Image: FromSoftware via HGG / Dominic Allain
Dominic loves to completely immerse himself in RPGs, then break them apart by modding and speedrunning them.
Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
Armored Core has always been a game about finding and tweaking a build that’s right for you, and that remains true as ever in Armored Core 6. With a wide variety of different parts available, there’s a build to fit every playstyle. However, the game does restrict access to many parts during the early game, so finding the right build to overcome the initial walls may be tough. These four early game builds for Armored Core 6 should help you find a playstyle that you enjoy while also letting you breeze through the first chapter.
Beginner-Friendly Early Game Builds in Armored Core 6
Each of these builds utilizes parts available by the mission “Attack the Watchpoint” in Chapter 1. More parts appear as the story progresses, so we encourage you to upgrade these builds as you see fit. Finally, any necessary OS Tuning upgrades will be mentioned, including recommended Core Expansions.
Lightweight Bipedal Build
Bipedal legs have the widest variety of parts available in Armored Core 6, so they can be the foundation of any build. This build in particular focuses on high-speed, close-range combat, and using your mobility to stay close to enemies to confuse their tracking.
- R-Arm: SG-026 Haldeman
- L-Arm: MG-014 Ludlow
- R-Back: BML-G1/P20MLT-04
- L-Back: HI-32: BU-TT/A
- Head: Nachtreiher/44E
- Core: CC-2000 Orbiter
- Arms: AR-011 Melander
- Legs: 2C-2000 Crawler
- Booster: Alula/21E
- FCS: FC-006 Abbot
- Generator: DF-GN-06 Ming-Tang
- Expansion: Assault Armor
A shotgun provides bursts of stagger, while a machine gun will keep constant pressure on the enemy. Once they’re staggered, you can swap to a blade for massive damage. As such, this build requires the Weapon Bay OS tuning. Assault Armor allows for more aggressive play and counters any enemies who pack their own melee attacks.
The right back slot remains flexible if you prefer other back weapons over missiles, such as a grenade launcher. However, heavier options will require a different choice of leg, such as the Melander legs.
If you can keep beneath its tighter weight limit, the Nachtreiher legs will provide an extra bit of speed. With the wide range of bipedal legs out there, you can mix and match to truly make this build your own.
Reverse-Joint Build
Reverse-joint legs excel in vertical movement with their strong jumping ability. Even when you’re out of energy, these legs can still hop around and over dangerous attacks.
Since they’re so efficient at quickly getting above enemies, AoE weapons like grenade launchers and plasma rifles are quite effective – especially when you’re looking down at opponents from above, as the splash damage from your shots will still likely hit them even if the shot doesn’t directly connect.
- R-Arm: Vvc-760PR
- L-Arm: DF-GR-07 Gou-Chen
- R-Back: Vvc-70VPM
- L-Back: BML-G1/P20MLT-04
- Head: Nachtreiher/44E
- Core: CC-2000 Orbiter
- Arms: Nachtreiher/46E
- Legs: Kasuar/42Z
- Booster: BST-G2/P04
- FCS: FC-006 Abbot
- Generator: VP-20S
- Expansion: Pulse Armor
With this build, you’ll want to stay close to opponents to ensure your plasma shots connect. Keep jumping over enemies and blasting the ground beside them with grenades to quickly build stagger. The missiles will help maintain pressure even while you’re at a distance.
Pulse Armor helps keep you safe from stray shots, but more importantly, resets your stagger gauge in a pinch. This is especially helpful since reverse-jointed legs have lower Attitude Stability overall.
This build runs extremely close to the load limit, meaning alterations are limited. One possible alternative is the Nachtreiher bipedal legs, which have a similarly high jump height while being slightly more forgiving on load capacity.
Upgrading this type of build becomes much easier in the mid-game when weapons like the Songbirds or heavier legs like the Spring Chicken become available.
Quad-Legged Sniper Build
Tetrapod legs, in a departure from previous Armored Core titles, reign as the king of the skies. Their ability to hover in midair allows for extended aerial combat.
As a bonus, tetrapod legs don’t have to stop in place to fire shots from back mounted cannons or charged arm weapons. This makes it easier to stay far away from enemies and avoid their attacks. As a result, long range weapons like missiles pair very well with tetrapods.
- R-Arm: LR-036 Curtis
- L-Arm: LR-036 Curtis
- R-Back: BML-G2/P05MLT-10
- L-Back: BML-G2/P05MLT-10
- Head: VP-44S
- Core: CC-2000 Orbiter
- Arms: DF-AR-08 Tian-Quang
- Legs: VP-424
- Booster: Buerzel/21D
- FCS: FCS-G2/P10SLT
- Generator: VP-20D
- Expansion: Pulse Armor
You’ll want to make good use of Assault Boosts to gain height and create distance from your enemies. This allows you to bombard them from the skies with missiles to stagger them safely. The Linear Rifles play a flexible role in this build, pressuring enemies from mid-range to keep their stagger gauge high or capitalizing on staggers with their high damage multipliers.
Pulse Armor, aside from the additional protection, helps conserve energy while hovering, since you won’t have to dodge as many attacks.
The load capacity of tetrapod legs allows for strong flexibility with this build. The VP-60LCS laser cannons are a good alternative if you find yourself preferring energy weapons over missiles.
Heavy Tank Build
Sometimes brute force is all you need. Tank legs typically have huge defense and load capacity while sacrificing mobility, especially when changing direction. As a result, this build forgoes dodging most attacks to instead pack as much firepower as possible onto one mech.
- R-Arm: SG-026 Haldeman
- L-Arm: SG-026 Haldeman
- R-Back: VP-60LCS
- L-Back: VP-60LCS
- Head: HD-011 Melander
- Core: DF-BD-08 Tian-Quang
- Arms: DF-AR-08 Tian-Quang
- Legs: LG-022T Bornemissza
- Booster: None (Tank legs carry internal boosters)
- FCS: FC-006 Abbot
- Generator: VP-20D
- Expansion: Pulse Protection
A tank like this is an absolute king in close combat. The two shotguns and laser cannons excel at staggering enemies while dealing big damage at the same time. You won’t be dodging much chip damage, but you have the defense to shrug it off.
Save your Quick Boosts for dodging big attacks and use Assault Boost if you need to reposition. If you get the opportunity, this build has incredibly strong Boost Kicks due to its weight, especially against staggered enemies.
To round it out, Pulse Protection gives you a stationary barrier that’s stronger than Pulse Armor. It gives you a safe area to recharge while forcing enemies to either wear down the shield or engage you in close combat.
Different variations of tank legs appear later in the game, such as a hovering type and a lighter, faster variant. They all share the same traits of high defense and load capacity, though. If you can deal with their limited mobility, tank legs can do just about anything you want them to as a result.
Join the High Ground!
Part variety is fairly limited in the early game, but more options for builds open up as you progress through the story in Armored Core 6. Use these builds not only to get you through the first chapter, but also as a foundation for the build and playstyle you ultimately want to use.
If you’d like more advice on mid-to-late game options, be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and be on the lookout for more Armored Core 6 build guides.
Happy gaming!
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