Armored Core 6's target lock makes you miss more shots than it helps you hit

Armored Core 6 Rusty
(Image credit: FromSoftware)

It turns out locking onto targets in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon will actually decrease your accuracy in certain situations.

Earlier this week, FromSoftware expert and lore historian VaatiVidya put out the video just below, revealing 25 details about Armored Core 6 that aren't commonly known. Around the four minute and 30 second mark, VaatiVidya reveals that enabling target lock in Armored Core 6 seriously isn't all its cracked up to be.

By running some tests on moving targets, VaatiVidya has concluded that locking onto moving targets actually decreases your overall accuracy. The YouTuber ran tests at close range, medium range, and long range using an assault rifle as their weapon, firing off bullets at the same mech, that would jump up and down at the distance set.

VaatiVidya reveals that at 50 meters, 0.018% of the assault rifle's bullets missed the moving target when target lock was disabled. This figure jumps up to 12% with target lock enabled on the same moving target at the same distance, which flies in the face of just about every logic you assume in Armored Core 6.

At 100 meters, 27% of shots missed with target lock disabled, compared to a huge 47% of shots missing the same target when the target lock was turned on. That's nearly half the bullets from an assault rifle missing their target at just 100 meters when target lock is toggled on, a wild statistic which will probably change how a lot of people play FromSoftware's latest.

The strange thing is that there isn't really any rhyme or reason for Armored Core 6's target lock worsening aim for players - it's just like that. Perhaps this is something that FromSoftware could tweak down the road, provided enough players cotton onto the strange aspect.

Check out our Armored Core 6 builds guide for a look at all the different weight builds you can construct with the best weapons possible.

Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

Read more
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2's Killzone-inspired sniper "could maybe use some tweaking," creative director admits, but "weapons are what weapons are" and "balance doesn't matter"
Assassin's Creed Shadows and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Assassin's Creed Shadows' generous parrying is a nightmare – and before anyone can say "skill issue," I'm blaming Sekiro and Lies of P
Elden Ring Nightreign screenshot showing a little magic and skeletal summoning
After 15 years, Elden Ring Nightreign introduces a FromSoftware first: you can stab a dude with an arrow like you're Legolas
Monster Hunter Wilds Focus Mode while fighting chatacabra
How to use Focus Mode in Monster Hunter Wilds
The player standing with the Heavy Bowgun equipped in front of the practice dummy.
How to use the Heavy Bowgun in Monster Hunter Wilds
Asssassin's Creed Shadows kusarigama
My favorite weapon in Assassin's Creed Shadows is also the most misunderstood
Latest in Action
God of War
20 years later, God of War's original monster art has been revealed: behold this army of stick figures slapped on a whiteboard, no clue Kratos is coming for them
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe facing off against samurai warrior on red bridge
An Assassin's Creed Shadows fan is showing off some of the RPG's most impressive little details, and it's done more to get me interested than Ubisoft ever did
Assassin's Creed Shadows Yaya shouting at Tetsuo
How to recruit Yaya in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing Yasuke kneeling and praying while wearing a traditional purple robe
Assassin's Creed Shadows is shown running on a Nintendo 3DS in an impressive bit of fan homebrew
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows hits out at Elon Musk after he criticized the new RPG: "Is that what the guy playing your Path of Exile 2 account told you?"
Yasuke and Naoe ready to fight on the Assassin's Creed Shadows On The Radar thumbnail
On The Radar: Assassin's Creed Shadows coverage hub
Latest in News
Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka
A Star Wars actor just quietly confirmed that filming has begun on Ahsoka season 2
Mario
A surprise bonus Nintendo Direct is coming a week early: "There will be no updates about Nintendo Switch 2 during this presentation"
God of War
20 years later, God of War's original monster art has been revealed: behold this army of stick figures slapped on a whiteboard, no clue Kratos is coming for them
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe facing off against samurai warrior on red bridge
An Assassin's Creed Shadows fan is showing off some of the RPG's most impressive little details, and it's done more to get me interested than Ubisoft ever did
A woman chasing a shining butterfly with a leaping cat on her shoulder in InZOI
InZoi has a long way to go before it can actually rival The Sims as its director says EA's "spent decades perfecting" the formula
Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail
Final Fantasy 14 patch makes an effort to combat mods that can enable harassment, but players report it's "very easy" to reverse newly hidden account IDs