Highlights
- Armored Core 6 offers extensive customization, with OS Tuning upgrades providing enhancements for players' ACs, such as the Boost Kick and Quick Turn.
- The Boost Kick is a valuable early upgrade for melee ACs, dealing extra damage to staggered opponents and allowing for increased damage output.
- The Quick Turn upgrade is essential for keeping targets in sight, enabling ACs to quickly adjust their direction and track enemy ACs.
Armored Core 6 offers tons of customization for players as they take on missions that ramp up in difficulty the further they progress. Apart from Frame Parts and weapons, the game gives players more enhancements for their ACs in the form of OS Tuning upgrades.
OS Tuning upgrades require taking down enemies in the Arena, and newer targets only become available when players complete a chapter. Which OS Tuning upgrades are the best ones to get as early as possible? Here are some must-have upgrades that will increase players’ ACs power and tactical advantages once they are installed to their respective mechs:
6 Boost Kick
The Boost Kick is the first OST upgrade in the selection that players can unlock once they get some OST chips. What makes this a great upgrade to get early is that it gives players’ ACs another attack on their arsenal. Boost Kick is performed by pressing the Assault Boost button again while the AC is currently Assault Boosting. Timing this move correctly and judging the distance of the target properly are essential since the kick will deal more damage when the enemy is staggered.
For melee ACs, having another attack in the form of the Boost Kick does wonders for their damage output, since it deals good damage on staggered opponents, and can be used to close the distance and follow up with their weapons cycle for maximum damage.
5 Quick Turn
As players get deeper into the missions in Armored Core 6 and encounter more formidable ACs, one thing that should remain evident is that keeping targets on-screen is essential. Later ACs become harder to lock onto since they will be zipping around the field and trying to take advantage of players’ blindside.
This is where Quick Turn comes in. As its name suggests, getting this OST upgrade allows ACs to do a 180 to 360-degree quick turn. This immediate adjustment is essential especially for control pad users as it allows them to track enemy ACs that manage to zoom behind their line of sight.
4 Assault Armor
For players who like to get up close and personal with their targets, getting the Assault Armor is a great OST Core Expansion upgrade for their builds. After a brief charge, the players’ AC will emit a shockwave that deals damage to enemies within its blast radius.
The Assault Armor is a great tool for bursting down enemies, especially staggered ones. When equipping this Expansion to an AC, it is best to test out how long it takes for the shockwave to burst: this way, players can space out their weapon fire accordingly to get the most damage. Maxing out this OST Core Expansion allows players to use this move three times, but they need to watch for its cooldown.
3 Pulse Protection / Pulse Armor
Players who tend to have a more defensive play style can opt to either go for the Pulse Protection or Pulse Armor OST Core Expansion upgrades. Both upgrades have ACs emit a protective sphere around them after a quick charge time: these spheres will persist until a set timer, or if their damage capacity has been completely overwhelmed by enemy attacks.
Differentiating the two, Pulse Protection sets a protective sphere in a set location: essentially where the AC casts the ability. The player can go into the sphere to shield themselves from damage. On the other hand, Pulse Armor envelops the AC with a protective sphere that will soak damage until it either breaks or its duration is up.
Picking which of the two is strictly a preference for players since both can be used tactically. Ideally, they should determine the enemy’s play style and choose which Core Expansion is more advantageous.
2 Direct Hit Modifier
Attack Control OST upgrades are plentiful, as players should be knowledgeable of the different weapon types they can equip for their ACs. But as far as modifiers are concerned, the best one to acquire and max out as quickly as possible is the Direct Hit Modifier.
Staggering opposing ACs is an essential combat mechanic that players should always aim for. Players can only deal Direct Hits on staggered enemies and Direct Hits deal significantly more damage. As such, getting the Direct Hit Modifier ramps up an AC’s damage output: this is extremely useful during boss fights in Missions.
That said, maxing this out requires more OST Chips which can only be obtained by progressing through the story missions and unlocking more Arena Rank tests. But as far as Attack Control OST upgrades, the Direct Hit Modifier is a no-brainer that should be attained immediately.
1 Weapons Bay
The Weapons Bay is the best early game OST upgrade that players can unlock. This System Unlock feature allows players to switch their ACs’ shoulder-mounted weapons with hand-held ones that they normally equip for their AC’s left and right arms, respectively.
Having the option to equip two additional in-hand weapons at their disposal opens up for more customizing avenues for players who like to tinker with different builds and makes their ACs more versatile. For example, players can mod their ACs to have two Melee weapons on their left hand like the Pulse Blade and Pile Bunker. They can freely switch between weapons during battles, and is an excellent strategy to employ to have another weapon they can use as their main one is on cooldown.
More balanced builds see players have one shoulder weapon on either side while their preferred side (left or right side) has two switch weapons that cater to their play style.