Armored Core 6 Balteus Boss Guide: How To Beat

With the arrival of Armored Core VI: Fires of Ruibicon, players are getting their first taste of FromSoftware's new mech-themed action game, and of course, what would a FromSoftware game be without its signature boss battles? Excitingly, Armored Core VI features a host of them, all challenging in various ways, and the Balteus boss is definitely among the more challenging ones. 

Luckily, you won't have to go into the fight blind, as this guide has got you covered with a full breakdown of how to take down this AC. So keep reading to find out exactly how to beat the Balteus boss in Armored Core VI. 

Armored Core 6 General Balteus Boss Tips

Balteus, featured in Armored Core 6, is a substantial Armored Core (AC) equipped with abundant missile arsenals and sturdy Pulse Shields, making combat against it notably challenging. This AC model is explicitly crafted to neutralize you, necessitating the creation of a specialized AC to counter its threat. To achieve this, the optimal approach involves employing the Pulse gun.

Despite its limited range and rapid heat buildup, this weapon is meticulously designed to dismantle shields akin to those on Balteus. Your objective revolves around closing the distance and utilizing this armament to deplete the shield's energy, subsequently capitalizing on the opportunity to release the remainder of your offensive capabilities.

How To Beat Balteus Boss in Armored Core 6 

Balteus Attacks to Watch For:

1. Balteus fires a barrage of guided missiles. Avoid trying to counterattack during this phase, as the missiles can track you and hit you mid-animation. Prioritize quick boosting to evade them.
2. When Balteus's health reaches around 40%, it performs a shield recharge accompanied by significant damage. Maintain distance to minimize harm.
3. Immediately following the shield recharge, Balteus executes sweeping flamethrower attacks causing substantial damage. Swiftly boost away to evade the flames.
4. Beware of Balteus's high-damage cannon, often fired after repositioning.

Balteus Strategy Tips:

1. Utilize the pulse gun for close-range engagement. Focus on using it to break down Balteus's shield. While supplementary missile or blade attacks help, reserve firepower for the moment the shield dissipates, and Balteus is vulnerable.
2. As the shield weakens, initiate an Assault Boost combined with a plasma blade sequence for maximum damage output.
3. Once Balteus's health drops to 40%, prioritize evading its flamethrower assaults, a critical phase of the battle.
4. Master the pulse gun – a weapon introduced subtly earlier in the mission by a mercenary adversary wielding it.
5. Use the pulse gun at close range to systematically erode Balteus's shield. Upon shield failure, perform an Assault Boost and unleash a pulse blade assault, capitalizing on the staggered state. Exploit missile deployment and retreat to evade Balteus's counterattacks.
6. When Balteus's health is at 40%, anticipate and evade flamethrower attacks. Stick to the shield-dismantling tactic and seize damage opportunities for a swift victory.

The effectiveness of your right arm and right back weapon is crucial for intermittently attacking Balteus while evading and diminishing its shields as soon as they recharge. Hence, exercise careful consideration in selecting your weaponry. Simultaneously, your left hand wields the Pulse weapon, and your left back slot can accommodate a melee weapon for substantial damage, which can be swapped when necessary. Your approach should involve closing in on Balteus before employing the Pulse weapon to dismantle its shields and letting loose with the rest.

The moment Balteus becomes staggered, shift your focus to inflicting damage using all available weapons, giving precedence to your melee option. This pattern should be repeated, ensuring evasion of incoming assaults, ultimately resulting in a swift and effortless takedown of Balteus.