Armored Core 6 lock on explained - Hard lock vs soft lock

Since the announcement of Armored Core 6, nearly 10 years after the last title, we’re excited to see the fresh new flavour FromSoft brings to the franchise. Let’s discuss the entirely new lock-on system in Armored Core 6. We will take a look at the difference between a hard lock-on and a soft lock-on in Armored Core 6 and which one is better.

If you’re familiar with previous From Software games, you must know how vital the lock-on mechanic is during combat. It makes sure you’re targeting the right enemy without missing their hitbox. Armored Core 6 fleshes out this feature to adapt better to its fast-paced mech fights. Here, you will learn everything about the types of Lock in Armored Core 6 and their respective benefits and drawbacks.

Lock-on in Armored Core 6 explained

In the Soulsborne games, you were required to lock on to your target by pressing the movement stick on your controller when you get in range. However, Armored Core drastically changes the way this mechanic works with automatic target locking. You can see the target reticle on your screen, which automatically locks on to a target when they’re within range.

Moreover, the automatic lock-on has two stages depending on your distance from the target. If you’re farther away, you will see a white centre in your reticle, indicating the 1st stage of the target locking.

As you get closer, you will see the centre turn red, which is the 2nd stage of lock-on. Ensure you’re within the range of engaging this 2nd stage lock-on as your shooting will be more accurate, with the target reticle adjusting perfectly to the enemy movement.

What are hard-lock and soft-lock?

The automatic lock-on feature we discussed so far, which locks onto targets when they’re in range, is called a soft lock. Armored Core 6 has a different variant of this feature called target assist or hard lock. If you turn on target assist, you will be hard-locked onto an enemy, with your camera moving automatically as the target moves on your screen. Hence, you don’t need to worry about camera alignment.

Difference between hard-lock and soft-lock

Now, the next natural question is, which lock-on mode is better? For the most part, it comes down to your playstyle. The soft lock allows for better manoeuvrability and target switching, with the downside of you having to adjust your camera manually. On the other hand, the hard lock ensures you can focus on shooting the target accurately but limits your movement and target-switching capability.

Hard-lock vs soft-lock - Which is better?

We recommend keeping a soft-lock when fighting multiple enemies to allow for a smooth transition from one target to another. However, enabling the target assist mode is extremely helpful in 1v1 situations, as this hard-lock can’t be broken and helps you keep track of enemies. You can rain down a barrage of artillery on lone enemies and bosses with the hard lock-on without having to worry about manipulating the camera.

How to lock on and target multiple enemies?

If you find yourself surrounded by multiple smaller enemies, the best way to deal with them is to use the multi-lock-on feature. If you hold down the missile button, your reticle will lock onto multiple targets in the range, allowing you to shoot them all down at once. The efficiency of your multi-lock depends on the FCS part of your assembly, so be sure to upgrade it when possible.

That's all you need to know about the lock on system in Armored Core 6. For more guides, check out if the game will have multiplayer and if it will be open world.