ACE COMBAT 8 Mission 22, Pursuing the HSCA, is a chase with a very specific target: the giant Celaeno airship. In Operation Patch of Blue, you need to disable its propulsion before it reaches Fatsia’s defensive area, then escape the fortress’s bombardment. Simply locking on and launching missiles from behind won’t work for every stage of the fight.
The tricky bits are the shield drones and the angle required for the later engine targets. Once you know when to change position, the mission becomes far more manageable. This walkthrough covers the attack sequence, the final return line and how to make the hidden ace Caligo appear on a post-campaign replay.
ACE COMBAT 8 Mission 22 walkthrough: How to beat Pursuing the HSCA
This is primarily an air-to-air mission. Bring a responsive fighter and accurate anti-air special weapons rather than equipment built for ground targets. You’ll need to make several passes around the Celaeno, and you’ll also face escort fighters and interceptor UAVs while the huge aircraft is still moving.
The opening approach
Start by closing the gap with the Celaeno and getting behind it. The first marked targets are its propulsion systems, but shield UAVs can protect the propellers. If you fire straight into an active shield, you’re throwing ammunition away. Watch the drones’ formation. When it changes and a vulnerable component is exposed, take the shot.
Getting close enough to use your machine gun against shield drones can also help open a clear route for your missiles. Don’t stay on the airship’s tail blindly, though. Make a pass, assess the next marker, and approach again. You can afford a brief reposition; you cannot afford to spend every special missile on a protected part.
How to handle the Celaeno’s escorts
More enemy aircraft arrive as ACE COMBAT 8 Mission 22 progresses, and the Celaeno begins launching interceptor UAVs. Deal with the immediate air threats instead of tunnel-visioning on the large target. Once the fighters are off your back, return to the marked airship components. Fresh shield drones will force you to look for another opening.
Fatsia also begins sending burst projectiles into the airspace. Keep moving laterally during your passes. A long, straight pursuit line gives you little room to react, especially if you are staring at the target marker instead of checking the explosions around you.
ACE COMBAT 8 Mission 22: Main engines and generator
The later stage of the fight is where a lot of missile volleys go to waste. Once the main engines become targets, shooting from directly behind the airship may leave the hull in the way. Pull ahead and climb above it. That gives you a better attack angle onto the newly exposed parts.
After you damage the main engines, the generator becomes the next priority. Apply the same logic: line up a clear shot from a suitable angle rather than firing the instant you see a lock prompt. When the generator is disabled and the Celaeno is brought down, you’re finished with the airship, but not quite with the mission.
Escape using the return line
With the major target neutralised in ACE COMBAT 8 Mission 22, look for the return line to the west. The fortress bombardment becomes more intense during this stage. Clear enemies blocking your escape if necessary, then fly to the exit marker rather than circling back toward Fatsia. Reaching the return line completes the mission.
ACE COMBAT 8 Mission 22: Caligo hidden ace location
Caligo is a Rafale M enemy ace in ACE COMBAT 8 Mission 22. Its appearance requires a completed campaign and a Free Mission replay on Veteran difficulty or higher. For the trigger, approach the Celaeno below roughly 60 metres and fly directly beneath it. The enemy crew’s dialogue about spotting you hiding down low confirms you’ve taken the right route. That conversation is your cue to climb and begin the normal attack.
Caligo appears among the enemy aircraft sent to intercept you. If the ace isn’t obvious on the radar, cycle through contacts and thin the escort aircraft. The important detail is the low approach underneath the Celaeno. Flying high at the start and defeating it normally doesn’t satisfy Caligo’s special condition.
Why ACE COMBAT 8 Mission 22 missiles miss the target
There are two common causes. First, the shield drones are still guarding the propulsion components, so your missiles aren’t reaching the part that matters. Second, the later engine or generator marker is visible but the airship itself is blocking your firing path. For the first problem, wait for the drones to shift or attack them with the gun. For the second, move ahead and above the Celaeno.
Don’t confuse the hidden ace trigger with the main mission objective either. You can complete ACE COMBAT 8 Mission 22 without ever unlocking Caligo, and that is completely normal on the first story run. Save the special low-altitude approach for an eligible replay if you just want to see the credits first.
For ACE COMBAT 8 Mission 22, the sequence to remember is: keep your anti-air missiles for exposed targets, change your angle as the engines become available, and leave by the western return line once the Celaeno is disabled. There is no prize for remaining in Fatsia’s firing range longer than necessary.
Official source: Bandai Namco Entertainment’s ACE COMBAT 8 overview.
