Skip To...
Like other FromSoftware games, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is deep and difficult. Enemies vary not only in their strategies but also in their weaknesses. Hitting enemies with the damage type they’re weakest against is key. Perhaps the most common damage type is kinetic, dealt by bullets and other conventional munitions. From shotguns and rifles to machine guns and gatling guns, kinetic weapons form the backbone of some of the best builds in the game. Here are the best kinetic weapons in AC6, in no particular order.
LR-036 Curtis
Just because kinetic weapons use physical projectiles doesn’t mean they’re simple. The Curtis linear rifle, for example, uses electromagnetism to accelerate its bullets. There are two firing options. The first is a standard, single-fire rifle shot. The second is a charged shot. Charging takes several seconds, so the Curtis fares poorly against maneuverable enemies. Against slow or staggered enemies, however, the Curtis does an impressive amount of damage and stagger.
DF-GA-08 Hu-Ben
A classic pick for tank builds, the Hu-Ben gatling gun is more than just one of the best kinetic weapons. It’s one of the best weapons in the game, period. Low per-bullet damage is made up for by an extraordinary rate of fire and huge ammo capacity. The Hu-Ben is as heavy as it looks, which means it’s not an option for many lighter builds. Heavy builds that can handle its weight, however, can wield a gun capable of shredding bosses and players alike.
MA-T-223 Kyoriku
The Kyoriku jamming bomb launcher is arguably one of the strangest and best kinetic weapon in the game. Unlike other guns, it doesn’t do damage. What’s the point of a gun that can’t kill anything? The Kyoriku is defensive in nature, scrambling the lock-on capabilities of opponents. Nothing is more satisfying than shutting down a tetra missile platform with a single, well-placed shot. Wielding the Kyoriku properly takes tremendous skill, and rookie pilots who try to run it will probably get killed. In the right hands, however, the Kyoriku can work wonders.
EL-PW-00 Viento
The Viento needle gun is a semi-automatic handgun that shoots hardened needles. Relatively lightweight while doing a surprising amount of damage and impact for its size, the Viento is a great choice for many builds. Whether the player runs a reverse-joint or focuses on melee, there are many playstyles that make the Viento work. This needle gun can drop an MT in just a shot or two and is fast enough to be able to handle crowds. It’s less effective in PvP, depending upon the opponent, but so satisfying it’s worth considering nonetheless.
SG-027 Zimmerman
A good shotgun can make the difference between a great shooter and one that’s just okay. Armored Core 6 is spoiled in this area, with several good shotguns to choose from. The Zimmerman is one of the most satisfying and best kinetic weapons, and dual Zimmerman builds are a common sight in PvP. High damage is mandatory for a shotgun, and the Zimmerman offers that. The Zimmerman also has a longer effective range than most shotguns. That allows the player to fight effectively at mid-range as well as close up, which is a boon for shotgun builds.
MA-E-210 Etsujin
The MA-E-210 Etsujin burst machine gun has lower Attack Power than the Viento but great Impact. Firing a four-shot burst, the Etsujin is fast enough to keep up with fliers and other dodgy enemies. Its compact size also keeps this weapon light on Weight and EN Load. The Etsujin fits well in double-trigger builds but also compliments melee weapons and various Core Expansions nicely. The Etsujin is a good choice to build up Impact before going in with another weapon to finish the job.
LR-037 Harris
The Harris linear rifle shares much in common with the Curtis. What this rifle brings to the table is even higher Attack Power, Impact, and range. The downside is a slower rate of fire. Those traits make the Harris ideal for sniping enemies from afar or using a charged attack for ambushes. Like other slow weapons, the Harris fares poorly against fast enemies. If you’re going to bring this hefty linear rifle to a fight, stagger your enemy with another weapon before unleashing your charged shot. After all, these are only the best kinetic weapons if they actually hit something.
WR-0777 Sweet Sixteen
The Zimmerman couldn’t be the only exceptional shotgun in the game. The Sweet Sixteen is far more compact, and unsurprisingly it offers a fraction of the Zimmerman’s range. Needing to fight close up is the classic shotgun experience, of course, so Sweet Sixteen wielders won’t need much adjusting. This gun does less Impact than the Zimmerman but has a greater Attack Power, and that’s a trade many players will be happy to make. The Sweet Sixteen can be paired with a melee weapon or a second shotgun to double the player’s close-range lethality. This weapon’s raw power makes it one of the best kinetic weapons in Armored Core 6.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, and
