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With the end of another chapter ofArmored Core 6comes another climactic battle. However, the IA-02: Ice Worm is pretty unique. When fighting the Ice Worm, you will have thirty shots of your Stun Needle Launcher to strip it of its shield. You will only need to land four of those, but the Ice Worm is going to do everything in its power to make that difficult.
Related:Armored Core 6: AC Building GuideThankfully, we’ve done all the work necessary to help break every component of this fight down for your convenience. This includes the worm’s movement patterns, attacks, and suggestions for how to build your AC. Feel free to use the Table Of Contents below to jump to a specific section!
AC Loadout Recommendations
The clear winner for this fight is the FORTALEZA Tank legs.These will allow you to have all the mobility you need to get around the battlefield quickly and avoid all the Ice Worms attacks. Beyond that,you just need hard-hitting weapons in your hands and on your other shoulder.When you are striking the worm’s face with your arsenal it will not be moving. So, power is the only thing you need. Also, and we feel like thisshouldgo without saying, but just to be absolutely clear,the Stun Needle Launcher VE-60SNA needs to be on your shoulder!
Since the Ice Wormdoessummon drones,it isn’t a bad idea to have a missile launcher that is capable of multi-lock on the other shoulder.That will let you clear them out more efficiently, and neutralize their threat quicker.
You will have three chances to fire your weapons into the Ice Worm’s head and deal damage. If you don’t deal enough damage in those three attempts to kill the Ice Worm then you will fail this mission.
IA-02: Ice Worm Attacks
We are separating the Ice Worm’s direct attacks from its movements. Though the Ice Worm’s movements are attacks in themselves, the main obstacle is getting a clean shot, so our breakdowns focused more on that aspect. But yeah, don’t let it hit you either,if you come in direct contact with the Ice Worm it’ll be bad news for your AC.
Coral Homing Missile Cluster
This batch of missiles can kill you in one go if you aren’t careful. The further into the battle you get, the larger these clusters will become. It is important to note that seemingly any time the Worm breaks the surface of the ground they can fire this attack off at you.However, if you have that FORTALEZA tank bottom equipped, drifting while boosting will defeat them.
Coral Surface Rockets
These rockets travel along the surface and bounce around a little.It istechnicallypossible to sneak under them, but you are far better off flying over them.Like the Homing Missiles, the more you damage the worm, the more of these you will see.
Drone Summon
After you hit the Ice Worm for the first time, they will summon a squadron of drones.You can leave them to your team, but if they get close to you help take them out.The Ice Worm will sometimes summon additional drones afterward as well, but it isn’t particularly common.
Coral Energy Field
After the worm is hit twice, it will emit a field of coral energy.It will also get the ability to pop up and fire off a field of this energy. Needless to say, when you see it doing this, get as much distance as possible.It will be able to use this attack from this point of the fight onward.
IA-02: Ice Worm Movements
The primary element in winning this battle is going to be reading the worm’s movements. Primarily because if it runs directly into you, it will do a ton of damage, but also because hitting it smack dab in the face is theonlyway to win this battle.
Here the worm will stick its head out for a second or so before diving back into the ground. It will often do two of these in a row.So, if you are facing the worm when it pops up the first time, keep your target on where its head was just before it went back into the ground, then, fire the cannon just as it is popping up for the second peak.This isn’t your best opportunity to land a cannon shot, but if you are lined up with the worm, it absolutely is abriefopportunity.
Straight Up
This movement will see the Ice Worm shoot straight up into the air. They will not cork their head around, which makes this a pretty poor opportunity to strike. That being said, itmaybe an opportunity for a high-flying Tetrapod build?Personally, we’d say you’d be better off just keeping your distance and waiting for a better opportunity.
Giant Hook
Here the worm will stand up tall while hooking its head down. The worm will either splash back down onto the ground or begin to slither around the battlefield. This is what you are looking for!
If you have a bead on the Worm when it first pops out of the ground it absolutely will pause long enough standing straight up for you to hit it with your cannon. However,when it starts slithering around, it is at its most vulnerable, so that is afantasticopportunity to nail it straight in the face.
Laying Flat
If you see the worm lying flat, it is about to whip itself around. However, it will keep its head in the same position for quite some time before it whips itself around and after.Additionally, after it whips its head around, it will start to slowly coil upward, if you’re able to get yourself close to the head after the whip, this is an ideal opportunity to land a shot.
IA-02: Ice Worm Battle Strategy
Two things before we get into the main battle. First of all, verify you are paying extra good attention to your warning indicators, that surround your reticle. These will tell you where the Ice Worm is going to pop up. Quick Boost away from that indicator! You don’t want to be above the Worm when it comes out of the ground.The other thing to keep in mind is that you should only fire the StunNeedle Launcher when you have a clear shot at the faceand when you have downed it and are laying on the damage.
When starting this battle, you’re going to want to spend the first part of the battle zooming around the battlefield, keeping track of where the Ice Worm is popping up as best as you can.The thing to know about this first sequence, where the worm is circling around, dipping in and out of the ground, is that it is always the same.For the most part, it is very hard to get a clean shot off on it during the first sequence, as it is going to frequently be turning away from you while keeping its surface time limited.
However,just as you are beingtold that Carla has told you to have fun, the Ice Worm is going to pop out of the ground and survey the environment(what we refer to as its “Giant Hook” movement pattern). It will then slither around on the ground immediately afterward.This is the perfect chance to get your first hit in.
In the first part of the battle, the Ice Worm will be firing homing missiles and rockets that travel along the ground. However, there won’t be many of them… yet.
Once you land a hit on the face, boost away.Your work here is done, so there is no reason to be in the danger zone.
Now, the worm is going to head back underground and Rusty is going to start charging the cannon. You will be able to see the orange glow of the cannon charging in the distance. When the worm reemerges it will appear near you no matter where you are. You are going to want tostart heading for the cluster of buildings on the left side of the stage(these are the buildings to the left of the charging laser). Now, when the Worm shows itself again, it will take a shot to the head, you’ll then unload all your weapons into it (use your Stun Needle Launcher as well, as it does substantial damage).
After unloading into the Ice Worm, it will go back underground. Now, the reason we told you to head toward that cluster of buildings is because that is where the Ice Worm will emerge next.The Worm will summon a swarm of drones. Your allies will take care of them, so try to get another shot off on the Ice Worm’s face.Once you hit it again, the Ice Worm will return to the ground, Rusty will pop it in the head once it shows itself again, and you will, once again, unload your weapons into it.
Once you have damaged it twice, the Ice Worm will power up, drawing a massive amount of coral energy to it, and then release a giant energy field. So, get your distance.You will now need to hit it with the Stun Needle Launchertwice. Worse yet,there will now be an electric field surrounding the worm.This field will cause damage if you are too close to it. When the worm dives into the ground, it will also cause a large explosion of coral energy.
Now, you are going to deal with a far more aggressive Ice Worm. When it crashes into the ground it will cause explosions of coral energy. Also, if you get too close to it as it wriggles around, you will also take damage from the coral energy it is emitting.Moreover, those homing missiles and ground rockets will come more frequently and in greater numbers. So always be in motion.
Hopefully, you have those FORTALEZA tank legs equipped; you should be able to drift around the battlefield and dodge those attacks in the process.There aren’t any set moments from here on out. Just circle looking for the worm to either shoot up in the air while hooking its head around or go flat on the ground. Both of these are your best opportunities to strike the Worm.
If you remain vigilant, you will be able to hit the worm two more times, Rusty will blast it one last time, and you will have your final opportunity to shred it with your armory. You will now be able to move on to the next chapter!
