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Lanmolas,(ALttP | LA | LADX | CoH)[2][3] also known as Red Lanmolas,(TLoZ)[2] are recurring enemies and Sub-Bosses in The Legend of Zelda series.[note 1]

Characteristics[]

Lanmolas are fast and powerful centipedes.[5] While they were originally normal enemies, they began to serve larger roles in subsequent games in the series, acting as boss or mini-boss. Their first appearance shows them as having an elongated segmented body, with two appendages per segment and a single eye complete with iris; later games show them as clearly having two compound eyes and no appendages, giving them a more worm-like appearance.

The Legend of Zelda[]

The Legend of Zelda Manual Description
The Legend of Zelda logo
Lanmola
A gigantic centipede. Attacking his head won't work. Boy! Does he move fast!

In The Legend of Zelda, Lanmolas are only found in Level-9 in both Quests and are powerful foes. They come in red and blue varieties, with the latter ones being faster. Like the Moldorms in the game, the Lanmolas grow shorter by one segment with each blow, but only the tail part of their body is weak at first; the head can only be harmed once the remaining segments have been destroyed. Their fast movement, multiple legs and their weakness in the tail actually makes them more akin to Moldorms of later games. When defeated, red Lanmolas may drop either a Heart, a Fairy or one Rupee, while blue Lanmolas may drop either a Heart, one Rupee, five Rupees, or a Clock.[note 2]

A Link to the Past[]

ALttP Lanmolas Sprite

A group of three Lanmolas are the bosses of the Desert Palace in A Link to the Past. In this game, they hide underground and occasionally surface to attack, then return to the underground. When they burrow out of the ground, they send bits of rock flying in several directions. The sword is the most common method of dealing with them; however, arrows and the Ice Rod are both effective as well. After two are defeated, the last one will begin to move faster, and creates more bits of rock upon surfacing. Once the final one has been taken care of, Link gets the Pendant of Power and a Heart Container.

Another group of three Lanmolas later return in Ganon's Tower as a mini-boss, where they are fought the same way as before. This time, however, there is a Stone Statue in the room that will occasionally fire beams at Link.

Link's Awakening[]

In Link's Awakening, a Lanmola appears as a mini-boss guarding the Angler Key in the Yarna Desert. It attacks in the same fashion as those encountered in A Link to the Past, but this time it fights in a patch of quicksand. If Link sinks into the center of the pit, Link will fall into a cave and, after returning, all damage dealt to the Lanmola will be reversed.

One of the Shadow Nightmare's final forms is also called Lanmola, but it is fought very differently. It behaves more akin to the Lanmolas of the original The Legend of Zelda and must be defeated with a powerful attack to the head, like the Magic Rod.

Spinoff appearances[]

Ancient Stone Tablets[]

Three Lanmolas also appear as the boss of Level 5 in Week 3 of Ancient Stone Tablets. Unlike A Link to the Past, the it is possible to obtain the Level 3 Sword in the dungeon before fighting them.

In other media[]

A Link to the Past (Ishinomori)[]

In the A Link to the Past comic by Shotaro Ishinomori, a Lanmola appears after Link, using the Book of Mudora in the Desert of Mystery, reveals a scorpion statue that has the Pendant of Power hanging on it. Before Link can approach it, he sinks into the quicksand and resurfaces on top of a Lanmola. Link tries to attack it with his sword, but its skin is too hard to cause any damage to it.[7] However, after the Lanmola launches him into the air, he lands on top of the scorpion statue and retrieves the Pendant of Power.[8] With the pendant's energy in his hand, Link successfully defeats the Lanmola by striking the foe's underbelly with the sword.

Link's Awakening (Cagiva)[]

In the Link's Awakening manga by Ataru Cagiva, a Lanmola attacks Link while exploring Yarna Desert. Due to the quicksand, Link cannot move swiftly, so he tries attacking the Lanmola with Bombs to no avail. He then decides to remove his Shield and use it as a foot hold, asking Felicia to warn him when it appears. When the Lanmola emerges from the sand, Link evades its attack and counters it with a Spin Attack. As the Lanmola dissolves, the Angler Key appears from within.

Crossover appearances[]

Cadence of Hyrule[]

Lanmola appear in Cadence of Hyrule as minibosses, appearing in either the Desert or inside caves and dungeons like the Gerudo Ruins. They move to the beat of the music, and emerge from underground in order to attack Cadence, Link, Yves, or Zelda. Their heads move on every single beat towards the heroes, with their bodies slowly dragging along behind them. After several beats or if they've sustained enough damage, they will bury themselves underground for a few beats before re-emerging to attack. Once they've been slain, they will drop a random item and if they were in a dungeon, unlock a set of stairs that will lead the heroes into the next dungeon room or floor.

Nomenclature[]

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in other regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
LanguageNameMeaning
JapanJapanese赤ラネモーラ (Aka Ranemōra) (TLoZ)[9]
ラネモーラ (Ranemōra) (TLoZ | ALttP | LA)[10][11][12]
ラネモーラ (Ranemōra) (TLoZ | ALttP | LA)[13][14][15]
ラネモーラ (Ranemōra) (TLoZ | ALttP | LA)[16][17][18]
Same as English.
Same as English.
Same as English.
Same as English
NetherlandsDutchRingslang (TLoZ)[19]
FranceFrenchEULanmola (TLoZ)[20]
This table was generated using translation pages.
To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery[]

See also[]

Notes

  1. The Lanmola in Link's Awakening was also referred to as Desert Lanmola in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening — Nintendo Player's Guide by Nintendo of America.[4] However, because it contradicts the name given in Encyclopedia, this term is not considered Canon.
  2. If Link defeats 10 enemies without getting hit or teleporting with the Recorder, then the 10th enemy defeated will drop five Rupees. However, if the 10th enemy is defeated with a Bomb, then it will drop four Bombs. If Link defeats 16 enemies without getting hit or teleporting, then the 16th enemy will drop a Fairy. After the 16th enemy, Link must get hit and reset the counter to zero in order to achieve this effect again. Defeating Armos, Like Likes, Keese, or Gels will not be counted.[6]

References

  1. "Using the Power Glove found here, Link moves boulders to reach three burrowing Lanmolas that guard the Pendant of Power." (Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 147)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 188 (TLoZ | ALttP | LA)
  3. "Defeated By: Lanmola" — Game Over (Cadence of Hyrule)
  4. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening — Nintendo Player's Guide, Nintendo of America, pg. 188
  5. "A gigantic centipede. Attacking his head won't work. Boy! Does he move fast!" (The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 36)
  6. n.a., Forced Drops, redcandle.us, published n.d., retrieved August 17, 2017.
  7. "This is hopeless! Its skin is like armor!" (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 15)
  8. "Nice move, ugly! But now you're playing with the Pendant of Power!" (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 16)
  9. Hyrule Encyclopedia, Ambit Ltd., pg. 211
  10. Hyrule Encyclopedia, Ambit Ltd., pg. 211
  11. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Vol. 1, Shogakukan, pg. 132 Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords, Shogakukan, pg. 23
  12. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Certain Victory Strategy Guide (1993), Futabasha, pg. 29
  13. Hyrule Encyclopedia, Ambit Ltd., pg. 211
  14. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Vol. 1, Shogakukan, pg. 132 Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords, Shogakukan, pg. 23
  15. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Certain Victory Strategy Guide (1993), Futabasha, pg. 29
  16. Hyrule Encyclopedia, Ambit Ltd., pg. 211
  17. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Vol. 1, Shogakukan, pg. 132 Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords, Shogakukan, pg. 23
  18. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Certain Victory Strategy Guide (1993), Futabasha, pg. 29
  19. The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 36
  20. The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 36
The Legend of ZeldaThe Adventure of LinkA Link to the PastLink's AwakeningOcarina of TimeMajora's MaskOracle of SeasonsOracle of AgesFour SwordsThe Wind WakerFour Swords AdventuresThe Minish CapTwilight PrincessPhantom HourglassSpirit TracksSkyward SwordA Link Between WorldsTri Force HeroesBreath of the WildTears of the Kingdom
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