Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-25142096-20141011054905/@comment-25142096-20141011192442

SlyCooperFan1 wrote: This is my theory:

Four-star aircraft are tournament prizes or random drops.

Three-star aircraft are random drops that are related to another series/collaboration event. (If iDOLM@STER aircraft are released, I would expect them to be three-star.)

Two-star aircraft are the aircraft that I consider "four-star rejects", as in, they could have been four-star aircraft but they were intentionally marked down and made easier to obtain. In other words, two-star aircraft are essentially four-star aircraft that are easier to obtain. This includes the tournaments they're involved in.

One-star aircraft are throwaway aircraft given to everyone, either as a gift or in a very very easy challenge. Unfortunately Mr. Black Hornet and Mr. Scorpio break this theory, being considered 2-star planes, but still given as tournament rewards for only 1.000 players. Also, while the Hornet's design might not be too elaborate, it's unique with its chrome-gold details, and Cst-wise it's stronger than both Wardog and Shogun, and at the same level as the 4-star F-20A -Shin Kazama. The "easier to obtain" does not apply, as they're as hard to get as the previous tournament planes. Also, the F-16C -Libra- was a random drop, with a very strict time limit and a HUGE increase in stats compared to its original (+150 Cst), but it still got marked with just two stars.

About the 3-stars and 1-stars you couldn't be more correct, though.