Armored Core 6: Weapon Tier List (Best Primary Weapons)

This article is part of a directory: Armored Core 6: Complete Guide & Walkthrough

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There are dozens and dozens of totally unique weapons in Armored Core 6, so many that it can be difficult for players new to the series – and the Mech genre as a whole – to sort through them all and figure out what is worth using, and what is not. As players get through both regular missions and Training missions, more Primary weapons unlock for players to purchase and equip.

This tier list of the best Armored Core 6 weapons covers Primary weapons, equipped on each arm, and is current as of the 1.02 update, which buffed a swathe of weapons. Just because a weapon is in D Tier, that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad: it might just be most effective with niche builds or in the hands of particularly skilled players. In the same way, the two weapons in S Tier don't necessarily guarantee victory for players who can't wield them correctly. Take time to test each weapon before committing to it.

Most Primary Weapons Armored Core 6 players can use can be equipped to either arm, though players must buy the left and right versions separately. The exception to this is Melee weapons, like pulse blades, which are restricted to the left arm only.

Best Armored Core 6 Primary Weapons, Ranked

S Tier

Undisbutedly the best weapons in Armored Core 6, the Zimmerman Shotgun and HU-BEN Gatling Gun are powerhouses, especially when dual-wielded or used in tandem with one another. Though other weapons received buffs in the 1.02 patch, the Zimmerman and Gatling Gun are still the most capable of dishing out direct damage and ACS Strain, and are well worth building into.

Zimmerman Shotgun
HU-BEN Gatling Gun

A Tier

A Tier weapons Armored Core 6 players can wield include a variety of explosive staggering weapons, like Bazookas and Grenade Cannons in general, as well as the REDSHIFT, Nebula, and APERITIF. These weapons are powerful, core parts of builds that utilize them, and work well in a variety of situations. These are weapons that can get most missions done and bosses completed with few modifications.

APERITIF Siege Missile Launcher
Nebula Plasma Rifle
ML-REDSHIFT Coral Oscillator
Bazookas, In General
SONGBIRDs, Gou-Chen, & Grenade Cannons

B Tier

The B tier of this Armored Core 6 ranking is comprised of weapons that are still very good, but not quite as broken as the S and A tier. The Zimmerman and Gatling Guns are outright the most powerful weapons in AC6, and A-tier weapons are very powerful too. But these B tier weapons are still incredibly useful in different build types – for example, though Melee is a difficult playstyle to master, thanks to the massive amount of potential incoming damage, it's far from a terrible playstyle to pursue.

BAD COOK Flamethrower
HADELMAN Shotgun
VP-66LS Shotgun
VP-60LCS Laser Cannon
VP-66LH Laser Handgun
Melee & Pulse Blades, In General

C Tier

The C tier of Armored Core 6 Primary weapons are made up of mostly average options, weapons that don't particularly stand out for any reason, but aren't so awful that they ought to be avoided outright. Many of these weapons are gained while progressing through early missions, and are players' only options until later in the game.

Thanks to the 1.02 update, several weapons that were once considered ineffective by many players are now much more viable, like the LUDLOW Machine Guns or SCUDDER. Because the update also nerfed many bosses, players should be able to get through the game with these C-tier weapons just fine, but the job is made considerably easier by upgrading to better options later on.

VIENTO Needle Gun
ASHMEAD Pile Bunker
DUCKETT Handgun
LUDLOW Machine Gun
SCUDDER Assault Rifle
RANSETSU-AR & RANSETSU-RF
ETSUIJIN Burst Machine Gun

D Tier

D Tier primary weapons in Armored Core 6 should typically be avoided, except by players who are committed to building around their quirks and often directly downgraded stats. In addition to the primary weapons ranked in the D tier are Pulse Bucklers and Shields, which are equipped to the left shoulder. These shoulder-mounted defenses can be useful, but only when timed perfectly right – and much like the Parry system of the Souls series, that window to block effectively is incredibly small.

Most of the time, players are better off using this slot for any other shoulder-mounted weapon, and dodging enemy attacks instead of taking them head-on. But, as with all weapons in Armored Core 6, in the right build, these weapons can take players to the end of the game – it just takes a little more effort and a few more quick loads.