Attachments decide more Acecraft runs than your pilot does. Same pilot, smart picks: you clear the stage. Same pilot, random grabs: you’re watching the retry screen. Here’s how to pick well, what every attachment does, and which plug-ins turn them into something scary.
How Attachments Work
- Pick as you level: every time you level up mid-run, you choose one of three offers. The Lucky Wheel can hand you three to five at once.
- Stack to upgrade: picking the same attachment or plug-in again levels it up, to a maximum of three stars. Main Cannon upgrades (like Firing Speed Up) show up as picks too.
- Plug-ins and EVOs: plug-ins are support picks that show up alongside attachments. Pair an attachment with its matching plug-in and it can evolve into a much stronger EVO form.
- Unlocking more: most attachments are available from the start, a few (like Copter Bomb and Trap) have to be unlocked, and Super Tech upgrades permanently boost specific attachments outside of runs (Enhanced Tracking Fireworks adds 10% Tracking Fireworks damage, for example).
(Pro tip: in most runs you’ll only manage one or two evolutions, so pick the one you’re chasing early and steer toward it.)
Every Main Attachment at a Glance
| Attachment | Best for | EVO form |
|---|---|---|
| Bouncer | Mobs (bounces between enemies) | Zapper |
| Ghost Bubble | Big crowds (kills spawn hunting ghosts) | Ghost Friend |
| Tracking Fireworks | Homing shots with long range | Avenger |
| Air Strike 1 | Single targets and bosses | Destroyer 1 |
| Air Strike 2 | Groups, once it reaches three stars | Destroyer 2 |
| Air Strike 3 | Offense and defense (a tornado on pickup) | Destroyer 3 |
| Tesla Cannon | Bosses (a slow orb that pierces everything) | Antimatter Cannon |
| Boomerang Launcher | Enemies from the sides and behind | Spin Blade |
| Punch Launcher | Huge close-range damage | Lightning Punch |
| Buzz Trap | Defense (range doubles once evolved) | Massive Lightning |
| Rotating Planet | Defense (orbiting rocks block some shots) | Super Comet |
| Copter Bomb | Heavy bombs (must be unlocked) | Nuclear Strike |
The Picks That Carry Runs
- Tesla Cannon: the boss specialist. Its slow orb pierces everything and hits harder the longer it sits inside a boss, and it works even better alongside your Ultimate, a support pilot or a stun. Pair it with Hourglass to evolve it into Antimatter Cannon.
- Air Strike 1: you fly to its beacon and it lasers a single target. Awkward at first, brutal once evolved with the SOS Beacon plug-in.
- Air Strike 2: feels weak at one star and turns into a wave-clearer at three. Commit to it or skip it.
- Bouncer: an anti-mob pick that bounces between enemies. Damage is modest, so evolve it into Zapper with Protective Armor, and pair it with Ghost Bubble on crowded stages.
- Punch Launcher: the shortest range in the game, but it can delete enemies in one hit, and Lightning Punch is even nastier. It shines on close-range pilots like Ironarm (see our A-grade pilots guide).
- Boomerang Launcher: situational, but it’s the answer when enemies come in from behind. Check the stage before you take it.
- Copter Bomb: big damage, but the bombs land close to you and fast enemies can outrun them. It’s better as a defensive pick than you’d expect.
Plug-Ins: Defense, Utility and Evolutions
Plug-ins don’t shoot anything, but they fix your weak spots and unlock evolutions. Here’s what each one does:
| Plug-in | What it does |
|---|---|
| Protective Armor | Reduces incoming damage. Evolves Bouncer into Zapper. |
| Hourglass | Restores energy when you use your Ultimate. Evolves Tesla Cannon into Antimatter Cannon. |
| SOS Beacon | Heals you after each wave. Evolves Air Strike 1. |
| Potent Fuel | Boosts all your damage. Evolves Tracking Fireworks and Ghost Bubble. |
| Capsule | Increases your HP. |
| Energy Cube | Boosts your Counter stunt, great on stages full of pink projectiles. |
Dying a lot? Stack Protective Armor first and Capsule second. Drowning in pink shots? Grab Energy Cube and brush up on pink absorption.
Three Builds That Work
- Mob Shredder: Bouncer, Ghost Bubble, Tracking Fireworks and Air Strike 2. For wave-heavy stages and modes like Tempus Trek.
- Boss Melt: Tesla Cannon and Air Strike 1, plus Hourglass and SOS Beacon so both can evolve. Our boss guide pairs well with this one.
- Full Melee: Punch Launcher into Lightning Punch, with Protective Armor and Rotating Planet keeping you alive up close.
The Selection Logic, Step by Step
- Know your pilot. Ultimate-heavy, close-range and absorb-focused pilots all want different support.
- Lock in your damage engine. Take your main damage pick early and level it deep. One maxed attachment beats three level-one picks.
- Fix your actual problem. Dying means Protective Armor, slow clears mean more damage, pink-heavy stages mean Energy Cube.
- Chase one EVO. A planned evolution is the biggest power spike in a run, so grab its plug-in when it shows up.
- Fill the rest by stage type. Bouncer for swarms, Tesla Cannon for bosses, Boomerang for enemies from behind.
Acecraft Attachments FAQ
What is the best attachment in Acecraft?
It depends on the stage. Tesla Cannon and Air Strike 1 are the go-to boss picks, while Bouncer, Ghost Bubble and Air Strike 2 clear waves fastest.
How do you evolve attachments in Acecraft?
Level the attachment up during a run and pick up its matching plug-in. For example, Tesla Cannon evolves with Hourglass into Antimatter Cannon, and Bouncer evolves with Protective Armor into Zapper.
What does the Hourglass plug-in do?
It restores energy when you use your Ultimate, and it’s the plug-in that evolves Tesla Cannon into Antimatter Cannon.
Which attachments are best for bosses?
Tesla Cannon, Air Strike 1 and an evolved Punch Launcher if you can fly close. Save your Ultimate for the boss too.
That’s the whole system: one damage engine, one defensive answer, one EVO on schedule, and situational picks last. Nailed it? Head to our advanced tips for the next layer, or check the tier list for the pilots to pair them with.
