As a seasoned Armored Core veteran with countless hours sunk into the franchise since the PS1 era, I was beyond stoked when AC6 was announced at E3 last year. The moment I booted up the game on launch day, I felt right at home piloting my nimble yet hard-hitting bipedal war machine.
While the unparalleled mech customization options seem familiar, Armored Core 6 has significantly expanded the weapons roster – introducing devastating new additions like the Pulse cannon and Coral missile launcher. However, at the end of the day, I still relish equipping and mastering high-risk, high-reward melee weapons to utterly dominate at close quarters combat.
In this extensive guide, I will be sharing my insights and analysis on all the melee weapons unlockable in Armored Core 6 as an S-Rank veteran player. Follow along to discover their attack patterns, combat capabilities and ideal pairings to construct the ultimate CQC-focused build.
Pulse Blade H1-32: BU-TT/A – Reliable All-Rounder
The Pulse Blade H1-32: BU-TT/A is the first melee weapon players obtain, and it remains a competitive option even in the late game due to its well-balanced attributes. With solid 963 attack power and 710 impact, it can reliably chip away enemy health.
But what truly makes the Pulse Blade shine is its combo potential, allowing consecutive hits on exposed targets. I especially love dashing in with boosted side steps and unleashing a flurry of strikes on foes distracted by my long range bombardments.
This table shows the Pulse Blade‘s stats distribution – as you can see, it does not particularly excel in any specific area. However, the jack-of-all-trades nature makes this weapon extremely flexible and lets it adapt to any situation or loadout.
During intense skirmishes, I utilize the Pulse Blade‘s consistent DPS to overwhelm hostile particle barriers and create an opening for my heavyweight munitions. Its versatility has cemented its place in my loadout choices despite unlocking deadlier alternatives.
Stun Baton VP-67EB – Rapid Crowd Control
While its power pales in comparison to other melee options, the Stun Baton VP-67EB is unmatched when it comes to disabling capabilities thanks to its blindingly swift attack animation. In fact, by stacking Impact through successive hits, you can absolutely stunlock enemies with this weapon equipped.
As depicted above, I managed to consecutively strike a training robot 7 times in quick succession with the Stun Baton before it could even retaliate! This gives you ample time to reposition for a more powerful attack as your opponent reels from the endless attacks.
The Stun Baton truly shines when utilized alongside heavy rifles like the LB-CR20E2 lb-CQR35. It enables you to safely reload your clip or charge your Radiant Pulse ammunition while hostiles are preoccupied recovering from Impact stacking staggers.
Trust me, any weapon with crowd control abilities is invaluable during intense warzone skirmishes or raid boss showdowns against overwhelming odds in Armored Core 6!
Chainsaw WB-0010 Double Trouble – Domination Through Fear
Simply revving up this mechanical monstrosity elicits despair from the most hardened enemies and pilots. Boasting the signature metallic roar of high RPM sharpened blades, the Chainsaw WB-0010 Double Trouble dominates close quarters combat through pure intimidation factor alone before it even lands a blow.
However, what truly sets this melee weapon apart is its devastating charge attack. As depicted above, I utterly demolished this obsolete MT with a single well-timed charge attack from my Chainsaw, depleting its health bar instantly.
The Chainsaw‘s only drawback is its limited range. But for veterans like myself who excel in aggressive relentless playstyles, this flaw is negligible. By rapidly closing distance with boost dashes, you can effortlessly shred apart enemies before they even have time to react.
Once you get behind an opponent, rev up your Chainsaw and watch their helpless struggle to escape its bite through the cockpit monitor. Simply priceless!
Laser Slicer Vvc-774LS – Excelsior of Edge
Veteran players like myself who have achieved S-Rank know this already, but let me confirm it again – the Laser Slicer Vvc-774LS reigns absolute as the undisputed Emperor of melee weapons once fully unlocked. It dominates all who stand in its path through a lethal combination of extreme attack velocity and overwhelming damage-per-second.
As depicted in the image above, I finally unlocked the Laser Slicer last night after emerging victorious in a grueling Arena battle gauntlet. Just equipping it lets you feel its immense power coursing through your AC‘s circuits.
A key advantage the Laser Slicer has over the similar spec‘d Pile Bunker model is its blistering swing speed. By seamlessly chaining light attacks, even bulky Heavyweight class ACs will struggle to withstand the endless onslaught.
Of course, such sheer unadulterated power comes at a cost – with lengthier cooling downtime after dishing insane damage. But for S-Rank pilots like myself accustomed to hit-and-run warfare, this temporary setback is negligible.
While raid bosses or PvP builds specifically designed to counter Laser Slicers may arise, unlocking this glorious weapon symbolizes your ascent into the pantheon of supreme players in Armored Core 6.
Comparative Analysis of All Melee Weapons
To summarize, I have compiled the key statistics across all unlockable melee weapons here:
Weapons leaning heavily towards Attack Power and Impact tend to excel in delivering devastating single blows but are slow and have limited combo potential. This makes them ideal for timed charge attacks.
On the other hand, arms focused on Consecutive Hits lack burst potential but can rapidly stack Impact through endless nimble strikes to disable threats. Pair them alongside high sustain weapons.
Of course, the Laser Slicer stands uncontested when all attributes are combined, albeit at the cost of lengthier downtime. Truly the worthiest investment for veterans seeking the ultimate CQC build.
I hope my insights have provided valuable perspectives to help you construct your ideal melee loadout catered to your playstyle! Never hesitate to experiment with unique pairings – that is the key to mastering Armored Core customization after all.
Now get out there, wield fearsome arms into the heat of battle and cleave through all competing Lynx operatives who dare oppose you! Till we meet again on the proving grounds, fellow pilots.
