Can Aldrich even fight without Gwyndolin?

Throughout the entire battle Aldrich uses Gwyndolin to fight. This appears to have many disadvantages (clumsy movement; slow, inaccurate attacks; taking more damage if Gwyndolin is struck), but if he stuck with it till death then there must have been a reason.

If - without Gwyndolin - Aldrich is a lot like the Flesh Slug enemies in the Cathedral of the deep or outside his boss room, then it might make sense to do this. But was he really that weak before he got ahold of Gwyndolin, or is there some other reason he chose to fight that way?