deal with enemies that might’ve spawned. I’d go for the Chompfin Echo, but if you didn’t grab it from Zora Cove, the Tangle Lv. 2 or Biri Echo will get the job done, too.

Whatever you choose, the Echo will help clean out the water, which you’ll need to jump back into in a second. Once he’s done spitting up his lunch, Jabu-Jabu will start lunging at you, smashing any floating debris in his path. Dive and dodge out of the way until Jabu-Jabu gets ready to pull out his signature move.

Screenshot via Destructoid

If you’ve played any Zelda game featuring Jabu-Jabu, you probably already know what’s coming. That’s right: Jabu-Jabu will start sucking everything in the pool into his mouth, including you, if you can’t fight the current. It was about this time that years of subconscious Zelda boss design kicked in, and I figured out what I had to do. Spawn a Bombfish Echo and watch nature remind you there’s always a bigger fish. Then, watch as the bigger fish experienced internal combustion, leaving him vulnerable.

Screenshot via Destructoid

Once Jabu-Jabu’s stunned, switch to your swordsman form and start hitting him in the face. Jabu-Jabu has a second phase, like every other boss in EoW, but nothing changes besides the speed of his attacks. Once you’ve landed enough hits, the false Jabu-Jabu will keel over, freeing the River and Sea Zora he’s swallowed and clearing the path to the Jabul Ruins dungeon.

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