Armored Core 6 features over 370 unique parts that you can use to customize your mech (Armored Core). With so many options to choose from, it can get overwhelming to decide the best parts to use.
This comprehensive guide discusses the top parts for each category in Armored Core 6. We not only suggest the highest rated parts but also great alternatives considering stats and availability.
So whether you‘re just starting or looking to min-max your build, use this guide to find the ideal parts for your playstyle.
Table of Contents
- Armored Core 6 Parts Overview
- Best Arms Category Parts
- Right Arm – RF-025 Scudder
- Left Arm – 44-141 JVLN Alpha
- Alternatives
- Best Back Category Parts
- R-Back – VVC-706PM
- L-Back – Songbirds Grenade Cannon
- Alternatives
- Best Head Category Parts
- HD-033M Verrill
- Alternatives
- Best Core Category Parts
- DF-BD-08 Tian Qiang
- Alternatives
- Best Arms Category Parts
- Ephemera
- Alternatives
- Best Legs Category Parts
- VP-424
- Alternatives
- Best Booster Parts
- FlueGel/21Z
- Alternatives
- Best Generator Parts
- VP 20-D
- Alternatives
- Best FCS Parts
- FC-006 Abbot
- Alternatives
Armored Core 6 Parts Overview
Before jumping into recommendations, let‘s quickly go over the basics of how parts work in Armored Core 6.
There are 10 part slots available to customize:
- L/R Arms: Mounted weapons like rifles, rocket launchers etc.
- L/R Back: Defense equipment like missile pods or shields.
- Head: Responsible for lock-on, scanning enemies etc.
- Core: Torso component providing defense and weapon damage.
- Arms: The shoulders and arms used to mount weapons or gear.
- Legs: Allow movement and evasion. Different styles exist.
- Booster: Provides temporary speed bursts.
- Generator: Generates EN to deploy abilities and gear.
- FCS: Fire Control System to manage lock-ons and firing.
Each part affects different stats from offense to defense and mobility. The key is finding parts that complement each other and fit your combat style.
Next, let‘s look at parts recommendations for each category.
Best Arms Category Parts
Arms in Armored Core 6 refer to the weapons equipped on your left and right shoulders using the L/R Arm slots.
For weapons, raw firepower is important but you also want range, ammo capacity, reload speed etc to match your playstyle.
Right Arm – RF-025 Scudder
The RF-025 Scudder is an assault rifle offering rapid fire rounds perfect for close to mid range combat.
![RF-025 Scudder equipped on right arm]
Although each bullet only deals 110 damage, it fires 2.9 rounds per second with a large magazine capacity of 15 rounds. Combined with the modest 50 EN cost per shot, you can melt enemies quickly.
It also helps that reloading only takes 3.2 seconds along with a super lightweight construction. This lets you maneuver easily while dishing out high DPS.
The Scudder shines when enemies are staggered as each shot deals 50% bonus damage. So pair it with high impact weapons to maximize its output.
You can purchase the RF-025 Scudder from the Parts Shop for 205,000 COAM.
Left Arm – 44-141 JVLN Alpha
For the left arm, the 44-141 JVLN Alpha detonating bazooka is a ideal choice. Firing large Explosive blasts, it obliterates groups of enemies quickly.
Each shot deals a massive 1075 damage with high 15m blast radius. It also delivers extreme Impact force (850) to stagger enemies.
The main downside is its single shot design with only 4 ammo capacity. But the devastating firepower makes up for it.
Buy the JVLN Alpha detonating bazooka from the Parts Shop for 300,000 COAM. It‘s available for both left and right arms.
Alternatives
- DF-GA-08 HU-BEN: Gatling gun for rapid sustained fire. Low per bullet damage but 1,300 total ammo capacity. Available for 150,000 COAM.
So in summary, the Scudder assault rifle and JVLN Alpha bazooka combo works very effectively for versatile offense.
Next up, let‘s check out the back category parts.
Best Back Category Parts
The Left and Right Back parts are mounted behind your core, essentially offering extra defense and firepower.
For the Back category, focus on parts offering either strong offensive tools or defensive countermeasures. Mobility can also be useful here.
R-Back – VVC-706PM
The VVC-706PM is a plasma missile launcher used to quickly decimate groups of enemies. Firing 6 missiles at a time that can lock onto different targets, it absolutely devastates the battlefield.
Although each missile only deals 75 damage, the total output per salvo with 6 missiles is a staggering 450 damage. It also helps that you can stock up on a large supply of 210 missiles before reloading.
In terms of defensive ability, the VVC-706PM has modest resistances of 40 against kinetic and energy weapons. But the sheer missile spam potential more than makes up for it.
You can buy this premium missile launcher for 310,000 COAM from the Parts Shop.
L-Back – Songbirds Grenade Cannon
For the left back, I recommend the Songbirds Grenade Cannon for its combinations of damage and impact.
Firing off 60mm grenades, each shot deals 754 damage with a whopping 1450 Impact force, perfect for staggering enemies.
It does come with a low total ammo capacity of 22 shots. But you‘ll rarely need more than 1-2 shots to obliterate most enemies anyway.
Purchase the Songbirds Grenade Cannon for 182,000 COAM from the Parts Shop.
Alternatives
- SB-033M Morley: Cheaper alternative spread bazooka starting at 100,000 COAM cost.
The VVC-706PM missile launcher and Songbirds grenade cannon serve as extremely potent back weapons. You can overwhelm enemies quickly with their firepower.
Next, let‘s examine the ideal Head parts.
Best Head Category Parts
The Head category encompasses all the sensor, lock-on and scanning capabilities of your mech. Having advanced systems here minimizes threats that go undetected.
For head parts, focus on scan range, sensor strength, lock-on capabilities etc to maximize environmental awareness.
HD-033M Verrill
Undoubtedly the best head part is the HD-033M Verrill for its all-round sensory capabilities and defenses.
It offers strong uniform defense against all damage types thanks to a durable nanolaminated armor. This allows you to withstand threats from any weapon category.
The highlight though is its 510m scan range combined with a 7.8s scan effect duration. This means you‘ll spot threats early allowing sufficient time to react.
The only real downside is slightly slower anomaly detection taking about 510s to trigger warnings. But the scanning capabilities more than outweigh this con.
Pick up the extremely versatile HD-033M Verrill head part from the Parts Shop for 205,000 COAM.
Alternatives
- DF-HD-08 Tian Qiang – More specialized for energy damage with faster anomaly warnings. Costs 150,000 COAM.
- VE-44A – Improves scan data retention at a premium 275,000 COAM price.
In summary, the Verrill head part is my top recommendation for its unmatched sensory suite. Next, let‘s take a look at Core category parts.
Best Core Category Parts
The Core forms the heart of your Armored Core providing defenses and some offensive damage.
For the Core category, prioritize resistances across damage types and high durability. Offensive ability is an added bonus.
DF-BD-08 Tian Qiang
Undisputedly, the DF-BD-08 Tian Qiang reigns supreme as the #1 Core part currently.
It has extremely balanced defenses with super high 4130 armor against kinetic weapons, 3770 vs explosives and 3930 vs energy types. This makes you a formidable tank against any threat.
The Core also enhances damage with all equipped weaponry thanks to its 4000+ attack power rating. Any shots landing on an enemy also imparts a strong impact force keeping them staggered.
About the only negative is its heavier 21,000 kg weight. But the defensive and offensive boosts are worth the mobility trade-off.
Purchase the ultra powerful DF-BD-08 Tian Qiang from the Parts Shop for 390,000 COAM. It is very expensive but delivers performance to match.
Alternatives
- VE-40A – Slightly better energy damage defenses for 570,000 COAM cost.
- BD-011 Melander – Cheaper alternative starting at 195,000 COAM but less durable.
The Tian Qiang core part is prohibitively expensive but offers tremendous durability and firepower boosts. If looking to save money, the VE-40A and Melander are decent cheaper substitutes.
Moving on, let‘s examine ideal parts for the Arms category.
Best Arms Category Parts
The Arms are the shoulders of your mech which mount subsidiary weapons and gear like missile pods or radar dishes.
For Arms, striking an optimal balance between defensive and offensive abilities is key. Specializing in either firearms or melee combat is also worthwhile based on your weapons of choice.
Ephemera
The clear winner here is the ultra rare Ephemera arms obtained only by completing a challenging special mission unlocked in Chapter 4.
They offer a robust chassis able to equip all manners of heavy weaponry thanks to 12,600 kg load limit. You also have balanced resistances of 200+ against all damage types providing great durability.
It truly excels at boosting melee and firearm damage by 15% thanks to optimized power conduits and servo mechanisms.
The Ephemera does have modestly lower base armor compared to alternatives. But the hyper specialized damage boosting makes it the top choice for min-maxing weapon damage.
As mentioned, the only way to acquire the Ephemera arms is completing the underground exploration mission in Chapter 4. This involves battling through a grueling gauntlet of powerful enemies.
Alternatives
- AR-011 Melander – Well balanced arms for all weapon types. Available for only 95,000 COAM.
- DF-AR-09 Tian Lao – Specializes in explosives damage for 220,000 COAM.
If tackling the Ephemera unlock mission seems too difficult, the Melander arms serve as a cheap, viable alternative for general use.
Now let‘s examine ideal Leg parts.
Best Legs Category Parts
Legs primarily govern mobility in terms of speed, evasion, jump height and equipped weight limits.
For legs, Tetrapods allow flight and maximum weapon equip load. Bipeds prioritize ground speed and evasion. Tanks specialize in carrying very heavy gear.
VP-424
If opting for a Tetrapod approach, the VP-424 legs are unmatched currently. With super heavy 69,800 kg load limit, you can mount practically any combination of weapons comfortably.
It also features the best well-rounded defenses with 370+ armor across all categories allowing you to shrug off even heavy attacks.
VP Tetrapods uniquely gain the ability to temporarily hover freely to rain down long range bombardments. Combining flight, firepower and durability makes the VP-424 legs a versatile powerhouse choice.
Pick up a set for 313,000 COAM from the Parts Shop if you like the durable Tetrapod playstyle.
Alternatives
- Kasuar/42Z – Best bipeds for speed and evasion with extended jump capability.
- VE-42A – Alternative tetrapod legs for a massive 88,000 kg equip load limit.
I‘d strongly recommend going with tetrapods primarily as they allow efficient mid-air combat never having to touch the ground. The VP-424 specifically also has great well-rounded defenses making them extremely capable.
Next up, Booster parts for rapid mobility.
Best Booster Parts
Boosters provide intense bursts of speed and agility on the battlefield especially helpful dodging heavy attacks.
For boosters, examine recharge speed, EN consumption and equip weight capacity to make rapid re-positioning feasible.
FlueGel/21Z
The FlueGel/21Z booster stands tall as the premier speed demon option currently in Armored Core 6.
It delivers an extremely potent 6100 forward thrust almost launching your mech forward like a rocket. This allows covering huge distances rapidly or aggressively rushing down enemies.
Quick boost functionality kicks this into overdrive briefly hitting 20,000 newton thrust force although it does consume heavy 600 EN per use.
Another benefit is the 74,000 kg optimal equip weight capacity. This means you can mount the FlueGel on heavier builds without hindering performance allowing lightning fast heavies!
Probably the only knock against the FlueGel is higher EN consumption from general use. But smart management eliminates any issues there.
You can grab this ultra propulsive booster from the Parts Shop for 202,000 COAM. It‘s a hefty investment but pays dividends accelerating around the battlefield.
Alternatives
- Alula/21E – Focused on vertical leaping rather than forward thrust. Installed for only 190,000 COAM.
- Gills – Basic economical booster unlocked for free but only half the thrust performance.
The FlueGel/21Z booster sends your Armored Core screaming across the battlefield outpacing practically anything. Alternatives exist for specialized applications but the FlueGel works successfully in most scenarios.
Moving on, let‘s pick out ideal Generator parts.
Best Generator Parts
The generator produces EN fueling all your energy intensive gear and weaponry requiring careful selection.
For generators, bigger is usually better when it comes to energy capacity, recharge rate and equip power. But also consider weight economy.
VP 20-D
The Generator crown goes to the exceptional VP 20-D for its monstrous 31,000+ EN pool and rapid recharge capabilities.
This fuels extremely energy hungry setups like missile swarms, plasma cannons and more for extended periods without drying up. It also quickly builds back up reserves when drained taking about 125s to fully recharge.
You can greatly enhance offensive damage too thanks to its specialized conduits channeling and regulating immense energies to all equipped electrically based weaponry.
It does weigh significantly at 11,000 kg but most heavyweight builds can accommodate this. You get unmatched energy yields allowing almost limitless special munitions and cannon shots.
Add the ultrapowerful VP 20-D to your Armored Core for 275,000 COAM if you enjoy spamming heavy ordinance. It enables some spectacularly destructive setups!
Alternatives
- DF-GN-02 Ling-Tai – Extremely affordable at 90,000 COAM but only 2000 EN capacity.
- DF-GN-08 San-Tai – Heaviest generator available with 4420 EN storage but slower recovery.
The raw energy feeds and damage boosting capability of the VP 20-D generator enables brutal offensive loadouts. The listed alternatives work in more specialized energy conservative builds.
Finally, let‘s pick out the top FCS parts.
Best FCS Parts
The FCS or Fire Control System governs missile and projectile launch, guidance and targeting analysis.
You want FCS that quickly achieves missile lock for swift heavy ordinance delivery. Multi-lock capabilities are also helpful blasting groups of enemies.
FC-006 Abbot
Easily the premier FCS currently is the specialized FC-006 Abbot for its field dominating multi-lock missile salvos.
It achieves rapid fire 5-target lock-on only 1.8s after missile deployment guiding up to 20 individual rockets towards doomed enemies.
The Abbot also features long 260m lock range so you can begin barrage sequences before targets even enter optimal firing position.
This does mean the FC-006 works strictly for long range combat only. Shorter range weapons are largely wasted. But crippling missile barrages more than make up for it!
Purchase the Abbot from New Wolf after completing the early Intermediate Support 1 mission for free. It specializes strictly in awesome missile attacks.
Alternatives
- VE-21A: Alternative with better short 100m range locking capabilities but only handles 2 targets.
- FCS-G2/P05: Cheaper mid-range multi locking system.
The Abbot FCS truly unleashes devastating missile spam potential guiding up to 20 individual rockets downrange in short order.
If relying less on missiles, the alternate options provide cheaper generalized weapon support. But for raw explosive ordinance delivery, the FC-006 Abbot cannot be matched currently.
Closing Thoughts
Hopefully this guide has helped better understand Armored Core 6‘s massive pool of parts and identify optimal selections for your needs.
The listed recommendations have shown top notch performance in real battlefield testing. But don‘t be afraid to experiment with alternatives to better match your budget and combat preferences.
Just be sure to pay close attention to all stat effects and special properties when assembling parts to create fierce weaponized mechs exceeding anything the enemy can muster!
Let me know in the comments if you have any other great part suggestions too. Happy hunting out there pilots!
