Armored Core 6: S-Rank Mission Strategies

So here’s the thing – I spent probably 60 hours on Armored Core 6 before I got my first S rank on a mission. Sixty. Hours. I know that sounds embarrassing, but honestly, the ranking system in this game is no joke! If you’re sitting there frustrated because you keep getting A ranks or worse, trust me, I’ve been exactly where you are right now.

Getting S ranks in Armored Core 6 isn’t just about bragging rights (though let’s be real, that feels pretty great). These top-tier mission rankings unlock special parts, give you extra COAM credits, and honestly just prove you’ve mastered the game’s combat mechanics. Plus, some achievements are locked behind S rank completions.

What Actually Determines Your Mission Rank

I’ll be straight with you – for the longest time, I thought S ranks were just about speed. Boy, was I wrong!

The ranking system in Armored Core VI considers multiple factors: completion time, ammunition costs, repair costs, and whether you completed bonus objectives. What really threw me off initially was realizing that repair costs matter WAY more than I expected. I’d blast through missions using my heavy weapons, taking tons of damage, finishing super fast, and still get B ranks because my mech was basically scrap metal by the end.

The Build That Changed Everything For Me

Here’s where things got interesting. After getting destroyed trying to S rank the “Attack the Dam Complex” mission about fifteen times, I completely rebuilt my AC from scratch.

Lightweight builds are your best friend for S ranks. I switched to a reverse-joint leg setup with the VP-20S legs, which gave me crazy mobility. Dodging attacks became so much easier! For weapons, I went with the SONGBIRDS grenade launcher on one arm and the laser rifle on the other – this combo let me deal consistent damage without burning through expensive ammunition.

The key insight? Speed and efficiency beat raw firepower every single time. My old “tank build” with dual Zimmerman shotguns looked cool but was burning through repair costs like nobody’s business.

Mission-Specific Strategies That Actually Work

Different missions need different approaches, which sounds obvious but took me forever to figure out.

For boss fights, you gotta learn the stagger system inside and out. When you stagger an enemy, that’s your window to unleash everything – but here’s the trick I learned the hard way: save your assault armor boost for stagger phases. I used to pop it randomly during fights and wonder why my damage output sucked.

Combat missions with lots of regular enemies? Prioritize targets efficiently. Take out the annoying small fries first (looking at you, tetrapods), then focus on the heavy hitters. And always, ALWAYS check if there’s optional objectives that boost your rank.

If you’re struggling with specific missions, I found this awesome video guide that breaks down S rank strategies for every chapter. The guy explains boss patterns way better than I could!

The Mistakes I Made So You Don’t Have To

Let me save you some pain here. First off, don’t use your repair kits unless absolutely necessary – they tank your mission score hard.

I also learned that some weapons just aren’t worth it for S ranks. Anything with the “heavy” designation usually costs too much in ammo expenditure. Plasma weapons sound awesome but they’ll destroy your ammunition cost rating unless you’re super conservative with them.

Another thing – and this one stung – replaying missions on New Game Plus actually makes them harder in some ways because enemy health scales up. So if you’re grinding for S ranks, consider doing it on your first playthrough when possible.

My Go-To Loadout for Consistent S Ranks

After tons of trial and error, I settled on this setup that works for probably 70% of missions:

Head: HC-2000 FINDER EYE for the lock-on range
Core: CC-3000 WRECKER for balanced stats
Arms: AC-2000 TOOL ARM for weapon handling
Legs: VP-20S (those reverse joints I mentioned)
Right Arm: Laser Rifle for consistent, cheap damage
Left Arm: SONGBIRDS grenade launcher
Right Back: Vertical Missile Launcher for stagger damage
Left Back: Nothing (weight savings!)

This build keeps you mobile, doesn’t break the bank on ammo, and has enough firepower to handle most situations. You can tweak it based on mission requirements, but it’s a solid starting point.

Practice Makes Perfect (Unfortunately)

Here’s the honest truth – some missions you’ll just need to replay multiple times to nail that S rank. The “Eliminate the Enforcers” mission? I ran that sucker eight times before I got the routing perfect.

Each attempt taught me something new though. Where enemies spawn, optimal paths through the level, which targets to prioritize. It’s frustrating in the moment, but man, when you finally see that S pop up on your screen? Chef’s kiss.

Also, don’t sleep on the training arena. Seriously! I spent time there practicing quick-boost techniques and assault armor timing, and it made a huge difference in actual missions.

Your Path to S Rank Glory

Look, I’m not gonna lie and say getting S ranks is easy. It’s not. But it’s definitely achievable once you understand the systems at play and optimize your approach.

The biggest thing is to stop playing like it’s a traditional action game and start thinking tactically. Every hit you take costs money. Every missile you fire adds up. Speed matters, but not if you’re hemorrhaging COAM in the process.

Experiment with different builds, learn enemy patterns, and don’t be afraid to replay missions with different strategies. Sometimes what works for one person won’t work for you because we all have different playstyles, and that’s totally fine!

If you found this guide helpful, make sure to check out more gaming tips and strategies over at Glitch Lane. We’ve got tons of content covering everything from speedrunning tactics to build optimization guides. Now get out there and show those missions who’s boss!