This is a guide for Demise, the final boss in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Read on to learn strategies for how to beat Demise, see Demise's moves, and learn rewards for beating them!

How to Beat Demise (Final Boss)

First Stage
Let Demise attack first and fight back immediately
Second Stage
Raise your sword to summon lightning Slash the air to throw the lightning at Demise Hit Demise when he is down

Let Demise attack first and fight back immediately

Demise will hold his sword in a defensive position, and any attack you throw at him will be blocked. However, after he attacks you, you'll have a small window of time to fight back. Make sure you are holding your shield and use Shield Bash when he attacks first, and quickly fight back to inflict damage.

The first stage of his attacks are Vertical swing, Horizontal swing, Punch attack, Swing up → Swing down but it is best to aim only when he doees large vertical swings and horizontal swings.

When you try to use attack Demise as he’s taking damage, he may block your attack and then counter it with another attack. This counter attack can also be blocked by using Shield attack.

Raise your sword to summon lightning

If you damage Demise, the weather will change and you will moved to the second stage. At this stage, you can still let the enemy attack first and deal damage, but there's an easier way. You need to raise your sword to summon lightning.

Be careful because if Demise attacks first, he will use Rush attack or Lightning strike.

Slash the air to throw the lightning at Demise

When you summon lightning, swing your sword quickly to throw a Lightning strike attack. When you hit the end, you go down and you have a chance to attack.

Hit Demise when he is knocked down

Whenever Demise is down, he is vulnerable. This is the best time to deal some damage to him. However, you will always fail when you try to hit him the first time he gets knocked down. The second and other consecutive times that you do, you will succeed in dealing damage.

Demise's Attack Patterns

First Stage
Sword attack (Vertical swing/Horizontal swing) Counter-attack Punch attack Swing up → Swing down
Second Stage
Sword attack (Vertical swing/Horizontal swing) Counter-attack Additional slash attack Rush attack Lightning strike Thunder strike

(1st and 2nd stage) Sword attack (Vertical swing/Horizontal swing)

Let Demise attack first

During the first stage and second stage, all of your attacks will be blocked by the final boss. To get a chance to deal damage, equip your shield and let him attack first. Immediately after blocking his attack, hit him with your sword.

(1st and 2nd stage) Counter-attack

Let Demise attack first

If you continue to attack Demise when he isn't knocked down, he will block it and follow it up with a counter-attack (this does not happen all the time). When he attacks you, he will hit you with 2 consecutive swings.

(1st stage) Punch attack

Use Shield Bash

Punch attack is a technique where Demise moves forward then punches you after a momentary pause. The attack is so fast that it's quite difficult to deal with when you encounter it. This is why it is important to hold your shield in advance for safety in case you can't dodge it.

(1st stage) Swing up → Swing down

Avoid it by backstepping

Swing up → Swing down is an attack where Demise swings the sword up and down from a pointing stance, hitting you two times. This attack is quick and difficult to defend with a shield, but most of the time it has a short range and cant reach your shield. If using the shield fails, the second shot will cause damage, so avoid it by backstepping.

(2nd stage) Additional slash attack

Use Shield Bash

You can counter this attack by using shield bash then counter him afterwards by slashing him while he is down.

(2nd stage) Rush attack

Rush slash is an attack used by Demise whenever you try to summon lightning during the second stage. After Demise bends down a little, he will rush to where you are and slash you, so be prepared to use Shield Bash whenever you see Demise bending down.

(2nd stage) Lightning strike

Avoid it by backstepping

Lightning strikes are attacks used by Demise after a lightning strike or after a link hits a lightning strike. Whenever Demise holds his sword like this he is defenseless, but if he successfully summons lightning, it will damage his surroundings. The range itself is narrow, so avoid it by backstepping.

(2nd stage) Thunder strike

Avoid by stepping to the side

Thunder strike is an attack used by Demise whenever his sword is covered in lightning. He will use it whenever you are out of his reach, but whenever you try to summon lightning, the chances of Demise using this move will increase further. It's a simple projectile, but you can't use your shield against it, so avoid it by stepping sideways.

You can also hit his lightning strike to offset it, but it is very difficult to do.

Use the Bug Net

You can use the Bug Net to counterattack Demise's thunder strike. Successfully deflecting the attack stuns him temporarily, making him open to attacks.

How to Get the Bug Net

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Related Guides

List of All Bosses and How to Beat

Boss Walkthroughs

All Bosses
Ghirahim	Scaldera
Moldarach	The Imprisoned (Round 1)
Koloktos	Tentalus
Ghirahim (Second Battle)	The Imprisoned (Round 2)
Bilocyte	The Imprisoned (Round 3)
Ghirahim (Final Battle)	Demise