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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.