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AttacksStrategy (How to Beat Balteus in Armored Core 6)
Recommended Build for Armored Core 6:
Prepare yourself for Armored Core 6, a game that doesn't shy away from presenting difficult challenges right from the start. In Chapter 1, players are faced with a formidable boss fight that aims to push their control skills to the limit. Fittingly, the chapter concludes with another demanding battle that serves as a true test of their abilities.
Attacks
Customizing your AC before confronting Balteus, unlike the first boss in Armored Core 6, is crucial. It can be extremely difficult to defeat Balteus if your AC is not equipped to handle it. Therefore, part of the challenge lies in assembling an AC that is capable of facing Balteus, in addition to learning its attacks and how to evade them.Phase 1
Balteus typically initiates the battle by launching a salvo of missiles in three different directions, which then track the player. To evade these, the player can boost forward, upward, or to either side. Balteus can also position its orbiting rings horizontally and execute a pincer attack by firing missiles to the left and right. The most effective evasion method for this maneuver is to jump and boost directly towards Balteus.
When Balteus aligns its rings vertically, it unleashes homing missiles that ascend directly upward. Players should anticipate and evade these missiles by swiftly moving to the side just before they hit. Additionally, when Balteus releases missiles in a spherical formation from all its rings, players should distance themselves as much as possible to make the missiles converge. Once the missiles have gathered closely together, players should swiftly dash diagonally forward, causing them to crash into the ground behind the player.
If Balteus boosts away from the player, it occasionally unleashes a spread of high-impact missiles that move faster but lack homing capabilities. Players can avoid these missiles by boosting into the air.
Aside from its wide range of missiles, Balteus is also equipped with a bazooka, shotgun, and gatling gun for attacking. The bazooka shots can be evaded by quickly boosting to either side as it fires. The shotgun always fires three shots consecutively, with a brief pause before the third shot. Players can evade the shotgun by quickly boosting to the side twice, pausing momentarily, and then quickly boosting again to avoid the final shot. When Balteus unleashes the gatling gun, it will also move sideways. To dodge this, players can strafe in the opposite direction.
Phase 2
Balteus initiates phase 2 by generating a powerful electric explosion centered on itself. It is crucial to evade this attack by swiftly moving far away from Balteus while it gathers energy. Following this assault, Balteus introduces some fresh maneuvers, in addition to those used in phase 1. The initial new move involves a modified version of the vertical missile attack that ascends higher before homing in on the player. This alteration increases the difficulty of tracking and effectively dodging the missiles. The recommended course of action is to promptly boost away as the missiles approach.
Furthermore, Balteus incorporates various slashing attacks utilizing its flamethrowers. It moves closer to the players while swinging its arms to strike. It may follow up with a second slash using the opposite arm. To counter this, players should boost towards the arm not currently striking and then continue past it to create distance, successfully evading the potential second slash.
Balteus has the ability to execute upward swings instead of its usual slashes, which can be evaded in a similar manner. Additionally, Balteus can perform a cross slash using both arms, but this can be dodged by leaping into the air and maintaining a distance from its blades. Lastly, Balteus possesses a spinning attack that can only be evaded by swiftly boosting away and staying out of its range until it ceases spinning.
In addition, Balteus will periodically unleash a fiery blast in front of itself, which can be avoided by swiftly jumping and hovering. Balteus frequently employs these attack combinations:
Vertical Salvo -> Rushing Slash with the opposite arm.
Gatling Gun -> Single Slash -> Salvo of Sphere Missiles -> Two Shotgun Blasts -> both types of Vertical Salvo -> Single Slash -> Rotating Slash.
Phase 3
During Phase 3, Balteus will continue to employ all the attack techniques utilized in the previous stages, but will also enhance its use of flamethrowers in a more conventional manner. It will advance towards the player, unleashing a torrent of flames, which will leave residual fires on the ground, while adjusting its aim upwards when the player is airborne. Players can evade this onslaught by leaping and maneuvering away until it ceases. In addition, Balteus can direct its flamethrowers towards the ground, generating a sweeping wave of flames, which can also be evaded through skilled hovering.
Strategy (How to Beat Balteus in Armored Core 6)
Engaging in a battle with Balteus can prove challenging, but there are opportunities for counterattack. These opportunities arise after the majority of its missile salvos have been deployed, as well as when it launches the Bazooka. By carefully observing its attacks and seizing the chance to strike during its moments of recovery, players can gradually diminish its shield and deplete its health bar. Additionally, Balteus requires time to recuperate after engaging in a boost, presenting a vulnerable window for players to evade the pincer missiles.
To succeed against Balteus, it is crucial to resist the urge to be greedy and instead take advantage of its moments of vulnerability. Prioritize defense and evasion, as it is safer than engaging with its more hazardous attacks. Utilizing mid-range and long-range weapons can gradually diminish its health while evading its moves. When Balteus pauses to recover, make use of the pulse blade to remove its shield up close. In Phase 2, players can position themselves beneath the boss during its slashing attacks, providing an opportunity to strike back with melee weapons.
Additionally, laser weaponry and the pulse gun have proven to be highly effective in dismantling the pulse shielding.
Build Recommendations (Best Build)
When constructing an Armored Core to combat Balteus, there are two viable strategies. Players can opt to prioritize agility and swiftly outmaneuver the boss, or they can focus on fortifying their defense and armor to mitigate the impact of its attacks and exert dominance. While swiftness is preferable in this scenario, both approaches can yield favorable results. Presented below is an exemplar of a nimble AC adept at triumphing over this adversary (This necessitates the utilization of the "Weapon Bay" OS Tuning upgrade):
Right Arm | MG-014 LUDLOW |
Left Arm | MG-014 LUDLOW |
Right Shoulder | Vvc-70VPM |
Left Shoulder | HI-32: BU-TT/A |
Head | NACHTREIHER/44E |
Arms | NACHTREIHER/40E |
Core | NACHTREIHER/46E |
Legs | NACHTREIHER/42E |
Booster | BST-G2/P04 |
FCS | FCS-G2/P05 |
Generator | VP-20S |
Players should prioritize evasion while utilizing both guns and the sword to deplete Balteus' pulse armor and inflict FCS strain in order to stun it. Consistently stunning Balteus will hinder its ability to regenerate its pulse shield until it enters phase 2. This strategy should be maintained during phases 2 and 3 as well. Armored Core 6 can be played on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.