Clearing missions 11 through 15 in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve requires a mix of sharp dogfighting skills and patience for the slower-paced stealth sequences. You have finally pushed past the Rainband and crippled the initial Sotoan threats, but the true danger is just starting to reveal itself.
The story hits a major turning point during these missions, and your reputation as an Ace starts to crumble under intense public scrutiny. It is easy to get tunnel vision when fighting the carrier planes, but remember that the narrative stakes are just as important as the air superiority you are trying to maintain.
Before you hit the sortie button, ensure your aircraft is equipped with multi-purpose missiles and high-capacity ammunition to handle both the aerial threats and the ground-based targets. Check your special weapon loadout in the hangar, as swapping to a faster, more maneuverable airframe will save you a massive headache during the escape phase in mission 14.
- Mission 11: Maximum Payload
- Mission 12: An Island in Darkness
- Mission 13: The People of the Lost Country
- Mission 14: Two on the Run
- Mission 15: Wings of Wax
Mission 11 – Maximum Payload
Ace Combat 8 flying above the Eusian Sea during a cloudy sortie
You have successfully crossed the Rainband, but the Sotoan supply chain is still churning out parts for their next Land Battleship. This mission is all about tracking down high-value logistics aircraft before they reach their destination.
The XO has tasked Joker with the primary objective of destroying these massive carrier planes. Rely on your wingmen to handle smaller threats while you focus exclusively on hunting down the heavy transporters.
Ace Combat 8 searching for hidden carrier planes within the clouds
Because the carrier planes are hidden inside dense cloud cover, you will not see them on your minimap. Keep your eyes peeled for distinct exhaust trails cutting through the mist and follow them to your targets.
The first plane is easy enough to spot, but the subsequent five require you to weave through the large green circles on your HUD. Once you have dropped three of them, expect a sudden intervention from Shadow’s Lux Lunae 55th Unit.
Ace Combat 8 engagement against the Lux Lunae 55th Unit
Prioritize clearing the remaining carriers before turning your attention to the Lux Lunae aces. Stay aggressive here, as the mission concludes immediately after the last enemy is downed.
Mission 12 – An Island in Darkness
Ace Combat 8 Baxter and Rex approaching the Fort Grays Base
With the region cleared, Endurance heads toward Fort Grays Base for a routine check-in. The eerie silence on the comms is your first warning that something is terribly wrong.
Baxter and Rex land only to be greeted by a flare, forcing them straight into a defensive fight. You need to configure your special weapons quickly for high-intensity aerial defense.
Ace Combat 8 destroying incoming missile pallets from C-130 aircraft
Watch the skies for C-130s cruising at high altitudes, as these are the biggest threat to the base. They will deploy missile pallets that you must shoot down before they reach the ground, or you will fail the objective.
Once the skies are clear, the mission ends, but the tone shifts significantly. Exploring the bunker reveals an unsettling discovery: the Aces’ own emblem has been defaced.
Ace Combat 8 Baxter and Rex leaving the mysterious Fort Grays Base
A confrontation inside the facility paints you as a fraud, and it becomes clear that Enso Order is hiding a much larger agenda. Trust is in short supply as you head back to the carrier.
Even with your reputation under fire, the XO emphasizes that the mission must go on. Dealing with the public scandal while maintaining combat effectiveness is now your new reality.
Mission 13 – The People of the Lost Country
Ace Combat 8 escorting a friendly resistance plane to safety
Your next goal is the second Land Battleship, but Joker 1 and Joker 2 are tasked with reconnaissance first. A balanced loadout is essential here because you will face both ground targets and air-to-air threats.
The refueling segment at the midpoint turns into an escort mission when a resistance plane signals for help. You need to keep this plane alive while managing your fuel levels.
Ace Combat 8 engaging ground forces attacking the resistance plane
Clear the path of all ground units before shifting to the incoming fighter wings. The resistance plane needs to reach the airfield, so do not let any attackers get within range of its hull.
Things go south during the final refueling attempt when the tankers catch fire. Your plane is effectively grounded, leaving you vulnerable in the heart of Sotoan territory.
Mission 14 – Two on the Run
Ace Combat 8 a mysterious woman helping Baxter and Rex hide
After being stranded in the forest, you are saved by a local woman who provides civilian clothes. The tension spikes when top-tier Sotoan leaders, including Colonel Toprak of Shadow 22, arrive nearby.
They find your discarded helmets, confirming their suspicions about your identity. Fortunately, you manage to slip away in a truck before they can catch you.
Ace Combat 8 the rival ace pilots Shadow 22 and Moon 11
A sudden strike from a Tontirus Spear forces you out of the truck and toward a dilapidated hangar. You must now pilot a worn-out aircraft to escape the region.
The escape is simple but requires extreme caution; stay out of the red circles and green radar detection zones on your map. Tasha and Coster will eventually meet you to ensure you make it back to the fleet.
Ace Combat 8 a Tontirus Spear missile strike destroying a village
Back at the Endurance, the truth about Cope comes out: he was Sotoan. This explains his reluctance to target them and further fuels the conspiracy theories surrounding the Aces.
Ace Combat 8 escaping radar zones during the flight mission
Even with the accusations of being a spy, Cope’s connection to Rex reveals a more complex motivation. Watching Moon 11 alongside Shadow 22 seems to have changed his perspective on the war.
Mission 15 – Wings of Wax
Ace Combat 8 Baxter scolding Tasha during pre-flight preparations
With the second Land Battleship approaching, your role is to act as air support for the main fleet. The atmosphere is tense, and the burden of being a hero is clearly taking its toll on the entire squad.
Conversations in the hangar underscore the reality that the public no longer views the Wings as saviors. Despite this, the squad commits to finishing the fight and taking on the full might of Sotoan engineering.
Ace Combat 8 the squad reflecting on their tarnished reputation as frauds
