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Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has 29 reported medals, but you need only 10 for the “Meritorious Service” achievement. The medals cover cumulative combat totals, S-ranks, mission-specific objectives, aircraft-class campaign runs, and restrictions such as taking no damage or using only machine guns. The list below gives the reported conditions and flags one conflicting mission number so you can verify it in-game.
Where to check medal progress
Open Data Viewer > Campaign Data > Campaign Medals to view the medal tracker, according to the guides. Conditions are reported by PowerPyx and Power Up Gaming; Bandai Namco’s walkthrough explains aircraft, weapons, and upgrades, but does not list medal requirements. Check the in-game entry if its wording differs from the guide conditions below.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE DELUXE EDITION - PS5 | $89.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown - PlayStation 4 | $19.76 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE | Standard Edition | Xbox Series X|S Digital Code | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War | $22.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![PS4 ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN (US) [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/510WZEHzcJL._SL160_.jpg)
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PS4 ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN (US) [video game] | $21.92 | Buy on Amazon |
Combat and S-rank medals
These 12 medals reward cumulative combat totals or S-ranks across campaign missions.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches| Medal | Reported unlock condition |
|---|---|
| Bronze Ace | Destroy 1,000 enemy hostiles. |
| Silver Ace | Destroy 2,000 enemy hostiles. |
| Gold Ace | Destroy 3,000 enemy hostiles. |
| Bronze Marksman | Shoot down 50 enemy aircraft with machine guns. |
| Silver Marksman | Shoot down 100 enemy aircraft with machine guns. |
| Gold Marksman | Shoot down 200 enemy aircraft with machine guns. |
| Pilot | Earn an S-rank on every mission on Pilot difficulty or higher. |
| Veteran | Earn an S-rank on every mission on Veteran difficulty or higher. |
| Elite | Earn an S-rank on every mission on Elite difficulty or higher. |
| Ace | Earn an S-rank on every mission on Ace difficulty. |
| Raze the Roof | Destroy 1,500 enemy surface targets; ships do not count. |
| Ship of Liberty | Sink 100 enemy ships. |
The S-rank awards form a difficulty ladder: PowerPyx reports that completing every mission with an S-rank on Ace also meets the lower difficulty thresholds. Ace difficulty is reported to unlock after completing the campaign on Elite. After unlocking it, replay individual missions in Free Mission to improve missed S-ranks.
#1 Best Overall
- DELUXE EDITION INCLUDES: Base Game, 3 Day Early Access, Premium Ace Pass Plus Voucher [Unlock the Premium Ace Pass for the Currrent Season] (includes ADFX-02 Morgan -Pixy aircraft + Ace Pass Levels [Instant Unlock of 30 Premium Ace Pass Levels]), and Customizable Cosmetic Set (includes F-4E Mobius Squadro Skin, F/A-1BC Team Zvezda Skin, Scarlet Missile Smoke, and Tasha Costume Set.)
- ACE COMBAT 8 DELIVERS HIGH-OCTANE AERIAL ACTION! Step into the cockpit and take flight as an elite pilot across stunning skies. Enter intense dogfights, eliminate threats, and rise through gripping missions to earn your wings. The game is developed by PROJECT ACES, the acclaimed team behind the franchise.
- AERIAL WARFARE IN LIVING SKIES. Campaign Mode showcases stunning visuals with dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes that capture the majesty of living skies. Feel the rush of a fast-paced arcade-style gameplay and deploy powerful weapons to dominate the battlefield.
- A VISCERAL JOURNEY FROM COCKPIT TO GROUND. Beyond the chaos in the air, breathtaking first-person scenes reveal your pilot’s story through breathtaking cinematics. Experience the pressure of command, the weight of decisions, and the bonds forged in battle. Between missions, bond with your squad members, rise to meet adversity, and prove yourself as a true ace.
Mission-specific and campaign challenge medals
The guides report 17 further medals tied to particular operations or restrictions across the campaign. Power Up Gaming supplies a chain-reaction detail for Rootbreaker that is not included in PowerPyx’s condition summary.
| Medal | Reported unlock condition |
|---|---|
| Tunnel Specter | Mission 4: navigate through the narrow space in Operation Elder Hand. |
| Proud Shoulders | Operation Long Shot: evacuate at least four LCACs. PowerPyx calls this Mission 6; Power Up Gaming calls it Mission 5. Verify the mission number in-game. |
| Aegis Penetrator | Operation Ogre Pitfall (Mission 9): destroy all 10 Land Aegis ships. PowerPyx notes the operation was renamed from Triumph. |
| Rapid Dragon Slayer | Operation Worker Bee (Mission 12): destroy the Rapid Dragon before it launches cruise missiles. |
| Homing Pigeon | Operation Homing Pigeon (Mission 14): avoid detection by all radar. |
| Broncobuster | Operation Broncobuster (Mission 17): destroy all primary targets using only Joker Flight. |
| Dawn Rising | Mission 21: finish without the escort target taking damage. |
| Land Piscivore | Operation Rumbling (Mission 23): destroy all land ships. |
| Paint it Blue | Operation Paint it Blue (Mission 25): eliminate the specified enemy forces. |
| Rootbreaker | Operation Rootbreaker (Mission 27): destroy at least 15 enemies through a large chain reaction, such as a mega-float deck collapse. |
| Showdown | Operation Showdown (Mission 30): intercept every threat against the escort target. |
| Attacker Campaign | Clear every selectable campaign mission using only Attackers. |
| Fighter Campaign | Clear every selectable campaign mission using only Fighters. |
| Multirole Campaign | Clear every selectable campaign mission using only Multirole aircraft. |
| EW Campaign | Clear every selectable campaign mission using only Electronic Warfare aircraft. |
| No-Damage Campaign | Complete the campaign without taking damage. |
| Machine-Gun-Only Campaign | Complete the campaign using only machine guns; Power Up Gaming specifically includes MGP. |
Choose a manageable route to Meritorious Service
You do not need every medal for the achievement: any 10 reported medals count. If the achievement is your only goal, favor conditions you are already close to completing rather than treating all 29 as mandatory.
Rank #2
- Innovation in the Sky: Breathtaking clouds coupled with highly detailed aircraft and photorealistic scenery makes this the most engaging Ace Combat to date.
- Return to Strangereal: The alternative Ace Combat universe composed of real-world current and near-future weapons, but with a history steeped in Ace Combat lore.
- All new arsenal of ultra-modern super weapons and formidable enemies.
- Let cumulative totals build. Hostile, machine-gun aircraft, surface-target, and ship totals accrue across missions, so check the tracker before pursuing a difficult challenge solely for a tenth medal.
- Use the S-rank ladder strategically. If you plan to attempt Ace S-ranks across the campaign, the reported threshold also covers the lower Pilot, Veteran, and Elite awards.
- Plan restricted runs from the start. Aircraft-class-only, no-damage, and machine-gun-only medals apply across campaign missions, so track the relevant restriction throughout the attempt.
- Match the loadout to the objective. Bandai Namco says missions call for different loadouts and that aircraft can be upgraded with parts. There is no established universal build for every medal; choose aircraft, weapons, and upgrades around the mission objective.
- Confirm Free Mission eligibility. Guides place many medal attempts in Free Mission, but check the specific medal’s in-game eligibility rather than assuming every campaign-wide restriction can be earned there.
Sources and version caveats
The medal conditions are reported by two guide publishers, not an official medal database. The mission number for Proud Shoulders conflicts between them, while both agree on Operation Long Shot and evacuating at least four LCACs. Patch-specific changes to medal requirements are not established by these sources.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Incredible action as you dogfight and divebomb your way through over 30 white-knuckle missions
- Amazing new Wingman Command feature - Control your entire squadron in flight -- issue orders and coordinate group attacks in a split second
- Stunning CG effects advance the intriguing storyline, as you rest between missions in hangars, ground bases and on aircraft carriers
- Choose from more than 50 unique, real-world fighter jets with selectable color schemes
- Multiple game modes and loads of unlockable content, including the immensely popular Campaign Mode -- for hours of flying excitement
Rank #3
- TAKE FLIGHT AS AN ELITE ACE — Step into the cockpit and soar through thrilling missions, intense dogfights, and high-stakes aerial combat developed by PROJECT ACES.
- AERIAL WARFARE IN LIVING SKIES — Experience stunning visuals featuring dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes, realistic weather conditions, and breathtaking skies that transform every battle.
- FAST-PACED ARCADE AIR COMBAT — Engage enemy aircraft, deploy powerful weapons, and dominate the battlefield with the signature high-speed gameplay the ACE COMBAT series is known for.
- A VISCERAL PILOT STORY — Experience dramatic first-person sequences, cinematic storytelling, squad relationships, and the pressures of command between missions.
- THE LARGEST ONLINE MODE IN SERIES HISTORY — Explore the franchise's first online lobby, customize your avatar, and sortie into online missions with pilots worldwide.
- PowerPyx: Ace Combat 8 trophy guide and roadmap
- Power Up Gaming: medal list and unlock guide
- Bandai Namco: official walkthrough
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