Ace Pilot — Tower Defense Simulator Guide
Category: DPS
Unlock: 1,500 Coins
Detection: Hidden, Flying, Lead
Placement Limit: 8 per player
Tier Rating: A
Total Upgrade Cost: $12,850
Ace Pilot is an air-based DPS tower unlocked from the Store for 1,500 Coins. Instead of sitting in one spot, it circles a runway and attacks with a machine gun, gaining bomb-dropping capability starting at Level 2. It offers Flying detection from placement, gains splash-only Lead detection at Level 2, and full Hidden detection at Level 4, making it a flexible option for maps with mixed enemy types once fully upgraded.
Ace Pilot Stats Per Level
The table below shows all Ace Pilot Tower Defense Simulator upgrade levels and stats. Click any column header to sort. All values are sourced from the TDS Fandom wiki (checked August 3, 2026).
| Level | Upgrade Cost | Damage | Cooldown | Range | DPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 500 | 2 | 0.22 | 9 | 9.09 |
| 1 | 225 | 3 | 0.22 | 9 | 13.64 |
| 2 | 625 | 4 | 0.22 | 9 | — |
| 3 | 1500 | 5 | 0.15 | 10 | — |
| 4 | 3000 | 8 | 0.15 | 10 | — |
| 5 | 7000 | 14 | 0.12 | 10 | — |
Note: dps set to null: dual damage mechanism (gun + bomb). Per wiki formula, Gun DPS 116.67 + Bomb DPS 30 (45 splash dmg / 1.5s bomb cooldown, 4 explosion range) = ~146.67 combined. Flight speed boost increased to 35%.
How to Get Ace Pilot
Purchase Ace Pilot directly from the in-game Store for 1,500 Coins; there is no level requirement.
Placement is limited to 8 Ace Pilots per player, so plan runway space accordingly since the tower needs room to circle rather than a single fixed tile.
Is Ace Pilot Worth It?
Detects Flying enemies from the moment it is placed, which is useful on maps where few other towers cover the air lane.
Its bomb attack (unlocked at Level 2) deals splash damage and grants Lead detection, adding area coverage that a pure single-target gun does not provide.
At Level 4 it grants Hidden Detection to nearby towers within a secondary radius around its runway, which can support squads of towers that otherwise cannot see Hidden enemies.
Ace Pilot Tier Rating by Mode
Best Loadouts With Ace Pilot
Pairs well with ground-focused DPS towers, since Ace Pilot's Flying and (post-Level 2) Lead/splash coverage fills gaps that grounded towers leave open.
Its Level 4 Hidden Detection aura can support other towers placed near its runway that otherwise lack Hidden detection, though it must be leveled to 4 for that aura to apply.