ReDead
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ReDeads are zombie-like beings that proliferate around Hyrule as a result of the magic of the evil being Ganondorf in the Legend of Zelda series. They were first encountered by Link in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. ReDeads are evil animations, arising in the wake of Ganondorf's ascent to plague the shadow lands of Hyrule. ReDeads were notorious for being one of the more horrific elements featured in games such as Legend of Zelda, adding an unexpectedly dark element to the game.
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[edit] Attacking
ReDeads employ certain supernatural methods to attack enemies/prey. When eye contact is made with a ReDead, the monster will let out a paralyzing shriek. If a ReDead is near enough to its victim, paralyzed or not, the ReDead will jump onto their prey, draining its life energy by sucking out its blood. Only after struggling viciously enough will the victim have a chance of throwing off the ReDead.
ReDeads can be destroyed by most conventional weapons (swords, arrows, etc.), although some weapons are more effective than others. Light-based weapons and reflected sunlight work extremely well. ReDeads can also be temporarily frozen by summoning light into a dark area (the most effective way being playing the "Sun's Song" on an ocarina).
[edit] Appearance
ReDeads were featured prominently in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and its sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. In both of these, ReDeads were blind or otherwise incapable of seeing and relied on sound to guide them. The craftier player would move Link in such a way that he did not make noise with his boots and could navigate around the ReDead or attack without the monster expecting it. Drawing a weapon near a ReDead will make noise and thus the ReDead will strike.
ReDeads also appeared in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker; however, they looked unlike their Ocarina of Time counterparts. They sported a more ancient, tribal look (colored blue or green, e.g cabana basement ReDeads were tinged with green, while Earth Temple ReDeads were tinged with blue), wore large earrings and tribal markings, and resembled more gaunt, skeletal figures than the originals and had a different scream. Furthermore, they didn't wear masks, and instead have a piercing gawk (see picture above). Some weapons are also ineffective against them. Although ReDeads in this incarnation can be harmed by any arrow, it is inadvisable to use anything except Light Arrows because the other types do so very little damage. They will sometimes move, however, and continued attacking is necessary to defeat them. Bombs are considered to be very effective; three bombs can kill a ReDead outright, or alternatively, the player can use one bomb to momentarily stun the enemy while moving to a closer range.
In Ocarina of Time, and Majora's Mask, ReDeads and their mummy counterpart Gibdos make moaning sounds. These sounds can be heard by the player if the player is in the same room or area as the ReDead or Gibdo. This could be to warn the player of the enemy's presence, since ReDeads are among the most dangerous enemies. In Hyrule Castle Town Market, if Link destroys a ReDead, the creature will fall to the ground lifeless. Other ReDeads will then approach the fallen one, ignoring Link. When close enough, the ReDead will crouch over the collpased corpse. The corpse will then disappear (perhaps indicating that the ReDead ate the corpse), and the ReDeads will resume their normal habits.
ReDeads return in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, as ReDead Knights. They bear a zombie-like, almost skeletal appearance, and are covered in bandages much like Gibdos (which do not make an appearance in Twilight Princess). Although they still immobilize Link with a scream (although it is lower pitched, making it seem much more like a howl), they no longer have their biting attack. They now drag along massive swords also covered in bandages, that can do 3/4 a heart of damage to Link. They are only found in two different locations in the entire game, Arbiter's Grounds and the Cave of Ordeals. In Twilight Princess, ReDead Knights lie down most of the time; they are invincible while in this position. When the player approaches, the ReDead Knights will stand up (becoming vulnerable) and move quickly toward the player. ReDead Knights can be defeated efficiently and safely with the Ball & Chain (which requires two hits, however, since ReDead Knights cannot be stunned, the Ball & Chain can hit them when it is being reeled in, killing them in one throw), or with two Bomb Arrows. The ReDead Knights are able to cross quicksand in order to attack. It is unknown whether light would hurt these ReDeads, as no light-generating or light-reflecting weapons are usable.
[edit] Gibdos
A similar enemy in the Legend of Zelda series, called a Gibdos (a mummy), acts and looks exactly like a ReDead, aside from mummy-ish looking wrappings, causing confusion as to the possibility that the two monsters are related. However, in Majora's Mask, if the player burns away a Gibdos's wrappings (for example, with the Fire Arrow), it will become a ReDead, and in The Minish Cap, Link's Awakening, Oracle of Ages, and Oracle of Seasons, burning a Gibdos's wrappings yields a Stalfos. Gibdos date back to the first game in the series, appearing also in A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening. The ability to attach to its prey or paralyze it is also absent. In Ocarina of Time, a small dungeon exists under the well in Kakariko Village, where there is a small room containing many tombs and Gibdos. In Majora's Mask, there is also a small dungeon under the well in Ikana Canyon, in which the player must wear the Gibdo Mask in order to talk to the Gibdos that are guarding locked doors. They give a clue to something that they want from the player in exchange for opening the door.
[edit] Masks
There are two masks of the zombies. In Ocarina of Time, there is a mask called the Spooky Mask, which is based on the face of a ReDead. Creepily enough, if the player speaks to the lakeside scientist at Lake Hylia while wearing this mask, he reveals that it was carved using wood from a coffin. In Majora's Mask, the Gibdo Mask could be obtained by saving the researcher in Ikana Canyon. The mask not only allows Link to speak to Gibdos, but also makes ReDead dance, rendering them completely harmless. The Captain's Hat and the Garo mask also produce this effect. While wearing one of these masks, nothing can provoke the ReDeads to attack, not even by attacking them in any way. According to a Gossip Stone found by the river in Ikana Canyon, the Redeads were once members of the King of Ikana's dancing troupe, explaining their strange behavior whenever they think no living creatures are around.
[edit] Cameos
In the game Super Smash Bros. Melee, ReDeads from Ocarina of Time are found as one of the minor enemies in crates or in Adventure Mode. They are slightly faster, but do not make a shrieking sound; if the player character is seen, they rush toward them instead and bite them, causing minor damage (although they do make a moaning sound as their attacking, sounding more like Twilight Princess). If the player does not break free, they will bite again. When hit a number of times, they fall down, but will rise again in a few second if not attacked again and killed. They could also be killed instantly by having Kirby or Yoshi swallowing them with their B-attack.
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