The Stalnox in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom may not be new to fans, but it comes with a new challenge. This version of the Stalnox can be found in two locations: in the Depths and deep in the Royal Hidden Passage. Both locations require the same tactics to defeat, but the Depths Stalnox is preceded by waves of enemies and its attacks reduce Link's maximum Hearts. To defeat this version of the Stalnox, it is essential to make Gloom-resistant food and food that replenishes Hearts lost from Gloom.
Stalnox can be found in two locations. The first is the Akkala House of Bones in the Depths at coordinates (3248, 3444, -0431), which lies beneath the area known as Skull Lake. A convenient chasm nearby allows players to easily access the Stalnox, but it can also be reached through the Depths. Interestingly, this location is marked with an X on one of the game's Old Maps.
Link can access the other Stalnox in Tears of the Kingdom deep in the Royal Hidden Passage, which is accessible shortly after arriving in Lookout Landing. To reach the creature, he must first complete the introductory quests and open up the Emergency Shelter. Inside the shelter, two NPCs gaze at a hole in the wall which leads to the entrance of the Royal Hidden Passage. Along the way, Link will encounter a familiar Heart-trading statue. The final challenge is to smash through a series of rock walls to reach the inner chamber where the Stalnox is hidden beneath a pile of rocks. It's worth noting that the Stalnox in the Depths, like most Depths-based enemies, can reduce maximum Hearts with Gloom attacks. The fight itself is not very different between the two versions, but different preparations should be made to fight the Akkala House of Bones Stalnox.
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Despite their intimidating size, Stalnox are not the most difficult foes to defeat in Tears of the Kingdom. With Link's new set of tools and abilities, fighting a regular Stalnox only requires equipping a strong weapon and bow with enough arrows. However, when facing a Depths Stalnox, caution should be exercised to ensure victory.
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Prepare Gloom-resistant food by using Dark Clumps to minimize the impact of Depths Stalnox's attacks. Use Sundelions to recover any hearts that may have been taken away by Gloom. It's best to have a variety of each type of food in case of emergencies. Don't forget to save the game before the battle.
To defeat a Stalnox in Tears of the Kingdom, players must use their Bow and quickly close the distance. It's important to stay far away from the Stalnox and run away when it gets too close to aim at its eyeball. When Link shoots the Stalnox's eyeball with an arrow, it will be stunned for a few seconds and fall onto its butt. Use a high-Attack weapon to inflict as much damage as possible.
When the Stalnox is close to defeat, its eyeball will detach and bounce around with its own health bar. Quickly focus on the eyeball with melee attacks to prevent it from reattaching to the Stalnox's eye socket. If it remains intact, it will reattach itself and continue to fight. However, if Link shoots it once more, the eye will pop out again, providing another opportunity for attack.
Upon defeat, Stalnox drops a variety of consumables, items, and weapons that Link can use to enhance his arsenal. In addition to regular weapons, Stalnox can also drop valuable crafting materials that make for potent elixirs. The Depths Stalnox in the Akkala House of Bones even has a unique weapon in its possession: Biggoron's Sword. While it's unlikely that this Stalnox is the legendary blacksmith himself, it's a clever nod to the iconic weapon and character from Ocarina of Time. The Stalnox in the Royal Hidden Passage also drops regular weapons and some valuable gems, though the latter may be a result of the surrounding rocks being destroyed during the boss fight. Keep in mind that both Stalnox will respawn with each Blood Moon, but obtaining Biggoron's Sword again will require finding Poe statues underground.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available for the Nintendo Switch.
