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What makes Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon one of the best entries in the franchise is the ability to play how you want. Whether you favor an AC that’s fast and flighty or something slow and durable, AC6 has a build for you. A key part of the build process is choosing one’s OST unlocks, including Core Expansions. Each Expansion provides a unique protective power accessible in no other way. Having new ways to shield oneself is great whether you’re new to the series or a longtime fan. Here’s everything you need to know about each Core Expansion in Armored Core 6.
Assault Armor
Assault Armor is geared toward players who want to take the fight to their enemies and turn even their defense into offense. This Core Expansion creates a pulse explosion centered on the player’s AC. This explosion cancels out enemy fire and creates an AoE shockwave that damages nearby enemies. Core Expansions typically center on defense, so Assault Armor is unique in providing an AoE option as well. If survivability is your main concern, there are probably better options than Assault Armor. If you want a Core Expansion that will maximize your DPS, however, it doesn’t get much better.
Pulse Armor
Pulse Armor is sweet and simple. This Core Expansion creates a pulse shield that follows the AC, shielding it from harm. With a 10s Duration and Resilience of 3300, Pulse Armor can get the player out of some ugly situations unscathed. Pulse Armor is the weakest Core Expansion in terms of the shield it offers, but it’s mobile and has 5x the duration of Terminal Armor. That gives the player much more flexibility than the other options, which is worth considering if you plan on running a mobile build.
Pulse Protection
Like Pulse Armor, Pulse Protection creates a barrier to shield the AC from harm. Unlike that Core Expansion, Pulse Protection creates a static barrier rather than a moving one. The disadvantage is obvious: the player is only safe while they remain within the shield bubble. Pulse Protection has its advantages, however. Its Resilience is 4000, a full 700-point improvement, and it has an incredible 25s Duration. Pulse Protection arguably takes more work to fit into a build than any other Core Expansion, but players who make it work won’t question its value.
Terminal Armor
Terminal Armor is a strange but powerful Core Expansion. This shield activates automatically when the AC would be destroyed, preserving it with 1 AP instead. In addition to saving the AC from the brink of destruction, Terminal Armor also deploys a brief but staggeringly powerful shield. With a 2s Duration and Resilience of a whopping 20000, this shield provides the player with a brief window of nigh invincibility. The player can use this time to use a Repair Kit, launch a hasty retreat, or just dump ammo into the enemy and hope to destroy them before their shield drops.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on August 25.
