#darknuts

THE GRAND FINALE!

Here we are, part 10, the final part. 10 more enemies to go. These 10 foes are the cream of the crop in my opinion, so let me share em with ya!

10 - Shy Guys - Mario Series

Enemy Status – Mysterious Masked Entity.

Shy guys are among the oddest foes in the Mario universe. Originally seen in a dream world and then all over Yoshi’s island. They are never seen without their iconic mask and they come in many forms. What is about them that I like? I am not sure, but I find their design simple yet timeless. They may be simple enemies, but I have always found them to be among the best the mushroom kingdom has to offer. These little guys win a spot on the list and secure the rank of number 10! Way to go shy-guy!

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9 - Ring Knight - Dark Souls 3

Enemy status – Protectors of the Ringed City.

The ringed city’s guardians are menacing foes. Large powerful knights with the dark soul insignia burned onto their armor and wielding large blades of fire. These are some of the deadliest foes the souls series has to offer and they are, in my opinion, some of the best designed. They appear throughout the entire city and are a thrill to fight, especially the one guarding the cathedral or the one randomly found in the far ruined future. These guys are also interesting from a lore perspective, and thus they win the 9th place on this list.

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8 – Bouncer - Bioshock

Enemy Status – Large Father.

The world of rapture is not a pleasant place. It is full of dangers and lethal traps that can end your life very quickly. This is seen in spades with the Bouncer. The Bouncer is one of the big daddies who protect the little sisters. They are usually neutral but can be hostile if antagonized. Thing is though, if you want to progress in the game YOU have to engage them. Be ready for a difficult fight. The bouncer charges without mercy with their drill arm and will attack relentlessly. They offer little breathing room and can be very dangerous at the beginning of the game. The bouncer is the “face” of Bioshock, and thus readily deserves a spot in the top ten! 8th place is good.

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7 - Hell Knight - Doom 3

Enemy Status – High Ranking Demon.

The beast of hell are no simple cretins, some of them are exceptionally dangerous. This is made very clear with the Hell Knight, high ranking and powerful monsters that often appear in groups of two. They lumber around and throw large fireballs. They also give a rather means punch as well. These guys are among some of the most menacing foes in the DOOM series and while they are not as powerful in the 2016 reboot, they are still a worthy opponent. The Hell Knight wins lucky number 7 on this list.

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6 - Helghast - Killzone series

Enemy Status – Soldiers from Helghan.

Of all the pure human enemies, evil armies and what have you, we decide to go the sci-fi route. Say hello to the Helghast. These foes are armed to the teeth and proudly represent their glorious empire. What makes them different from the generic terrorist, thugs and nazis we have all fought in war games? Nothing much, but what makes them iconic is their design. The iconic gas mask and black and white armor set them apart from all others and that is why they make it up here. Because I love their design quite a bit. Do not need much more of a reason that that, welcome to 6th place.

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5 - Lynels - Zelda Breath of the Wild

Enemy Status – Lion-man Centaur

Hyrule is home to many dangerous beasts, but none match the pure ferocity of the Lynel. The mighty Lynel is a fierce monster that has the lower body of a horse, the upper body of a man and the head of a lion. These beasts wield mighty weapons such as swords, clubs or bows and are capable of breathing fire. Nothing is scarier than one of these charging you at full speed! It takes skill and might to take one down and revel in the spoils of battle. Just be careful, because they can take a long time to best in combat. These monsters win the 5th place award.

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4 - Deathclaws - Fallout Series

Enemy Status – Mutated Jackson Chameleon.

The deathclaw is the apex predator of the wasteland and is among one of the most feared enemies of the wasteland. Many inexperienced adventurers met their end at the clawed hands of one of these walking death machines. They come in many different colors and sizes, but one thing is consistent, they are big, and they are aggressive. If you cross one early on your journey, be ready for a wicked fight. These iconic post-apocalyptic foes win 4th place!

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3 - Darknuts - Zelda Series

Enemy Status – Heavily Armored Dark Knight.

And the Zelda series finds a its place on this spot once again. The Lynel is the apex monster, but the darknut is the pinnacle of the humanoid enemy. These are among the original dark knight enemies in the history of video games. Regardless, the Darknut is an imposing figure that is a skilled fighter and a sturdy tank. They can dish out punishment and take a lot of damage. The closer they get to defeat, the more desperate and fast they get in retaliation. It is always a blast to fight one, and it can be a challenge to take multiples at once. Congrats on your 3rd place! Can you tell that I like knights?

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2 - Tonberry - Final Fantasy series

Enemy status – The embodiment of vengeance.

The tonberry is a dangerous foe. They are small unassuming enemies, they creep towards you slowly and raise a small knife. They stab and it does massive damage. These guys are among the most dangerous foes in the final fantasy and its great. Why is it great? Because they look so cute and unassuming, it can slay behemoths and other great monsters with ease despite its tiny stature. They get stronger with the more enemies you have slain.  So, they win a spot for their cute looks and lethal abilities in combat. Welcome to 2nd place, Tonberry!

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1 - Elites - Halo series

Enemy Status – The covenants finest (until the Brutes showed up.)

The covenant is among the most feared empires in sci-fi history. Encompassing several races attempting to carry out a religion fueled genocide across the entire galaxy. The pinnacle of their militant forces are the elites. These aliens are mighty foes that rarely ever retreat or back down, they will fight tooth and nail to the bitter end. Even the lowest ranking elite is a dangerous opponent. They lead the lesser races into combat and should be taken out quickly to demoralize the other lesser enemies. Once Halo 3 rolled around they sided with the humans and have become allies. So, the elites are my favorite enemies in video games. They have amazing designs, are fun to fight and are intimidating foes to take down. They are a shining example of what makes a good enemy. Congrats, you wont the 1st place!

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Darknut(s) have appeared in the following TLoZ titles:

The Legend of Zelda Link's Awakening 

Oracle of Seasons 

Oracle of Ages 

Four Swords 

The Wind Waker 

Four Swords Adventures 

The Minish Cap 

Twilight Princess