Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon Guide – How Many Chapters and How Long to Beat

FromSoftware’s Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon isn’t as massive as Elden Ring, its previous title. However, it’s still pretty large, with an extensive story to play through. In addition to the main missions, you have a lot of side content to complete, Training missions that unlock new parts and the Arena where you can fight against different AI opponents.

The story consists of five chapters, each with several missions to complete. As you complete missions, others become available. Some are dubbed “Decision Missions,” indicated by an icon in the Sortie menu. After choosing these missions, the others become closed off, so keep that in mind. Depending on the Decision Missions, you unlock three different endings. Without further ado, let’s look at all of the missions.

All Chapters and Missions, and How Long to Beat

Chapter 1 Missions

• Illegal Entry
• Destroy Artillery Installations
• Grid 135 Cleanup
• Destroy the Transport Helicopters
• Destroy the Tester AC
• Attack the Dam Complex
• Mining Ship Takedown
• Operation Wallclimber
• Retrieve Combat Logs
• Investigate BAWS Arsenal No. 2
• Attack the Watchpoint

Chapter 2 Missions

• Infiltrate Grid 086
• Eliminate the Doser Faction
• Ocean Crossing

Chapter 3 Missions

• Steal the Survey Data
• Attack the Refueling Base
• Eliminate V.VII
• Tunnel Sabotage
• Survey the Uninhabited Floating City
• Heavy Missile Launch Support
• Eliminate the Enforcement Squads or Destroy the Special Forces Craft (This is a Decision Mission)
• Attack the Old Spaceport
• Eliminate “Honest” Brute
• Defend the Old Spaceport
• Historic Data Recovery
• Destroy the Ice Worm

Chapter 4 Missions

• Underground Exploration – Depth 1
• Underground Exploration – Depth 2
• Underground Exploration – Depth 3
• Intercept the Redguns or Ambush the Vespers (This is a Decision Mission)
• Unknown Territory Survey
• Reach the Coral Convergence

Chapter 5 Missions

• Escape
• Take the Uninhabited Floating City
• Intercept the Corporate Forces or Eliminate “Cinder” Carla” (This is a Decision Mission)
• Breach the Karman Line or Destroy the Drive Block (This is a Decision Mission)
• Shut Down the Closure Satellites or Bring Down the Xylem (This is a Decision Mission)

Overall, if you play through the story missions at your own pace, it will take about 23 to 24 hours to complete. New Game Plus is available, and in an interesting twist, new missions become available. Let’s take a look at all of the missions in New Game+ and New Game++

All Missions in New Game+

• Attack the Dam Complex (Alternative mission in Chapter 1)
• Prevent Corporate Salvage of New Tech (This Decision Mission occurs in Chapter 3)
• Defend Dam Complex (Also discovered in Chapter 3)

All Missions in New Game++

• Escort the Weaponized Mining Ship (Available in Chapter 1)
• Prisoner Rescue (Available in Chapter 1)
• Obstruct the Mandatory Inspection (Available in Chapter 1)
• Attack the Watchpoint (Alternative mission in Chapter 1)
• Stop the Secret Data Breach (Available in Chapter 1)
• Survey the Uninhabited Floating City (Alternative mission in Chapter 3)
• Coral Export Denial (This Decision Mission in Chapter 3)
• Underground Exploration – Depth 2 (Alternative mission in Chapter 4)
• Eliminate V.III (This is a Decision Mission in Chapter 4)
• Unknown Territory Survey (This is a Decision Mission in Chapter 4)
• Reach the Coral Convergence (Alternative mission in Chapter 4)
• MIA (Available in Chapter 5)
• Regain Control of the Xylem (Available in Chapter 5)
• Coral Release (Available in Chapter 5)

Together with the first playthrough, New Game+ and New Game++, the story should take about 26 to 30 hours to finish (including all of the character conversations). Of course, there are several Achievements/Trophies to earn, parts to unlock, PvP and much more to experience. While the jury is out on how long that can all take, the developer reportedly revealed that it will take about 50 to 60 hours.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. Check out our official review here.