Geothermal Valley - Defending the Village Against Attack (Part 2)

When you're ready, move outside. A cutscene introduces a scary-looking guy in a protective suit with a flamethrower.

This mini-boss is super easy to defeat if you have the GRENADE LAUNCHER attachment for the rifle, which I've been encouraging you to buy from the SUPPLY SHACK. Just switch from the shotgun to the rifle, aim at the flamethrower guy as he approaches (aim low, toward his legs or lower body, so that if the grenade bounces, it will most likely land in front of him and still do some damage) and then press RB/Middle Mouse to launch a grenade or two before he gets close enough to light you up.

After one or two successful hits...

...the fuel tanks on his back explode, and a cutscene ensues. That's it for the big, bad fire boss.

- OR -

If you don't have the grenade launcher, you can still defeat him with other weapons. It's just more challenging. Don't bother with poison or fire arrows. His suit protects him from flames and toxic gas. The shotgun is your best bet, but you can use these same tactics with the rifle or pistol. It'll just take longer.

You start the fight crouched behind a wooden crate with a cloth drape. This cover will not last for long, though, since the flamethrower can quickly burn through it.

Squeeze off a few shots as the boss approaches.

Then, when he starts to sweep the flamethrower in your direction...

...press B/C to dodge out of the way and start running around the edge of the clearing to stay clear of the flames.

Try to get behind him or, failing that, try to find some temporary cover and shoot him at a slight angle rather than head-on.

If you hit him off center, or dodge when he's close to you, it will spin him around so you can target the tanks on his back. That's his weak point.

Try to shoot the tanks few times in quick succession before he can regain his balance.

When he starts to flame again, dodge out of the way like you did before.

Then run around the edge of the clearing, using bandages (LB/V) if necessary, and staying ahead of the flames.

Once you've healed and he pauses between bursts of fire, try to spin him around again, either by dodging his attack or by hitting him slightly off-center with a shotgun blast.

Continue to target the tanks. After a few successful hits, you'll see gas starting to leak out through the holes you made.

Another blast should then ignite the gas. When you see flames starting to shoot out of the tanks, you'll know you've succeeded.

A moment later the tanks explode, engulfing the boss in flames. And that, my darlings, is what happens when you mess with Lara Croft.

NOTE: If you start the fight with maximum shotgun ammo and fight strategically, you shouldn't run out. But if you do, you can either switch to the pistol or rifle or try looting bodies of the guys you killed earlier. This will leave Lara vulnerable to attack, however, so it may make more sense to just reload the checkpoint and try again.