Stal creatures are the basic form of undead present throughout Tears of the Kingdom. They are a skeletal version of their species that existed in life. Typically these come in the form of Bokoblins, Moblins, and Lizalfos, though other types have existed in previous titles. These creatures are able to put themselves back together, and generally can only be found in the Gloom or at night. While most Stal creatures are aggressive, the coveted stalhorses will serve Link as a temporary companion. These creature types are able to resist elemental damage and generally are less durable than their living counterparts.
By collecting the Evil Spirit Armor, or the Radiant armor, you’ll be able to interact with stal creatures without being attacked. It is notable that Stal creatures will not attack each other, but will go after living members of their species. Generally speaking, they act and fight similar to when they were alive, only trading out durability for the ability to regenerate themselves so long as the head survives. Stal creatures are an excellent source of farming monster parts save guts, and can fetch you some power equipment early on!
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Stal Types
In Tears of the Kingdom, there are three major types of stal creatures you can come across. Each of these will appear like a form of skeletal version of their species, and can rebuild themselves unless the head is destroyed. Stal creatures react differently than their living counterparts, and will turn hostile to other creature types. The main form of Stal creatures in game are stalkoblins, Stalmoblins, and stalizalfos.
Each have a resistance to element types and carries equipment and armor similar to their living counterparts. It’s important to note that Stal creatures generally come out at night or are located in darker atmospheres like caves, the gloom, or ruins. They can be notably attracted to areas consumed by gloom around Hyrule, or tend to rove the lands like bandits. Others exist such as the stal lionel, and the stalnox, however these are rarer occasions or one-off interactions in the game.
Stalkoblins
Stalkoblins are the basic version of these skeletal foes and are notable for their ability to rebuild themselves quickly. They appear like standard Bokoblins except lacking any flesh, and having glowing eyes. They will generally carry stone clubs, iron weapons, and bone shields. Stalkoblins can have different horns to signify what they were in life, ranging in each of the colors available. For this reason they have a lot of similarities in habits to their living counterparts. The main difference is these creatures are openly hostile to anything, including living Bokoblins. It’s important to note that these creatures must have their heads removed and then smashed again in order to fully kill one.
Stalkoblins
Stalmoblins
Stalmoblins are a larger version of the stalfolk that use speed and ranged melee attacks to try and kill other creatures. They are tall and lanky like their living counterparts, and generally either form small roving bands or join up with other stal creatures. Stalmoblins are notable because they often reinforce stalkoblins acting as the tanky substitute for a Bokoblin boss. These stalkoblins often carry equipment such as long staves, spears, and hammers and focus more on attacking than defending. Like stalkoblins, you must remove their head and destroy it in order to stop these creatures from regenerating. While more equipped than the standard Bokoblin or moblin, it’s notable that their Stal versions are not susceptible to elemental attacks or bombs.
Stalizalfos
Stalizalfos are the final type of Stal creature available in Tears of the Kingdom. These creatures are fast and agile, acting similarly to their living counterparts. Unlike their living counterparts, the Stal versions do not have elemental-based horns and talons making them less potent as a combatant. Generally, they will use their awkward combat dance to zig-zag toward the player, attempting to stab them with a spear and shield combo. It’s notable that these creatures don’t typically use weapons outside of polearms and shield combos, and are far more difficult than other stal creature types. Stalizalfos are especially potent in groups where they generally can be found as four or more. They will attempt to surround you, and attack with fast jerky actions reminiscent of their living counterparts.
Stal Locations
While Stal creatures are generally found either at night or in caves and ruins, it’s notable that there are a few locations where they can be found. They are generally protecting a treasure chest, or poe when in the gloom. They generally do not get along with their living counterparts and will go out of their way to attack them. Further, it seems that these creatures try to emulate their former lives, protecting small outposts, or roving the land as bandits. Considering their undead nature, they usually aren’t found during the daytime; bursting out in the morning. They are a deeply magical form of undead that can be a major hassle when traversing Hyrule in the nighttime.
Stalmoblins
Hyrule Fields
Hyrule fields is one of the first times you may encounter Stal creatures in Tears of the Kingdom. Usually roving the lands like bandits, or protecting small outposts, they are constantly at odds with their living counterparts. It’s important to note that Hyrule Fields is only home to stalkoblins, and they generally stick to certain locations. Following the fields towards the river, or watching the road is the best way to find these creatures during the night. Occasionally they will be mounted on stalhorses, a special kind of Stal creature which can be used by Link. Hyrule fields is the perfect place to farm their parts as these stalkoblins are generally weaker than others, purely being based on red and blue colorations.
Great Hyrule Forest
The Great Hyrule Forest is absolutely crawling with stal creatures during the nighttime. Because of the fact this area requires either some crafty thinking, or some story completed to enter, it’s common for creatures here to be tough. Absolutely not being a place you want to go right off the bat, the stalfolk here are generally of the black coloration variety and stick to Moblins and Bokoblin stal folk. Due to how dangerous this location is, there is also a high concentration of these creatures especially given the corruption in the area. They will openly attack the player, using horns and calls to attract others to your location. Unlike most areas, these creatures can be found both during the day and at night within the Great Hyrule Forest.
Gerudo Highlands
Gerudo Highlands acts as a great place to find moderate level Stal creatures. These come in the form of stalkoblins and stalizalfos which rove the land and stick to caves. The Gerudo Highlands is a perfect spot to farm a lot of different fruit and creatures, with stals being no exception. Fortunately, these only come out at night due to the extreme temperatures of the Gerudo lands, and thus are ideal to find when traveling the area. Generally, the Stal of the gerudo highlands are focused on ruins and caves, though also rove the area at night seeking confrontation. They will openly harass their living counterparts, and generally can be a difficult interaction early on.
Stalizalfo
Gerudo Desert
Located in abundance, the Gerudo Desert is one of the best places to find stalizalfos. In the evening, they’ll replace the normal living variants huddled around campfires. Additionally, they’re common around ruins and cave networks, which are necessary to travel through because of the desert’s harshness. There are way more Stal creatures in the Gerudo Desert than anywhere else besides the gloom. If you don’t want to deal with their living patients with elemental horns, the desert is a great place to farm their horns and talons. In addition, these creatures will despawn during the day and be replaced by living ones.
Hyrule Ridge
Hyrule ridge is one of the best locations to farm low level Stal creatures within Tears of the Kingdom. Because of the fact they will generally be low-level stalkoblins and stalkoblins you can easily dispatch them using explosives or head shots. Within Hyrule Ridge these creatures prefer using caves and outposts in order to subsist during the night. Like most areas, Stal creatures in Hyrule Ridge are only found at night; and include the coveted stalhorses. It’s important to note that the Stal creatures found in Hyrule Ridge are based on their weaker counterparts. Thus they are a great source of fusion parts early on. Additionally, you may find the occasional stalizalfo which allows for added bonuses when seeking their weapons and parts
The Gloom
The Gloom is by far the best location to find high level Stal creatures; but requires a bit of preparation before entering. Able to exist both in day time and at night through the darkness of the Gloom, these creatures travel like roving bands of evil. Due to corruption exposure, they’re tougher, faster, and hit harder than most other stals. Additionally, the Stal horse can be found in all its glory to help the user cross the angry crimson sea. Stal creatures can be found in every coloration and form in the gloom, making it the most diverse hotspot. They will generally find themselves near ruins, poe collections, or in dimly lit outposts.
Radiant armor allows you to interact with stal creatures on a friendly basis like the evil spirit set
Drops
Stal creatures will generally drop items similar to what they would have in life. The main exception to this rule is the fact that these creatures do not have guts of any kind. Instead, they will generally drop things like talons or horns which can be incredibly potent. Additionally, they may drop things like bone shields, iron weapons, and fused weapons. The more powerful a Stal is, the more likely they are to drop something interesting. Creatures located in the gloom can sometimes drop poe, and ingredients that wouldn’t ordinarily be found on these undead things. Finally, you have a chance at acquiring their arms, legs, or heads as a fusion weapon though they have low durability and high damage.
Bokoblin Parts
Stalkoblins will drop the standard horns and fangs that are great for fusion. The general purpose of these items is for fusing onto weapons to make them more potent. While Bokoblin parts scale in potency based on coloration, the Stal creatures prove to be an easier way of acquiring these items. Because Stalkoblins have significantly lower health and durability than their average counterparts you can farm black stalkoblin parts with ease. Additionally, their fangs are a great method of producing piercing weapons like spears which attack fast and hit hard. Keep in mind that these parts generally have a lower durability.
Moblin Parts
Stalmoblins are a great means of acquiring their parts since they are far less durable than living variants. The items they drop include the moblin horn and fang which are great for fusing onto weapons and shields. Unlike Bokoblin parts, these are generally more durable and have a higher damage output. Additionally, these horns and teeth are great for making short swords and axes when fused onto sticks or staves. Besides this they may carry two-handed heavy weapons like clubs, and axes, as well as having a chance to have food items. This last part can be strange as you wouldn’t think undead eat, however can be a good reward after a hard fight.
Stalnox is a rare boss fight interaction that can be handled like general Hinox fights.
Lizalfo Parts
While stalizalfos are one of the most deadly types of Stal creatures available, they also have some of the best drops. Having weapons ranging from boomerangs to spears and clubs they prefer fast attacks over slow ones. Once defeated they often drop shields, food, and their coveted lizalfo parts. Lizalfo talons and horns are absolutely perfect for fused weapons, though notably lack the elemental effects of their living counterparts. These items are especially deadly since they make weapons attack faster, and have a fair amount of durability. Early on, these parts are great for low level equipment and can help you throughout the game.
Creature Fighting Tactics
Stal creatures will notably have a fighting style resembling their living counterparts. Stalkoblins will use group tactics to try and overwhelm their enemies, mixing variety with quantity. Stalmoblins will prefer wide sweeping attacks from up close, or to throw things like explosive barrels or rocks. Finally, stalizalfos are notable for using fast attacks and maneuverability to try and overwhelm your defenses. One difference between Stal creatures and their living counterparts is when damaged, they will try to rebuild themselves unless their head is destroyed. This means that they can potentially rebuild themselves using other stal creatures parts so long as they are the same species. Otherwise they act like less durable versions of their living species, and can easily be dispatched with headshots.
Player Strategies
The best ways to deal with stal creatures is to either shoot them in the head with an arrow, or to use overwhelming physical strength. They are generally unaffected by elemental weapons and don’t take additional damage from explosives. Using keese eyes and wings can make arrows very effective against Stal creatures. Using keese wings you can create critical strikes that instantly destroy the head of the stal creature. Keese eyes will create a heat seeking missile that will instantly take their head off, but requires an additional strike to kill them. Explosive barrels and smashing weapons work exceeding well against these undead foes as well.
Evil Spirit Armor
Stalhorses
Stalhorses are one of the most important types of creatures within the Stal archetype. These are friendly tameable mounts that can’t go to the stables. Stalhorses like these can travel through the gloom without getting hurt. Since they’re so light, they’re great for traversing Hyrule’s Gloom. In this dark shadowy underbelly, Link can explore a good deal with just one Stalhorse. You can tame them like any other horse, but they’re less likely to kick you. In addition, stalhorses don’t get spooked, and they run slightly slower than living horses.
-source: Sweet Lou Gaming
Conclusion
It’s undeniable that stal creatures are one of the more interesting enemy types in Tears of the Kingdom. They’re fun family friendly take on the standard skeletal enemy, acting like the undead from the Legend of Zelda universe. They’re adorable and have useful fusion parts, so it’s hard not to like them. It won’t matter how you do it, a Stal horse in the Gloom will be your best friend, and it won’t need to be stabled! Take a trip out there and get those spooky scary skeletons!
