Compactor

Compactors are recurring Enemies in The Legend of Zelda series.

Names in the American English canon

Name	Compactor
Appearance(s)	Oracle of Seasons^[1]
Name	No name is given
Appearance(s)	Ocarina of Time Ocarina of Time 3D Tears of the Kingdom

Names in the American English canon
Name	Appearance(s)
Compactor	Oracle of Seasons^[1]
No name is given	Ocarina of Time Ocarina of Time 3D Tears of the Kingdom

For terminology in other regions, see § Nomenclature below.

Characteristics

Ocarina of Time

A single Compactor is found in the Shadow Temple. It is made of wood and bears inside-facing spikes. When Link enters the room containing the Compactor, it begins to close, threatening to case a Game Over if Link does not destroy it first. The Compactor can be destroyed by using Din's Fire to burn both sides of the Compactor simultaneously.

Oracle of Seasons

The Compactor is located on the second floor of the Ancient Ruins. On the ground of its room rests a Big Red Rupee. Link is forced to pick it up to progress, and doing so will activate the Compactor. The walls of the narrow room will start closing in, with the only reliable method of escape being to use Pegasus Seeds to run away. Should Link be caught by the Compactor, it will result in an instant Game Over.

Tears of the Kingdom

A single Compactor appears within Lightning Temple 4F. It moves mechanically, closing in on itself repeatedly. Upon spotting it, Riju warns that it will prove difficult to bypass.^[2] However, it can be neutralized by placing one of the nearby Stone Blocks between it. While obstructed, the Compactor can be manipulated to move left or right with a Stone Block and the Ancient Power of Ultrahand. A Floor Switch on the opposite side of the Compactor can be pressed to permanently retract it, creating a safe passage.^[3] A similar mechanism known as Falling Spikes appears just beyond this Compactor.

Three other types of Zonai-style Compactors appear within Kikakin Shrine. The first type is similar to the one found within Lightning Temple 4F, although this Compactor does not completely close, leaving a small gap for Link to walk through. The second type is a single-sided Compactor that appears within one of the halls of the Shrine, automatically moving along the width of the hall. As with the other type, it does not fully close the distance to the opposite wall, leaving room for Link to walk safely. Both of these Compactor types can be blocked with Objects such as the Stone Boxes found within the Shrine.

The third type of Compactor within Kikakin Shrine is a massive wall protecting a long hallway. Three Sensors within the hallway activate the Compactor if they are tripped, causing the Compactor to move along the length of the hall to a point just beyond the furthest Sensor. After this, the Compactor retracts to its original point. However, if the Sensors are tripped while it is moving back into position, it will reverse course and push outward through the hallway once more. This Compactor cannot be blocked by any Objects.