How to Beat the AH12 HC Helicopter in Armored Core 6

While Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon may be a relatively short game, depending on your level of skill, it is immediately full of challenges. Namely, the first boss you will fight in Armored Core 6, the AH12 HC Helicopter, can present itself as quite the challenge for those unfamiliar with FromSoftware games. While your toolkit may be limited, with the right strategy you can easily topple this enemy proven you have the grit to do so.

How to Beat the AH12 HC Helicopter in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

Like any FromSoftware game, Armored Core 6 will demand that you learn the attack pattern of whatever enemy you are facing. The AH12 HC Helicopter may be the tutorial fight, but it will test your patience if you’re not prepared. Keep in mind that Armored Core 6 will actually alert you when the helicopter will strike you with missiles, which will be part of both it’s first and second phase. When you heard a total of two harsh beeps, you will want to use your boost to dodge. You will also get a visual indicator.

One of the first things you want to do is make sure you are locked onto the boss. This will help you boost and avoid missiles better, as well as get out of the way of its gunfire, which is weak by comparison. Also use the cover around you to your benefit. Depending on how the helicopter is situated, this may or may not be possible. Use your instincts to figure out where to best position yourself, and then boost in to hit it with your Pulse Blade. Hitting it twice with the Pulse Blade, and with a barrage of your own missiles, will break the “stamina” of the helicopter. During this window, you will deal more damage to it and this should be taken advantage of.

Also, you will want to try to keep the AH12 HC Helicopter close to the center of the arena, as if you’re too aggressive it will back out and actually fly out of melee range. And when I say out of melee range, it can actually move out of the arena and only be reachable by shooting your gun or missiles. So make sure not to chase it too hard and let your stamina bar refill if you notice it getting too low by hiding behind cover. Make use of everything around you and learn when to dodge appropriately or even entirely disengage. Just know that Armored Core VI requires the player to be reactive and aggressive when fighting just about any boss.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.