How to Beat Rusty in Armored Core 6 (AC6)

As you reach the end of Chapter 5 in Armored Core 6, one of the final hurdles before the finale is the battle against your old buddy Rusty. Also known as STEEL HAZE ORTUS / Rusty, this is yet another one of those fast-paced AC fights, and I can easily guide you to victory.

How to Defeat Rusty in Armored Core 6

To beat Rusty in AC6, you need to have an aggressive build that allows for decent mobility. This is very close to a standard AC fight with far more speed and a lot more health to deal with overall. For that reason, I went with Dual Missile launchers and dual Gatling Guns. The goal is to rip through shields and cause stagger as fast as possible.

1) Watch Out for the Sword

The deadliest attack from Rusty is a spinning sword attack that can stagger you almost instantly. Once you’re staggered, the swirling blue blade can tear through your AP. You need to dash away as soon as you watch Rusty close the gap or create a build that can withstand heavy hits. Otherwise, most of the attacks the boss has are fairly simple.

Related: All Missions in Armored Core 6 (AC6)

2) Play for the Long Game

Like some of the other AC battles, Rusty has Repair Kits. When you tear through the first health bar, the game will slow down for a second as if you won the fight. However, he gets a brief shield and most of his health back. It’s at this point that you need to go back on the offensive.

3) Apply Pressure

Aside from the sword attacks, Rusty doesn’t have too many attacks that stop you in your tracks. You want to apply as much pressure as you can to stop him from zipping around. Dual Missiles and Homing Missiles are great for this.

Best Build to Beat Rusty in Armored Core 6

The fight against Rusty is fast-paced. To beat him, you need a build that can zip around at the same speed, as well as dish out high burst damage. I tried to cause stagger on the boss as fast as possible any time I pushed, but escaping was also important. The full build can be found below.

Best Rusty Build in AC6:

• R-Arm Unit: DF-GA-08 HU-BEN
• L-Arm Unit: DF-GA-08 HU-BEN
• R-Back Unit: Vvc-706PM
• L-Back Unit: BML-G1/P31DUO-O2
• Head: EL-TH-10 Firmeza
• Core: VP-40S
• Arms: IA-C01A: Ephemera
• Legs: LG-011 Melander
• Booster: IA-C01B: Gills
• FCS: FC-008 Talbot
• Generator: DF-GN-06 Ming-Tang
• Expansion: Terminal Armor

You can always move around some of the parts to specialize the build to your liking. Armored Core 6 is all about experimenting with mech parts to take down bosses in new ways. But this is a great blueprint to start with.

Once you reach New Game Plus, check out my guide on whether you should accept or refuse in AC6.