Looking for every secret Ace in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve? This complete Ace Combat 8 Secret Aces Guide reveals all 31 hidden enemy pilots, their mission locations, aircraft, spawn conditions, and unlock rewards. Learn how to find elusive Aces like Gigas, Auster, Curis, Harmonius, and Tegimen, unlock special aircraft paint schemes, and complete all 83 Campaign Assault Records.
Before searching for the individual pilots, it's important to understand how hidden Ace encounters work.
These enemies don't appear under the same conditions as ordinary aircraft.
There are several requirements you must satisfy.
Post-launch guides confirm that conditional enemy Aces become available after clearing the campaign at least once.
This means a first campaign playthrough isn't the ideal time to hunt them.
Even if you're playing on a high difficulty, successfully completing a hidden trigger before your first campaign clear may not spawn the Ace.
Finish the story to unlock Free Mission, then return to the missions containing missing records.
Conditional Aces require one of these difficulty settings:
Veteran: The easiest qualifying setting and the best choice for most players collecting secret Aces.
Elite: A more demanding option that also allows the hidden encounters.
Ace: The highest difficulty, available after satisfying its separate unlock requirement.
Rookie and Pilot difficulty don't qualify for these hidden encounters.
Our recommendation: Use Veteran difficulty unless you're also working toward Ace-difficulty challenges.
Each Ace has a specific requirement.
For example, you might need to destroy several bombers before they reach a protected facility.
Another Ace may require you to fly through a tunnel or eliminate a particular enemy through a chain reaction.
These conditions are different for every encounter.
Once the requirement is satisfied, the hidden Ace enters the battlefield.
Look for an unusually prominent red radar contact.
When you select the aircraft, its tactical callsign identifies the pilot.
Some Aces appear near the main battle, while others spawn far away from your current objective.
Destroy the named aircraft before completing the final mission target.
This is extremely important.
Destroying a secret Ace isn't enough by itself. You must complete the mission for the Assault Record and reward to register.
If you quit or fail before the progress is saved, you may need to repeat the encounter.
Don't end your attempt immediately after shooting down the named aircraft.
Before attempting to collect every secret Ace, check which records you're missing.
Open:
Data Viewer → Campaign Data → Campaign Assault Records
This menu displays the named enemy pilots you've recorded.
The collection contains two main groups.
These pilots require special spawn conditions and Veteran difficulty or higher.
They are the main focus of this guide.
Defeating them also unlocks special paint schemes associated with their aircraft types.
Most special-unit records come from named squadrons encountered through normal campaign progression.
These include Lux Lunae pilots and other important enemies.
They generally appear automatically on any difficulty, although there is one important cross-mission exception involving Missions 18 and 28.
You still need to defeat the relevant aircraft and complete the sortie to register their records.
Below are the 31 conditional Aces, organized by their campaign missions.
The listed spawn conditions have been cross-checked against current post-launch guides. Where sources disagree or exact locations vary, the guide identifies the uncertainty instead of presenting an unverified position as guaranteed.
Mission: Jokers Wild
Aircraft: Mirage 2000-5
Location: Central section of the map.
Spawn Condition: Destroy every non-target enemy aircraft.
Gigas is one of the easiest hidden Aces to obtain once you understand the requirement.
During the mission, enemy MiG-21 aircraft appear alongside the primary objectives.
Instead of immediately eliminating the final target, concentrate on destroying all non-target fighters.
After clearing the required enemies, Gigas enters the battlefield near the central area.
Locate the named contact, shoot it down, and then finish the mission.
Important Tip: Don't destroy the final primary target until Gigas has appeared and been defeated.
Unlock Reward: Special Mirage 2000-5 paint scheme.
Mission: Nomad
Aircraft: A-6E Intruder
Location: Northern map area, around grid F1.
Spawn Condition: Destroy at least four enemy aircraft within the first three minutes.
Crematio introduces a timed Ace requirement.
The most widely documented trigger requires destroying four aircraft during the opening three minutes, although one post-launch location guide recommends five.
The safest approach is to eliminate at least five aircraft quickly if the available targets allow it.
Use efficient air-to-air weapons and avoid unnecessary maneuvers.
Once the condition is satisfied, Crematio appears toward the northern battlefield.
Important Tip: Focus entirely on obtaining the opening aircraft kills before worrying about optional engagements.
Unlock Reward: Special A-6E Intruder paint scheme.
Mission: Purple Magic Takes Flight
Aircraft: F/A-18C Hornet
Location: Eastern section of the map.
Spawn Condition: Destroy all required bombers before they approach White Valley Base.
This encounter rewards fast interception.
Enemy bombers attempt to reach the defended radar installations.
You must prevent them from getting too close.
Prioritize the bombers instead of spending time chasing their fighter escorts.
Once the required bomber formations are eliminated, Raia appears in the eastern airspace, associated with a later attack wave.
Important Tip: Use a fast aircraft and keep moving between incoming bomber groups rather than following individual fighters away from the base.
Unlock Reward: Special F/A-18C Hornet paint scheme.
Mission: The Fall of the Numbered Fleets
Aircraft: Gripen E
Location: Tunnel on Newfield Island.
Spawn Condition: Fly into the tunnel from the Anderson Port side.
Auster has one of the most unusual unlock requirements.
You don't need to destroy a special enemy formation.
Instead, you need to perform a precise flying maneuver.
Locate the tunnel connecting the island's port areas.
Approach from the Anderson Port direction and fly through the passage.
Community route guides specifically identify this entrance as important.
The tunnel is narrow, making high-speed flying risky.
Important Tip: Reduce speed and align your aircraft before entering. Avoid making large steering corrections once inside.
Unlock Reward: Special Gripen E paint scheme.
Mission: Retaking of Theve
Aircraft: Su-25SM Frogfoot
Location: Western battlefield, around grid B5.
Spawn Condition: Keep every allied LCAC alive through the first operation phase.
Custos requires excellent defensive flying.
Eight allied landing craft participate in the operation.
Enemy helicopters, artillery, vehicles, and aircraft attempt to destroy them.
You must protect the landing force without losing any craft during the required phase.
As the mission changes toward withdrawal, Custos appears in the western portion of the map.
Important Tip: Stay near the landing craft and eliminate enemies directly threatening them. Use your wingmen to help manage additional attackers.
Unlock Reward: Special Su-25SM Frogfoot paint scheme.
Mission: Attack on the Drinwich Airfield
Aircraft: MiG-31B Foxhound
Location: Northern map area, around grid F1.
Spawn Condition: Destroy at least five TGT-marked enemies within the opening three minutes.
Flamma requires quickly eliminating primary mission targets.
The key distinction is that the targets must be marked as TGT.
Destroying unrelated enemies won't necessarily count.
Some location guides recommend eliminating six targets, while the main trophy guides identify five as sufficient.
If possible, remove six marked targets to provide a margin against the reported discrepancy.
Important Tip: Choose weapons capable of eliminating marked enemies quickly and avoid spending the opening minutes attacking optional units.
Unlock Reward: Special MiG-31B Foxhound paint scheme.
Mission: A Lifeline in the Desert
Aircraft: EA-6B Prowler
Location: Southern battlefield near the refinery area.
Spawn Condition: Destroy a Land Aegis through a chain reaction.
Orcus is an Ace that requires using the environment.
During the mission, a Land Aegis moves near explosive fuel storage.
Your objective is to eliminate the Land Aegis through the resulting chain destruction rather than an ordinary direct attack.
Wait until the target is positioned close enough to the explosive structures.
Then destroy the appropriate fuel tanks.
If the chain reaction eliminates the Land Aegis, Orcus appears.
Important Tip: Don't destroy the fuel tanks too early. The Land Aegis must be close enough for the explosion to destroy it.
Unlock Reward: Special EA-6B Prowler paint scheme.
Mission: Retaking of Theve II
Aircraft: MiG-21bis Fishbed
Location: Southeastern battlefield, around grid F7.
Spawn Condition: Destroy all non-TGT surface weapons.
Tessera rewards thorough target clearing.
You need to eliminate enemy surface weapons that aren't marked as primary targets.
These may include artillery, missile launchers, and other defensive positions.
The important detail is that you're searching for non-target surface weapons, not simply every enemy aircraft.
Check the radar carefully for remaining surface contacts.
Once the required weapons are eliminated, Tessera appears toward the southeastern area.
Important Tip: Don't finish the main objective before clearing the necessary optional defenses.
Unlock Reward: Special MiG-21bis Fishbed paint scheme.
Mission: The Land Battleship Blockade
Aircraft: MiG-29A Fulcrum
Location: Northwestern battlefield, around grid C2.
Spawn Condition: Destroy all secondary tread armor before the Land Battleship reaches the second slowdown line.
Judex requires completing part of a large superweapon encounter quickly.
The Land Battleship has secondary tread armor that must be exposed and destroyed.
First, protect the allied explosive vehicles involved in weakening the battleship.
Once the armor becomes vulnerable, attack the exposed tread sections.
You must destroy the required sections before the battleship advances beyond the second slowdown line.
Important Tip: Ignore unnecessary enemies after the armor becomes exposed. The battleship's movement creates a strict opportunity to complete the trigger.
Unlock Reward: Special MiG-29A Fulcrum paint scheme.
Mission: Over the Rainband
Aircraft: F-15C Eagle
Location: Central battlefield, around grid D5.
Spawn Condition: Destroy an airship within 70 seconds of the relevant laser-targeting phase.
Vorago requires speed and awareness.
Enemy airships hide within the Rainband and direct Tonitra Spear attacks using laser guidance.
When the relevant targeting sequence begins, follow the laser toward its source.
Destroy the responsible airship before the time limit expires.
Detailed community walkthroughs identify the later active laser designation as the important opportunity, rather than the first scripted event.
Vorago then appears near the middle of the battlefield, accompanied by other aircraft.
Important Tip: Follow the guidance laser immediately instead of searching randomly through the clouds.
Unlock Reward: Special F-15C Eagle paint scheme.
Mission: Maximum Payload
Aircraft: F-14D Super Tomcat
Location: Eastern or southeastern battlefield, near grid H6.
Spawn Condition: Destroy all Shadow aircraft before eliminating the relevant Podarge.
Larus requires controlling the order of enemy destruction.
During the mission, Shadow fighters appear while you're dealing with the enormous Podarge transports.
Destroy the required Shadow aircraft first.
Don't immediately finish the Podarge, even if you have an opportunity.
Once the Shadows are eliminated under the correct condition, Larus appears.
Shoot it down before completing the remaining mission objective.
Important Tip: Avoid using powerful attacks that accidentally destroy the final Podarge before the required Shadow fighters are eliminated.
Unlock Reward: Special F-14D Super Tomcat paint scheme.
Mission: An Island in Darkness
Aircraft: F/A-18F Super Hornet
Location: Mission combat area after the LCAC interception condition is met.
Spawn Condition: Destroy all eight enemy LCACs within three minutes of the required launch or takeoff event.
Imber is another timed encounter.
Your priority is eliminating the enemy landing craft quickly.
These targets can be easier to destroy with suitable air-to-ground weapons.
However, you must pay attention to their movement and the timing of the mission phase.
Avoid wasting time fighting unrelated enemy aircraft until the required craft are destroyed.
Important Tip: Prepare a weapon loadout suited to surface targets and begin the interception as soon as the relevant phase starts.
Unlock Reward: Special F/A-18F Super Hornet paint scheme.
Mission: The People of the Lost Country
Aircraft: Su-47 Berkut
Location: Western section of the map.
Spawn Condition: Destroy at least five radar towers before the escorted transport lands.
Sicarius appears when you eliminate enough radar installations during the escort mission.
The most important challenge is balancing the hidden objective with the survival of your escort target.
Find the radar towers along the operation area and destroy five before the transport completes its landing.
Don't travel so far away that you cannot defend the aircraft.
Once the requirement is satisfied, Sicarius enters the western airspace.
Important Tip: Target nearby radar towers while staying close enough to respond to threats against the escorted transport.
Unlock Reward: Special Su-47 Berkut paint scheme.
Mission: Wings of Wax
Aircraft: Su-33 Flanker-D
Location: Northeastern airspace, around grid G2.
Spawn Condition: Destroy one Ladon, then defeat Lupus before destroying the second Ladon.
Lupus has one of the clearest order-dependent unlock conditions.
Two large Ladon bombers threaten the fleet.
Destroy one of them.
Afterward, Lupus becomes available as a hidden enemy encounter.
Stop attacking the remaining Ladon and concentrate on finding the named fighter.
Destroy Lupus before finishing the second bomber.
Important Tip: Don't destroy both Ladons immediately. Ending the bomber encounter too early can close the opportunity to defeat Lupus.
Unlock Reward: Special Su-33 Flanker-D paint scheme.
Mission: Singer
Aircraft: F-16C Fighting Falcon
Location: Varies with the position of the final hostile ship.
Spawn Condition: Allow the enemy UAV launch phase to begin.
Currus is an especially interesting hidden Ace because the condition can conflict with an efficient ordinary mission clear.
Mission 16 involves identifying disguised hostile container ships.
If you eliminate the enemies before their UAVs launch, you may prevent Currus from appearing.
Instead, allow the operation to progress into the drone-launch phase.
Currus then enters the battlefield.
Its location depends on the final hostile vessel's position.
Important Tip: Don't end the ship encounter before the UAV launch event. Watch your radar immediately after the drones begin appearing.
Unlock Reward: Special F-16C Fighting Falcon paint scheme.
Mission: Land Battleship No. 3
Aircraft: F-4E Phantom II
Location: Northern battlefield; community reports differ between northwest and northeast.
Spawn Condition: Destroy all required TGTs before the allied B-1B reaches the halfway point.
Avus requires an efficient opening against surface targets.
The allied bomber advances toward the Land Battleship while you attack enemy defenses.
You must destroy the necessary marked targets before the bomber reaches the halfway point of its approach.
A strong air-to-ground loadout can help.
After the requirement is completed, search the northern area for Avus.
Important Tip: Prioritize marked targets instead of optional fighter engagements. If the B-1B advances too far, the trigger may be missed.
Unlock Reward: Special F-4E Phantom II paint scheme.
Mission: Moonlight and Shadows
Aircraft: F-15J Eagle
Location: South of the launch pad, near checkpoint 18-4.
Spawn Condition: Destroy Shadow 24 during the launch sequence.
Curis is one of the most important hidden Aces because its trigger also affects a later Assault Record collection.
During the mission, identify Shadow 24 and shoot it down before the encounter progresses too far.
Curis then appears south of the launch pad.
Destroy the named aircraft and complete the sortie.
Important Tip: If you're trying to complete every Assault Record, pay special attention to this encounter. The Shadow 24 kill is also connected to the Lux Lunae 22nd Unit in Mission 28.
Unlock Reward: Special F-15J Eagle paint scheme.
Mission: Clearing the Lighthouse
Aircraft: F/A-18E Super Hornet
Location: Northeastern or eastern combat area.
Spawn Condition: Destroy all Su-47 aircraft appearing during the mission.
Aleator requires eliminating a specific fighter type.
As Su-47 Berkuts enter the battle, concentrate on defeating every aircraft in the required group.
Don't confuse them with other enemy planes.
Once the last qualifying Su-47 has been destroyed, Aleator becomes available.
Search the eastern airspace for its named contact.
Important Tip: Check the aircraft type before switching targets. Destroying unrelated enemy fighters doesn't substitute for eliminating the required Su-47s.
Unlock Reward: Special F/A-18E Super Hornet paint scheme.
Mission: Escort Orbiter
Aircraft: Su-35S Flanker-E
Location: Northern battlefield.
Spawn Condition: Destroy enemy B-2 stealth bombers.
Periodus is tied to the stealth bomber interception during the escort mission.
Most detailed Assault Record guides report that destroying at least one B-2 triggers the encounter.
However, some community route references recommend eliminating both B-2s.
Because the reported requirement differs, the safest approach is to destroy both bombers when possible.
These aircraft can be difficult to locate at long range.
Use visual awareness and investigate suspicious contrails or contacts.
Important Tip: Don't rely entirely on your radar. Close the distance and look for the stealth bombers before they threaten the transport.
Unlock Reward: Special Su-35S Flanker-E paint scheme.
Mission: The Star-Bound Bird
Aircraft: EA-18G Growler
Location: Eastern or central-eastern battlefield.
Spawn Condition: Sink every enemy ship.
Alienus requires a complete naval cleanup.
During the shuttle-defense operation, enemy vessels participate in the attack.
You must destroy every hostile ship associated with the trigger.
Don't stop after sinking the largest or most dangerous vessels.
Check for smaller enemy ships that may remain outside your immediate view.
After the naval force is eliminated, Alienus enters the battlefield.
Important Tip: Use a multirole aircraft with effective anti-ship weapons and confirm that no eligible enemy vessels remain.
Unlock Reward: Special EA-18G Growler paint scheme.
Mission: Pursuing the HSCA
Aircraft: Rafale M
Location: Among later enemy reinforcements, reported near grid D3.
Spawn Condition: Approach the Celaeno without being detected.
Caligo is a stealth-oriented hidden encounter.
Unlike most Aces, its trigger doesn't depend on earning a certain number of kills.
You must approach the massive Celaeno aircraft while avoiding detection.
Follow the mission's stealth-related instructions and use controlled positioning.
If you're detected too early, the hidden condition may fail.
Once you've successfully approached the target, Caligo appears among enemy reinforcements.
Important Tip: Don't rush directly toward the Celaeno or begin unnecessary combat before satisfying the approach condition.
Unlock Reward: Special Rafale M paint scheme.
Mission: The Destruction of Expo City
Aircraft: A-10C Thunderbolt II
Location: Eastern battlefield.
Spawn Condition: Destroy the required Gemma and Ventus Squadron aircraft within three minutes of their arrival.
Mission 23 contains two hidden Aces that share the same trigger.
To spawn Milvus, rapidly eliminate the named enemy formations involved in the battle.
The important enemy groups are identified in detailed mission walkthroughs as Gemma and Ventus.
The three-minute window begins when the formations arrive.
Multi-target missiles and wingman assistance can make the requirement much easier.
Important Tip: Conserve appropriate air-to-air weapons before the named formations appear. You need to eliminate the required aircraft quickly.
Unlock Reward: Special A-10C Thunderbolt II paint scheme.
Mission: The Destruction of Expo City
Aircraft: FA-36 Game
Location: Eastern battlefield, alongside Milvus.
Spawn Condition: Same requirement as Milvus.
Cantrix appears after the same successful three-minute interception requirement.
That means you can potentially obtain two hidden Ace records during one mission completion.
Once the enemy formations are eliminated, locate both newly spawned pilots.
Don't assume that defeating Milvus automatically registers Cantrix.
You need to destroy each aircraft separately.
Important Tip: After the trigger, check your radar for two named contacts before completing the remaining primary objectives.
Unlock Reward: Special FA-36 Game paint scheme.
Mission: The Battle of Rocky Island, Day 1
Aircraft: Su-34 Fullback
Location: Southern battlefield.
Spawn Condition: Keep every allied LCAC alive until the landing and disembarkation are complete.
Sabulum requires another successful escort operation.
Allied landing craft approach Rocky Island while enemy defenses attempt to destroy them.
Your goal is to protect every craft until it reaches land safely.
Destroy artillery, aircraft, and other threats that can damage the landing group.
Once the entire landing force has successfully completed the required phase, Sabulum enters the southern airspace.
Important Tip: Watch the health and position of each landing craft. Protecting only one group while another is under attack can prevent the hidden encounter.
Unlock Reward: Special Su-34 Fullback paint scheme.
Mission: The Battle of Rocky Island, Day 2
Aircraft: F-15E Strike Eagle
Location: Southern part of the island.
Spawn Condition: Destroy all required Land Destroyers and Land Aegis ships.
Cinis is the first of two hidden Aces in Mission 25.
Its condition focuses on destroying major surface threats.
Eliminate the Land Destroyers and Land Aegis units encountered during the operation.
Remember that additional enemies may appear as the mission progresses.
Don't assume the requirement is finished just because you've destroyed the first group.
Once all qualifying targets are eliminated, Cinis appears.
Important Tip: Track the relevant surface targets throughout the mission so you don't accidentally complete the final objective with one still active.
Unlock Reward: Special F-15E Strike Eagle paint scheme.
Mission: The Battle of Rocky Island, Day 2
Aircraft: EA-36 Barricader
Location: Near the floating Podarges, in the southern or southeastern battlefield.
Spawn Condition: Fly between the floating Podarges and the ocean surface.
Silacrum shares Mission 25 with Cinis but has an entirely different requirement.
This encounter involves flying through a narrow space beneath the floating Podarge aircraft.
Approach the area carefully and position your aircraft between the large aircraft and the water.
Maintain enough speed to avoid losing control, but don't accelerate so aggressively that you cannot correct your flight path.
Important Tip: Align your approach before entering the gap. Sudden movements can cause a collision with the aircraft above or ocean below.
Unlock Reward: Special EA-36 Barricader paint scheme.
Mission: Crossing Fleets
Aircraft: F-2A
Location: Eastern battlefield.
Spawn Condition: Destroy every enemy surface unit on Cima Island.
Lucidius requires clearing enemy ground forces from a specific island.
During the naval battle, identify Cima Island and locate the hostile surface targets positioned there.
Destroy all qualifying ground installations and units.
Check the radar for any remaining contacts before moving away.
After the required surface units have been eliminated, Lucidius appears from the eastern side.
Important Tip: Don't confuse targets on Cima Island with ships elsewhere in the battle. Focus on completing the island-specific requirement.
Unlock Reward: Special F-2A paint scheme.
Mission: Fatsia, The Ocean Fortress
Aircraft: Typhoon
Location: Northeastern side of the Megafloat.
Spawn Condition: Fly through a gap beneath the Megafloat structure.
Stiria has another dangerous flying requirement.
During the attack on Fatsia, identify the large structural spokes of the Megafloat.
You need to fly through an opening beneath one of these sections.
The challenge is maintaining a stable path while avoiding the nearby structure.
Once the flying condition is satisfied, Stiria appears in the northeastern airspace.
Important Tip: Choose an aircraft you're comfortable handling and line up the passage before committing. Avoid attempting sharp turns inside the structure.
Unlock Reward: Special Typhoon paint scheme.
Mission: A Thousand Points of Light
Aircraft: F-35C Lightning II
Location: Southeastern battlefield, with bomber reinforcements.
Spawn Condition: Destroy at least five bombers within the first five minutes.
Harmonius is one of the most straightforward late-game hidden Aces when you use the correct weapons.
Mission 28 contains large numbers of enemy bombers and fighters.
Your goal is to destroy five bombers during the opening five minutes.
Don't waste time engaging unrelated fighters unless they prevent you from reaching the bombers.
Once the condition is satisfied, Harmonius arrives with additional enemy aircraft from the southeast.
Important Tip: Use a fighter with effective multi-target air-to-air weapons and prioritize bombers immediately.
Unlock Reward: Special F-35C Lightning II paint scheme.
Mission: Selene
Aircraft: Su-57 Felon
Location: Urban battlefield around Theve.
Spawn Condition: Fly beneath a highway bridge.
Prudens requires a precise low-altitude maneuver.
Locate the relevant highway bridge in the urban combat area.
Community guides describe an intact roadway bridge near the eastern coastal or downtown section.
Approach from a direction that gives you enough room to align your aircraft.
Reduce speed as necessary and fly beneath the bridge.
Once the passage is completed correctly, Prudens appears.
Important Tip: Don't attempt the maneuver while turning sharply. A straight, controlled approach greatly reduces the chance of a collision.
Unlock Reward: Special Su-57 Felon paint scheme.
Mission: Song of Wings
Aircraft: F-22A Raptor
Location: Southeastern battlefield after the submarine surfaces.
Spawn Condition: Destroy at least three submarine-launched swarm missile dispensers before they release their missiles.
Tegimen is the final conditional Ace in the campaign.
The final mission involves defending the Endurance against an enemy submarine and multiple missile threats.
When the swarm missile dispensers become available as targets, destroy at least three before they launch.
Timing is extremely important.
If the dispensers release their missiles before being destroyed, the trigger may fail.
Once the condition is met and the mission advances, Tegimen enters the southeastern airspace.
Important Tip: Prioritize the dispensers as soon as they're available. Don't waste valuable seconds on optional enemies during the launch window.
Unlock Reward: Special F-22A Raptor paint scheme.
One of the easiest ways to get stuck when completing Assault Records is overlooking the connection between Mission 18 and Mission 28.
This requirement is separate from the normal Harmonius secret Ace trigger.
It concerns the Lux Lunae 22nd Unit.
During Moonlight and Shadows, Shadow 24 appears as part of the enemy encounter.
Destroying Shadow 24 triggers Curis, the hidden F-15J Eagle pilot.
However, that kill also influences whether a special enemy formation can appear later in the campaign.
The Lux Lunae 22nd Unit contains five Su-57 pilots:
Doctus
Salatrix
Acrobates
Anteros
Ares
These aircraft are connected to the Shadow 24 event.
Post-launch completion guides identify an additional requirement involving the later Shadow encounter in Mission 28.
The important complication is that the necessary mission-state information must carry through a continuous campaign run.
Completing Mission 18 separately in Free Mission does not reliably establish the required condition for Mission 28.
For this particular collection objective, use a campaign run that carries the Shadow 24 event forward.
Do not assume that clearing the two missions independently is equivalent.
This is especially important for players pursuing the A Record of Rivalry achievement.
One of the main reasons to collect hidden Aces is the special aircraft customization rewards.
Every conditional Ace is associated with an aircraft type.
When you defeat that pilot and successfully finish the mission, you unlock a special paint scheme for the corresponding aircraft.
These cosmetics let you personalize your planes beyond their regular appearance.
After unlocking an aircraft's special color, access the applicable campaign aircraft customization interface.
Post-launch guides identify the Aircraft Sets menu and its Select Skin option as the place to choose available paint schemes.
Select the aircraft you want to customize, then choose an unlocked special color.
No.
Defeating a hidden Ace doesn't automatically give you the aircraft that pilot uses.
For example, shooting down Tegimen unlocks an F-22A special paint scheme, not the F-22A aircraft itself.
You still need to acquire the aircraft through its normal progression method.
Successfully registered unlocks are added to your campaign collection.
Make sure to complete the mission after destroying the Ace so the reward is saved.
These paint schemes are cosmetic rewards rather than performance upgrades.
They don't automatically increase your aircraft's speed, maneuverability, or weapon damage.
Defeating all 31 secret Aces is an important achievement, but it isn't the entire collection.
You also need 52 special-unit pilot records.
Most of these enemies appear through scripted campaign encounters.
Their main challenge is making sure you defeat every named pilot rather than allowing a formation to escape.
Several missions contain particularly large groups of named aircraft.
Mission 03 — Purple Magic Takes Flight
Contains the Lux Lunae 160th Unit, including four MiG-29A pilots.
Mission 08 — Retaking of Theve II
Contains several Lux Lunae formations, with 12 special-unit records available.
Mission 11 — Maximum Payload
Features the Lux Lunae 55th Unit, consisting of four MiG-31B aircraft.
Mission 18 — Moonlight and Shadows
Includes the Lux Lunae 140th Unit and the important Shadow 24 event.
Mission 20 — Escort Orbiter
Features ten named pilots from the Lux Lunae 100th and 99th Units.
Mission 23 — The Destruction of Expo City
Includes named pilots Niveus and Pruina from the 8th Pastoral Air Wing.
Mission 25 — The Battle of Rocky Island, Day 2
Contains 12 special-unit records across multiple Lux Lunae formations.
Mission 28 — A Thousand Points of Light
Features the five-pilot Lux Lunae 22nd Unit, subject to its cross-mission requirement.
Mission 29 — Selene
Includes the named X-40 Nightmare pilot Selene.
Complete the special-unit encounters alongside your hidden Ace collection to work toward all 83 records.
You don't need the same aircraft for every secret Ace.
Some encounters involve fast interception, others require surface attacks, and several demand precise low-altitude flying.
Choosing suitable equipment can make the collection much easier.
Use a fast fighter with effective air-to-air special weapons.
These encounters include Crematio, Raia, Harmonius, and certain squadron-clear requirements.
Multi-target missiles can be useful when several aircraft need to be destroyed quickly.
Choose a multirole aircraft or attacker with suitable guided weapons.
These encounters include Flamma, Orcus, Tessera, and Cinis.
Area-effect weapons can be useful when enemies are clustered together, but be careful when the trigger requires a specific destruction method.
For example, Orcus requires a Land Aegis to be eliminated through a chain reaction.
Choose an aircraft you can control comfortably.
Auster, Silacrum, Stiria, and Prudens all require dangerous flying maneuvers.
These conditions reward stable handling rather than maximum speed.
Use controlled throttle adjustments and avoid unnecessary corrections near obstacles.
Aircraft with strong air-to-air performance and suitable missile options can help.
However, understanding the spawn requirement is more important than simply selecting a high-tier fighter.
A powerful aircraft cannot compensate for destroying the wrong target or missing a required event.
If you've completed the required objective but the Ace doesn't appear, check the following possibilities.
Conditional Aces require Veteran, Elite, or Ace difficulty.
If you're playing on Rookie or Pilot, the hidden encounter won't trigger.
Current completion guides identify an initial campaign clear as a prerequisite.
Finish the story before attempting your full hidden Ace collection.
Some triggers require specific target types.
Tessera requires non-target surface weapons.
Orcus requires chain destruction.
Aleator requires eliminating the Su-47 aircraft.
Destroying unrelated enemies won't satisfy those requirements.
Crematio, Flamma, Vorago, Milvus, Cantrix, and Harmonius involve timed conditions.
If you complete the requirement too slowly, the hidden Ace may not appear.
Restart the mission and concentrate on the required targets.
Some Aces appear before the final mission objective is destroyed.
Lupus and Currus are important examples.
If you complete the final objective before triggering or defeating the Ace, you may lose the opportunity.
Auster, Silacrum, Stiria, and Prudens require passing through specific environmental structures.
Simply flying close to the area isn't necessarily enough.
You must complete the required flight maneuver.
After shooting down the Ace, continue until the mission has been successfully completed.
Don't quit immediately after the kill.
For the Lux Lunae 22nd Unit, check the Shadow 24 requirement.
That particular collection involves a continuous campaign-state condition rather than independent Free Mission clears.
There are 31 conditional secret Aces across the campaign.
The full Campaign Assault Records collection contains 83 entries, including 52 special-unit pilots.
Complete the campaign, replay the relevant mission on Veteran difficulty or higher, satisfy its hidden spawn condition, shoot down the named aircraft, and finish the sortie.
Veteran is the lowest qualifying difficulty and generally the most comfortable choice.
You don't need Ace difficulty simply to collect the conditional pilots.
Post-launch guides identify a first campaign completion as a prerequisite for the conditional encounters.
Finish the story before beginning a dedicated hidden Ace collection.
Yes.
Free Mission allows you to replay individual sorties and pursue their hidden Aces.
The Mission 18-to-28 special-unit prerequisite is an important exception because it depends on campaign-state continuity.
No.
They unlock special paint schemes for the aircraft types they fly.
Obtaining the playable aircraft still requires the relevant acquisition method.
Mission 23 contains Milvus and Cantrix.
Mission 25 contains Cinis and Silacrum.
No.
Mission 14, Two on the Run, doesn't contain a conditional secret Ace.
Fly through the tunnel on Newfield Island, using the Anderson Port approach identified in detailed community guides.
Allow the hostile UAV launch phase to begin during Mission 16, Singer.
Currus appears when the drones launch.
Destroy five enemy bombers within the first five minutes of Mission 28.
Harmonius then appears with additional aircraft.
Destroy at least three submarine-launched swarm missile dispensers before they release their missiles during Mission 30.
Destroy Shadow 24 during Mission 18 in a campaign run that carries the necessary event into Mission 28.
Then satisfy the later encounter requirements and shoot down the named pilots.
You may lose the Assault Record from that attempt if the progress wasn't saved.
Complete the remaining mission objectives after defeating the Ace.
Collecting all 83 records unlocks the A Record of Rivalry trophy or achievement.
Conditional secret Aces also reward special aircraft paint schemes.
Finding all 31 secret Aces in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is one of the most interesting challenges available after completing the campaign.
These encounters reward players who pay attention to mission mechanics, understand hidden objectives, and know when to approach battles differently.
Some Aces, like Gigas and Harmonius, require straightforward enemy destruction.
Others, such as Auster, Silacrum, Stiria, and Prudens, demand careful flying through dangerous environments.
And encounters involving pilots like Curis, Lupus, and Tegimen require understanding the precise order in which mission events must happen.
The best approach is to complete the campaign first, select Veteran difficulty, and use Free Mission to revisit the operations containing missing records.
Check each Ace's spawn condition before launching, prepare appropriate equipment, and remember to finish the entire sortie after destroying the named pilot.
Pay particular attention to the Mission 18 and Mission 28 connection if you're working toward the full Assault Records collection.
Once you've obtained all 31 conditional Aces and the remaining special-unit records, you'll complete all 83 entries and earn the A Record of Rivalry achievement.
You'll also have a collection of special aircraft paint schemes to show for your efforts.
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Every secret Ace has a weakness, a trigger, or an opportunity. Learn the conditions, find the target, and make every encounter count.
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