Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has 29 reported medals, but you need only 10 for the “Meritorious Service” achievement. The medals cover combat totals, S-ranks, mission-specific feats and campaign-wide restrictions. Use the list below to target the awards you want; the in-game tracker is reported under Data Viewer > Campaign Data > Campaign Medals.
How many medals are there, and how many do you need?
Two guide publishers report 29 medals in total. Ten medals are enough for “Meritorious Service,” so completing every challenge is optional unless you want the full set. The medal conditions below are reported by PowerPyx and Power Up Gaming; the publisher’s walkthrough covers aircraft and loadout planning, not medal criteria.
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Combat and S-rank medals
| 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, excluding ships. |
| Ship of Liberty | Sink 100 enemy ships. |
The four S-rank medals form a difficulty ladder: PowerPyx reports that S-ranking every mission on Ace also satisfies the lower “or higher” thresholds. The cumulative kill medals can build naturally over multiple missions; their totals are not described as requirements for a single sortie.
Mission-specific and campaign medals
| Medal or guide label | Reported unlock condition |
|---|---|
| Tunnel Specter | Mission 4, Operation Elder Hand: fly through the narrow space. |
| Proud Shoulders | Operation Long Shot: evacuate at least four LCACs. PowerPyx labels this Mission 6; Power Up Gaming labels it Mission 5. Confirm the mission number and medal progress 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. |
Which medals should you pursue for Meritorious Service?
If you want the achievement rather than full completion, choose 10 that fit your progress and play style. The list does not require a particular combination. Cumulative combat awards may arrive as you play, while S-rank, mission-specific and campaign-restriction medals depend on deliberate completion conditions.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
- Check Data Viewer > Campaign Data > Campaign Medals to monitor the reported tracker location and confirm what the game has credited.
- For a mission-specific medal, make the objective the priority during that mission; a general mission clear may not meet the extra condition.
- Plan campaign-wide restrictions from the start of the eligible run. The class-only, no-damage and machine-gun-only conditions apply across the campaign, not to one mission.
- For S-rank attempts, PowerPyx reports that Ace difficulty unlocks after completing the campaign on Elite, and that Free Mission can be used to replay missions for missed Ace S-ranks. Check the in-game eligibility display if it differs.
How to plan aircraft and loadouts
There is no single build established as best for every medal. Bandai Namco says additional fighter jets can be purchased with mission-earned MRP, and aircraft can be upgraded by combining parts. Choose the aircraft, weapons and upgrades around the objective: for example, a challenge focused on ships or surface targets calls for a setup suited to those targets, while a machine-gun-only condition rules out relying on other weapons. See the official walkthrough for the publisher’s mission and aircraft guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to know about the medal list
The 29-medal count and conditions come from guide publishers rather than an official medal database in the cited sources. Proud Shoulders has a specific discrepancy: both guides tie it to Operation Long Shot and evacuating at least four LCACs, but disagree on whether it is Mission 5 or Mission 6. Medal conditions may also change with updates; verify the displayed requirement in your game when pursuing a specific award.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Unreal Engine 4 Technologies - Breathtaking clouds coupled with highly detailed aircraft and photorealistic scenery make this the most engaging Ace Combat to date.
- Dynamic Weather - Witness the sudden changes during your flight and strive to fight the environmental conditions to take advantage over your enemy.
- Return To Strange Real-World - The alternative Ace Combat universe is composed of real-world current and near-future weapons, but with a history steeped in Ace Combat lore.
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.
Rank #2
- Magnetic contactless sensors provide smooth, accurate input and long‑lasting durability
- Independent throttle & brake levers offer fast, intuitive control for rapid speed adjustments during combat
- Ambidextrous, symmetrical design
- Dedicated High‑G Mode button for instantly trigger High-G turns
- Officially Licensed by Bandai Namco Entertainment and SONY
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