An example of skills.
Skills are a new gameplay concept introduced in Ace Combat: Assault Horizon. These are passive bonuses that must be purchased with points that are earned by playing campaign missions and online multiplayer modes.
Some skills are already available for purchase once starting the game. Some skills do have to be unlocked, either through purchasing other skills, obtaining an A rank on the various co-op missions, or by completing other tasks listed under Unlockables. Yet other skills can be purchased from the PlayStation Store/Xbox LIVE Marketplace ($2.99/240 MSP each, or three for $5.99, depending on which DLC Pack you are purchasing from).
In the Online menu of Assault Horizon, a sub-menu, "Skill Sets," is available. From here, six different skill sets may be customized, each with six skill slots. Only one skill set may be used at once in Free Mission or online multiplayer. Each skill set has one Friendly Assist System (FAS) slot. Any skill placed in the FAS slot that is compatibile with FAS will apply not only to the player equipping the skill, but to the other three members of their flight online as well. The other five slots are non-FAS and only apply to the player equipping it.
Certain skills only apply for certain aircraft (ex: Enhanced ASM only applies for Multiroles and Attackers), and only certain skills are compatibile with the FAS slot (ex: Rookie only applies to the player equipping it)
List of Skills[]
Following is a list of the 67 different skills available, along with: bonuses; drawbacks; their compatibility with FAS, F (Fighters), A (Attackers), M (Multiroles), and H (Helicopters); their in-game points cost; and how to initially unlock them for purchase.
(Note: "FM" stands for Free Mission, "X" means enabled, "—" means disabled or not applicable, and "/" means partially enabled)
| Name | Bonuses | Drawbacks | FAS | F | M | A | H | Cost (Points) | How To Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rookie | Increases FAS bonuses from entire flight | Expires after 100,000 points are obtained | — | X | X | X | X | — | — |
| Enhanced MG | Increases firepower of machine gun | — | X | X | X | X | X | 2,000 | — |
| MG Cool Down | Quicker machine gun cooling | — | X | X | X | X | X | 2,000 | — |
| Wide Range MG | Machine gun shots spread, easier to hit | — | X | X | X | X | X | 10,000 | Purchase 10 skills |
| Extra MGP | Increases MGP capacity | — | X | X | X | X | X | 5,000 | Purchase 10 skills |
| Enhanced Missiles | Increased missile firepower | — | X | X | X | X | X | 10,000 | — |
| Enhanced Missiles+ | Dramatically increased missile firepower | Decreased aircraft durability | X | X | X | X | X | 50,000 | Purchase 10 skills |
| Extra Missiles | Extra missile capacity | — | X | X | X | X | X | 10,000 | — |
| Homing Missiles | Increases homing capabilities of missiles | — | X | X | X | X | X | 30,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Long-Range Missiles | Increases range of missiles | — | X | X | X | X | X | 80,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Enhanced Bombs | Increased bomb firepower | — | X | X | X | X | X | 10,000 | — |
| Extra Bombs | Extra bomb capacity | — | X | X | X | X | X | 10,000 | — |
| Enhanced RKTL | Increased rocket launcher firepower | — | X | X | X | X | X | 10,000 | — |
| Extra RKTL | Extra rocket launcher capacity | — | X | X | X | X | X | 5,000 | — |
| Long-Range RKTL | Increases range of rocket launchers | — | X | X | X | X | X | 30,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Enhanced ECM | Increased ECM duration | — | X | X | X | X | X | 5,000 | — |
| Wide Range ECM | Increases area of effectiveness of ECM | — | X | X | X | X | X | 30,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Extra ECM | Extra ECM capacity | — | X | X | X | X | X | 50,000 | — |
| Enhanced DFM | Increased ease of initiating DFM | — | X | X | X | — | — | 10,000 | — |
| Enhanced ASM | Increased ease of initating ASM | — | X | — | X | X | — | 10,000 | — |
| Quick Assault | Reduced charge time of DFM assault circle | — | X | X | X | — | — | 10,000 | — |
| Enhanced Direct Shot | Increases ease of performing a direct shot | — | X | X | X | — | — | 80,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Auto Maneuver | Automatic activation of counter maneuver | Slower than manual | — | X | X | — | — | 2,000 | — |
| Quick Charge | Increases weapon loading speed | — | X | X | X | X | X | 10,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Throttle Boost | Increased throttle performance | — | X | X | X | X | X | 30,000 | — |
| Quick Turn | Increased turning performance | — | X | X | X | X | — | 30,000 | — |
| Quick Brake | Increases deceleration performance | — | X | X | X | X | — | 10,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Extra Armor | Extra armor (reduced damage) | — | X | X | X | X | X | 50,000 | — |
| Quick Respawn | Reduces respawn time | — | — | X | X | X | X | 30,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Stealth | Gives aircraft stealth capabilities | — | — | X | X | X | — | 80,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Wide DFM Support | Increased ease of DFM support | — | X | X | X | — | — | 50,000 | — |
| Wide ASM Support | Increased ease of ASM support | — | X | — | X | X | — | 50,000 | — |
| Global ASM | ASM can be used on any ground targets | Unusable for bombers | — | — | X | X | — | 10,000 | Purchase 10 skills |
| Quick Base Capture | Increases speed of capturing bases in Domination | — | X | X | X | X | X | 50,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Enhanced Blades | Increased maximum altitude | FAS is competitive only (no co-op FAS) | / | — | — | — | X | 5,000 | — |
| Missile Focus | Easier to obtain targets & intercept missiles | Competitive online only | — | — | — | — | X | 2,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Auto Escape | Automatic counter maneuver against missiles | Slower than manual | — | — | — | — | X | 2,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Wide Angle and Zoom | Increased range for obtaining targets | — | X | — | — | — | X | 50,000 | — |
| Multi-Assault | Larger DFM circle when in DFM with allies | — | — | X | X | — | — | 80,000 | Purchase 24 skills |
| Easy Trinity | Unlock Trinity after 1 player kill instead of 8 | One-time-use, must be purchased again | — | X | X | X | X | 100,000 | Purchase 38 skills |
| Burst | Maximum aircraft durability | 10-time-use, must be purchased again | — | X | X | X | X | 100,000 | Purchase 38 skills |
| Extra Missiles+ | Extra missile capacity | Decreased firepower | X | X | X | X | X | — | A Rank on Oil Field (co-op) |
| Enhanced RKTL+ | Dramatically increased rocket launcher firepower | Decreased aircraft durability | X | X | X | X | X | — | A Rank on East African Town (co-op) |
| Quick Turn+ | Dramatically increased turning performance | — | X | X | X | X | — | — | A Rank on Dubai (co-op) |
| Extra Bombs+ | Extra bomb capacity | Decreased firepower | X | X | X | X | X | — | A Rank on Derbent (co-op) |
| Throttle Boost+ | Dramatically increased throttle performance | Decreased weapon carrying capacity | X | X | X | X | X | — | A Rank on ICBM Base (co-op) |
| Extra RKTL+ | Extra rocket launcher capacity | Decreased firepower | X | X | X | X | X | — | A Rank on Central Moscow (co-op) |
| Extra Armor+ | Extra variable armor (greatly reduced damage) | Decreased firepower | X | X | X | X | X | — | A Rank on Moscow (co-op) |
| Double Assault | Quick Assault, and adds a 2nd circle (more power) | — | X | X | X | — | — | — | A Rank on Miami (co-op) |
| Fighter Pilot | Extra points awarded | — | — | X | — | — | — | — | A Rank on all Fighter missions (FM) |
| Attacker Pilot | Extra points awarded | — | — | — | — | X | — | — | A Rank on Hostile Fleet (FM) |
| Multirole Pilot | Extra points awarded | — | — | — | X | — | — | — | A Ranks on Siege & Pipeline (FM) |
| Helicopter Pilot | Extra points awarded | — | — | — | — | — | X | — | A Ranks on Red Moon & Motherland (FM) |
| Ace | Extra points awarded | — | — | X | X | X | X | — | A Rank on all missions (FM) |
| Gun Enthusiast | Enhanced MG and overheats slower | Less missiles, missile power, and aircraft durability | — | X | X | X | X | — | 200 cumulative machine gun bonus in each Free Mission (Not incl. Red Moon, Spooky, Lock and Load, Motherland) |
| Untouchable | Increased firepower of all weapons | Less aircraft defense | — | X | X | X | X | — | Any Armor Bonus in each Free Mission |
| Enhanced Blades+ | Increased max altitude on light helicopters | FAS is competitive only (no co-op FAS) | / | — | — | — | X | — | Obtain Color 3 on all aircraft |
| Enhanced MG+ | Dramatically increased machine gun firepower | Machine gun overheats quicker | X | X | X | X | X | — | Obtain all callsigns |
| Enhanced DFM+ | Increased ease of initiating DFM | Decreased ease of initiating ASM | X | X | X | — | — | — | DLC ($2.99 PSN/240 MSP) |
| Enhanced ASM+ | Increased ease of initiating ASM | Decreased easy of initiating DFM | X | — | X | X | — | — | DLC ($2.99 PSN/240 MSP) |
| MG Cool Down+ | Quicker machine gun cooling | Decreased maching gun firepower | X | X | X | X | X | — | DLC ($2.99 PSN/240 MSP) |
| Quick Respawn+ | Greatly reduces respawn time | — | — | X | X | X | X | — | DLC ($2.99 PSN/240 MSP) |
| Sharp Shooter | Increased chance for fatal machine gun shots | — | — | X | X | X | X | — | DLC ($2.99 PSN/240 MSP) |
| Defender | Greatly improves durability and ECM effective range | — | — | X | X | X | X | — | DLC ($2.99 PSN/240 MSP) |
| Quick Assault+ | DFM circle charges much faster | — | X | X | X | — | — | — | DLC ($2.99 PSN/240 MSP) |
| Boost and Quick Turn | Throttle Boost and Quick Turn | — | X | X | X | X | — | — | DLC ($2.99 PSN/240 MSP) |
| Enhanced Bombs+ | Dramatically increased bomb firepower | Decreased aircraft durability | X | — | X | X | — | — | DLC ($2.99 PSN/240 MSP) |
Trivia[]
- The skills that must be purchased with in-game points (not including Burst and Easy Trinity, which are limited-time use) add up to a total of 1,000,000 points.