Summary

  • Armored Core 6 offers a variety of powerful build options for players, including strong weapons like the Zimmerman shotgun that does devastating damage at close range.
  • The Double Gatling Guns build is a great choice for players who want to wield two gatling guns, as it significantly increases stagger build-up on enemies and deals massive damage.
  • The Gunslinger or Cowboy build utilizes the Dual Pistol build with the buffed Duckett weapons, providing good stagger damage and mid-range pressure. However, players may struggle against bosses with beefier shields.

The main aspect of Armored Core 6 is for players to build their ideal ACs and pilot them against the Missions, the Arena, or other players. After acquiring all the available parts in the Missions, the game provides players with all the necessary parts to assemble their ACs for them to figure out which parts match their respective play styles.

Related: Armored Core 6: Best Early-Game Upgrades You Should Get As Soon As Possible

But amid all the weapons, which ones are the most overpowered and fun to run on an AC? From double shotguns or machine guns to melee-based builds, Armored Core 6 offers a variety of powerful build options to players, but some builds are more overpowered than others.

The playstyles of the following AC builds are dictated by the weapons each mech is equipped with.

5 Double Zimmerman

An AC running a double-Zimmerman build Armored Core 6

Specs

R-Arm Unit

SG-027 Zimmerman

L-Arm Unit

SG-027 Zimmerman

R-Back Unit

Songbirds

L-Back Unit

VE-67LLA

Head

HC-2000/BC Shade Eye

Core

VE-40A

Arms

VP-46D

Legs

RC-2000 Spring Chicken

Booster

BST-G2/P06SPD

FCS

FC-008 Talbot

Generator

IA-C01G: Aorta

Expansion

Pulse Armor

The Zimmerman shotgun is one of the strongest weapons in Armored Core 6. It does devastating damage, especially at close range, and does great stagger against bosses in Missions and player-manned ACs in PVP. Using double shotguns means that players have to adjust their playstyle to a more close-ranged one, but this build rewards players who do so.

Related: Armored Core 6: How to Save Loadouts

Wielding double Zimmerman shotguns significantly increases stagger build-up on enemies. All the player needs to do is get close and blast their opponent with both Zimmerman shotguns to get their targets staggered. This opens the target up for either the Songbirds shot or a follow-up melee hit of the Laser Lance.

4 Double Gatling Guns

an AC running a Dual Gatling Gun Tank build Armored Core 6

Specs

R-Arm Unit

DF-GA-08 Hu-Ben

L-Arm Unit

DF-GA-08 Hu-Ben

R-Back Unit

Songbirds

L-Back Unit

Songbirds

Head

VP-44D

Core

DF-BD-08 Tiang-Qiang

Arms

Nachteiher/46E

Legs

EL-TL-11 Fortaleza

Booster

Internal Booster

FCS

FC-008 Talbot

Generator

IA-C01G: Aorta

Expansion

Pulse Armor

For players who want to feel what it’s like to brandish two gatling guns during a mech fight, this Dual Gatling gun build is a great starting point. Both Arms wield Gatling Guns while the Back Units are Songbirds: the Gatling Guns will ramp up the stagger meter of targets significantly if players manage to stream the bullets steadily. Once the opponent is staggered, hitting them with dual Songbirds deals massive damage.

Related: Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon - Best Tips For Customizing Your Mech

Since lugging two Gatling Guns is cumbersome for most bipedal legs, opting for the Fortaleza Treads is the way to go. It grants this AC the speed and mobility it needs to zip around and drive by its target, while also having the ability to ram the enemy for more stagger build up.

3 Gunslinger

An AC sporting dual Duckett Handguns Armored Core 6

Specs

R-Arm Unit

HG-004 Duckett

L-Arm Unit

HG-004 Duckett

R-Back Unit

Songbirds

L-Back Unit

Earshot

Head

HD-033M Verrill

Core

EL-PC-00 Alba

Arms

Nachteiher/46E

Legs

06-041 Mind Alpha

Booster

Alula/21E

FCS

FC-008 Talbot

Generator

IA-C01G: Aorta

Expansion

Pulse Armor

The recent patch saw FromSoftware buff Kinetic Weapons, and some builds have run away with it. One example is the Dual Pistol builds, also known as the Gunslinger or Cowboy build. The Duckett now provides good stagger damage and mid-range pressure. Once staggered, the Songbirds or Earshot can deal massive Direct Damage on enemies. That said, in the latter Missions, the bosses tend to have beefier shields; players may struggle against such bosses and might have to resort to using other weapons.

Related: Armored Core 6: Best Early Game Builds

Unlike the Zimmerman shotguns, the Ducketts have more rounds per clip, but players need to be acclimated to its firing rate. Running this build means being highly mobile while pelting away at their target around the battlefield.

2 Lance-Bunker

An AC wielding a Laser Lance and Pile Bunker build Armored Core 6

Specs

R-Arm Unit

SG-027 Zimmerman

L-Arm Unit

VE-67LLA

R-Back Unit

Earshot

L-Back Unit

PB-033M Ashmead

Head

HC-2000/BC Shade Eye

Core

Nachteiher/40E

Arms

AA-J-123 Basho

Legs

06-041 Mind Alpha

Booster

Alula/21E

FCS

FC-006 Abbot

Generator

IA-C01G: Aorta

Expansion

Pulse Armor

For players who want a more challenging yet rewarding AC build, going for a melee AC is the way to go. This build runs both the Laser Lance and Pile Bunker; these two weapons complement each other since the former allows players to close in on their targets, while the latter deals tons of damage, especially when it hits its charged attack.

Related: Armored Core 6: How to Use the Weapon Bay

To ensure the Pile Bunker’s charge attack connects, a Zimmerman shotgun should be used once the Laser Lance hits. After staggering an opponent, players have an opening to charge the Pile Bunker and jam a strong attack or even use the Earshot for more Direct Damage.

1 Double Laser Pistols

An AC running Laser Weapons Armored Core 6

Specs

R-Arm Unit

VP-66LH

L-Arm Unit

VP-66LH

R-Back Unit

VP-60LCD

L-Back Unit

MA-E-211 Sampu

Head

HD-033M Verrill

Core

IA-C01C: Ephemera

Arms

Nachteiher/46E

Legs

IA-C01L: Ephemera

Booster

BST-G2/P06SPD

FCS

VE-21A

Generator

VE-20C

Expansion

Pulse Armor

A tweak of the Cowboy build, the Dual Laser Pistols utilize the consistent damage and range of Laser Weapons and apply it to the run-and-gun style of the conventional Kinetic Handgun weapons. The VP-66LH has decent range, a good firing rate, and a generous number of rounds to ensure players can tag their targets with good hits during their skirmishes.

Another great thing about Laser Weapons is that they can be charged. Each Laser Handgun can be charged separately, and once the target gets staggered, the charged attack can burn a good chunk of the opponent’s AP. The VP-60LCD also grants more Laser damage at a good range, while the Sampu burst handgun covers for the Laser Handgun when it is cooling down. That said, running Laser Weapons demands its players to manage their AC’s energy during combat.

Armored Core 6 is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

More: The Wildest Armored Core 6 Fan Mechs Built So Far