You finally made it to the Faron Wetlands. You've been dodging Deku Baba and figuring out how to swim through murky water, and then the game throws a giant, armored centipede at you. Vocavor Echoes of Wisdom players often hit a wall here because, honestly, the mechanics are a bit weirder than your standard Zelda boss. It isn’t just about hitting a glowing eye.
It's a dance. A very wet, very fast-paced dance.
The first thing you notice when you drop into the boss arena is that Zelda is underwater. This changes everything. You aren't just running; you're managing a 3D space where momentum feels slippery and your oxygen—or lack thereof—is a constant, ticking threat. Vocavor is a massive crustacean-like entity that looks like it belongs in a deep-sea nightmare. It's the boss of the Stilled Faron Wetlands, and if you aren't prepared for the phase shifts, you’re going to see that Game Over screen more than a few times.
What Actually Happens in the Vocavor Fight
Most people try to just spam echoes. Don't do that. You’ll run out of energy or just get knocked back by the whirlpools. Vocavor’s main gimmick is its heavy armor and those annoying bubbles it spits out.
The fight is split into two distinct environments. You start in the water, but the boss isn't just going to sit there and let you poke it. It moves in wide, sweeping arcs. If you've played The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom for more than five minutes, you know that Zelda herself isn't a tank. One hit from this thing takes a significant chunk of hearts.
The "Echoes" part of the game title is your literal lifeline here. But which ones?
I’ve seen people try to use the Platboom or heavy rocks. Bad move. They sink too fast or don't track. You need mobility. The real trick is using the Bombfish. If you haven't scanned the Bombfish yet, go back. Seriously. It’s the MVP of this encounter because it acts like a homing missile in the water.
Phase One: The Underwater Grind
In the beginning, Vocavor is mostly a target practice session. It swims around the perimeter. You’ll see it stop to charge up a water beam or release those glowing bubbles.
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Here is the secret: Look at its back.
The purple glowing crystals (or the "Rift" spots) are the only things that actually take damage. You can't just slap its face. You need to swim above or behind it. This is where the Swordfighter form comes in handy, but you have to be careful. Your energy bar drains fast underwater. I usually recommend staying in Zelda's base form, summoning two Bombfish, and using the "Bind" ability to position them right in the path of the boss.
It feels clunky at first. You'll miss. That's fine.
When the Bombfish hits those purple spots, the boss stuns. That is your window. Switch to Swordfighter form, swim in close, and mash that attack button. But watch your air! There are bubbles rising from the floor—use them. If you ignore the oxygen meter because you're too focused on DPS, you'll drown right as the boss is at half health. It's embarrassing. I’ve done it.
The Environment Shifts: Managing the Water
Halfway through, Vocavor gets angry. The water level starts to shift, or the boss starts jumping out of the water onto the floating platforms.
This is where the fight gets "Zelda-y."
Suddenly, you aren't just swimming. You’re platforming. Vocavor will land on these stone structures and try to snip at you with its pincers. The strategy changes from "torpedo mode" to "siege mode."
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- Use the Water Blocks: If you have the Water Block echo, use it to create bridges or shields.
- Electric Echoes: This is a pro tip—if the boss is in the water and you can safely drop an electric-based echo like a Spark, the conductivity does wonders. Just make sure you aren't in the splash zone.
- The Crawltula: If it’s on a wall or a high platform, a Crawltula can get to places Zelda can't easily reach.
Why People Struggle with the Faron Temple Boss
The Vocavor Echoes of Wisdom encounter isn't hard because of the boss's HP. It's hard because of the "clutter." The screen gets filled with projectiles, whirlpools, and those tiny minions it spawns.
If you get overwhelmed, stop attacking. Just move.
Zelda’s spin move in the water is great for a quick burst of speed to dodge the homing bubbles. Also, check your smoothies. If you didn't brew some "Chilly" or "Electro" blends before coming in here, you're making it harder on yourself. Specifically, anything that restores energy is vital so you can stay in Swordfighter mode longer during the stun phases.
Breaking the Armor
You'll notice that as the fight progresses, the purple spots might move or become protected by the boss’s fins. You have to be precise. If you’re just throwing echoes randomly, they’ll get destroyed by the boss’s tail.
Try this: Use the Bind ability (X button) on the boss itself.
While you can't "move" the boss like you move a rock, it allows you to track its movement perfectly. It keeps your camera locked so you don't lose sight of it when it zooms off-screen. This is the difference between a ten-minute slog and a three-minute victory.
Essential Echoes for the Vocavor Fight
You don't need fifty different echoes. You need three good ones.
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- Bombfish: As mentioned, these are your primary damage dealers for the "armored" phase. They track well and have a decent blast radius.
- Chompin' Crate or Sea Urchin: Dropping these in the path of the boss when it charges is a classic "stop hitting yourself" tactic. The Sea Urchin is particularly nasty because it stays stationary and punishes the boss for its aggressive swimming.
- Zirro: If the boss is out of the water, these floating mushroom-like creatures can drop bombs from above, keeping you safe on the ground.
Honestly, the biggest mistake is over-summoning. If you have five weak echoes out, they’ll just get wiped by one spin attack. Quality over quantity. Use your Tri-Rod points wisely.
The Final Push
When Vocavor is near death, it goes into a frenzy. It’ll start creating massive whirlpools that suck you toward the center of the arena. Do not fight the current by just swimming. Use the Spin move or, better yet, hide behind a solid object like a pillar or a heavy rock echo (like the Titan's Rock if you have it).
Wait for the "Charge."
The boss will glow red and rush at you. This is the ultimate "high risk, high reward" moment. If you can time a Bombfish or a well-placed Echo right in front of its face, it will knock itself out. This is the longest stun duration in the fight. Pop your Swordfighter form, use any attack-up smoothies you have left, and let loose.
Preparation Checklist Before Entering the Rift
Don't just run in there. The Faron Wetlands are unforgiving.
- Heart Pieces: Make sure you’ve explored the wetlands enough to have at least 6-8 hearts.
- Smoothies: Visit the Business Scrub's shop. You want "Refreshing" smoothies (floral nectar + grapes) for HP and energy.
- The Tri-Rod Level: If you’ve been skipping side rifts, your Tri-Rod might be too low level. You want to be able to summon at least 4-5 "points" worth of echoes simultaneously.
- Clothing: If you have the Zora Armor or any gear that increases swim speed, put it on. Every frame of movement counts when a giant centipede is trying to eat you.
Vocavor is a test of your ability to manage Zelda’s new mechanics in a restrictive environment. It’s not just a combat check; it’s a spatial awareness check. Once you master the "Bind and Bomb" rhythm, the fight goes from frustrating to incredibly satisfying.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session:
- Farm Bombfish: If you don't have this echo, head to the underwater caves in the Zora Cove area before tackling Faron.
- Upgrade your Swordfighter Form: Visit Lueburry’s house and trade those Might Crystals. Increasing your attack power even by one level makes the Vocavor stun windows much more effective.
- Practice "Binding" while swimming: Go to a lower-stakes pond and practice holding an object with the Tri-Rod while moving in 3D space. It's a skill you'll need for the final boss later on anyway.
- Equip the Frog Ring: If you found the Frog Ring in the Eastern Temple, wear it. It improves your jumping height, which is surprisingly helpful for the platforming sections of the Vocavor fight when the water levels drop.