Armored Core VI – Fires of Rubicon will be a new foray for many gamers, simply due to the meteoric rise of FromSoftware. Many fans of the Soulslike genre will testing their abilities in action-packed, lightning-paced mech combat for the first time. For beginners, the obvious idea with Armored Core would be to treat it like any other Soulslike game. Whilst this latest instalment of the Armored Core franchise has incorporated some Soulslike aspects, it is important to know that AC VI is its own game with its own very unique and challenging playstyle. Let’s get into the tips and hopefully have you flying and gunning like a pro in no time.
Play and Persevere
Like we can usually expect with all FromSoftware games, there is no easy mode. Playing AC for the first time is going to take some time getting used to. The omni-directional battlefield is certainly an environment that requires a lot of time exploring to get right.
Early game, the last thing you should be worrying about is dying too much. Armored Core VI isn’t comparable in difficulty to say a Dark Souls or Sekiro, but it certainly has its own challenges. Mastering the often-frantic mech gameplay is one of them, another, is patience.
The first scenes of the first mission: Illegal Entry
Chapter one will feel like a breeze for the most part by introducing you to the game, giving you simple tasks to help you understand the base mechanics, and, like all FromSoftware titles, a boss fight to kick things off. Keep playing and keep persevering. The rewards will come sooner rather than later.
Complete Your Training
As you naturally advance through the chapters, you will find training events you can do. These can be found under the SORTIE menu in the Garage. Make sure to complete all of your Training tasks as and when they are unlocked. Not only will these training events help you understand the mechanics more, but they also reward you with parts for completing them, allowing you to drastically change the gameplay of your mech and explore new possibilities when it comes to building.
All of the training scenarios you should look to complete as and when they become available
The training will take you through everything you need to know about weapons, light, medium and heavy mech builds, how to use the mech systems and fly. It will also give you the base ideas and some materials needed to assemble these different variations of mechs. This, will lead us nicely on to tip three.
Be Adaptive in Building
Whilst playing through chapter one of Armored Core for a few hours you will begin to slide into the Soulslike way of thinking. You might be thinking to yourself, I really love the lightweight fast-paced playstyle, I’m going to buy the Nachtreiher assembly core and build into this. Only to find yourself obliterated by a heavy mech. The same goes for building a heavyweight mech and then you come across a lightweight AC who outmatches you.
Nachtreiher Core piece fundamental to a great beginner lightweight build
Unlike other FromSoftware games AC IV really shines in your ability to be adaptive. Simply trying to stick to one build for the whole game will be possible, but it certainly wont be fun all of the time. You’re going to come across certain bosses; that if you aren’t prepared, are going to make you likely quit the mission or the game. Balteus, were looking at you.
Strive to keep as much gear as possible and make sure to read the effects and descriptions of most guns and armours. You’re going to find a lot of useful information in there to help you in a lot of cases. For example, read the description of the Pulse gun in the store and remember that for when you come across a certain Chapter one boss.
Here we have the Pulse Gun, a variant of gun you’ll find very useful against certain enemies.
Replay Missions for Money
You’re eventually going to come to a point where you need an item to complete a boss and you don’t have any money, you know you shouldn’t sell armour or weapons, so how do you make money when there’s no more new missions?
Well, if you head to SORTIE you’ll find the replay missions tab with every previous mission you’ve done. Find an easy one for you and favourite build and go to town earning those sweet rewards. We’d recommend the recommend the Destroy the Tester AC mission as its relatively simple, quick, and a breeze with he correct setup. You can read more about making money here with this helpful guide.
Here under SORTIE you’ll find the mission replay menu with the available Destroy the Tester AC mission.
Also, you can try yourself in the Arena. Here you’ll find battles with specialised mechs that’ll test your adaptiveness and abilities with the driving factor of reward money at the end.
Enjoy Your First Playthrough
Armored Core is a fun experience in a combat system and gameplay environment you’ve probably never experienced before. A lot of the fun comes from dying, then experimenting, learning to overcome and getting that progression.
Try not to fall into the perfectionist mindset, especially if this is your first venture into the world. Making mistakes and struggling is part of the fun and learning process. Of course if the experience becomes unfun for you or tedious, help is always available, but try to persevere. The rewards you will reap for doing so are exactly what FromSoftware intended you to have.
Thank you for checking out our tips to get you started in Armored Core VI. If you want to check out other articles by our authors, perhaps even some other FromSoftware related titles, head over to our game directory or check out these ones here:
- How to Easily Farm COAM Early in ARMORED CORE 6 (Easy AC6 Money Guide
- Elden Ring | The Story of Starscourge Radahn
- 10 Dark Souls Tips New Players Must Know
