There are three endings to ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON, with differing final bosses. Depending on which ending is chosen, the fate of 621, humanity, the Coral, and Rubicon 3 are all decided for good.
Fires of Raven[]
The Fires of Raven is one of two endings initially available during the campaign's first playthrough. It is unlocked by choosing to complete the "Intercept the Corporate Forces" mission in Chapter 5, which leads into the missions "Breach the Kármán Line", and finally "Shut Down the Closure Satellites."
This ending involves 621 choosing to support Handler Walter and "Cinder" Carla's mission to destroy Coral for good by ramming the colony ship Xylem into Rubicon's Vascular Plant. Doing so however puts 621 in opposition to V.IV Rusty who fights for the Rubiconians, and Ayre who does not want to see the Coral destroyed. After defeating both of them, the Xylem rams into the Vascular Plant, igniting the Coral and setting off another system-wide cataclysm that destroys all life on Rubicon 3. In the aftermath of the event now known as "The Fires of Raven", the Planetary Closure Administration and the corporations agree to seal off the Rubicon system for good, and halt all research into Coral. 621 disappears into parts unknown, their fate uncertain.
Liberator of Rubicon[]
Liberator of Rubicon is the second of two initial endings available to the player. Unlocking it requires choosing to complete the "Eliminate "Cinder" Carla" mission in Chapter 5, leading into the missions "Destroy the Drive Block", and finally "Bring Down the Xylem."
This ending has 621 side with Ayre to prevent the destruction of the Coral, which will require them to kill "Cinder" Carla and stop the Xylem from colliding with the Vascular Plant. Along with the aid of V.IV Rusty and the Rubicon Liberation Front the Xylem is sent crashing to the planet's surface. However, 621 will have to face off against Handler Walter in order to escape. In the aftermath, 621 stays on Rubicon 3 along with Ayre to an uncertain future.
Alea Iacta Est[]
The third and final ending available is Alea Iacta Est. This ending requires that the player have completed both the Fires of Raven and the Liberation of Rubicon endings on a single save file.
If the conditions are met, on the next playthrough the mission "Escort the Weaponized Mining Ship" will become available during Chapter 1 as a decision mission paired with "Destroy the Weaponized Mining Ship." In order to begin the Alea Iacta Est route, the player must select and complete "Escort the Weaponized Mining Ship," which unlocks additional changes and new decision missions that must be completed to remain on the route:
- Chapter 1:
- "Obstruct the Mandatory Inspection" replaces "Investigate BAWS Arsenal No. 2."
- In "Attack the Watchpoint," a squad of Ghosts accompany Sulla in battle against the player.
- Chapter 3:
- In "Survey the Uninhabited Floating City," Thumb Dolmayan replaces the AH12: HC HELICOPTER as the mission's final boss.
- "Coral Export Denial" is added as a decision mission paired with "Historic Data Recovery," and is required to continue on the route.
- Chapter 4:
- "Eliminate V.III" is added as a decision mission alongside "Intercept the Redguns" and "Ambush the Vespers." It is required to continue on the route, and once completed, the player is locked into the Alea Iacta Est path.
- In "Reach the Coral Convergence," if the player has completed all previous Alea Iacta Est requirements, then following the battle with V.VI Maeterlinck and G3 Wu Huahai, the player is redirected to find and kill V.II Snail instead of confronting IB-01: CEL 240.
- Chapter 5:
- "MIA" replaces "Escape" as the chapter's first mission.
- "MIA" is followed by "Regain Control of the Xylem" and lastly "Coral Release," which concludes the route.
This ending sees ALLMIND play a more direct role, as it tries to initiate an event known as a "Coral Release", with the ultimate goal of symbiosis between man and Coral, using 621 and Ayre as the keys to the entire process. While following along with ALLMIND's plan, Ayre uncovered hidden analytic simulations of mechs ALLMIND was planning to use. After Ayre and 621 finished the final simulation of the fight against a Coral-based Armored Core, Ayre realized that she could pilot the Coral-based Armored Core and help 621 if needed.
Evading V.II Snail's trap at Institute City, 621 escapes from Watchpoint Alpha and is taken under ALLMIND's protective custody. After being snuck onboard the Xylem by ALLMIND, 621 is directed to hijack the ship to allow ALLMIND to take control of it and prevent it from destroying the Vascular Plant. However once 621 has accomplished all their objectives, ALLMIND decides to dispose of 621 by sending out G5 Iguazu, now existing as a digital intelligence, to kill them. 621, aided by Ayre with her own Armored Core, prevails over ALLMIND and Iguazu. With Ayre now holding the trigger to initiate the Coral Release, 621 and Ayre initiate the Coral Release themselves, scattering the now active Coral all over the stars.
After an undisclosed amount of time, 621 awakens inside their default Armored Core, alongside other similar machines waking up to the sight of the sky filled with Coral. The ending ends ominously with Ayre saying “Main System: Activating Combat Mode”, a line that the player AC’s COM says at the beginning of every mission/battle.
Notes[]
- Although the Arena analysis unlocked during the Alea Iacta Est route pairs with plot elements in the route, Arena participation is not required for obtaining the ending (It is still advisable to do so for OS Tuning).
Gallery[]
ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON OFFICIAL ART WORKS[]
Trivia[]
- Completing tasks assigned by ALLMIND such as the training courses or Arena right before the "Coral Release" mission will trigger unique dialogue.