Armored Core 6 Smart Cleaner Boss Guide: How To Beat

Boss battles in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon are the ultimate tests of your abilities and skills you gained up until reaching them. While some are tougher than others, each tests a different skill in players, and the Smart Cleaner boss is a challenge that brings the heat (literally). 

So if you're going up against this powerful, flame and lava-spitting machine and want some tips on how to take it down, then we have you covered. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of defeating the Smart Cleaner boss in Armored Core 6.  

Smart Cleaner Boss: General Encounter Tips

The Smart Cleaner stands as a colossal bulldozer-esque robot adorned with massive grinders and a smokestack on its back. The boss is highly aggressive and durable, allowing it to easily throw around its two colossal arms that, upon impact, mercilessly grind and transform their unfortunate target into a pile of scrap.

Hence, in this confrontation, we opt to stay in the air (for safety) and capitalize on the vulnerabilities inherent in its armor. Even before the battle commences, you may notice the Smart Cleaner's weaknesses as illuminated golden areas on its armor serving as the precise targets for your assault. Worth mentioning are the openings in the front, the back chimney, and even the grinders, which are all opportunities for attack. 

So let's deconstruct the strategy step by step below, providing you with a comprehensive grasp of the systematic approach required to subdue this formidable boss.

How To Beat Smart Cleaner Boss in Armored Core 6:

Smart Cleaner Attacks to Watch For:

• Should you remain grounded for an extended period, the Cleaner will swiftly move towards you and employ its arms to either clap down on you forcefully or deliver a powerful uppercut. 
• Once a certain amount of damage has been inflicted, the Smart Cleaner will commence emitting harmful fireballs from its smokestack. These projectiles are relatively straightforward to evade and do not inflict substantial damage. 

Smart Cleaner Strategy Tips:

When positioned on the ground, the Smart Cleaner poses a significant threat, showcasing attacks of such potency that they can defeat a less fortified AC in a single strike. However, once you elevate yourself into the air as previously recommended, its ability to pose harm diminishes considerably. 

Employ the prescribed strategy by launching vertical missiles and directing them toward the smokestack, thereby swiftly accumulating impactful damage. While this is happening you can also use your other weapons to deal more damage to its weak points.

When you attain a direct line of sight into the smokestack, we recommend using a powerful weapon such as a bazooka to shoot into the opening significantly boosting the stagger gauge. Following this, another sequence of missile volleys or weapon strikes should stagger the boss, rendering its facial area vulnerable to an onslaught.

Perform a swift tap of the jump command to halt hovering and descend immediately in front of the Smart Cleaner. Redirect your focus to the now accessible hatch and initiate an onslaught with your bazooka, plasma weapons, or whatever you prefer to use. Note that the vertical missiles should be reserved as they would ineffectually rebound off the Smart Cleaner's roof due to the angle of attack in this scenario. 

Nonetheless, your left and right-hand weapons can still inflict substantial damage. As soon as the Smart Cleaner regains its footing, promptly ascend back into the air and reinitiate your focus on the smokestack. Replicate this sequence a few more times to ultimately secure victory.