Learn how to customize and optimize your Armored Core (AC) in Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. Discover parts, weapons, and loadout strategies to excel in missions and the Arena.
Welcome to Armored Core VI, an approachable, highly polished mech combat game where the main focus is customising and optimising your AC (Armored Core) before taking on various missions. In the beginning, your build options will be more limited, with more varied parts and weapons unlocking throughout the game, allowing you to fine-tune and build an AC to your own preference and mission challenges. This section covers the core aspects of AC creation and customization.
Stage 1: Casual Playthrough
When beginning your journey, it is recommended to take your time and enjoy the first playthrough completely blind. The game is very forgiving and allows access to most completed content at all times, with a single exception that isn't relevant until much deeper into your journey. As such, playing freely and experimenting is encouraged.
Following that, it is recommended to take an active part in the 'Arena' throughout the casual playthrough, as it will be the main path to overarching upgrades across all AC setups. This connects into the biggest recommendation: experiment with your AC and loadout. This is the fastest and most effective way to gain a baseline understanding of what you may favour in gameplay style, weapons, build, and overall approach to the game.
Note: Either of the 'The Fires of Raven' or 'Liberator of Rubicon' endings can be achieved in your first playthrough, so choose whichever, as there is no lasting effect so long as you do the other in the next playthrough.
Key AC Creation & Customization Trophies:
- Hardware Engineer: Assembled an AC.
- Software Engineer: Upgraded your AC's OS.
- Graphic Designer: Changed the coloration of your AC.
- Tuning Expert: Performed all OS upgrades.
Stage 2: All Endings and Arena
This stage is focused on finishing 2 main sections: the Arena and the endings. Both of these will require a minimum of 2 more playthroughs. While that may sound daunting, these should both go much quicker than the casual playthrough due to increased player power and knowledge. Decision missions are important here, acting as junctions where you will choose one mission to complete, with the others becoming unavailable until the next playthrough. Alongside this is the appearance of [ALT] missions. These are remixes of levels, ranging from a few extra enemies to entire structural differences.
For the second playthrough (NG+), the focus should be on the decision missions. These will have appeared in the first playthrough too, but are important here as you need to make sure you choose the opposing choice you made in the first playthrough. The original choice can be checked through the Mission Replay sub-menu. Doing so should reduce the chance of missing missions and earning the correct ending. It is recommended to refer to 'Stargazer' throughout both NG+ and NG++.
For the third playthrough (NG++), new decisions and alternate missions become available. Although special care must be taken, as a lot of these are tied to 'Alea Iacta Est'. This is the final ending, and is the only ending that requires making specific decisions throughout the playthrough. Refer to the trophy description carefully to avoid requiring an extra playthrough. To further avoid added playthroughs, across both playthroughs, further Arena opponents will unlock; the arena opponents unlocked during NG++ need to be completed as soon as they unlock, as they will need to be unlocked again in a subsequent playthrough if they are missed.
Key AC Creation & Customization Trophies (Continued):
- Master of Arena: Cleared all Arena programs.
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