Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon: Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in Armored Core VI

You are C4-621, a cyborg mercenary who takes the identity "Raven" on Rubicon 3 and works for a handler named Walter, who recruits you with a promise to reverse your augmentation. Do the beginner training missions: they teach the controls and basics of building an AC, and they reward AC parts. The game has several boost types with different costs and uses, so experiment with them. Parts can only be bought between missions, not at checkpoints, so stock up before you deploy, and you can swap equipment between missions even after a defeat.

Core Mechanics to Master

Each AC carries four weapons, one per hand and one per shoulder, within the limits of its weight and energy. Aggressive play keeps pressure on an enemy's stagger meter, which leads to staggers and higher damage, so mix rapid-fire weapons with heavier-impact ones and close the distance with Assault Boost and Quick Boost rather than hanging back. Use Quick Boost to reposition and move out of the way of attacks.

A Simple Starter Build

One workable early setup is the RF-024 TURNER (assault rifle, arm unit) with the SG-027 ZIMMERMAN (shotgun, arm unit): the rifle works from range and the shotgun hits hard up close. The TURNER is available in the shop after the first training mission and costs 55,000 COAM, and the ZIMMERMAN unlocks after you beat Sea Spider for the first time and costs 115,000 COAM. For legs, tetrapod legs can hover for long periods, which helps with aerial play, while Xbox's launch guide calls bipedal legs an all-rounder. The VP-20D generator (EN output 4430, 275,000 COAM) is a purchasable option for boosting. SONGBIRDS, a compact double-barreled grenade cannon (182,000 COAM), goes in a back-unit slot, not on an arm. This is a starting suggestion, not the only build, and the garage lets you save and swap configurations.

Essential Tips

1. Check the enemy before each mission and adjust. The AH12 HC Helicopter, for example, is strong against kinetic damage, so a kinetic-only loadout does less against it.
2. Missions award COAM, which buys parts and weapons. Extra objectives add bonuses, while repair and ammunition costs reduce the payout. There is no debt system, so you can retry missions without losing currency.
3. Use target lock (click the right stick) so you can concentrate on movement while your weapons track the enemy.
4. Keep moving. Use Quick Boost to reposition and make use of cover.

First Major Boss: AH12 HC Helicopter (Illegal Entry)

The AH12 HC Helicopter is fought in the very first mission, "Illegal Entry". Its main threats are heavy missiles from its underside pods (no homing, large blast radius), a homing missile salvo, and gatling guns that cause heavy AP damage and ACS strain. It is most dangerous at mid to long range, so close the distance quickly with Assault Boost and get underneath it, using nearby buildings as cover against the heavy missiles. It is strong against kinetic damage and weak to the Pulse Blade, so chip its AP with the blade and combo with it when the helicopter staggers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to play previous Armored Core games?
A: No. Armored Core VI is a new entry in the series and does not require the earlier games, but we have not compared it with them in detail.

Q: How many endings are there?
A: Guides count three. The Fires of Raven and Liberator of Rubicon are decided by a choice at the end of Chapter 5 and are available in New Game and New Game Plus. The third, Alea Iacta Est, needs a second New Game Plus (NG++) and a separate set of mission choices, and its story is told from the opposing faction. Each playthrough starts again from Chapter 1.

Q: What multiplayer is there?
A: PvP only, in 1v1 and 3v3 online matches, with no co-op campaign. Private lobbies were all that was available at launch, and ranked matchmaking was added later, per Wikipedia.