The pilot who carries your Adventure run is not always the one you want in Balloon Party, and the Element Trial will happily punish you for bringing the wrong element. Acecraft has a lot of modes now, and each one rewards a slightly different kit. Here’s the full breakdown of which pilots fit which mode, current for version 1.3.137, the October 8, 2026 update that added SP pilot Drakuku.
Quick note before we start: these are role picks, not a ranking. For the overall power order, check out our Acecraft tier list. This page answers a different question: who do I bring, right now, for this mode?
The Three Things That Decide a Pick
- Damage shape: a narrow, heavy stream melts one big target. Spread shots, tracking missiles and summons clear a screen full of small ones. Most modes lean hard toward one or the other.
- Element: every pilot belongs to Solaris, Sandstorm, Cyclone or Nimbus. An Epic Wingman of the same element gives that pilot +25% Base Attributes, and some modes are themed on an element.
- Investment: levels, Amplification and Gear usually matter more than rarity. A pilot you have built beats a fresh SS pull you have not.
(Pro tip: once a pilot reaches 3 stars, the Support Pilot feature lets them back up your active pilot with a Support Skill. Pairing two pilots who share a Bond, like Elsa and Pris or Joey and Leo, gives you more out of both.)
Best Pilots Per Mode at a Glance
| Mode | What it rewards | Top picks | Budget picks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventure | All round damage and a clean build | Vincent, Blazewing Ekko, Wukong, Tom | Joey, Elsa, Charlie, Amelia |
| Nemeses’ Return | Single target burst | Vincent, Wukong, Tom, Elsa | Your most developed pilot |
| Element Trial | Matching the trial’s element | Best owned pilot of that element | Any leveled pilot of that element |
| Tempus Trek | Damage that scales across waves | Pilot matching the period theme | Joey, Pris |
| Realm Trial: Boss Rush | Boss damage over several fights | Elsa, Wukong, Vincent | Charlie |
| Realm Trial: Balloon Party | Screen coverage | Pris, Sylas, Joey | Amelia |
| Realm Trial: Bullet Storm | Survival and bullet clearing | Nepheria, Joey, Tom | Pilots with projectile clearing Ultimates |
Adventure Mode
Starting Point: Adventure is the chapter campaign, and it uses the roguelike Attachment system, so a run is half pilot and half build. Your best bet is a pilot who does a bit of everything.
- Top end: Vincent, Blazewing Ekko, Wukong and Tom sit at the top of current community lists and handle both waves and bosses.
- S grade all rounders: Joey (forked cone shots, a drill Ultimate that tears through enemy lines) and Elsa (absorb focused, great on bosses) are easy to play well.
- Free to play: Charlie and Amelia are the most reliable A grade pilots and carry new accounts a long way.
Oh, and stop pouring Power Cubes into starter Ekko. He teaches you the game, then falls off. Our Adventure mode guide covers the chapter flow.
Boss Modes: Nemeses’ Return and Boss Rush
The Climb: Nemeses’ Return ranks you by damage on a single returning boss, and Realm Trial’s Boss Rush strings boss fights together. Both want burst on one target.
- Vincent: his homing Wind Quills dash through enemies, and his Signature Wingman, Stormcaller, creates pink projectiles that feed his Stunt.
- Wukong: Heavenshaker drops him into Great Sage mode, boosting his Main Cannon and Stunt for a big damage window.
- Elsa: both her Stunt and Passive feed on pink projectiles, and bosses throw plenty of them.
- Tom: explosive marbles, TNT drops ahead of his plane and an Ultimate that makes him invulnerable.
Save your Ultimate for the boss, not the adds, and absorb every pink wave. Each absorb fires your Stunt for free damage. The boss strategies guide breaks down the patterns.
Element Trial
The Element Trial unlocks after Adventure stage 4-9, and each trial is themed on one element and only opens on set days (the Sandstorm Trial runs on Wednesday and Saturday). One main cannot cover the whole week, so build one pilot per element if you can.
| Element | S grade pilots |
|---|---|
| Solaris | Elsa, Wukong, Edith |
| Sandstorm | Joey, Nepheria, Sylas, Asher |
| Cyclone | Pris, Summer, Leo |
| Nimbus | Vivienne, Naomi, Botto |
Pair each one with an Epic Wingman of the same element for the +25% Base Attributes. The element matching guide explains the rule, and the Element Trial guide covers scores and milestones.
Wave Modes: Tempus Trek and Balloon Party
Tempus Trek is wave survival with bosses mixed in, and each period brings themed stages. Read the period info before you queue and bring a pilot that matches the theme. Balloon Party flips the boss logic entirely: coverage beats raw damage.
- Pris: Tracking Missiles from her Stunt chase targets you cannot reach.
- Sylas: his Miracle Factory Ultimate hits the whole screen and keeps spawning Whimcaps.
- Joey: the cone spread covers a lot of sky for a Sharpshot.
- Nepheria: three penetrating Sandblades per absorb, plus a screen wide Ultimate.
(Pro tip: sweep side to side in Balloon Party. Parking in the middle is how you miss half the balloons.)
Bullet Storm and Co-Pilot Mode
Bullet Storm is the purist’s mode: dense patterns, little forgiveness. Bring a pilot whose Ultimate clears projectiles (Joey, Nepheria, Sylas, Vivienne and Naomi all have one) or makes you invulnerable (Tom), and treat it as a panic button.
For duo play, our Co-Pilot Mode guide covers Mirror of Nightmares. Your call, but a boss killer plus a coverage pilot is a natural pairing.
Best Pilots Per Mode FAQ
Who is the best pilot for bosses in Acecraft?
Vincent, Wukong, Tom and Elsa are the strongest boss picks right now. In ranked boss modes, your most developed pilot often beats a newer, rarer one.
Who is the best free to play pilot for every mode?
Charlie and Amelia are the most reliable A grade pilots. Among S grade pilots, Joey and Elsa are easy to play and cover most modes.
Do I need a different pilot for each Element Trial?
It helps a lot. Trials are element themed and open on different days, and a same element Epic Wingman adds +25% Base Attributes.
Which pilot is best for Balloon Party?
Pilots with coverage: Pris with Tracking Missiles, Sylas with Whimcaps, or Joey with his cone shots.
Pro Tip: build one boss killer, one coverage pilot and a pilot per element over time, and every mode in the lobby opens up. Nailed it? Then you’re winning.
