The Baltius boss fight in Attack the Watchpoint is one of the most punishing encounters in Armored Core 6. With erratic attack patterns, shield phases, and a second stage loaded with deadly AoEs and fire damage, this battle is less about perfection and more about smart preparation and raw execution. Below is a detailed breakdown of the recommended build, the logic behind it, how to navigate each of Baltius’s phases, and what mindset you should approach this DPS race with.

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Build Philosophy: Tanky Mobility with Shield Shredding

The key to winning this fight lies in balancing durability with enough mobility to avoid the worst attacks, all while running a DPS loadout capable of burning Baltius down before it overwhelms you.

Primary Weapons:

• Dual 8/16s (Plasma Guns) – Used to quickly destroy Baltius’s shield. These are efficient at breaking down the pulse armor.
• VP-60LCS (Back-Mounted Laser Cannons) – Deal solid damage once the shield is broken. Charge and fire after stripping the boss’s defenses for maximum impact.

Frame and Core:

• Helmet: A high AP option with good weight-to-defense efficiency.
• Chest Piece: Prioritizes maximum AP for minimal weight tradeoff.
• Arms: Very lightweight arms, since heavier ones don’t offer enough AP to justify their weight.
• Legs: Reverse-joint or standard legs that maintain enough mobility without committing to a full tank build. Tank legs are avoided for maneuverability reasons.

Internals:

• Booster: Burzel 21D – Great for close-range positioning and dodging.
• Generator: Large-capacity battery—the only one capable of supporting the full loadout efficiently.

This build is designed to handle the boss’s most aggressive patterns by offering moderate movement and superior burst potential while remaining durable enough to survive stray hits.

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Phase 1: Understanding and Reacting to Attacks

Baltius’s attacks in this phase require both timing and directional awareness. Here’s a summary of the major mechanics and how to respond:

• Missile Beep Warning: When you hear the beeping cue, prepare to quick dash diagonally—top-left or top-right works best. Timing is everything.
• Charge Rush + Shotgun: If Baltius rushes toward you or switches to submachine gun fire, be ready for a close-range shotgun follow-up.
• Missile Swarms: If you’re scratched by a volley, shift-dash repeatedly to minimize hits. These are difficult to dodge entirely but can be softened with good angles.

The secret to mitigating damage is dashing into Baltius at angles. It’s counterintuitive, but backing away usually ensures you take more hits. Use assault boosts tactically, but only when you’re confident you can follow through without getting punished.

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Phase 2: Fire Swipes and Chaos

Once the boss hits 50% HP, the fire-based second phase begins. New threats include:

• Ground Fire Trails: Walking through them causes ticking damage, which feels illogical for a mech—but it hurts, and you need to avoid it.
• Fire Swipe: Close-range and brutal. If Baltius starts charging this, either retreat quickly or dash past him before the swing lands. This one tracks heavily and can be hard to escape.
• Dumb Fire Rockets: These will track and overwhelm you if you’re in a poor position. You can reduce risk by maintaining a mid-close distance rather than going too far.

During this phase, DPS racing is your only real strategy. Even with perfect dodging, there are patterns where you’ll get hit no matter what. Use shield-break weapons, wait for the pulse armor to drop, then punish with charged lasers.

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DPS Race Mentality: Winning Through Aggression

What makes this fight brutal is its randomness. Even with flawless movement, you can’t avoid everything. Baltius’s angles and unpredictability will get the better of you at times.

So what’s the real answer? Outdamage him before he outdamages you.

This is why the recommended build favors:

• High AP – To survive the unavoidable hits.
• Shield-breaking tools – To accelerate the first part of the damage cycle.
• Fast follow-up damage – To capitalize when the shield drops.

You’re not aiming for a perfect dodge run. You’re mitigating damage, reading cues, and dumping damage at every safe opening.

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Final Thoughts: When Perfect Play Isn’t Enough

Even after hours of practice, you’ll find that Baltius can still punish you based on positioning alone. Sometimes the missile angle is unavoidable. Sometimes the fire swipe comes at the worst possible time. That’s part of this boss’s design.

So load up, move fast, and burn him down before he burns you down. This isn’t a dance—it’s a slugfest with missiles. Hopefully, this guide helped you understand how to build, react, and race to victory.

Good luck, Raven. This is the wall that separates rookies from mercs.