When I first saw that SS badge on Vincent’s recruit card back in June, I knew the Acecraft meta conversation was about to get loud. Now, in October 2026, the top of the roster holds two SS pilots, two SP pilots and a pile of S grade veterans that still hold their own.
So here’s the deal: this guide explains what the SS grade actually means, breaks down every SS and SP pilot released so far using the official skill previews, and covers the S grade pilots that perform like SS picks anyway. Everything is current as of the October 2026 update that brought in Drakuku.
What SS Grade Actually Means
Every pilot in Acecraft carries a rarity grade on their recruit card. Today the ladder runs A (Excellent), S (Epic), then SS, plus a newer SP label. There is no B rarity anymore, so older guides that mention one are out of date.
Here is the part people mix up constantly: a rarity grade is not a ranking. Grade tells you how rare a pilot is, while a tier list is community opinion about current performance, and plenty of S grade pilots sit at the top of those lists.
Every SS and SP Pilot So Far
| Pilot | Grade | Type | Arrived | Calling card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vincent | SS | Sharpshot | June 2026 (1.3.126) | Wind Quills and a Gale Dominion field |
| Blazewing Ekko | SP | Crusher | August 2026 (1.3.133) | Rage Energy and Fury Zones |
| Silvanna | SS | Sharpshot | September 2026 (1.3.135) | Diamond Stardust, Key of Rimewave |
| Drakuku | SP | Crusher | October 2026 | Vampire prince of Evernight Clockwork Island |
Vincent: The First SS Pilot
Lore Deep Dive: Vincent is the legendary captain of the Wright Fleet and the guardian of the Key of Tradewind. To keep that key out of N.I.G.H.T.’s hands, he dismantled his own winding key and sank into a deep slumber. The worldbuilding here is next level.
His official skill preview lays out a Sharpshot kit that is all about wind:
- Main Cannon, Tempest Barrage: continuously fires Windforged Projectiles forward.
- Stunt, Dauntless Quillstorm: after absorbing pink projectiles, Wind Quills appear on both sides of the screen, lock onto enemies and perform penetrating dash attacks. It also creates a barrier that blows away small projectiles.
- Passive, Windborne Ascendant: when Gale Force fills, his aircraft unfolds the Wings of the Keeper. Main Cannon and Stunt get enhanced, and his attacks keep generating homing Wind Quills.
- Ultimate, Gale Dominion: deals damage in a large area, then unfurls a Gale Dominion that periodically summons Wind Quills for more penetrating dashes.
- Signature Wingman, Stormcaller: summons a thundercloud that calls down lightning and creates a pink projectile where it strikes.
The Payoff: that last line matters. Stormcaller feeds Vincent the pink projectiles his Stunt wants, so the pilot and his wingman form a neat loop. Remember that absorbing means lifting your finger: your plane stops firing and soaks up pink shots, then you press down again to move and shoot. Our pink projectile absorption guide covers the timing.
Silvanna: The Second SS Pilot
Silvanna landed with version 1.3.135 in September. Officially she is the Princess of the Frost Kingdom, Guardian of the Key of Rimewave, and she commands Diamond Stardust. Vincent guards the Key of Tradewind, Silvanna the Key of Rimewave. The devs are clearly building the SS tier around these legendary keys.
Community tier lists already rank her near the top, and the official skills preview confirms she is an SS-Tier Sharpshot. Read her full skill screen in game before you commit resources.
Blazewing Ekko and Drakuku: The SP Pilots
SP is the newest label on the recruit screen. Blazewing Ekko, the rage fueled steam ace, arrived in August as an SP Crusher, completely separate from the starter Ekko you got in the tutorial. Drakuku followed on October 2 as an SP Crusher: an aloof vampire prince who rose from the ashes of Evernight Clockwork Island to restore the ancient bat dynasty.
- Main Cannon, Thermal Missile: fires a missile that deals area damage on impact and splits into smaller explosions.
- Stunt, Fury Ray: fires a Fury Ray straight ahead.
- Passive, Blaze Arsenal: attacks build Rage Energy. At max, an Enhanced Part drops from above; pick it up to create a Fury Zone and gain that part’s Module.
- Ultimate, Hero’s Entrance: summons Flyboy’s fist and foot to strike every enemy, then dives down to deal damage and clear projectiles, dropping another Enhanced Part.
Drakuku is days old, so treat any early ranking with caution. Look, I get it: new pilots always look busted in the trailer.
S Grade Pilots That Play at an SS Level
Grade aside, a handful of S grade pilots keep showing up at the top of 2026 community rankings. Here’s where it gets interesting: their kits explain why.
- Tom (Crusher): the Tom and Jerry crossover pilot. His Bombs Away passive drops TNT ahead of your plane, his marble cannon explodes on impact, and his Trash Blast Ultimate makes him invulnerable while vacuuming debris into enemies and clearing projectiles.
- Jerry (Sharpshot): the resource loop specialist. Absorbing pink projectiles builds fruit that he throws to refill Ultimate energy, and his Ultimate makes him invulnerable while bombs rain over the field.
- Joey (Sharpshot): fires forked shots in a cone, and his Ultimate turns him into a drill that tears straight through enemy lines.
- Pris (Sharpshot): a laser that charges an overload Energy Cannon, plus Tracking Missiles from her Stunt. Our S grade pilots guide covers her and the rest of the Epic roster.
How to Invest Around the SS Tier
- Read the banner before you pull. Recent Skyward Recruit banners guarantee an Excellent or higher pilot every 10 draws, but check the info screen on SS and SP banners for their exact guarantee. Our gacha guide explains how recruit tickets work.
- Do not spread Amplification thin. Commit Power Cubes to one main pilot. The Pilot Amplification guide shows where the big jumps are.
- Plan for Support Skills. Once a pilot reaches 3 stars, the Support Pilot feature lets them back up your active pilot. Vincent’s Wings of the Keeper lends homing Wind Quills from the bench.
Acecraft SS Grade Pilots FAQ
Who are the SS pilots in Acecraft?
As of October 2026 there are two: Vincent, who arrived in June 2026 as the first SS pilot, and Silvanna, who arrived in September 2026.
What is the difference between SS and SP pilots?
Both are recruit grades above S. SS covers Vincent and Silvanna, while SP is a newer label used for Blazewing Ekko and Drakuku.
Is Vincent worth pulling?
Community tier lists rank him among the strongest Sharpshots. His Wind Quills, area Ultimate and pink projectile wingman make him a strong long term main.
Is SS grade the same as S tier on a tier list?
No. SS is a rarity grade on the recruit card. Tier lists are community opinion about performance, and many S grade pilots rank at the top.
The Setup for What’s Next: anyway, the smart move has not changed. Pick one top pilot, master their pink projectile loop, and invest deep instead of wide. The sky over Cloudia is only getting more crowded from here.
