Ghirahim is the main antagonist of Skyward Sword and one of the most fascinating villains in The Legend of Zelda. An explicit foil for Fi, Ghirahim dedicates his life to serving his master, Demise, and helping malice run rampant over Hyrule – just called the “Surface” in Skyward Sword. Although Demise ends up the game’s final boss (along as a Ganon analogue), he lacks Ghirahim’s sheer presence.
Part of what makes Ghirahim such a compelling villain is the fact that he’s also your rival. Link fights Ghriahim a total of three times throughout Skyward Sword, each battle harder than the last and making the most out of motion controls. The three sword fights against Ghirahim demand mechanical mastery on a level uncommon for The Legend of Zelda, making him one of the singlest hardest bosses in Skyward Sword, let alone the franchise.
Skyview Battle
Skyward Sword is actually the hardest 3D Zelda when it comes to boss fights and Ghirahim makes that painfully clear immediately. All of Ghirahim’s attacks at Skyview Temple do a minimum of 1 full Heart of damage, meaning you can only take six hits before going down. Considering you’ll still be getting used to the motion controls at this point, Ghirahim can come off especially overwhelming.
The first phase of the fight has Ghirahim mostly defenseless and reacting off you. Ghirahim can catch the Goddess Sword with his fingers if you aren’t careful.If Ghirahim blocks your strike, he can actually steal Link’s sword and use it for a counterattack. In the event this happens, Shield Bash Ghirahim to get your sword back. The only way to damage Ghirahim is to bait your strikes.
Ghirahim will block whatever direction your sword is facing, but you don’t actually need to commit to swinging from that direction. If your sword is facing left, you can swing right to feint Ghirahim since the AI assumes you’ll attack from the left – this is a useful strategy for several boss fights, so remember it.
After dealing enough damage, Ghirahim will take out his own sword and start fighting a bit more aggressively. He’ll begin to not only dodge your attacks, but start throwing knives from afar and even charge at Link. To avoid the knives, either knock them with your sword or Shield Bash. To avoid Ghirahim’s charge, jump out of the way or ready up a Spin Attack if you think you see a window to attack.
The main way of hurting Ghirahim during the second half of the fight is to wait for him to come to you. Ghirahim will periodically teleport in front of Link, waiting a split second before attacking. Ghirahim will have his sword up to block you, so quickly spot where he’s vulnerable and attack. You won’t have much time to pull this off, though, so work on those reflexes.
Fire Sanctuary Battle
The next time Ghirahim challenges Link is inside the Fire Sanctuary. Depending on how quickly you can figure out Ghirahim’s new gimmicks, the rematch might actually be easier than the first encounter. Ghirahim will still block and counter your sword strikes if you aren’t careful, but he’s a bit easier to hit thanks to clear visual telegraphs.
Ghirahim surrounds himself with two projectiles during the first half of the fight that block your attacks if you’re careless. That said, Ghirahim always leaves a thin enough opening where a precise sword slash can make its way through. Pay attention to where the projectiles are and cut around them – this will give you an opportunity to get a full combo in.
To avoid the projectiles themselves, either dodge or use your shield. Once Ghirahim has taken enough damage, he’ll spawn two swords to fight you with. As was the case with the projectiles, attack around the swords and wait for Ghirahim to create openings. That said, keep in mind that he’ll still spawn his projectiles so you won't be able to keep on the offensive.
As the fight draws to a close, Ghirahim will start teleporting above you for a downstab. So long as you sprint away in time, Ghirahim will collide with the ground and get his swords stuck – giving you just enough time to get some hits in. Treat Ghirahim’s fight like a dance where you need to respond accordingly and he won’t last long.
Final Battle
Ghirahim is fought for the last time at the Sealed Grounds right before the end of the game. Unlike the first two fights, this boss lasts for three phases and plays out more like a puzzle battle than anything else. The first phase of the fight begins on a high up platform where you won’t actually be able to hurt Ghirahim. Instead, dodge his attacks and lure him towards the edge of the arena.
Once he’s in position, front stab him with your blade to knock him to the platform below. With Ghirahim fallen, jump down and Link will stab him right through the chest. Do this two times and he'll spawn his blade to fight back. Ghirahim will become considerably more aggressive during this phase, so respond in kind. His chest will now be read, indicating a weak point. Keep close, Shield Bash him for stunning, and slash his chest whenever you can.
After Ghirahim has taken enough damage, he’ll spawn an even larger sword and start attacking you head on. His strikes are now much faster and hit harder, so stay on guard. The safest way to take down Ghirahim’s final phase is to run right in and hammer away at his sword. The Master Sword actually deals physical damage to Ghirahim’s blade. Once it’s broken, you’ll have an opportunity to hit Ghirahim. Do this enough times and the Demon Lord will finally go down for good.