You're likely here because your build feels like it's missing that one final "oomph." If you’ve spent any time in the Elden Ring community, you know the Shard of Alexander isn't just a nice-to-have accessory; it’s a non-negotiable requirement for anyone leaning into Ash of War damage. It boosts your skill power by a massive 15%. That's huge. Honestly, it’s the difference between leaving a boss with a sliver of health and watching their health bar vanish in one clean hit.
But here is the catch. Getting this thing is an absolute marathon. You can't just stumble into a cave and find it in a chest. You have to follow the most charismatic jar in the Lands Between, Iron Fist Alexander, through a series of increasingly bizarre scenarios across the entire map. Miss one step, or progress too far in the main story without checking in on him, and you might find yourself locked out until New Game Plus.
The Absolute Basics: Can You Cheese This?
Let's address the elephant in the room. Technically, you can get a version of this talisman early. If you meet Alexander at his very first location in Limgrave and decide to kill him right then and there, he drops the Warrior Jar Shard.
Don't do that.
Seriously. The Warrior Jar Shard only gives you a 10% boost. While 10% sounds okay, you are permanently trading away the 15% boost from the actual Shard of Alexander. You’re also killing off one of the only genuinely "good" guys in a world filled with cosmic horrors and depressed demigods. It's a bad trade mathematically and emotionally. To get the real deal, you have to commit to his questline, which doesn't actually wrap up until you're literally at the end of the game in Crumbling Farum Azula.
Step One: The Mud Hole in Limgrave
Your journey starts in Northern Limgrave. You’ll hear a voice shouting for help near Saintsbridge. It’s hard to miss—a giant jar stuck in the ground.
Basically, he's stuck in a hole. You need to hit him from behind with a heavy attack to pop him out. He’ll thank you, give you some Exalted Flesh, and mention he's heading to the Redmane Castle for a "festival." Most players think they need to follow him immediately, but Elden Ring is never that linear. You can actually skip this first meeting if you’ve already progressed toward Caelid, and he’ll just show up at the next spot, but it’s better to do it now for the sake of completion.
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The Gaol Tunnel and the Redmane Festival
The next time you’ll likely see him is in the Gaol Tunnel in Caelid. This is a minor dungeon on the border of Limgrave and the rot-infested wilds. He’s standing behind a locked door near the end of the tunnel. Talk to him through the bars, then go around, beat the Magma Wyrm boss, and open the door from the other side.
Then comes the big event: The Radahn Festival.
This is a mandatory step. You need to trigger the festival at Redmane Castle—usually by reaching Altus Plateau or progressing Ranni’s quest—and summon Alexander during the fight with Starscourge Radahn. He’s actually surprisingly helpful here. His "spinning top" attack can take some heat off you while you're trying not to get sniped by Radahn’s purple arrows. After the fight, look for him on the battlefield. He’ll be scooping up "remains" to put inside himself. It’s gross, but it’s his thing. Talk to him until he starts repeating himself.
Getting Him Out of Liurnia (The Oil Pot Incident)
After Caelid, Alexander heads to Liurnia of the Lakes. He’s stuck in another hole, but this time, a simple smack won't work. If you try to hit him, he'll tell you he’s too dry and might crack.
You need an Oil Pot.
This is where people usually get stuck. You need the Nomadic Warrior’s Cookbook [17], which is sold by the nomadic merchant in the Siofra River underground area. Once you have the recipe, craft an Oil Pot (requires Melted Mushrooms), throw it at him, and then hit him with a heavy attack. He’ll pop out again. If you don't have the recipe and don't want to go underground, you’re going to be backtracking later, which is a massive pain in the soul.
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Mount Gelmir: The Lava Bath
Next, you’ll find him near Fort Laiedd in Mount Gelmir. There’s a Magma Wyrm boss in a lake of lava just behind the fort. Kill the Wyrm, and you’ll see Alexander standing in the lava, "tempering" his jar body.
Pro tip: Stand on a rock nearby to talk to him so you don't take tick damage from the lava. He’ll give you the Jar helmet, which is... a look, to say the least. This conversation is vital. If you don't talk to him here, he won't show up at the final location. Honestly, his dialogue here is some of the best in the game; he’s starting to realize that no matter how many warriors he "consumes," he might not be strong enough.
The Final Showdown in Crumbling Farum Azula
To get the Shard of Alexander, you have to reach the literal end-game area: Crumbling Farum Azula.
After you beat the Godskin Duo (the worst fight in the game, let’s be real), you’ll head toward the Dragon Temple Rooftop site of grace. You'll see a sleeping dragon in the distance and a series of floating platforms. Alexander is standing on a large debris structure overlooking the abyss.
He’ll challenge you to a duel.
This isn't a "friendly" sparring match. He wants a fight to the death to prove his worth as a warrior. It’s a somber moment. He’s actually quite tough—his Shard Spiral and slamming attacks deal massive damage. Once you defeat him, he shatters. He gives you his innards (a key item for a different quest) and, finally, the Shard of Alexander.
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Why Everyone Wants This Talisman
If you are using Moonveil, Rivers of Blood, the Blasphemous Blade, or even just a standard sword with Square Off, this talisman is your best friend. In Elden Ring, the meta revolves around weapon arts. The 15% damage increase is multiplicative with other buffs like the Ritual Sword Talisman or the Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear.
Think about it this way: if your Skill does 1,000 damage, this talisman bumps it to 1,150. Stack that with a few other buffs, and you’re looking at one-shotting invaders and melting boss health bars in seconds.
Common Pitfalls and Why He Might Not Be Spawning
If you've gone to Farum Azula and he's not there, you probably missed him at Mount Gelmir. Go back to the lava lake and check if he's still hanging out. If he’s not there and not at Farum Azula, check the Radahn battlefield. Sometimes the game gets "stuck" and he won't move until you've exhausted every single line of dialogue at his previous location.
Also, be careful not to trigger the end of the game before finishing this. While you can usually finish his quest after killing the final boss, it’s much safer to do it as soon as you reach Farum Azula to avoid any weird state-flags in the game's code breaking.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Build
Once you have the shard in your inventory, don't just slap it on and call it a day. To maximize the value of the Shard of Alexander, you should:
- Pair it with the Godfrey Icon if your Ash of War can be charged (like the Dark Moon Greatsword).
- Use the Carian Filigreed Crest to lower the FP cost of your skills so you can spam them more often.
- Check your Flask of Wondrous Physick. If you’re using a fire-based skill, make sure you have the Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear active.
Getting this talisman is a rite of passage. It takes you across the entire map, forces you to craft items you’d otherwise ignore, and ends with one of the most emotional NPC deaths in FromSoftware history. It’s worth every second.