| RG01-PITONE (railgun) | Successfully complete the 'Occupation of Arteria Carpals' mission in Chapter 3 on the Hard difficulty. |
| HD-LANCEL-OPT04 (stabilizer) | Gain an 'S' rank for all Hard missions. |
| ER-O705 (laser rifle) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome AF Answerer' mission. |
| KIKU (blade) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome Red Rumb And Starka' mission. |
| SAUBEES-HEAD (stabilizers) | Successfully complete the 'Defend Cradle 03' mission. |
| HD-LANCEL-OPT03 (stabilizer) | Gain an 'S' rank for all Normal missions. |
| ZINC (vertical Kojima cannon) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome Unknown NEXT' and 'No Count' missions on the Hard difficulty. |
| DUSKAROR-HEAD-1 (stabilizer) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome Red Rumb And Starka' mission. |
| ADDICT (emergency PA recharger) | Successfully complete the 'Attack Anti-Satellite Cannons' mission. |
| XMG-A030 (machine gun) | Successfully complete the 'Defend Line Ark' mission at the end of Chapter 2. |
| BIGSIOUX (large missile) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome the Main ORCA forces' mission. |
| ASB-0710 (additional boosters shoulder piece) | Overcome Orca Rank 5 Next Shinkai. |
| DUSKAROR-HEAD-2 (stabilizer) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome Red Rumb And Starka' mission. |
| MP-O901 (PM missile) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome AF Answerer' mission. |
| 07-Moonlight (laser blade) | Overcome Orca Rank 5 Next Shinkai. |
| GAN02-NSS-WBS (spread bazooka) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome Wonderful Body' mission. |
| FSS-53 (dummy rocket) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome Silent Avalanche' mission on the Hard difficulty. |
| SAMPAGUITA (shotgun) | Successfully complete the 'Defend Cradle 03' mission. |
| SAPLA (grenade cannon) | Successfully complete the 'Attack on PA-N51' mission on the Hard difficulty. |
| INSOLENCE (Kojima cannon) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome Unknown NEXT' and 'No Count' missions. |
| 067ANLR (laser rifle) | Successfully complete the 'Defend Anti-Satellite Cannons' mission. |
| KAMAL (slug gun) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome Red Rumb And Starka' mission. |
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| GAN01-SS-GC (Gatling cannon) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome the Main ORCA forces' mission. |
| EC-O307AB (laser cannon) | Successfully complete the 'Attack Arteria Carpals' mission in Chapter 3. |
| EG-O703 (pulse gun) | Successfully complete the 'Attack Arteria Carpals' mission in Chapter 3 on the Hard difficulty. |
| HLR09-BECRUX (high laser rifle) | Successfully complete the 'Attack On Ateria Cranium' mission. |
| 051ANNR (rifle) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome White Glint' mission at the end of Chapter 2. |
| EUPHORIA (PA moulder) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome Unknown NEXT' mission. |
| 063ANEM (ECM maker) | Successfully complete the 'Defend Anti-Satellite Cannons' mission. |
| XCG-B050 (chain gun) | Successfully complete the 'Defend Line Ark' mission at the end of Chapter 2. |
| OIGAMI (dual grenade cannon) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome AF Great Wall' mission on the Hard difficulty. |
| MR-R102 (assault rifle) | Successfully complete the 'Attack Arteria Carpals' mission in Chapter 3. |
| SALINE05 (spread missile) | Successfully complete the 'Overcome White Glint' mission at the end of Chapter 2. |
| All purchasable parts are free | Successfully complete both the Collared and ORCA story modes. |
| HLR71-VEGA (high laser rifle) | Successfully complete the 'Defend Arteria Carpals' mission in Chapter 3. |
| P-MARROW (assault amplifier) | Successfully complete the 'Defend Arteria Carpals' mission in Chapter 3 on the Hard difficulty. |
| HLC09-ACRUX (high laser cannon) | Successfully complete the 'Attack On Ateria Cranium' mission. |
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| White Glint Head, Core, Arms, Legs, and Head (top) Stabilizer | Successfully complete the 'Defend Line Ark' mission at the end of Chapter 2 (White Glint does not have to survive). |
Compared to Armored Core 4, the Nexts are much quicker. The quick boost thruster consumption appears to have been reduced and this causes quite a few of the AI to move very quickly and very erratically. Tried and true methods that brought down Nexts in Armored Core 4 do not always work, such as the ever potent HLC02-Sirius. The developers have compensated for this by giving placers the back chain guns GAN-01-SS-GC obtained by following the Collarred story line. Combined with the INBLUE FCS, which has the highest lock speed, and rapid quick boost techniques to stay close, you can easily destroy almost any Next. Unfortunately this is not available until after the 'Overcome White Glint' and 'Defend Line Ark' missions, which are very difficult without these chain guns on your back. Very few Nexts utilize aerial combat techniques; mainly Fragile, White Glint, Ambient, Stasis, Old King, and Unsung. Also, laser blades can use lock on now, making it easy for Nexts to target you with their blades. Shinkai is the most dangerous and is found in the Defend Arteria Cranium (final mission for Collared) and can very quickly take you down to size using homing strikes from the 07-Moonlight.
The following AC configuration will give you unlimited flight, regardless of prior tuning. It is a heavy weight AC that has plenty of AP.
Weapons are not in the layout to allow personal preferences. This AC schematic has its various advantages outside of its flight capabilities, such as its large hangers which can keep pushed larger weapons.
In Chapter 3, successfully complete both the 'Overcome Red Rum And Stark' and 'Destroy Megalis' mission to unlock the ORCA story path. The first ORCA mission is 'Destroy Arteria Ulna'.
