Balteus is the final boss of Chapter 1 in Armored Core 6. It took me a while to get through this fight, which was frustrating. If you cannot defeat Balteus, do not fret, as I will guide you with each step of the way.
Key Takeaways
Farrukh Jafri has extensively played Armored Core 6 for 100+ hours. So, you can trust his hands-on experience and the information he provides for Armored Core 6!
Attacking Moves
- The final boss has two health bars, with the colored bar being a shield.
- When the shield depletes to the end, the boss enters a frozen state; I will suggest you approach and hit with two melee attacks.
- The boss starts with a missile attack, with guided missiles moving upward and rapidly toward your mech.
- Dodge missiles by conserving boost and performing side steps.
- When the boss relocates, it fires high-fire-rate canon bullets from its center body, causing critical damage.
- After losing 50% health, the boss attempts to recover its shield, leading to a damaging bubble burst if you stay close.
- A bubble burst can hit your core, resulting in a temporary freeze.
- Following the shield recharge phase, Balteus uses a powerful Flamethrower attachment; your only way out is to boost away and avoid damage quickly.
| Attacking Moves | Description | Counter |
|---|---|---|
| Missile Rain | After the boss fight starts, you will get bombarded by a large group of guided missiles that slowly follow an upward projectile and then approach you. | Perform multiple side steps using boost with left and right movements |
| Canon Shots | When Balteus changes position, it draws bullets from a high fire rate canon that last for a quick instant but deals high damage | Use boost to get out of sight. Perform movement in any possible direction where you do not face the center of Balteus. |
| Shield Bubble Burst | After crossing the half-health mark of the final boss, a shield bubble will burst, damaging all units in close range. | Stay far when this occurs. Use backward boost movements if you are dangerously close. |
| Flamethrower | When the bubble burst shocks hit, Balteus will use its flamethrower attachment to damage you with flames in close range. | Use your Boost movement to stay out of its range |
| Lock-in Rocket hit | When you hear the alarm and a red lock-in sign on your screen, Balteus shoots a Rocket at you that deals a lot of damage. | Use Quick Boost to move up or down to avoid getting hit by it |
Attack Moves Summary Table.
How To Defeat?
To be successful in this final boss fight, players must focus on strategic gameplay and avoid all enemy attacks.
Note: You must keep all your repair kits and avoid using them in other aspects of the eleventh and final mission of Chapter 1. Unfortunately, if you have used them, you can intentionally die during the boss fight and restart from the last checkpoint to restore all repair kits.
Keep A Pulse Weapon
- Balteus has several defenses that require a pulse weapon to breach them.
- I recommend you keep the HI-16: GU-Q1 Pulse weapon that will evade the defenses and help you deplete its health.
- After the defenses break, the shield bar above the health bar will reduce to 0, and Balteus becomes invulnerable for a few seconds.
- Use your quick boost feature in this window to approach the final boss and hit it with two melee hits using the blade.
- It is restricted to two hits in an instant; therefore, I advise you to retreat after that and find a safe spot.
Master Side Movement
- In this boss fight, side movements are essential to avoid missile and flamethrower attacks.
- Players can perform a side movement by pressing the left or right movement key and using the quick boost.
- This is handy throughout the fight and will save you from severe health loss, so you can avoid using repair kits and save them for dangerous situations.
Never Make The First Move
- In these situations, staying patient must be your priority.
- Let Balteus throw an attack at you first.
- When you successfully counter it, I recommend using your right arm weapons and blast attacks to damage the final boss and gain an advantage.
- This will work for you in most cases, as making the first move can hurt you if caught in the trajectory of guided missiles or flames.
- Following the analogy, use your melee attacks only when Balteus is vulnerable and his shield is broken.
- If you approach the final boss with his shield activated, it will bombard you with canon bullets and flames, and you will not survive.
My Build Suggestion
Even if you keep your strategies top-notch, a weak build will keep you hanging as your build will have less resistance. Players must choose a powerful build that has strong armor and reliable weapons.
| Part Labels | Part Names |
|---|---|
| R-Arm | SG-026 Haldeman |
| L-Arm | SG-026 Haldeman |
| R-Back | VP-60LCS |
| L-Back | VP-60LCS |
| Head | HD-012 Melander C3 |
| Core | DF-BD-08 Tiang-Qiang |
| Arms | DF-AR-08 Tiang-Qiang |
| Legs | LG-022T Bornemissza |
| Booster | – |
| FCS | FC-006 Abbot |
| Generator | VP-20D |
| Expansion | – |
Build Overview Table.
For me, this was the most demanding boss in the complete storyline. It took me hours to get through this boss battle as I tried multiple builds and strategies. But, the build I shared did the trick, as I implemented the best attacking schemes and Tank Build. Ensure you follow the instructions given in this guide.
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Farrukh has been covering Souls like games for years now. Having an extensive experience in Dark Soul 3 and Elden Ring he critically judges these games and writes his unbiased thoughts on them after spending hundreds of hours grinding. Farrukh has also worked with Game Rant, MP1st and The Nerd Stash on a variety of gaming guides making him an expert to share his opinions. When not writing he probably be clearing another dungeon. You can also join Farrukh on his Steam.
