Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Trophy Guide

Earning the Platinum trophy in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a test of endurance as much as it is a test of piloting skill. While the trophy difficulty is rated at a manageable 5/10, the real challenge lies in the sheer scale of the grind required to unlock everything in the Aircraft Tree. You will need to accumulate a staggering 25,000,000 MRP to purchase every aircraft, special weapon, and upgrade part available in the game. This requirement alone can push your total playtime well beyond 150 hours.

Your progression is strictly tied to the game's difficulty tiers. You cannot simply jump into the hardest content; you must first complete the campaign on Elite difficulty to unlock the Ace difficulty level. Once unlocked, you must then complete the campaign on Ace difficulty while securing an S-Rank in all 30 missions to claim the Ace of Aces trophy. Fortunately, there are no missable trophies, as any requirements missed during the campaign can be fulfilled in Free Mission mode after the story is complete. It is also important to note that the game relies solely on autosaves; there is no manual save system, so ensure you are comfortable with your progress before committing to long sessions.

Trophy Roadmap

To optimize your journey toward the Platinum, you should follow a structured approach that respects the game's progression mechanics. While the campaign imposes certain restrictions—such as being limited to specific aircraft for carrier-based takeoffs or being forced to use the same plane for multiple missions—the Free Mission mode offers much more freedom. In Free Mission, you can select any unlocked aircraft and loadout for any mission (with the exception of Mission 14, where you are locked into the unarmed A-6 Intruder).

Step 1: Complete the Campaign on Elite Difficulty

Your first major milestone is finishing the 30-mission campaign on Elite difficulty. This is a mandatory prerequisite to unlock the Ace difficulty level. During this playthrough, pay close attention to your flight procedures: do not skip the cutscenes for takeoffs, landings, or mid-air refueling sequences. If you skip these essential sequences, you will miss the By the Book trophy. If you find the Elite difficulty too taxing, you may want to complete a playthrough on a lower difficulty first. This allows you to unlock endgame aircraft and parts from the Aircraft Tree, which will significantly ease your subsequent runs.

Step 2: Collect Assault Records and Farm MRP

As you progress through the campaign, you should focus on identifying and destroying named enemy pilots to complete your Assault Records. To ensure these enemy Aces actually appear, you must play on Veteran difficulty or higher. Note that simply shooting them down is not enough; you must complete the mission for the record to be officially registered in your Data Viewer. While you are at it, start accumulating MRP (Military Result Points). While you will need a massive amount later, getting a head start on your collection of special weapons and aircraft parts is vital for your success on higher difficulties.

Step 3: The Ace of Aces Challenge

This is the most demanding part of the guide. To earn the Ace of Aces trophy, you must achieve an S-Rank in every single one of the 30 campaign missions while playing on Ace difficulty. Because the Ace difficulty multiplier is much more rewarding (x1.5 MRP compared to x0.8 on Casual), this is also your best opportunity to earn the bulk of your currency. If you fail to get an S-Rank in a specific mission, don't worry—you can use the Free Mission mode to retry that specific mission with your best equipment and unlocked aircraft to secure the rank.

Step 4: The 25 Million MRP Grind and Cleanup

Once the campaign is finished, you will likely find yourself far from the 25,000,000 MRP required for the MRP Aplenty trophy. This is the final, most time-consuming stage. The most efficient way to farm this currency is to replay Mission 28: "A Thousand Points of Light", as it offers the highest MRP yield due to the high aircraft count and reload availability. While you are grinding, you can pick up any remaining miscellaneous trophies, such as the Aircraft Inspection (viewing a plane in the viewer), Birdwatching (watching a replay), or Plane Coordinator (customizing a skin or emblem).

Useful Tips and Mechanics

Post-Stall Maneuvers: To earn the Like the Wind trophy, you must perform a post-stall maneuver (like a Kulbit or Cobra) in campaign mode. You must first reduce your speed to below 500 kph, release the throttle to allow the nose to rise, and then use the stick and throttle to complete the loop. Only specific aircraft like the F-22A, F-35C, MiG-29A, Su-33, Su-47, FA-36, and X-40 are confirmed to be capable of this.
Weapon Types: For the Air-to-Air Ace and Anti-Ground Ace trophies, pay attention to the missile indicators. Blue indicators (e.g., 2AAM, 4AAM) denote air-to-air weapons, while red bomb indicators (e.g., 4AGM, 6AGM) denote anti-ground weapons.
Wingman Commands: Use the Yes, Sir command by utilizing wingman actions like Forward Atk, Dispersed Atk, or Cover to destroy enemies.
New Game+: Any aircraft or parts you have unlocked will be available for use in Free Mission mode and in your campaign replays.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Trophy Guide & Roadmap