Tales of Xillia 2
Tales of Xillia 2

Alvin: The Mercenary

Guide Alvin's mercenary style in Tales of Xillia 2. Understand his unique combat and complete his character episodes for valuable insights and rewards.

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Alvin: The Mercenary

Alvin, the enigmatic mercenary, returns in Tales of Xillia 2 with his signature blend of brute force and tactical versatility. His character episodes delve deeper into his past and motivations, offering valuable insights and powerful rewards. Successfully navigating these episodes requires careful preparation and understanding of his unique combat style.

Alvin's Character Episodes Walkthrough

Alvin's character episodes become available at specific points in the main story and are crucial for unlocking his full potential and strengthening your party's bonds. Always check the Job Board in cities like Trigleph or Duval for new episode prompts.

Episode 1: A Familiar Face

  • Availability: After completing Chapter 4: Origin, Rampage.
  • Location: Head to the Trigleph Port. You'll find Alvin near the docks.
  • Objective: Alvin needs assistance with a negotiation. Follow him to the meeting point in the Lower City of Trigleph.
  • Strategy:
    • During the dialogue choices, selecting options that emphasize practicality and directness will generally please Alvin. For example, when asked about the best approach, choosing "Get straight to the point" is usually a good bet.
    • A minor skirmish will occur. The enemies are standard thugs; focus on linking Ludger with Alvin to use his powerful charge attacks and break through their guards.
  • Reward: 3000 Gald, 100 Affinity with Alvin.

Episode 2: The Price of Loyalty

  • Availability: After repaying a certain amount of debt (typically around 200,000 Gald) and progressing further in the main story. Check the Job Board in Duval.
  • Location: Start by speaking to Alvin in the Duval Central Plaza. He'll mention a lead in the Rusalle Highroad.
  • Objective: Investigate a suspicious group of mercenaries in the Rusalle Highroad.
  • Strategy:
    • Travel to the Rusalle Highroad. The suspicious group will be marked on your map. Engage them in battle.
    • These enemies are slightly tougher than standard encounters. They often employ defensive maneuvers. Alvin's "Charge" artes, like Charge Shot and Charge Blade, are excellent for breaking through their defenses.
    • Ensure Ludger has artes that can quickly close gaps or interrupt enemy casting, such as Swallow Flight or Demon Fang.
    • After the battle, Alvin will lead you to a hidden stash.
  • Item Location: The hidden stash contains a Rare Metal Fragment and 5000 Gald.
  • Reward: 5000 Gald, 150 Affinity with Alvin, unlocks the "Mercenary's Resolve" title for Alvin, granting a small boost to physical attack.

Episode 3: Echoes of the Past

  • Availability: Requires significant main story progression (usually after Chapter 9) and a higher Affinity with Alvin. Look for the prompt on the Job Board in Xian Du.
  • Location: Alvin will be waiting near the arena in Xian Du. He'll ask you to accompany him to the Arklund Quicksand.
  • Objective: Confront a ghost from Alvin's past within the treacherous Arklund Quicksand.
  • Strategy:
    • The Arklund Quicksand is a dangerous area. Be prepared for multiple encounters with Sand Worms and Desert Lizards. Equip accessories that resist Earth damage if possible.
    • Navigate through the quicksand carefully, avoiding the sinking areas. The path to Alvin's target is generally straightforward but involves several detours for treasure.
    • The boss battle against the "Vengeful Mercenary" is challenging. This enemy is fast and hits hard.
    • Boss Strategy:
      • The Vengeful Mercenary is weak to Wind artes. Link Ludger with Alvin and use Alvin's Gale Claw or Wind Blade if you have them.
      • Focus on breaking the enemy's guard. Alvin's charge attacks are invaluable here.
      • The boss has a powerful Mystic Arte. Save your Unison Attacks and Chromatus transformation for when the boss is vulnerable or to interrupt its casting.
      • Keep your party's HP high. Have Milla or Elize linked for healing support.
  • Item Location: After defeating the boss, search the immediate area for a chest containing a Spirit Ring.
  • Reward: 10,000 Gald, 250 Affinity with Alvin, unlocks the "Path of Redemption" title for Alvin, increasing his critical hit rate.

Episode 4: A New Beginning

  • Availability: Nearing the end of the main story (Chapter 13 or later) and very high Affinity with Alvin. Check the Job Board in Marksburg.
  • Location: Alvin will be found in the Marksburg Research Facility entrance. He needs your help with a final, personal matter.
  • Objective: Assist Alvin in securing a valuable artifact from a heavily guarded section of the facility.
  • Strategy:
    • This episode involves navigating a small dungeon-like area within the Marksburg Research Facility. Expect encounters with advanced Golems and Security Bots.
    • These enemies often have high physical defense. Consider using elemental artes or artes that inflict status effects.
    • There will be a mini-boss encounter against a "Prototype Guardian." This enemy is robust and has high HP.
    • Mini-Boss Strategy:
      • The Prototype Guardian is resistant to physical damage but vulnerable to magic. Link Ludger with a magic-user like Rowen or Leia to maximize damage.
      • Alvin's role here is to draw aggro and use his charge attacks to stagger the enemy, creating openings for your magic users.
      • Be mindful of its area-of-effect attacks. Dodge roll frequently.
    • After the battle, Alvin will retrieve the artifact.
  • Item Location: A hidden chest near the Prototype Guardian's chamber contains an Elixir and a Mystic Symbol.
  • Reward: 15,000 Gald, 300 Affinity with Alvin, unlocks Alvin's final Mystic Arte (if not already learned), and the "True Mercenary" title, providing a significant boost to all stats.

Alvin's Combat Tips

Alvin is a versatile fighter, capable of both close-range swordplay and mid-range gun attacks. Mastering his unique weapon-switching mechanic is key to maximizing his damage output.

  • Weapon Switching: Alvin can seamlessly switch between his sword and gun during combos. Use sword attacks for close-quarters damage and gun attacks to maintain pressure from a distance or to target flying enemies.
  • Charge Artes: Many of Alvin's artes can be charged by holding down the arte button. This increases their power, range, and often grants them special properties like guard breaking. Prioritize charging artes like Charge Shot and Charge Blade against heavily armored foes.
  • Link Artes: Alvin has excellent link artes with Ludger, particularly those that involve powerful, single-target strikes. use these to burst down high-priority targets.
  • Role in Party: Alvin excels as a damage dealer and a secondary tank due to his decent HP and ability to draw aggro. Pair him with a dedicated healer or another strong damage dealer to create a balanced party.