As a hardcore Armored Core fan whose played over 1000 hours in the franchise, I know firsthand how overwhelming the weapon selections can be for new players in Armored Core 6.
With over 100 options to outfit your mech with, how do you know what‘s actually good? You want weapons that match your playstyle and help you kick but out there on the battlefield.
Well after lots of testing and number crunching, I‘ve identified the absolute best weapons in Armored Core 6 across all categories by digging into the stats and battlefield performance.
In this guide, you‘ll find everything you need to equip the top melee, ranged, explosive, and specialty weapons for your mech. I‘ll explain in detail:
- Key stats like attack power, weight, and ammo capacity
- How each weapon performs in actual combat
- Which battle situations each one excels in
- Recommended pairing strategies with other weapons
I‘ll also rank the top 3 picks in each category so you know exactly what armaments will give you the edge. Time to gear up and lay waste fellow pilots!
Best Melee Weapons
Melee weapons allow you shred enemies at dangerously close range. Here are my top 3 picks for high damage, assassin style builds:
1. Pulse Blade
"The balanced damage and speed of the Pulse Blade make it my go-to armament for swift, devastating melee attacks."
Out of all the melee weapons, I find the Pulse Blade to be the most well-rounded in terms of attack power, speed, and versatility.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 963
- Impact: 710
- Consecutive Hits: 2
- Weight: 1800
- Energy Drain: 213
It delivers a series of ultra-fast slash attacks that rip through armor and shields with high frequency oscillations. Charging amplifies the vibration damage for even more pain.
In battle, the Pulse Blade excels at closing distance quickly to finish off weakened targets trying to create space. The sheer speed of your attacks gives enemies very little time to react or counter.
While not the heaviest hitting melee weapon, the Pulse Blade‘s combination of damage output and agility make it my top choice for swift assassin style builds.
2. Laser Blade
When it comes to raw stopping power, no other melee weapon comes close to the Laser Blade. This thing absolutely melts enemies caught in its energy attacks.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 1639
- Impact: 1100
- Consecutive Hits: 1
- Weight: 2680
- Energy Drain: 365
Charging the Laser Blade unleashes a devastating 360 spin attack, obliterating any foes unlucky enough to surround you.
However, the long wind-up animation does leave you vulnerable for a moment. I typically use the Laser Blade‘s overwhelming strength for surgically dispatching lone targets rather than large groups.
3. Pile Bunker
Sometimes you just want hit enemies with the force of runaway freight train. That‘s where the aptly named Pile Bunker delivers in spades.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 1688
- Impact: 1150
- Consecutive Hits: 1
- Weight: 4180
- Energy Drain: 225
There‘s nothing quite like impaling an enemy mech on a giant stake and then setting off an explosive charge for additional overkill.
The Pile Bunker definitely lacks in ammo capacity and rate of fire. But if you can land your shots, it‘s virtually unparalleled in delivering overwhelming damage in a single blow.
I use this weapon occasionally to one-shot priority targets or unleash vengeance on bosses. It‘s extremely satisfying!
Best Launchers
Launchers allow you bombard groups of foes from long range. These three rain down punishment from afar:
1. Napalm Bomb Launcher
When it comes to area denial from range, no other launcher compares to the Napalm Bomb Launcher in my experience.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 366 x 3
- Impact: 149 x 3
- Total Rounds: 63
- Weight: 2890
- Energy Drain: 60
Blanketing targets with incendiary rounds drastically slows movement and buys you time to hammer them with additional weapons. The residual burn effect also chunks down armor and health.
I love using this weapon when outnumbered to even the odds. The sea of flames drastically levels the playing field!
2. Plasma Missile Launcher
For pure missile mayhem, the Plasma Missile Launcher is my go-to choice.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 760
- Impact: 384
- Total Rounds: 240
- Weight: 3760
- Energy Drain: 268
Having shots arc over obstacles to hit targets behind cover is invaluable. And the ability to lock onto multiple fast moving air targets at once with tricky plasma explosions gives you missile versatility.
While the individual missiles lack punch compared to the Napalm Launcher, the salvo effect and residual damage definitely adds up.
3. Missile Launcher
Sometimes you just want waves and waves of missiles overwhelming targets. That‘s exactly what the Missile Launcher provides with its swarm attacks.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 124 x 8
- Impact: 89 x 8
- Total Rounds: 224
- Weight: 3920
- Energy Drain: 380
Now I‘ll be honest – the individual missile damage of this weapon is pretty pathetic. But the quantity it launches paired with the multi-lock functionality allows you to harass multiple fast moving enemies at once, denying them any chance to counter or escape.
Use this weapon when you just want relentless missile barrages chipping away at armor and pinning down squirrely targets.
Best Cannons & Bazookas
When it comes to delivering the biggest single shot explosions, cannons and bazookas are unmatched. These two bring the explosions:
1. Grenade Cannon
The Grenade Cannon stands out from other explosive weapons for its blazing fast rate of fire.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 754 x 2
- Impact: 745 x 2
- Total Rounds: 42
- Weight: 5500
- Energy Drain: 285
Despite the smaller splash damage compared to other explosives, this thing vomits grenades at a prodigious rate. Just be sure to lead targets properly with the arcing projectiles.
I often use the Grenade Cannon to pin groups down right as my teammates swoop in to mop them up with heavy melee attacks. The constant barrage gives them no room breathe or react.
2. Detonating Bazooka
If you really just want to delete a single target from existence, few weapons satisfy like the Detonating Bazooka. This monster sets off a chain reaction of explosions on impact.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 1075
- Impact: 1390
- Total Rounds: 44
- Weight: 7420
- Energy Drain: 299
Now it‘s true this sucker has some hefty recoil and blast zone that can get you in trouble. But properly leading targets with the arcing shots to then set off explosion chains is infinitely satisfying.
Anything caught in the blast radius is just erased on the spot. I break out the "Devastating Bazooka" whenever bosses start feeling too cocky!
Best Shotguns
Good shotguns allow you decimate enemies at dangerously close ranges. Here are my top picks:
1. Sweet Sixteen
Despite the name, the Sweet Sixteen actually fires 13 pellets per blast. But don‘t let the weird math throw you off – each shot absolutely shreds armor at mid to close range.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 85 x 13
- Impact: 61 x 13
- Total Rounds: 546
- Weight: 1640
- Energy Drain: 268
With high capacity loads and extremely quick cycling between shots, the Sweet Sixteen excels at point blank destruction. Just be wary of the damage drop-off at further distances.
This is my shotgun of choice to compliment up close melee builds by providing staggering blasts between slicing attacks.
2. Zimmerman
While the Sweet Sixteen holds the edge up close, the Zimmerman shotgun truly shines at mid range thanks to its advanced shells and tighter spread.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 900
- Impact: 840
- Total Rounds: 53
- Weight: 4400
- Energy Drain: 242
Repeated blasts can whittle down enemies approaching from further away, whereas the Sweet Sixteen requires being nearly in their face.
I tend to equip the Zimmerman when anticipating engagements at slightly longer ranges while still wanting devastating close quarters performance as a backup.
And fiting with those German engineering roots, the Zimmerman rarely lets me down!
Best Rifles & Machine Guns
Rifles and machine guns provide flexible mid to long range firepower. Here are the cream of the crop:
1. Gatling Gun
When it comes to overwhelming bullet storms, nothing beats the Gatling Gun. This six-barreled monster sprays rounds at a ludicrous rate.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 25
- Impact: 25
- Total Rounds: 1300
- Weight: 5800
- Energy Drain: 425
Now it does lack punch per individual bullet. But the unrelenting streams pin down groups as you or allies outmaneuver them.
Try firing controlled 2-3 second bursts rather than emptying full clips at once. This helps conserve ammo while still achieving solid damage output.
The suppressive chaos the Gatling Gun enables makes it an easy top choice for my mid-range loadouts.
2. Chang-Chen
If you want a more consistent damage rifle with less crazy bullet spray, the Chang-Chen machine gun is remarkably reliable.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 32
- Impact: 40
- Total Rounds: 720
- Weight: 3280
- Energy Drain: 143
It lacks the rate of fire and intimidation of the Gatling Gun but makes up for it with harder hitting rounds, improved accuracy, and extra large magazines requiring less frequent reloads.
I tend to throw the Chang-Chen on mid-weight brawler builds that get up close and personal but still need mid-range damage options. It provides nice versatile coverage.
3. Plasma Rifle
Lastly we have the variable fire Plasma Rifle for added flexibility.
Stats:
- Attack Power: 936
- Impact: 384
- Total Rounds: 90
- Weight: 3330
- Energy Drain: 490
It can fire traditional plasma bolts that explode on impact, damaging enemies around the blast radius. But charging it also amps up shot dispersion, essentially firing shotgun-like scatter bursts downs range.
This dual rapid fire rifle and pseudo-area damage capability gives you excellent adaptability. Mow down swarming groups with scatter blasts then snipe lone wolves with precise shots.
I run Plasma Rifle builds when encountering enemies with a mix of speed and strengths. Being able to alternate ammo types keeps them on their toes!
Wrapping Up
And there you have it – everything you need to know about the very best armaments for kicking metal butt in Armored Core 6.
I wanted to not only list the top tier weapons in each category but also provide plenty of combat insight and pairing guidance you won‘t find in any stat chart.
As you test out builds, make sure to pay close attention to how your weapons function together in actual fights. Burst, blast, and slash your way through the opposition!
Now get out there and equip some devastating firepower pilot! Your future as an elite mercenary awaits.
