Every Acecraft account is built on A-grade pilots. They show up early, they’re cheap to level, and a well-geared one will carry you further than you’d expect. One thing trips people up, though: a lot of guides mix collab characters and S-grades into their A row. So here is the actual A-grade roster, all six of them: Ekko, Amelia, Charlie, Ryan, Scott and Ironarm. Take it at your own pace and use this page as your checklist.
Grade First, Tier Second
A-grade is the in-game rarity just below S-grade (the game calls this pool Excellent). It is not the same thing as landing in the A row of someone’s performance tier list. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Botto often turn up in A-tier rows, but Bugs and Daffy are limited Looney Tunes collab pilots and Botto is an S-grade.
Tier lists don’t agree on the six A-grades either. Amelia and Charlie are the only two that sit in A-tier on nearly every list. Ekko, Ryan and Scott move between A and B depending on who you ask, and Ironarm usually ends up at the bottom. If you want to see where every pilot lands, our Acecraft tier list ranks the whole roster.
The Six A-Grade Pilots
| Pilot | Class | Element | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ekko | Sharpshot | Solaris | Havoc Fall |
| Amelia | Crusher | Cyclone | Thunder Rend |
| Charlie | Sharpshot | Nimbus | Ghost Pal Ambush |
| Ryan | Sharpshot | Sandstorm | Breezy Rollers |
| Scott | Crusher | Sandstorm | Menacing Slam |
| Ironarm | Vanguard | Cyclone | Soaring Storm |
Ekko
Your starter, the pilot you fly through the tutorial. His tracking stunt and Havoc Fall Ultimate (it clears every projectile, then drops a giant bomb on everything on screen) carry the early stages, but his damage falls off once stages get harder.
Amelia
The pick of the bunch. Her electromagnetic shots leave electric traps behind, and Thunder Rend fires a huge laser for about five seconds that clears projectiles while it deals heavy damage. You can keep moving while it fires. If you invest in one A-grade, make it her.
Charlie
Spinning-ball shots, plus an Ultimate that sends 10 ghost hounds charging through enemy lines. He is also the only Nimbus pilot, which makes him worth building for Element Trial. He is half of two useful bonds, too (more on those below).
Ryan
Rolls around in a hamster ball and fires seeds. Breezy Rollers wipes the screen of projectiles and launches a bouncing ball that keeps clearing bullets as it ricochets. He’s the defensive answer when a stage is drowning you in bullets.
Scott
Spiked balls and fish cans that explode with real splash. Menacing Slam swings a giant spiked ball, then throws it for a big explosion. He likes clustered waves more than long boss fights, and he scales nicely with Pilot Amplification.
Ironarm
Pure close range. Soaring Storm turns him into a tornado for three seconds that shreds nearby enemies and bullets. Most tier lists rank him lowest of the six, so collect him for the roster and the Fish and Chips bond with Scott, but spend your materials elsewhere.
Bonds Worth Knowing
Bonds unlock when you own a specific pair of pilots, and several of them involve A-grades you’ll pick up early:
- Friends at First Fight: Ekko and Amelia. Ekko is your starter, so this one only needs Amelia.
- Fish and Chips: Scott and Ironarm. The main reason to keep Ironarm around.
- Dynamic Duo: Charlie and Joey.
- Fortune’s Favored: Charlie and Elsa.
- Reckless & Listless: Ryan and Joey.
- Tortoise and the Hare: Amelia and Botto.
- Double Trouble: Ekko and Asher.
How to Get A-Grade Pilots
Good news: A-grades are the easiest pilots to collect, and you’ll own most of them without trying very hard. Here’s where they come from:
- Your starter: Ekko is yours from the tutorial, so one of the six is already ticked off.
- Recruiting: each pull costs 300 Diamonds (3,000 for a ten-pull) or a Recruit Ticket, and an Excellent-grade pilot or wingman is guaranteed within every 10 draws. That guarantee is why A-grades pile up so quickly. Our gacha guide explains the rates and pity in full.
- Free tickets: events and login rewards hand out Recruit Tickets, and some guides list Elite Stage clears as a source too.
- Codes: new pilot releases often come with redeem codes worth Diamonds and Recruit Tickets. Keep an eye on our Acecraft codes page.
- Navigator Pass and events: progression rewards fill in the gaps over time.
Amplifying A-Grade Pilots
Every duplicate you pull isn’t wasted: it feeds that pilot’s Amplification, which runs from A1 to A6. A1 brings the first ability upgrade, A3 is the big midpoint jump, and A6 is the finished pilot. The levels in between add stats.
Because A-grade duplicates show up so often, they’re the easiest pilots to push all the way to A6. Just keep one thing in mind: if you own an S-grade you actually fly, most players put their amp materials there first, since a strong S-grade usually outperforms a maxed A-grade. Parking an A-grade at A3 while you build up resources is completely fine. Our Pilot Amplification guide walks through every tier.
How to Invest in the A Pool
- Pick one pilot to champion instead of spreading thin. Amelia if you have her, Charlie or Ryan otherwise.
- Match gear to each pilot’s element before chasing higher gear levels. Our element matching guide explains why that bonus is easy to miss.
- Build a second A-grade once your main is stable, so element-gated modes never catch you without an answer.
- Let the Navigator Pass and events fill out your collection. A-grades turn up steadily as you progress, which is why they are the foundation of any free-to-play account.
Acecraft A-Grade Pilots FAQ
Who is the best A-grade pilot in Acecraft?
Amelia. Her Thunder Rend laser clears projectiles while it deals heavy damage, and she lands in A-tier on nearly every tier list. Charlie is a close second, especially if you need a Nimbus pilot for Element Trial.
How do you get A-grade pilots in Acecraft?
Ekko is your starter, and the rest come from recruiting. Every 10 draws guarantees an Excellent-grade pilot or wingman, so A-grades arrive steadily from Diamonds, Recruit Tickets, events and codes.
Are A-grade pilots worth amplifying?
Yes, especially early on. Their duplicates are common, so you can reach A6 without spending much. If you already fly an S-grade, most players amplify that pilot first.
Is Ironarm worth using?
Most tier lists rank him lowest of the six A-grades. Keep him for the Fish and Chips bond with Scott, but spend your upgrade materials on Amelia, Charlie or Ryan.
Take Your Time: A-grades are cheap to build and good enough that gear and skill decide most content anyway. A polished Amelia will clear stages a neglected S-grade can’t. When you’re ready to aim higher, our S-grade pilots guide covers the next step up, and the B-grade guide shows which lower-rarity pilots are still worth a look.
