The stakes couldn’t be higher as you dive into Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve’s later missions, facing off against threatening land battleships that could turn the tide of war with devastating power. Each mission demands razor-sharp focus, quick reflexes, and smart tactical choices to keep the world from falling into chaos.
After crippling Sotoa’s plan to build a third land battleship by sabotaging their shipments, things take a sharp turn when allies Baxter and Rex crash-land behind enemy lines. With help from local resistance and Tasha, they fight their way back to safety. Now, the focus shifts to preparing a final assault against the second land battleship, a brutal war machine lurking at the space elevator’s base.
Table of Contents
- Mission 16 – Singer
- Mission 17 – Land Battleship No. 3
- Mission 18 – Moonlight and Shadows
- Mission 19 – Clearing The Lighthouse
- Mission 20 – Escort Orbiter
Mission 16 – Singer
The Princess Hacking Into Our Comms.
The enormous space elevator, a marvel of late 2020s engineering, stands as a symbol of unity and safety for countless inhabitants below it. Your mission centers on scouting the area around this towering structure, where unknown threats lurk.
Choose a hybrid aircraft that balances air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities for you and your team before taking off. Approaching the space elevator, your communications will suddenly be hacked—not by enemies, but allies who reveal that the Endurance’s adversaries threaten them as well. They’ve reached out, seeking your assistance.
Identifying The Terrorist Ship.
Your goal here is to hunt down three disguised terrorist ships hidden among friendly vessels. Watch for three cranes and a distinctive sun emblem—the emblem is your key, since many friendly ships also sport the cranes.
After destroying two terrorists, the last will reveal itself and unleash 12 explosive drones aimed at the space elevator. If any drone climbs above 12,000 feet, the mission fails. Act fast to take them down before they reach that height, and the mission will conclude successfully.
Mission 17 – Land Battleship No. 3
Joker Crew At The Hangar.
Despite earlier sabotage, Sotoa managed to finish their third and most formidable Land Battleship model. Your briefing details how Joker and Queen lead a strike against enemy radar and surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites first.
Clearing those threats opens the skies for B-2 Bombers to deploy bunker busters on the battleship. Select a versatile aircraft adept at both air-to-air dogfights and ground strikes before launch to ensure success.
The Third Land Battleship Shooting Railgun.
The mission clock is tight—just eight minutes before the bombers fuel runs out—so speed is essential. Stay low to dodge deadly railgun fire while swiftly dismantling all targets around the battleship. Once you clear the area, watch the B-2s deliver the final blow in spectacular fashion.
This mission ends the moment the battleship falls under the bomber assault.
Mission 18 – Moonlight and Shadows
Flying Above The Comona Islands.
Sotoa prepares to restock missile supplies for the Tonitrus Spears using rockets launched from a space base. Your orders are to let these rockets fly just over the base before destroying them—going too high means mission failure.
The base lies beyond the Rainband, protected by newly deployed airships. The XO advises pushing full throttle without engaging these escorts, emphasizing swift passage.
Things take a sudden turn when Queen’s squad is ambushed by Shadow 22, Lux Lunae’s elite 22nd Unit fighter squadron. Their ruthless attack kills two squad members immediately and forces a shift in mission objectives: assist the survivors and take down as many enemies as you can.
Lux Lunae’s 22nd Unit, The Best Of The Best.
Shadow 22, piloted by Colonel Toprak, is lightning-fast and deadly. While you can eliminate three of the four enemy pilots, Toprak will escape after aggressive dogfighting. Use your opportunity wisely—the time-slow mechanic can help you land critical hits before he retreats.
The encounter shows why your commander Cope is so wary of Toprak. With the enemy retreating, your focus turns back to intercepting the two Tonitrus Spears missiles now launching from the base.
Baxter Watching Shadow 22, Colonel Toprak, Performing Extreme Maneuvers.
Blast the missiles before they can reach space, then clear the falling debris before impact to complete the mission.
Mission 19 – Clearing The Lighthouse
Mission 19 – Clearing The Lighthouse
The XO Aiming Her Gun At D.D.
Sotoa’s second land battleship is now anchored at the space elevator’s base, threatening to launch a catastrophic assault covering Earth’s atmosphere with Tonitrus Spears missiles. Your mission is to stop this from happening by destroying the battleship and the missiles in transit.
During briefing, D.D. uncovers a security leak revealing that your plans have been consistently compromised. A mole has been sending intel to Sotoa, exposing your operations.
Flying Towards The Space Elevator To Destroy The Second Land Battleship.
The XO’s swift action leads to uncovering the mole while confirming D.D.’s loyalty. Adjusting mission timing and strategy, D.D. joins your flight to infiltrate the elevator’s control system and secure the area.
Strap in and break the space elevator shaft using gunfire—missiles are off-limits here—to stop another set of Tonitrus Spears from being launched. When the elevator shaft collapses, it crushes the land battleship below but the vessel attempts to escape.
As the mission begins, rush towards the space elevator and shoot (don’t use missiles) down the elevator to stop the transportation of the next Tonitrus Spear; another one has already made it to space. When the elevator breaks, it will free-fall onto the second land battleship, but it will escape.
Clear enemy fleets surrounding the battleship to give B-1 bombers a clear path to strike its payload container. Expect heavy retaliation, as enemy forces focus on the bombers, so maintain air superiority and protect your wingmen.
Circling Around The Elevator To Destroy The Second Land Battleship.