Armored Core 6 best builds for all playstyles

Here's all the best mech builds and loadouts for lightweight and heavyweight combat in AC6

Our Armored Core 6 best builds will help players get to grips with building the best mech loadout possible - though it's important to remember that what's good in one combat encounter may not be very good in another. The best builds in AC6 are usually contextual, made to respond to specific threats and opponents and exploit their weaknesses, as well as compliment the pilot's playstyle.

With that in mind, we've assembled three powerful builds below for players to try out, all suited to different encounters and playstyles. There's bound to be something you like here, so check out everything you need to know about the best mech builds in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon!

We've arranged the three best builds for Armored Core 6 below in a personal order of preference, though any of them can be very powerful and have their moment.

Armored Core 6 best weaponsArmored Core 6 EN ShortfallArmored Core 6 weight and load explainedArmored Core 6 Decisions explainedArmored Core 6 money farm method

Just scroll down or use the tags at the side of the page to find the one you're most interested in, but keep in mind that much of what appeals about these to us is personal preference and playstyle - you may find your own builds along the way that better match how you control (for example, dodges over shields, sustained fire over single shots, etc). Still, these builds can work as a foundation on which to then modify them into your own preferred creations - and let's start with our favourite now!

This build is focused on being light and agile, with close range weaponry that requires little thought or consideration.

This is the build we had the most success with; a light and speedy mech capable of dashing about without slowing down, and simple weaponry that requires very little thought, meaning all your effort can be on movement - which you'll need, because you're not especially resilient at just 9000 AP. Unleash a barrage of Plasma shots to whittle down opponents' shields with AOE attacks, then dash in when they hit ACS overload and put two shotgun barrels in their nose and pull the trigger. If you prefer rapid fire, try swapping the shotguns out for the DF-MG-02 Chang-Chen machine guns.

This build is big, bulky and focused on unrelenting medium-range firepower.

If you're happy with being a slow, sitting duck, this heavyweight tetrapod build is actually decently versatile, with gear to deal with both bosses and minions alike. The key is never relenting - whittling down opponents and keeping on the offensive with the Miniguns and Laser Drones, then firing the Stun Needle when you see the chance. If anything gets too close or you see your chance, the Haldeman will tear them a new one nicely - or feel free to swap it for another close-range weapon if you're so inclined, we quite like dual-wielding those miniguns.

Finally, this middling weight and defence build is focused on versatile options before lunging in with the Laser Blade sword - one of the most powerful weapons in Fires of Rubicon.

Finally, for those who want something in the middle and with something for everything, this versatile build might require a more experienced pilot who can balance its many disparate parts, but the result is something pretty impressive. The Plasma Rifle and Missile Launcher will deal with the rank-and-file mechs nicely enough, and while the mechanics of this build make it a little stop-and-start in its movements, its firepower and range of options mean you'll be able to deal with any threat you come across.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and raconteur with a Masters from Sussex University, none of which has actually equipped him for anything in real life. As a result he chooses to spend most of his time playing video games, reading old books and ingesting chemically-risky levels of caffeine. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at USgamer, Gfinity, Eurogamer and more besides.

Cities: Skylines 2 promises an improved city-building sim that lets you follow every last citizen and watch their life events

Early reviews for indie JRPG Sea of Stars put it among 2023's biggest GOTY contenders

Tomb Raider fans think Call of Duty might be giving us the first look at the new, "unified" Lara Croft

By Joel FraneyAugust 24, 2023

By Iain WilsonAugust 22, 2023

By Will SawyerAugust 22, 2023

By Will SawyerAugust 22, 2023

By Will SawyerAugust 22, 2023

By Will SawyerAugust 22, 2023

By Ben WilsonAugust 20, 2023

By Ben WilsonAugust 20, 2023

By Ben WilsonAugust 20, 2023

By Ben WilsonAugust 20, 2023

By Ben WilsonAugust 19, 2023