Skip To...
A wide variety of playstyles are possible in the deep yet difficult Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. Whether you want to leap, fly, or trudge through enemy fire, there’s a build for you. Artful dodging is one way to go, but sometimes it’s easier to build something so heavily armored that you don’t need to dodge. That’s the aim of this build, offering incomparable AP and heavy firepower to back it up. Different builds can be considered the best at different things, but for all-around firepower and defense, this is the best tank build in the game.
R-Arm and L-Arm – DF-GA-08 Hu-Ben
Offering 1300 rounds per unit, the DF-GA-08 Hu-Ben Gatling gun turns spray-and-pray into a viable strategy. This gun melts MTs and other weak foes in an instant, perfect for plowing through story-mode missions. They’re also great for taking down ACs and tough bosses, however. That’s why this build comes equipped with two of them. Dual wielding is always a risky trade-off, but the firepower of these massive guns makes it well worth it. Just be sure to manage your ammo, as they’re useless if you run out.
R-Back – VE-60SNA
The VE-60SNA Stun Needle Launcher is a prerequisite for completing a certain story mission. Many players will be surprised to learn you can continue to equip this unique armament after that mission is complete. This bulky weapon has limited ammo, but its Attack Power and Impact make up for it. The Stun Needle Launcher can break shields and bring enemy mechs to a standstill. That leaves them open for the Hu-Bens and secondary back weapon to go to work.
L-Back – SB-033M Morley
There are plenty of explosives to choose from in AC6, but the SB-033M Morley is perfect when theory crafting the best tank build. This spread bazooka scattered explosive projectiles over a sizable area. That makes it hard for even fast and flighty ACs to avoid. It also allows the weapon to shred groups of MTs with a single shot. Even more impressive than its Attack Power is its Impact. Between the Morley and the Stun Needle Launcher, staggering enemies and leaving them frozen in place is easy.
Head – AH-J-124 Basho
The AH-J-124 Basho is a staple of heavy-duty builds. While its flattened, boxy aesthetic isn’t for everyone, it’s hard to argue with an AP this high. Tank builds are all about squeezing out every last bit of possible armor to stay alive on the battlefield. Even small parts like the head unit need to play a crucial role in that, and the Basho does. While its System Recovery isn’t great, its Attitude Stability is, which should help shrug off a lot of attacks.
Core – VE-40A
When it comes to chunky, damage-resistant cores, the player has a few solid choices. This build goes with the VE-40A. Unlike mobile reverse-joint builds and flying tetras, tanks dodge poorly. The typical tank strategy therefore involves bringing as much armor as possible to the battlefield. The VE-40A more than meets this call to action with its incredible AP and solid damage resistance. With a core like this, it doesn’t really matter what your opponent throws at you.
Arms – DF-AR-09 Tian-Lao
The DF-AR-09 Tian-Lao aren’t sleek, but these blocky arms have one job to do, and they do it well. With good Firearm Specialization and Arms Load Limit ratings, the Tian-Lao can equip just about anything. For this build, they have the responsibility of absorbing the recoil of the Hu-Ben gatling guns. The Tian-Lao will keep your shots on target. Just as importantly, their incredible AP means your opponents will need to stagger your AC if they want to bring it down.
Legs – LG-022T Bornemissza
There’s no beating the LG-022T Bornemissza tank legs when it comes to AP, Attitude Stability, and Load Limit. In brief, if you want to tank his, shrug off Impact, and carry the biggest guns around, this is the way to go. Speed and mobility are what the player loses in this trade. Additionally, these tank tracks come equipped with their own boosters, so you cannot equip your own. The Bornemissza play as big a role as the Hu-Ben in turning this into the best tank build around.
FCS – FC-006 Abbot
The FC-006 Abbot FCS specializes in Close-Range Assist. That means works wonders up close but falls off after that, with below-average at Medium-Range and abysmal stats at Long-Range. For the purpose of the best tank build, that isn’t a big deal. Hu-Ben gatling guns are meant to chew up nearby enemies, not snipe across a field. The Abbot isn’t fancy, but when your only goal in Armored Core 6 is to tank hits and fire back, that’s no big deal.
Generator – VP-20S
The VP-20S generator provides a surprisingly good output for its weight. It’s not the beefiest generator around, but this build isn’t meant to be sailing around the skies anyway. At most, the player needs to be able to execute the occasional Quick Boost, and this generator is just fine for that purpose. With mid-range offerings in each stat, the VP-20S is a safe and simple pick.
Core Expansion – Terminal Armor
The Terminal Armor Core Expansion is great in every build, because it acts as a second chance for ACs that would otherwise be destroyed. For heavy armament ACs like this, however, it’s incredible. When the AC drops to zero, they instead fall to 1 AP and deploy a shield. This shield only lasts 2s, but in that time the player can unload with every weapon they have. That’s enough to finish off players in PvP and even the toughest bosses in story mode. Terminal Armor truly makes this the best tank build in Armored Core 6.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
