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An SG squad is guarding a device at Watchpoint Delta in Northern Belius, and it’s the player’s mission to destroy it. Doing so means fighting one’s way through the compound through not one but two bosses. Both possess unique abilities, and neither will go down without a fight. It’s a tough challenge, even by the standards of Armored Core 6. Then again, tough challenges are what many players are here for, even if they haven’t played the previous games. Our tips will help the player conquer the Attack the Watchpoint mission and its bosses step by step.
Armored Core 6 Attack the Watchpoint Mission Guide
Attack the Watchpoint is a difficult, multi-stage mission. The early sections can be completed without too much trouble, regardless of one’s build. The final boss, Balteus, is a different story. Without energy weapons, it can be a bit of a nightmare, so it’s worth bringing one or more with you from the beginning. This mission also includes a Battle Log, so make sure to find and kill the mech holding it before you leave. To complete Armored Core 6 Attack the Watchpoint, you’ll need to take the following steps:
Destroy All the Turrets and MTs
Sector One contains MTs and turrets scattered amongst the buildings. The turrets are slow to turn but fire powerful beams, so use the buildings as cover or time your dodges well. The MTs don’t do much damage but can land some cheeky shots if you’re distracted by the turrets. Clear out all opposition to proceed.
Navigate Around the Exterior of the Zone
Sector Two contains more turrets and MTs. These MTs are snipers equipped with long-range laser rifles. Though it’s possible to fight from the center outward, there’s a safer strategy. Move around the exterior of the zone, using the buildings as cover while you take out the opposition.
Find and Defeat Sulla
Proceed to Sector Three. Here you’ll fight Sulla, a bipedal AC. He’s no Balteus, but he’s still a threat. Sulla has an energy weapon that fires bubble-like projectiles as well as a medium-range energy rifle. He also has missiles that can harass you from afar. Either get in close with a sword or shotgun or use range and maneuverability to beat him from a distance. Play to the strengths of your load-out, and you shouldn’t have too much trouble.
Travel to the Control Center
Once you’ve defeated Sulla, open the door, resupply, and proceed to the control center to destroy your target.
How To Beat Balteus in Attack the Watchpoint
Destroying the device in the control center summons Balteus, an autonomous weapons platform. Balteus flies and takes refuge behind a powerful energy shield, making this fight particularly difficult for builds that rely on kinetic weapons. Nonetheless, this tricky foe can be beaten with the help of the following tips:
- Equip one or more energy weapons to shred through Balteus’s shield. The HI-16 GU-Q1 and HI-18 GU-A2 are excellent weapons against this boss. Whether running a Double Trigger build or a gun and melee weapon, you need a way of overwhelming Balteus’s shield. Double Trigger HI guns are one of the easiest ways.
- Balteus flies, so tanks and slower ACs may struggle to keep up. A quick reverse-joint AC can stay close and easily dodge the boss’s attacks. The boss prefers to keep players at a distance, so close the gap when possible.
- Balteus frequently launches swarms of small missiles that turn the arena into a bullet hell zone. Slow ACs struggle to dodge this attack, making it even more important to keep the pressure on the boss’s shield and take it down quickly.
- Make sure to time your reloads so that you can actually hit the boss when its shield falls and it’s open to critical damage. Breaking the boss’s shield only to run out of ammo hurts, so avoid it.
Balteus is far from the last difficult boss in the game, but it can be one of the toughest. Defeating the autonomous platform is a huge step toward becoming the ace pilot Raven was always meant to be in Armored Core 6.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
