Mission Overview
- Attack the Watchpoint serves as the dramatic climax for Armored Core 6 Chapter 1
- Objective is to locate and destroy a Coral pipeline valve hidden behind waves of enemies and bosses
- Completing it unlocks Chapter 2 after a reward of ~500,000 credits
Why this Mission Matters
As a mercenary pilot, you must infiltrate and demolish a critical piece of infrastructure. The valve regulates Coral flow to the region – disrupting it could have drastic consequences. Of course, that‘s precisely what your client ordered.
You‘ll face off against ever increasing threats. Survive these trials, and you‘ll be richly rewarded while unlocking the next step in your mission.
But first, you must break through the squadrons guarding Watchpoint…
Optimal AC Build for the Mission
While weapons and tactics matter, having the right Armored Core (AC) setup is equally vital. Based on my experience (over 50 hours played), I recommend:
| Part | Choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Head | OBELISK | Balanced optics and defense |
| Core | IVORY Ritual | Strong yet lightweight armor |
| Arms | SIRIUS Ritual (L)ALTAIR Standard (R) | Mix of power and speed |
| Legs | ALTAIR Standard | Mobility focused |
| Booster | AALIYAH Ultimate | High output and recharge rate |
| FCS | ALTAIR Ultimate | Weapon efficiency and lock speed |
| Generator | ALTAIR Ultimate | Steady, durable energy |
This loadout focuses on mobility via boosting while still packing weaponry to damage foes. You avoid getting swarmed and can reposition quickly against bosses.
I‘ll expand on which parts shine in each sector. But first, a quick primer on navigating Watchpoint‘s dangers:
General Tips for Attack the Watchpoint
- Keep moving – Don‘t stay still for more than 5 seconds or risk heavy damage
- Circle strafe while firing – Continuously move sideways around targets
- Manage heat levels – Monitor weapons temperature and vent/cooldown appropriately
- Use cover – Duck behind structures/terrain to break line of fire and recharge
- Watch for attack tells – Certain moves telegraph right before enemies unleash them
- Tactical boosting – Dash/dodge when needed but don‘t overdrain your EN fuel cell
Now let‘s break down the best strategies by sector:
Sector 1 – Shutdown the Turrets
Sector 1 is straightforward with ground troops and 2 shielded turret emplacements. However, those turrets pose major issues via their freezing beam. Just a few seconds exposure drops shields and immobilizes you temporarily.
How to Neutralize the Turrets
- Tag them with lock-on missiles to interrupt firing
- Close distance while strafing to avoid getting frozen
- Get behind and finish them off quickly with melee
For this, I used SIRIUS Ritual arms which can cleave thick armor rapidly. My OBELISK head also marked the turrets from long range. ALTAIR‘s smooth mobility let me reach their vulnerable backside.
With the turrets down, mopping up the ground targets was simple. Their partial shielding and light arms fire couldn‘t break through IVORY armor.
Sector 2 – Rinse and Repeat Strategy
Similar to Sector 1, you‘ll face shielded turrets overlooking weaker graded forces here. This area seems more expansive with fuel canisters strewn about.
Eliminate the turrets first again by tagging them with missiles then getting behind to hack away with melee. My melee-focused SIRIUS Rituals continued excelling for this task.
For the grounded troops, I found launching canisters (via weapons fire/melee) to explode and damage clusters effective. Alternate between canister blasts and gunning them down.
Sector 3 Part A – Dueling the Sulla Mini Boss
Entering the final sector triggers a cutscene introducing your deadly opponent – Sulla. This automated bipedal mech comes equipped with:
- Rapid-fire pulse cannon
- Homing missile pods
- Protective plasma shield
Its biggest advantage is mobility – Sulla darts around rapidly.
However, there are gaps in the shield you can exploit:
| Stage | Duration | Vulnerability Window |
|---|---|---|
| Shield Active | ~7 seconds | Invulnerable |
| Shield Inactive | ~2-3 seconds | Extremely Vulnerable |
| Recharge Delay | ~5 seconds | Resistant |
Optimal Strategy
- Keep your distance early and pepper Sulla with missiles/gunfire
- Monitor shield status closely
- The instant it drops – boost straight at Sulla
- Unload melee combos before shield reactivates
- Retreat once the plasma shield returns until it falls again
- Repeat until it sustains enough damage to be destroyed
Having ALIYAH boosters proved invaluable here – rapidly closing and evading kept me ahead of attacks. Melee strikes again reigned supreme when opportunities emerged.
Sector 3 Part B – Locate and Demolish the Valve
After toppling Sulla, enter Watchpoint‘s control room to restock ammunition and repair kits. Take a moment to recover shields/armor.
Head downstairs – you‘ll eventually reach a platform overlooking your true objective. Look down to spot an enormous Coral pipeline valve. We need to rupture this to fulfill our contract.
Hop down and inflict heavy damage via:
- Extended melee combos
- Unloading ordnance from all equipped weapons
- Firing any leftover missiles
My SIRIUS Ritual arms unleashed deadly melee flurries that did the most damage here. But blasting away with assault cannons and plasma rifles also steadily wore it down.
Eventually the valve will rupture in a cutscene – sending your AC plunging into the depths where one final challenge awaits…
Boss Fight – BALTEUS Heavy Artillery Mech
Having cracked open the pipeline, your Arsenal crashes down inside a massive chamber. As you regain control, an ominous mech surfaces from the shadows – BALTEUS.
This bipedal heavy weapon platform is Watchpoint‘s ultimate line of defense. It unleashes relentless salvos from its arsenal to obliterate you. BALTEUS alternates between two distinct modes:
1. Walking/Turning
- Vulnerable to damage
- Periodically fires cannons and missiles
2. Rooted/Barrage
- Anchors to the ground and enters siege mode
- Triggers 360 degree missile swarms while blasting cannons nonstop
It has two layers of shields and heavy duty armor plating requiring extensive firepower.
Here is the step-by-step process to emerge victoriously:
- Never stop strafing and utilize cover
- Pepper BALTEUS with missiles/gunfire during walking mode
- The instant it plants for barrage – dash behind structures and break line of sight
- Peek and strike with melee combos when partly exposed
- Withdraw when missile swarm approaches your position
- Repeat until both shield layers and armor destroyed
I leaned heavily on missiles early to wear it down safely from range. My IVORY Core held up against indirect cannon blasts while ALTAIR‘s smooth movement let me evade swarming rockets.
Whenever BALTEUS rooted down, I had maybe 3-5 seconds to sprint into blindspots and deliver melee attacks using cover. Each blade strike chipped away chunks of armor. Over several bombardment phases, the combined missile and melee barrages finally extinguished BALTEUS for good.
Vanquishing it concludes the strenuous mission and wraps up Chapter 1!
Mission Debrief
The "Attack on Watchpoint" proves one of the toughest challenges I‘ve faced yet. Each sector tested my skills to the very edge. An inferior AC would‘ve easily been overwhelmed.
But my custom configuration had the right balance – hitting hard when required while retaining mobility to avoid turmoil. I eventually overcame the onslaught via strategy adaptation and perseverance.
Let me know if this walkthrough helps you finally clinch victory as well! Chapter 2 promises ever expanding enemies and locations to explore. suit up and I‘ll see you on the battlefield…this is Nomad Merc, signing off.
