Hostile Skies Protect Your Base
Patrol routes, altitude holds, counter-attacks.
Base defence wins games. Teams that protect their own base while attacking the enemy keep respawns flowing and force the enemy into low-currency loops. This guide lays out the patrol, the counter-attack, and the loadout picks.
Patrol routes
Draw a figure-eight above your airbase at 2,500 m. The figure-eight covers all four approach angles and keeps you out of surface-to-air range.
- North-east leg: cover the bombers’ approach.
- South-west leg: cover the dogfighters’ approach.
- Cycle every 30 seconds.
A triangle patrol works for three-pilot squads. A four-pilot squad can split the routes into a full rectangle.
Altitude hold
Never dive below 1,500 m unless the enemy is committing to a strafing run. Low patrols get jumped by experienced turn fighters.
Counter-attack plays
When your team is ready to push, switch to one of the three counter-attack roles:
- Bait — fly low, lure an enemy to chase.
- Striker — sit at 1,500 m above the bait.
- Cleanup — sit at 3,000 m and finish any damaged target.
The bait-striker-cleanup trio is the standard 3-stack defence rotation.
Loadout picks
For defence, use a multi-role with a mix of guns and a single bomb. The P-38 Lightning (Allied) and Ho 229 (Axis) are best for this role.
For the bait, pick a turn fighter (Spitfire or Zero) so you survive the initial merge.
For the striker, an energy fighter (Mustang or FW 190 D-13) lets you re-attack quickly.
For the cleanup role, an S-tier plane from the Plane tier list is the safest pick — you only fire when an enemy is already damaged.
When to bail
If the enemy pushes three pilots onto your base, fall back to the spawn and re-engage with the team. Do not try to solo-defend a 4v1.
Anti-cheat and base capture
If a teammate is repeatedly crashing into the base, report them. Base capture is a team mode; griefing ruins it for everyone.
When to attack
Counter-attack only when your team has two or more pilots ready. A solo attack while your base is undefended lets the enemy take the base for free.
Pair this guide with the Team strategy page for the full squad playbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Which is more important, defending the base or attacking the enemy base?
Defending wins games because your team always has somewhere to spawn. Pure attack leaves you vulnerable to a counter-push.
How many pilots do I need to defend a base?
Three pilots cover the standard figure-eight. Two pilots is the bare minimum and leaves gaps.