You're flying through Rubicon 3, dodging missile swarms and thinking your AC is the peak of engineering. It isn't. Not even close. FromSoftware has this habit of tucking the most game-breaking gear inside dusty, nondescript crates that you'll fly right past if you’re too busy worrying about your repair kits. Armored Core 6 hidden parts aren't just collectibles for completionists; they are the difference between getting flattened by the PCA and actually standing a chance in the late-game arena.
Most players finish the campaign without ever seeing the IA-C01W1: NEBULA plasma rifle or the epically chunky wreck-diver parts. That’s because these chests don't show up on your compass. They don't beep. You basically have to shove your nose into every dark corner of a megastructure while a Tetrapod MT is trying to turn you into scrap metal. It’s annoying, sure, but the loot is worth it.
The Problem With Standard Shop Parts
Buying gear from the parts shop is the "safe" way to play. But the shop is curated. It’s balanced. The hidden parts found in the field—mostly developed by the long-dead Institute—often break those balance rules. We’re talking about weapons with bizarre firing patterns and generators with energy recovery stats that feel like cheating.
Take the IA-C01G: AORTA generator. You find this in "Survey the Uninhabited Floating City." Most people just follow the beacons, kill the drones, and leave. If you do that, you miss a generator that specializes in post-recovery EN supply. It’s weird. It’s niche. But for a light build that spends its life in the air, it’s a total game-changer. You won't find that kind of specialization in the early-game Arquebus catalog.
Why Your Scanner Is Your Best Friend (And Why You’re Using It Wrong)
Stop just looking for enemies. Your head piece has a scan distance and a scan duration stat. If you’re hunting for Armored Core 6 hidden parts, you need to be spamming that pulse like your life depends on it.
When you scan, chests appear as small, gray rectangular icons. They stay on screen for a few seconds. If you’ve got a "low-tech" head with a short scan duration, you’ll miss chests hidden behind bulkheads or tucked under grates. Honestly, just swap to a high-scan head for exploration missions. You can always change back at a checkpoint before the boss. It’s a simple trick, but most people are too focused on AP and Defense to realize their "combat" head is blind to the environment.
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The Missable Gems of Chapter 2 and 3
Chapter 2 is where things get real. In the mission "Infiltrate Grid 086," there are actually four different chests. Four! Most people find the one near the start and call it a day. But if you drop down into the pipe systems or look behind the massive smelting furnaces, you find the HC-3000 WRECKER set. It’s heavy. It’s ugly. It has surprisingly high stability.
Then there's the "Tunnel Discovery" mission in Chapter 3. Everyone hates this mission because of the Nepenthes laser firing down the shaft. You’re rushing, trying not to get sniped. But if you veer off into the side tunnels, there’s a chest containing the IA-C01W3: AURORA light wave cannon. It’s one of the most unique back weapons in the game, firing aerodynamic energy missiles that track like a dream. If you’re just speedrunning the objective, you’re leaving 50% of your potential firepower on the table.
The Redshift and the Institute Tech
Late game, specifically in Chapter 4, the difficulty spikes. This is where the Institute gear lives. In "Reach the Coral Convergence," before you fight the infamous Ibis series boss, there are chests scattered around the ruined city.
- One is on top of a building guarded by those annoying "wheel" enemies (C-Spiders).
- Another is tucked away near the bridge.
Finding the IA-C01W2: MOONLIGHT blade is basically a rite of passage for FromSoft fans. It’s been in every game since King's Field. In AC6, it’s hidden at the bottom of the city near the bridge. If you miss it, you're missing the most iconic sword in the franchise. It’s not just about the damage; it’s about the status.
Common Misconceptions About Hidden Parts
A lot of people think you can just "buy" these parts in New Game Plus. You can't. If it’s a chest part, it stays a chest part.
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- "I can just use the Loghunt rewards instead." Wrong. Loghunt rewards are great, but they are a completely separate pool of items. You need both to maximize your build variety.
- "Hidden parts are only for heavy builds." Also wrong. Some of the best lightweight, high-mobility boosters and arms are tucked away in missions like "Honest" Brute's map.
- "Chests only appear in main missions." Mostly true, but some "Investigation" style missions have them in spots you’d never think to check, like the very edge of the map boundary.
How to Effectively Hunt Without a Guide
Look, you can look up a map for every mission. But that kills the vibe of being a mercenary on a desolate planet. If you want to find Armored Core 6 hidden parts naturally, follow the "Rule of Three":
First, look for light. In dark industrial zones, FromSoftware often places a small red or green flickering light near a chest. It's a classic level design trope. Second, check the verticality. If there is a platform way above the objective or a pit way below it, there is probably something down there. Third, follow the enemies. If you see a lone MT standing in a dead-end alleyway guarding nothing, he isn't guarding nothing. He's guarding a crate. Kill him and take his stuff.
The mission "Infiltrate Grid 086" is the gold standard for this. There’s a section with a large industrial "crusher." If you time your movement and go through the machinery instead of around it, you find a hidden room. It feels like a secret because it actually is one. That’s where the real gear is.
The Gear That Changes the Meta
We have to talk about the IA-C01L: EPHEMERA legs. Found in the "Explore Underground Depth 1" mission. These are arguably the best "bipedal" legs for energy-focused builds. They look like weird alien insect limbs, but the weight-to-load ratio is insane.
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If you're struggling with energy management, the Ephemera set is your answer. But again, it’s in a chest inside a shaft while you're being shot at. Most players are too panicked to notice the side rooms. Slow down. Use your repair kits. Explore.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Sortie
Don't just go back and replay every mission blindly. That’s a waste of time. Start with the missions that have the highest "Combat Zone" density.
1. Re-equip for Discovery
Swap your FCS for something with a decent multi-lock and your head for the HD-033M VERRILL or the IA-C01H: EPHEMERA (once you find it). These have superior scan stats. You want that pulse to reach out and touch every wall in a 500-meter radius.
2. The "Infiltrate Grid 086" Sweep
This is the most important mission for hidden parts. There are four. Go back, ignore the objective, and look for the smelting room. Jump into the pipe that isn't pouring molten metal. There’s a hidden AC fight and a chest in there.
3. Check the "Uninhabited Floating City"
In the fog, follow the drones. But when the drones lead you to a circular platform, look toward the outskirts of the city. There’s a chest on a distant roof. It contains the IA-C01G: AORTA. It’s easy to miss because the fog is so thick, but the scan will pick it up if you’re close enough.
4. Underground Depth 2 and 3
These missions are labyrinths. In Depth 2, when the blast doors close and you have to find an alternate route through the side rooms, check the corners. There’s a chest with the GILLS boosters. These have the fastest reload time for quick-boosts in the game. They are essential for "dodge-heavy" playstyles.
Finding every hidden part is a grind, but it’s the only way to experience the full depth of the assembly system. You haven't really played Armored Core until you've built a machine entirely out of lost Institute technology and realized you can now fly circles around the bosses that used to give you nightmares. Stop being a shop-bought merc and start scavenging. The best guns on Rubicon are free, you just have to be brave enough to look for them.