Armored Core 6 Fires Of Rubicon Endings Guide: How To Get The True Ending

Armored Core 6 Fires Of Rubicon is the first new entry in the long-running franchise by FromSoftware since 2013’s Armored Core Verdict Day. It is now available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC. You can check out my spoiler-free review of the game by heading over here.

For those already playing the game, there are three (3) endings in Armored Core 6 Fires Of Rubicon. The game doesn’t tell you this and there’s technically no New Game Plus mode that you have to specifically start. When you finish a playthrough, the game will automatically continue into a new playthrough. The way it all works is similar to the multiple endings in 2017’s NieR Automata, where each new playthrough in Armored Core 6 Fires Of Rubicon will feature new alternate missions and turn of events, which will culminate in different endings if you choose the correct Decision Missions. Decision Missions in Armored Core 6 Fires Of Rubicon are missions where the narrative will deviate based on which mission you choose.

I finished all three endings in about 45 hours, but the longest was the first playthrough, which took me over 20 hours. Each subsequent playthrough should take shorter to finish, considering that most of the missions are the same (perhaps with different sequences of events or different enemies). However, each playthrough gradually increases the difficulty, and this makes the third playthrough for the “true” ending of the game arguably the hardest. Each playthrough consists of the same number of chapters; there are five (5) chapters.

Also, I won’t spoil what happens in the endings; this is just a guide on how to unlock the different endings. There are no spoilers in this article.

Let me list down the endings below, and what you have to do to unlock them:

First Playthrough: Fires Of Raven Ending (Bad Ending)

Choose the following Decision Missions:

• Chapter 3 – Mission 21: Eliminate the Enforcement Squads [DECISION]
• Chapter 4 – Mission 31: Intercept the Redguns [DECISION]
• Chapter 5 – Mission 37: Intercept the Corporate Forces [DECISION]

At the end, you will then unlock the Ending Missions: Breach the Kármán Line > Shut Down the Closure Satellites.

Second Playthrough: Liberator Of Rubicon Ending (Good Ending)

If this is your second playthrough, choose the following Decision Missions:

• Chapter 1 – Mission 06: Attack the Dam Complex – After destroying the 2nd generator choose the screen prompt “REFUSE”. You will then proceed with mission objectives normally and not turn hostile on your allies. [NEW GAME+ EXCLUSIVE] [ALT MISSION] [DECISION]
• Chapter 3 – Mission 19: Prevent Corporate Salvage of New Tech [NEW GAME+ EXCLUSIVE] [DECISION]
• Chapter 3 – Mission 22: Destroy the Special Forces Craft [DECISION]
• Chapter 4 – Mission 32: Ambush the Vespers [DECISION]
• Chapter 5 – Mission 38: Eliminate “Cinder” Carla [DECISION]

At the end, you will then unlock the Ending Missions: Destroy the Drive Block > Bring Down the Xylem.

PSA: It Doesn’t Matter In What Order Or Which Ending You Choose For Your First Two Playthroughs

It’s important to point out that for your first two playthroughs, you can do them in whichever order you want. While I listed the Fires Of Raven ending first in this article, I personally chose the Liberator Of Rubicon ending for my first playthrough (since I was playing with no guides back then).

You can do Fires Of Raven for your first playthrough and Liberator of Rubicon for your second playthrough, or vice versa, and you can still unlock the third ending in your third playthrough.

So, yeah, don’t worry too much about having to do much specific stuff in your first two playthroughs.

To put it simply, the most important Decision Mission that determines which of the two endings you will get is as follows:

• FOR FIRES OF RAVEN (BAD ENDING) – Chapter 5 – Mission 37: Intercept the Corporate Forces [DECISION]
• FOR LIBERATOR OF RUBICON (GOOD ENDING) Chapter 5 – Mission 38: Eliminate “Cinder” Carla [DECISION]

Third Playthrough: Alea lacta Est Ending (True Ending)

In New Game++ in your third playthrough, it’s extremely important that you choose these specific decisions and missions:

• Chapter 1 – Mission 06: Attack the Dam Complex – After destroying the 2nd generator choose the screen prompt “ACCEPT”. You will then have to defeat your allies. [NEW GAME+/++ EXCLUSIVE] [ALT MISSION] [DECISION]
• Chapter 1 – Escort the Weaponized Mining Ship.
• Chapter 3 – Mission 19: Prevent Corporate Salvage of New Tech [DECISION]
• Chapter 3 – Mission 21: Eliminate the Enforcement Squads [DECISION]
• Chapter 4 – Mission 26-B: Coral Export Denial [DECISION]
• Chapter 4 – Finish all the Arena battles (including the Analysis ones), last opponent is unlocked after Mission 29: Underground Exploration
• Chapter 4 – Mission 33-B: Eliminate V.III [NEW GAME++ EXCLUSIVE] [DECISION]

At the end, you will then unlock the Ending Missions: MIA > Regain Control of the Xylem > Coral Release.