The classic Wingman Commands system has been officially restored and enhanced in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, which originated in Ace Combat 5 and Ace Combat Zero installments. This guide will provide you with all Wingman Commands in the game, including their corresponding controls.
All Wingman Commands & Controls
There are four main directional Wingman Commands in Ace Combat 8, which you can control using your controller’s D-Pad. Here they are:
| Directions | Features |
|---|---|
| Up (Attack) | Wingmen focus fire on the enemy you currently have targeted. Press Up a second time to switch them to a different nearby enemy in the same general direction. |
| Left (Disperse) | Wingmen operate independently, each picking their own targets at their discretion. Note that they may actively lure or reposition enemies into positions that are easier for you to attack. |
| Down (Cover) | Wingmen position themselves behind or near you and prioritize enemies that are targeting your aircraft. They will also deploy chaff and flares to help you defeat missiles locked onto your plane when you’re under pursuit. |
| Right (Special Weapon) | Toggles whether wingmen are allowed to use their special weapons. You can press it again to revoke permission, which is independent of the three commands above, so your wingmen don’t waste limited special ammo. |
How to Use Wingman Commands in AC 8
You’ve probably already noticed that Wingman Commands in Ace Combat 8 work differently from those in the previous games. Here, you can select aircraft for them in the hangar, specifically from the planes that you own via the Aircraft Tree. Their special weapons are determined by the plane you assign them, but you cannot customize their loadouts the same way you do your own.
Most importantly, the AI behavior has been significantly improved in Ace Combat 8, including such new features:
- Cover now includes active countermeasure support for your plane’s defense.
- Disperse now includes enemy luring and baiting, which works very well in chaotic missions.
- Attack now supports target cycling with a second press of the D-Pad.
You can freely switch between Cover, Disperse, and Attack as the situation changes in the course of any given mission, and you have to carefully control the use of special ammo. Note that the Wingman Commands system is available once you take command of Joker Flight, after the early story events involving the original “Rex.” Here’s how to use this system in the most efficient way:
- Equip your wingmen with suitable aircraft for the mission type (air-to-air, dogfight, etc.).
- Start most engagements on Cover for safety, then switch to Attack when you lock a high-priority target.
- Use Disperse when you’re surrounded or when clearing large groups of different types of targets.
- Toggle special weapons only against large ships, superweapons, or dense ground formations, then turn them off again to conserve ammo.
