Should You Summon Alexander for the Fire Giant? The Definitive Guide
Yes, absolutely! Summoning Alexander for the Fire Giant fight in Elden Ring is highly recommended. He provides significant damage output and can draw the Fire Giant’s aggro, making the fight considerably easier, especially for melee builds.
Why Alexander is a Valuable Asset Against the Fire Giant
The Fire Giant is a colossal foe, a mountain of burning flesh and rage that can easily overwhelm players. His massive size and wide-ranging attacks make him a challenging opponent, even for seasoned Tarnished. Alexander, the Warrior Jar, offers several key advantages in this battle:
- Damage Soak: Alexander boasts impressive health and defense, allowing him to absorb a substantial amount of the Fire Giant’s attacks. This gives you breathing room to heal, reposition, and plan your attacks.
- Aggro Magnet: Alexander’s aggressive nature means he frequently draws the Fire Giant’s attention. When the giant is focused on Alexander, you have opportunities to attack his weak points (like his leg during phase one) without immediate threat.
- Significant Damage Output: While not as powerful as a fully upgraded Mimic Tear, Alexander still deals considerable damage. Every bit of extra damage helps to whittle down the Fire Giant’s massive health pool faster.
- Strategic Positioning: Alexander often positions himself strategically, sometimes even behind the Fire Giant. This can open up opportunities for you to flank the enemy and land critical hits.
Maximizing Alexander’s Effectiveness
To get the most out of Alexander in this fight, keep the following in mind:
- Summon Early: Summon Alexander as soon as you enter the arena. This allows him to immediately engage the Fire Giant and start soaking up damage.
- Stay Alive: Focus on keeping yourself alive first. Alexander can’t help you if you’re constantly dying.
- Exploit Aggro: When the Fire Giant is targeting Alexander, use the opportunity to strike his vulnerable ankles in the first phase or the exposed wound in the second.
- Consider Your Build: Alexander is most effective for melee builds that can take advantage of his aggro draw. Ranged builds may find other summons more beneficial, but Alexander is still a viable option.
Situations Where Alexander Might Not Be Ideal
While Alexander is generally beneficial, there are some specific scenarios where he might not be the absolute best choice:
- Extremely High Damage Builds: If you’re confident in your ability to quickly dispatch the Fire Giant with a powerful build, a summon that provides more immediate burst damage (like a Black Knife Tiche) might be preferable.
- Specific Strategies: If you have a very particular strategy in mind that requires a different type of summon, then you may wish to use that instead.
Even in these scenarios, Alexander is still a solid choice due to his survivability and decent damage output.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I unlock Alexander for the Fire Giant fight?
You must complete a significant portion of Alexander’s questline to unlock him as a summon for this fight. This involves finding him in multiple locations, starting in Stormhill after the Godrick fight and culminating in Crumbling Farum Azula. Make sure you talk to him at each location.
2. Where exactly is Alexander’s summon sign located for the Fire Giant fight?
Alexander’s summon sign is located near the entrance to the Fire Giant boss arena, on the ground. Look carefully for the golden sign before entering the fog gate.
3. What happens if Alexander dies during the Fire Giant fight?
If Alexander dies, he’s gone for the rest of that attempt. You’ll have to summon him again on your next try. His death does not impact his overall questline, provided you’ve already progressed it sufficiently.
4. Does Alexander scale with my character level or weapon upgrades?
No, Alexander’s stats and damage output do not scale with your character level or weapon upgrades. He remains consistent regardless of your build.
5. Is Alexander a better summon than the Mimic Tear for this fight?
It depends. Mimic Tear is generally considered the stronger summon, as it copies your build and equipment. However, Alexander’s unique ability to draw aggro consistently can make him more valuable in this specific encounter, especially if you’re struggling with survivability.
6. Can I summon Alexander and use Spirit Ashes simultaneously?
No, you can only summon one ally – either Alexander or a Spirit Ash – at a time. You cannot use both in the same fight.
7. What are some good Spirit Ash alternatives if I don’t want to use Alexander?
Popular alternatives include Black Knife Tiche, Lhutel the Headless, and the Mimic Tear. These summons offer high damage output or excellent survivability.
8. Does using Alexander lock me out of any achievements or trophies?
No, summoning Alexander has no impact on your ability to earn achievements or trophies.
9. Is Alexander’s questline difficult to complete?
Alexander’s questline involves some challenging encounters, but it’s generally not too difficult. Following a guide can help you avoid missing any key steps. The final part of the quest requires you to challenge him to a duel, so be prepared for a fight.
10. Does the difficulty of the Fire Giant fight change depending on whether I summon Alexander?
The boss doesn’t technically get harder, but having Alexander there reduces the boss’s focus on you, making it feel easier. Summoning Alexander does not give the Fire Giant any kind of damage or HP buff.
11. What stats should I prioritize when fighting the Fire Giant with Alexander?
Focus on Vigor (for survivability), Strength or Dexterity (depending on your weapon), and Endurance (for stamina). Having enough stamina to roll away from the Fire Giant’s attacks and deliver counterattacks is crucial.
12. What kind of weapons and armor are effective against the Fire Giant?
Weapons that deal physical damage are most effective, especially those that allow you to target his ankles in the first phase. Armor with high physical defense and fire resistance is recommended.
13. Are there any specific items or talismans that are particularly helpful for this fight?
The Flame, Grant Me Strength incantation and the Fire Scorpion Charm can boost your fire damage output (if using fire-based weapons). The Crimson Amber Medallion and Green Turtle Talisman can improve your survivability and stamina recovery.
14. Can I use the spirit calling bell more than once to summon Alexander if he dies in the fight?
No. You can only summon Alexander once per attempt at the boss fight. If he dies, you must re-enter the arena (either by dying yourself or resting at a site of grace) to re-summon him.
15. Will Alexander’s dialogue or actions change if I summon him for the Fire Giant?
Alexander has no unique dialogue specifically tied to the Fire Giant fight. He will behave as he normally would in combat. His presence is purely mechanical – to aid you in defeating the boss.
In conclusion, summoning Alexander for the Fire Giant fight is an excellent strategy that can significantly improve your chances of success. His ability to soak damage, draw aggro, and deal respectable damage makes him a valuable ally in this challenging encounter. Just be sure to complete enough of his questline to unlock him as a summon first! Good luck, Tarnished!