Using shoulder weapons in Armored Core VI is a pivotal aspect of maximizing your combat effectiveness. Here’s a structured approach to effectively leverage these weapons, ensuring you dominate in battles while adapting to various scenarios.

Choosing the Right Shoulder Weapon

1. Explosive Shoulder Weapons (Grenade Cannons/Bazookas):
– SONGBIRD Grenade Cannon:
– Pros: Offers a great balance between damage output and reload speed. The fast projectile speed makes it highly effective against slower-moving targets and particularly devastating against staggered enemies.
– Best Use: Ideal for scenarios that require quick damage application without the penalty of long reload times.
– EARSHOT Grenade Cannon:
– Pros: Higher damage potential than SONGBIRD but comes with a slower reload time.
– Best Use: Best suited for situations where heavy damage is needed and you can predict enemy movement or when you have support to cover the slower firing intervals.

2. Kinetic Shoulder Weapons:
– VP-60LCS Laser Cannon:
– Pros: Excellent in quickly staggering enemies with a continuous stream of fire. Its ability to be fired repeatedly without the need for reloading makes it especially potent in close-range encounters.
– Best Use: Pair this weapon with rapid-fire hand weapons, such as Gatling Guns, to unleash overwhelming damage during an enemy’s stagger phase.

3. Shields:
– Pulse Buckler Series:
– Utility: While primarily defensive, these can provide crucial protection during engagements, though their effectiveness can vary across different campaign missions.
– Best Use: Utilize when engaging tougher enemies or when you anticipate heavy incoming fire, allowing you to reposition or counterattack effectively.

Effective Usage Strategies

1. Staggering Enemies:
– Begin engagements with shoulder weapons like the VP-60LCS or SONGBIRD to maximize your stagger potential. This sets the stage for follow-up attacks when enemies are most vulnerable.

2. Close Combat Follow-up:
– Upon staggering an enemy, switch to high-damage hand weapons, such as dual-wielded Gatling Guns, to capitalize on the brief window of opportunity. This combination can lead to significant damage output.

3. Combat Mobility:
– For heavy tank builds, leverage your mech’s hovering capabilities to maintain close proximity to your target. This not only aids in maximizing damage but also allows for swift repositioning.

4. Swapping Weapons:
– During mission play, practice using the designated button to seamlessly alternate between shoulder and hand weapons. This fluidity enhances your response to changing combat conditions.

Maximizing Effectiveness

– Versatility: Tailor your shoulder weapon choice based on the battlefield context. Assess the situation and adapt your loadout for explosive damage, kinetic strikes, or defensive capabilities.

– Pairing with Other Weapons: Utilize shoulder weapons to stagger foes, followed by high-damage hand weapons to finish them off. This strategic layering of attacks ensures efficient killing.

– Mobility and Positioning: Stay agile and use your mech’s movement to avoid damage while maintaining an optimal position for your shoulder weapons to achieve consistent fire accuracy and effectiveness.

By adopting these strategies, you will not only enhance your proficiency with shoulder weapons in Armored Core VI but also improve your overall approach to combat, adapting your tactics to maximize damage while minimizing risk. Focus on combining weapon types and maintaining agility to stay one step ahead of your opponents.