The Spirit of Motherwill (abbreviated as SOM[1]) is a gargantuan walking hexapod Arms Fort created by the Bernard and Felix Foundation. Designed like an aircraft carrier with legs and bristling with a multitude of homing missile launchers and machine guns, several long-ranged cannons, and many Normal units, Motherwill is a walking fortress with a total length of 2,400 meters and an overall height of 600 meters.[1] Heavy armor makes this AF indestructible from the outside; however, its design is fundamentally flawed — destroying the main gun batteries, missile silos, and defensive guns causes uncontrollable internal fire to Motherwill. Enough destruction of these devices may cause the main reactor cooling system to fail or ignite the main gun battery ammunition stowage, effectively causing the AF to explode. The spokes person of Omar Science comments that the AF is poorly designed and that such sloppy work is to be expected of the Bernard and Felix Foundation.
By the time of the Economic War, Motherwill is already a relic superseded by more advanced AFs. However, it continues to serve as the core of BFF's ground forces even after a decade of use.[1]
After the creation of the Vanguard Overed Boost (VOB), Motherwill is attacked by a VOB-equipped White Glint in what a journalist suspects to be a test. White Glint uses the VOB to close in on Motherwill, attacking several MTs on the way then disengaging it once in proximity to the target. Upon landing on one of the AF's decks, White Glint is immediately repelled by Motherwill's defenders, losing its left arm rifle and a chunk of its core in the process as well as getting knocked into the sky. White Glint breaks its fall by bumping into a nearby helicopter then escapes to the city below.[3][4]
White Glint confronting the Spirit of Motherwill
Motherwill's MTs descend to surround White Glint while Motherwill prepares to attack it with its full arsenal, only for White Glint to destroy the MTs with Assault Armor. White Glint then attacks the AF from below to avoid its main weapons as more MTs and Normals are sent after him. In the end, neither Motherwill nor White Glint score a decisive blow but the latter withdraws due to ammunition issues. Though Motherwill is victorious, the battle reveals a glaring weakness in it — destroying the main cannons would likely cause catastrophic internal damage.[3][4]
Later on, Omer Science Technology hires the newcomer Lynx of the NEXTStrayed to destroy Motherwill. Strayed safely approaches Motherwill with a VOB supplied by Omer then targets the AF's weapons to cause an internal explosion.[5]
The defeat of the Spirit of Motherwill earns Strayed the attention of Collared's upper echelon. Rank 1 Lynx Otsdarva and Rank 3 Wynne D. Fanchon consider the victory an indication that Strayed's pilot was now a "real Lynx."[5] Meanwhile, BFF deem it a minor loss since they saw Motherwill as outdated in the first place. Still in favor of AFs over NEXTs, they then consider partnering with Global Armaments for a multi-legged replacement with countermeasures for VOB attacks.[6]
Gameplay[]
Motherwill in a trailer version of the Armored Core: For Answer opening movie
The Spirit of Motherwill appears in Armored Core: For Answer. Promotional material such as graphics and trailers use Motherwill and the intro movie depicts its aforementioned clash with White Glint. In-game, it is the target of the mission "Defeat The Spirit of Motherwill", one of the earliest missions for the player to fight an Arms Fort.
"Defeat The Spirit of Motherwill" begins with the player AC strapped to a VOB unit to approach Motherwill. The VOB is automatically detached once the player is close enough to the AF, which can then only be defeated by targeting its weapons. The NEXT Killdozer will protect Motherwill on Hard Mode, engaging the player once their VOB is purged and subsequently pursuing them endlessly until either Motherwill or itself is defeated.
Armored Core: For Answer also has a PVP stage featuring an inoperative Motherwill in the middle of a desert, with tracks suggesting it marched across the area.
Strategy[]
The following information is "gray area" content — it may not be completely factual, and/or falls under YMMV territory.
For the first part of the battle, simply avoid any shots fired by Motherwill. Its cannons hit hard but are easy to dodge. Once the VOB is disengaged, approach Motherwill as quickly as possible to avoid its attacks. Overboost is a good choice for outrunning the boss's missile barrages, but regular anti-missile weaponry like flares and machineguns are also effective. When you finally get to the AF, immediately target its missile silos because these will be your main threats and they are by far the easiest way to reduce Motherwill's "health". Following that, find other parts of Motherwill to attack, like it's cannons. Destroying enough of the AF will eventually cause Motherwill to explode.
On Hard Mode, Killdozer appears the moment the VOB is depleted. Either take him out while avoiding Motherwill's attacks, or just run past him and head to Motherwill. Killdozer itself is not a threat because it can only use melee attacks. Either way, you do not need to defeat the NEXT to complete the mission. 130.105.208.197 13:28, June 6, 2016 (UTC)
Gallery[]
Mission briefing graphics[]
Others[]
Size comparison between Motherwill, a jumbo jet, an elephant, a blue whale, an Armored Core (White Glint), and a skyscraper[7]
In "Defeat The Spirit of Motherwill", the player's NEXT will be destroyed if it stays directly underneath any of Motherwill's stomping legs.
The unearthed "Spirit Class Moving Fortress" being rebuilt by the Foundation.
By the eve of the Verdict War in Armored Core: Verdict Day, the Foundation takes armaments from Motherwill and adds them to a machine similar to Motherwill that they label a "Spirit Class Moving Fortress." Although it lacks Motherwill's large caliber cannons, the moving fortress possesses many missile launchers, short-range plasma cannons, and other defensive emplacements. As a level decoration for stages taking place in the Dozur Desert, it is completely inactive; whereas its World Mode boss fight has it operational and armed while undergoing reconstruction.
![Size comparison between Motherwill, a jumbo jet, an elephant, a blue whale, an Armored Core (White Glint), and a skyscraper[7]](/wiki/File:A_New_Order_of_NEXT_Page_91_Size_comparison.png "A New Order of NEXT Page 91 Size comparison.png (1.92 MB)")
![In-game model[1]](/wiki/File:Motherwill_gallery_15.jpg "Motherwill gallery 15.jpg (221 KB)")
![Bird's-eye view[8]](/wiki/File:Motherwill_gallery_16.jpg "Motherwill gallery 16.jpg (341 KB)")
