Armored Core 6: How To Beat Ayre (Bad Ending Final Boss)

As you reach the end game portion of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, the choices you've made up until that point will start to shape the ending you'll see. If you make specific choices that lead you to the "bad" ending (which isn't very difficult to do, even accidentally), you'll end up coming face to face with Ayre or IB-07: SOL 644, one of the most powerful bosses in the game.

Facing Ayre is a challenge for any player, and knowing some of the boss's weaknesses and strategies to defeat it will help you tremendously in your fight. So below, we've broken down all the tips and tricks that you'll need to know to beat Ayre in Armored Core VI. 

Ayre Bad Ending Boss: General Encounter Tips

The challenge in the Ayre battle doesn't primarily stem from the boss's resilience but rather her remarkable speed. Ayre's swiftness is comparable to, or in some instances even surpasses, CEL 240, and sometimes, striving for excessive speed doesn't yield the desired results. Instead of engaging in Ayre's fast-paced contest, our strategy should revolve around maximizing our tank's endurance to outlast her.

In this battle, it's crucial to maintain constant pressure. Ayre's shields regenerate incessantly, making it imperative to wear her down before her relentless onslaught of attacks overwhelms you and triggers the stagger effect. This severe pressure should persist until she descends below the 50% health threshold, ushering in her second phase (Similar to the ALLMIND True ending boss), marked by an even greater acceleration in speed.

In her second phase, Ayre exhibits heightened agility and launches a barrage of attacks, including the appearance of clones and intensified tracking difficulties. However, this only underscores the importance of maintaining aggression, as the key to victory lies in overwhelming her until the remainder of her health diminishes.

How To Beat Ayre in Armored Core 6

Ayre Attacks to Watch For:

• Ayre pilots a formidable C-weapon AC in the final battle, harnessing the power of Coral energy to conjure devastating weapons capable of inflicting significant impact and AP damage.
• Her AC's combat style shares similarities with the Ibis Series, incorporating some new combos into her move-set that can pose a substantial threat if not approached with caution.
• In her first phase, Ayre relies on Coral Blade slash attacks and multiple C-weapon projectiles during her second phase, both of which deliver substantial damage.
• Aside from these two powerful attacks, the majority of Ayre's move-set closely resembles that of a standard AC, similar to Handler Walters AC combat style, offering opportunities for players to adapt and strategize effectively during the battle.

Ayre Strategy Tips:

During her initial phase, Ayre primarily employs homing missiles as her main attack, a threat that can be effectively evaded by utilizing Assault Boost or quick lateral boosts. Another formidable move in her arsenal is the Laser Blade, which can pose a challenge to evade. 

To sidestep these blade attacks, you only need to disengage your target lock and perform an Assault Boost away from her or swiftly boost in the opposite direction of her strike. It's highly advisable to equip the Pulse Protection expansion, as it significantly mitigates the damage inflicted by this attack.

The strategy for defeating Ayre closely resembles the Ibis Series boss fight, focusing on the critical aspect of staggering the boss swiftly. Once Ayre is staggered, a feat that can typically be achieved with just two railgun or plasma cannon shots, you can seize the opportunity to swiftly approach and inflict damage using your plasma rifles or the Zimmerman shotgun.

Upon reducing Ayre's health by half, she enters her second phase, elevating her agility and unveiling a particularly devastating attack. In this phase, your primary concern should be the Coral energy clones, capable of staggering your AC and causing substantial damage upon impact. Evading these Coral energy attacks can be accomplished by executing rapid consecutive quick boosts or performing an Assault Boost towards Ayre while simultaneously evading sideways.

After Ayre deploys this newfound ability, she enters a cooldown phase, signaling the opportune moment for you to unleash your shoulder cannons. By adhering to the cycle of staggering Ayre and dealing damage with your plasma rifle or shotgun, you can efficiently conquer her in no time, allowing you to experience one of the game's endings, known as "Fires of Raven," which depicts the entirety of Rubicon 3 being consumed by the Flames of Ibis.