Flare Dancer

Flare Dancer

Game(s)	Ocarina of Time
Other Media	Ocarina of Time manga
Dungeon(s)	Fire Temple
Weakness(es)	Bombs Megaton Hammer Hookshot Sword

The Flare Dancer is a mini-boss that appears twice in the Fire Temple in Ocarina of Time. It is a tall flaming humanoid being with a black core stored within its chest, and as its name would suggest, it will dance whilst attacking its victims. Link's first encounter with a Flare Dancer activates a volcanic lift which leads to a new area of the Fire Temple, one where the Megaton Hammer is enshrined. The second encounter leads to a room where one of the imprisoned Gorons and the Boss Key are found.

Navi's Comment

	Flare Dancer
	Flare Dancer Extinguish its flaming clothes first...

Strategy

The Flare Dancer will frequently pirouette during its battle with Link, and the young hero will sustain damage if he comes in contact with it while it is ignited, or if he treads on the fire trail that is left as the mini-boss circles the room. A Flare Dancer is defeated by removing the core from its 'body' composed of fire, which can be done with the Hookshot, Megaton Hammer, or by throwing Bombs. Once the core is exposed, it will attempt to avoid Link by running around the room; when blocked by Link, it will quickly skid to a halt, and begin to run in the opposite direction. At this time the core may be damaged by any sword strike, though jump attacks are difficult to land due to the agility and mobility of the core.

After Link damages the core or does not attack it for a set amount of time, it will jump back into the flaming platform to restore its flaming body (accompanied by an eerie laugh), each time changing color from yellow/orange to blue/purple then finally to two shades of green. When a Flare Dancer is defeated, the core rapidly expands and explodes, dropping bombs. This explosion can damage Link if he is close enough.

As revealed by an imprisoned Goron, Flare Dancers are invulnerable to arrows while they are aflame but are vulnerable to the Goron's Special Crop (bombs).^[1]

Other Appearances

Non-Canon Information

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Ocarina of Time Manga

Flare Dancers also make an appearance in the bonus story "Rouru of the Watarara" of the Ocarina of Time manga. Two twin Flare Dancers create a destructive tornado on Lake Hylia. With the help of Navi, Link flies into the tornado and defeats the two Flare Dancers. The tornado dissipates and Link, stuck in midair, begins to fall. When Navi and Rouru's attempt to rescue Link fails, his mother, Elrora, intervenes and helps Rouru fly Link to safety.

Trivia

Because of their posture, Flare Dancers resemble scarecrows on fire.

Nomenclature

Names in Other Regions
Language		Name	Meaning
	Japanese	フレアダンサー	Flare Dancer
	Chinese^SI	火舞者	Fire Dancer
	French	Danse-Flamme	Flame-Dance
	French^CA	Danse-flamme (OoT3D)	Flame-dance
	German	Flammenderwisch	Flame Dervish
	Italian	Fiammerino
	Spanish^LA	Bailafuego (OoT3D)	Fire Dancer

References

↑ "Here's a tip for rescuing me! Somewhere in this temple, you're sure to meet up with some creatures that dance as they attack. Arrows won't hurt them! Looks like you might need some of the Goron "special crop!" That's all I have to tell you!" — Goron (Ocarina of Time)

Bosses in The Legend of Zelda series