Armored Core VI is hard however it’s not unattainable. In some methods it’s much more approachable and forgiving than the Soulsborne video games FromSoftware is greatest recognized for. A few the boss fights completely wrecked me although, and Balteus was certainly one of them.
The automated flying mech closes out Armored Core VI’s first chapter, and it presents a spectacle of hellfire missiles that make the encounter really feel like a 3D bullet hell showdown you may discover in arcade motion video games like Housemarque’s Returnal. Complicating issues additional is Balteus’ pulse protect, which protects it from harm and continually resets all through the match. The second section of the struggle will get even more durable. Right here’s my recommendation for surviving it.
Learn Extra: 13 Issues I Want I Knew Earlier than Beginning Armored Core VI
The weapon loadout I had probably the most luck with included a HI-18 GU-A2 Pulse Gun in the suitable arm (nice for taking down pulse shields) and a HI-32: BU- TT/A Pulse Blade within the left arm (nice for taking down pulse shields and wracking up harm whereas the enemy is staggered). For my shoulders I went with the Vcc-70VPM Plasma Missile Launchers as a result of they’re simple to make use of, monitor the enemy shortly, and might be fired off whereas operating like hell. For the physique, a double-jointed construct would work properly, however I obtained by with the usual, well-rounded Core you begin with.
On the subject of really combating Balteus, keep shut and attempt to group your assaults for optimum stagger potential. You possibly can rush in on the very starting of the struggle and, if you happen to time every thing proper, get your first stun.
Staying shut will even make it simpler to dodge the missile barrages. Once you get the Balteus right down to half well being it’ll launch an enormous pulse wave assault and alter up its sample. Ensure you get out of the way in which so that you don’t get hit.
That is additionally when the Balteus will begin pulling out large flamethrower blades because it tries to shut the space. Flip off your goal lock-on and punch the assault increase to get out of there till the assault sample is over.
Your greatest guess to dodge the flamethrower assaults altogether is to fly up and get some vertical distance. This will even present an excellent alternative to go on the assault from above and get some extra laser blade swipes in.
The important thing all through the entire struggle stays easy: carry on high of the Balteus as a lot as attainable whereas circling it. The second it pauses, you possibly can go in with a melee assault and unload the Pulse rifle. Should you time the plasma rockets appropriately, they’ll land across the similar time that will help you stagger the Balteus and hold it from getting again on the offensive.
If all goes properly, the second section of the struggle ought to go shortly. Remembering to maintain sufficient increase on-hand to dodge the front-facing rockets that beep earlier than they hearth will even go a protracted option to serving to you survive. From there, it’s nearly managing your assaults and dodges so that each different alternate ends in the Balteus being staggered.
Ultimately, the chapter one boss struggle took me about 5 hours unfold throughout a number of nights. That features time I spent going again and re-doing some previous missions to unlock extra components to mess around with. Hopefully the technique above serves you properly, but when it doesn’t, strive experimenting with one thing utterly completely different.
Thankfully, the checkpoint for the struggle is true earlier than it begins, and the load instances on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Collection X/S are lightning-fast each time you die. Armored Core VI is about trial and error and studying how completely different builds change the way in which you play. Embrace the failure and I promise you, you’ll beat the Balteus ultimately.