Your Wingman is either handing you a 25% boost to Base Attributes or doing nothing extra at all, and the only thing deciding which is whether you bothered to check one tiny icon. Most players never look. Then they hit the Element Trial and wonder why their “strong” pilot folds like a paper plane.
Let me break this down for you. This guide covers how element matching works as of the October 2026 update that added SP pilot Drakuku, what the bonus actually touches, and the two minute loadout check that fixes it.
The Four Elements of Cloudia
Acecraft sorts its pilots and Wingmen into four elements: Solaris, Sandstorm, Cyclone and Nimbus. Each pilot belongs to one of them, and the element badge sits in the top corner of every pilot card in your roster. Older guides call them by color instead of name, which is why you still see “red” or “blue” Wingman advice floating around.
Lore Drop: the names are not random flavor. Solaris, Sandstorm, Cyclone and Nimbus are all sky and weather themes, which fits a world where everyone lives, fights and commutes above the clouds. The devs buried the whole elemental system in weather reports, because of course they did.
How the Element Bonus Works
The rule itself is simple. Equip an Epic Wingman on a pilot of the same element and that pilot gets +25% Base Attributes. Base Attributes are the core stat block that everything else in a run builds on, so the bonus is not a niche effect. It is a flat lift to the numbers your whole run scales from.
A mismatched Wingman still fights. It still fires, still has its own attack pattern, still helps clear waves. It just skips the bonus. The bonus is binary: same element or nothing. “Close enough” is not an element.
| Pairing | Element bonus | Extra effect | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epic Wingman, same element as pilot | +25% Base Attributes | None beyond its normal attack | Default choice |
| Epic Wingman, different element | None | None beyond its normal attack | Only if nothing matches |
| Signature Wingman on its own pilot | Check the Wingman’s info screen | Unlocks a pilot specific bonus effect | Best in slot for that pilot |
| Signature Wingman on another pilot | Depends on element | No pilot specific effect | A pricey placeholder |
Signature Wingmen: the Matching Cheat Code
Signature Wingmen are tied to one specific pilot and land in Honk’s Depot alongside that pilot’s recruit banner. The official patch notes spell out what they do when paired correctly. Deadly Lily fires lasers on its own, but when equipped by Pris the laser enters overload mode once its energy fills and summons two extra lily flowers. Sylas got Whimsical Nook, and the Looney Tunes pilots Bugs and Daffy got Carrot Trick Express and Fine Feathered Friends.
Hot Take: if you main a pilot with a Signature Wingman, chase that Wingman before you chase a second pilot. It solves pairing and synergy in one pickup.
Setting Up a Matched Loadout
You’d be surprised how many people get this wrong, and it is never because the system is hard. It is because they equip first and check later.
- Check the pilot’s element first. Look at the badge on the pilot card before you open the Wingman list, not after.
- Filter Wingmen by element. Look for exact matches only. Anything else gives you the Wingman’s attack and nothing more.
- Prioritize Epic matches. The +25% Base Attributes bonus is the Epic Wingman perk, so an Epic match is the first thing to slot.
- Put your Signature Wingman on its pilot. If your main has one, that pairing wins over a generic match because of the extra effect.
- Re-check when you swap mains. Your old perfect match is your new mismatch the moment you change pilot.
Actually Do This: treat the element check like a pre-flight checklist. Pilot badge, Wingman badge, match, launch. Ten seconds.
Why 25% Is Bigger Than It Looks
The math doesn’t lie: a 25% head start on Base Attributes does not stay a 25% difference for long. Acecraft runs are roguelike. You pick attachments as you clear waves, and stronger base stats mean faster clears, cleaner dodging windows and fewer close calls before the boss.
Pair it with permanent upgrades from the Modify system and the gap gets very obvious by the boss fight.
The Math: two players with identical pilots, levels and gear. One matched, one not. The matched player starts every run with a quarter more Base Attributes. Spoiler: it’s not even close.
Where Matching Matters Most: Element Trial
The Element Trial unlocks after Adventure stage 4-9, and it is the mode that turns this whole topic from “nice to have” into “please, I’m begging”. Each trial is themed on one element and opens on set days. The Sandstorm Trial, for example, opens on Wednesday and Saturday.
Each difficulty shows your score record and star milestones, and once you have cleared a difficulty you can use the quick Blitz button instead of flying it again. Higher difficulties carry much higher recommended power, so every bit of free stat value counts. A matched loadout is the cheapest power you will ever get, because it costs nothing but attention.
Plot twist: plenty of players “stuck” on a trial are flying a mismatched Wingman and blaming the boss.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Hoarding Signature Wingmen you don’t use: a Signature Wingman for a pilot sitting on the bench is a trophy, not a build.
- Leaving starter Wingmen on new mains: when you pull a new pilot from the Recruit banners, the old Wingman probably does not match.
- Judging pilots without matching them: a pilot tested without a matched Wingman is tested with a handicap. Check our tier list with that in mind.
- Ignoring the element badge in co-op: your partner’s loadout does not fix yours. Match before you queue for Co-Pilot runs too.
If you’re still running that random Wingman… we need to talk. For which Wingmen are worth building in the first place, our Wingman guide has the full breakdown.
Acecraft Element Matching FAQ
What are the elements in Acecraft?
There are four: Solaris, Sandstorm, Cyclone and Nimbus. Every pilot has one, shown as a badge on the pilot card.
How much does element matching boost stats?
An Epic Wingman equipped on a pilot of the same element gives that pilot +25% Base Attributes.
Do mismatched Wingmen still work?
Yes. A mismatched Wingman still attacks normally. It only misses out on the element bonus.
What is a Signature Wingman?
A Wingman tied to one pilot, such as Deadly Lily for Pris. Equipped on that pilot, it unlocks an extra effect on top of its normal attack.
When does the Element Trial unlock?
After clearing Adventure stage 4-9. Each elemental trial then opens on set days of the week.
Actually Do This: open your roster right now, check every main’s element badge, and swap in a matching Epic Wingman wherever you can. It is the only free 25% in Cloudia, and it has been sitting in your inventory the whole time (yes, really).
