Tier lists are snapshots. The interesting part is the film running between them. Acecraft’s top tier has been reshuffled again and again since the global launch, and when you line those shifts up, they tell you something no single ranking can: what this game actually rewards over time.
So here’s the deal: this is the timeline of every major pilot release and how community rankings reacted, from launch to the October 2026 update that added SP pilot Drakuku. One reminder before we start: tier lists are community opinion, not official rankings, so treat every placement below as the general consensus of its era.
The Release Timeline at a Glance
| When | New pilots | Grade | Meta impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | Tom and Jerry crossover | Collab | Both shot to the top tier |
| Sep 2025 | Elsa, Botto | S (Elsa) | Elsa became a boss melting favorite |
| Oct 2025 | Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck | S | Popular, but rarely ranked above Tom |
| Nov 2025 | Asher, Pris | S | Pris joined the top Sharpshots |
| Dec 2025 | Sylas | S | Summon heavy Crusher option |
| Jan to Apr 2026 | Vivienne, Edith, Leo, Naomi | S | Deeper S roster, no single takeover |
| May 2026 | Wukong | S | Climbed straight into top Sharpshot talk |
| Jun 2026 | Vincent | SS | First SS pilot, new rarity ceiling |
| Jul 2026 | Nepheria | S | Strong S grade Sharpshot |
| Aug to Oct 2026 | Blazewing Ekko, Silvanna, Drakuku | SP, SS, SP | The current top end |
August 2025: Launch and the Crossover Era
Acecraft launched globally on August 28, 2025, and the Tom and Jerry crossover was front and center from the start. Everyone began with Ekko, who taught the game and then fell off fast. The early chase targets were Tom, Jerry and Joey.
Lore Deep Dive: the crossover pilots fit Cloudia so naturally because the whole game is built on that 1930s rubber hose cartoon style. Tom’s bellows Ultimate and Jerry’s fruit throwing felt like they had always belonged in this world.
Even then, the shape of the future meta was visible. Pilots with invulnerability windows and strong pink projectile synergy aged well. Pure stat sticks did not.
Autumn 2025: The First Real Meta
Elsa arrived in September and quickly earned a reputation as a boss melter. In October the Looney Tunes crossover added Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, alongside Chapter 12 and a Pilot level cap raised to 60. That cap jump mattered: suddenly long term investment in a few pilots paid off more than a wide roster.
Community lists of this era settled into a familiar shape: Tom, Jerry, Joey and Elsa at the top, with Bugs and Daffy fun but usually a step behind. Asher and Pris landed in November, and Pris’s laser and overload Energy Cannon put her straight into the Sharpshot conversation.
Winter 2025 to Spring 2026: The S Roster Fills Out
Sylas came with the Jollyhats Jubilee in December, summoning Whimcaps for a very different kind of Crusher. Vivienne followed in January, then Edith, Leo, an S grade Vanguard, and Naomi through the spring. None of them flipped the meta overnight. Instead, the S tier simply got deeper, and the debate shifted from “who is best” to “who is best for this mode.”
Here’s where it gets interesting: the US version, ACECRAFT: Sky Hero, went through a service pause for maintenance and came back on May 10, 2026 with the Pappo system and reopened recruits for Vivienne, Sylas and Leo. Returning players walked into a meta that had moved on without them.
Summer 2026: Wukong, Then the Ceiling Breaks
Wukong arrived in May and climbed into top Sharpshot discussions quickly. Then, in June, Vincent landed as the first SS grade pilot. This is where it gets WILD. A brand new rarity ceiling meant every existing ranking had a new name above it, and pull priorities shifted almost overnight.
Nepheria followed in July, then the SP label arrived with Blazewing Ekko in August. Silvanna became the second SS pilot in September, and Drakuku, a vampire prince, joined as an SP pilot on October 2. For the full breakdown of those top grades, read our SS grade pilots guide.
What the History Teaches
- Consistency is the signal. Tom and Joey have stayed near the top across most community lists since 2025. A pilot who survives several meta shifts is a safe long term investment.
- Survivability ages best. Invulnerability windows, like Tom’s Trash Blast, keep a pilot relevant as content gets harder.
- New grades reset the top. Vincent proved a single banner can redraw the whole list. Watch the patch notes before you spend.
- Depth beats hype for most modes. Element based modes reward a pilot per element more than one maxed favorite.
- New pilots need time. Early rankings for Drakuku are guesses. Give any debut a patch cycle before treating its placement as settled.
For where everyone stands today, check the current Acecraft tier list, and if you are still deciding who to build, the S grade pilots guide covers the Epic roster.
Acecraft Tier List History FAQ
When did Acecraft launch globally?
Acecraft launched worldwide on August 28, 2025, with the Tom and Jerry crossover pilots available in its launch window.
Who was the first SS pilot in Acecraft?
Vincent, released in June 2026. Silvanna became the second SS pilot in September 2026.
Which pilots have stayed top tier the longest?
Community lists have kept Tom and Joey near the top since 2025, with Elsa and Jerry close behind.
Are Acecraft tier lists official?
No. Tier lists are community opinion based on performance. Rarity grades like S, SS and SP are official, rankings are not.
The Payoff: anyway, the lesson from a year of Cloudia is simple. Invest in pilots with proven staying power, treat new grades as the real meta resets, and give every debut a little time. The next chapter of this timeline is already being written.
