OK, so you've mastered all the units from Field Training and learned how to deploy bases. It is now time to take it a step farther through the missions in Classic Campaign. Your paths will vary due to your decisions and playing style in the game. Your Field Training skills should prove handy in this campaign as it's usually common sense in Classic Campaign. The maximum number of points you can get is 300 points (100 Speed, 100 Power, 100 Technique).
The objective of this Classic Campaign Mode Guide is to help you get past the mission you're stuck on. If you need more help, there are video links to assist you on many of the missions. This guide is written for Classic Campaign, and your mileage will go further applying the same strategies on Casual Campaign missions. I recommend referring to Section 15 (Unit Guide) from time to time on the specifics of how you should be using the units that you deploy.
Orange Star
These opening Classic Campaign missions reinforce Field Training fundamentals while adding more practical positioning, matchup, and capture-based decision-making.
Mission 1: Tank Ops!
Nell vs. Olaf
Difficulty: *
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 7
Usable CO: Nell
Enemy CO: Olaf
Predeployed Units:
OS: 4 Infantry, 2 Mech, 1 APC, 1 Tank, 1 Artillery
BM: 2 Infantry, 2 Mech, 2 Tank, 1 Artillery, 1 Medium Tank
General Strategy:
Follow the instruction to load ammo to the artillery so that you can use it. Move the tank and a mech to the east side, blocking the bridge so your tank can defeat three tanks. Move other units south to prevent your enemy from capturing any neutral city. Check the enemy artillery's attack range so none of your infantry get hit. Move the artillery to the east so that it can help you take out those tanks. You can't easily take out the medium tank, but you can block the bridge with other units while you move an APC and drop an infantry onto the HQ to capture it for the victory.
Mission 2: Copter Tactics!
Nell vs. Olaf
Difficulty: *
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 3
Usable CO: Nell
Enemy CO: Olaf
Predeployed Units:
OS: 4 Infantry, 2 Mech, 1 APC, 1 Tank, 1 Artillery, 1 T-Copter, 1 B-Copter
BM: 2 Infantry, 2 Mech, 2 Tank, 1 Artillery, 3 Medium Tank, 1 B-Copter
General Strategy:
To win, you need to transport an infantry southward to Olaf's HQ to capture it. On day 1, use your missile to destroy the battle copter, the anti-air to destroy the battle copter, and the tank to damage the tank. Move an infantry into your transport copter and drop it on the HQ the same day. Move all other units to the right. On later turns, use battle copters against the medium tank, infantry against mechs, mechs against tanks, artillery to attack from distance, and tanks to damage all other units. The HQ capture alone should be sufficient for a victory, though.
Mission 3: Fog of War!
Nell vs. Olaf
Difficulty: **
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 6
Usable CO: Nell
Enemy CO: Olaf
General Strategy:
This is a Fog of War mission. On day 1, move your recon as far southeast as you can, between the two forest tiles, and you'll uncover a rocket and a medium tank. Use your rocket to fire on the medium tank, and your medium tank to finish it off. Use your two regular tanks to attack and destroy the rocket.
On day 2, use your medium tank and tank to wipe out their first tank. You'll spot a second tank and two infantry. The three other hidden units are an artillery (2-3 range) on the forest tile northeast of the HQ, a rocket (3-5 range) on the northern forest tile southeast of the HQ, and a lander on the reef. Move units next to the artillery and rocket to reveal them, then use tanks to take them out. That'll allow you to do an HQ capture to win, or you can destroy the lander for a "defeat all enemies" victory condition.
Mission 4: It's War!
Andy vs. Olaf
Difficulty: **
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 8
Usable CO: Andy
Enemy CO: Olaf
Predeployed Units:
OS: 2 Infantry, 2 Mech, 1 APC, 2 Tank, 1 Md Tank, 1 A-Air, 2 Artillery
BM: 4 Infantry, 2 Mech, 3 Tank, 1 Md Tank, 3 A-Air, 2 Artillery, 2 Rocket
General Strategy:
This was the first mission of the original Advance Wars 1 Normal Campaign, as the first three Classic Campaign missions were converted Field Training missions. Andy's CO Power allows you to heal 2HP per turn, so keep that in mind. There are two ways to win: an HQ capture with an APC loaded with an infantry, or by defeating all other units.
On day 1, use your northern tank and then your anti-air to attack the northern tank. Move your other northern units to the northeast. Down south, move your medium tank eastward to attack their tank. Move all other units eastward, but make sure you check the rocket's range and the artillery's range first so they don't get attacked by them. On both fronts, position your artillery in a way that the artillery can fire on anything that can attack one of your tanks.
On day 2, on the southern front, move your medium tank up to attack the rocket, your tank to attack the anti-air, and your mech to attack their artillery. On the northern front, use your tank to weaken the artillery and begin capturing the northern cities with your mech. In terms of unit matchups, take a look at my Unit Guide. Your fastest units in terms of movement are going to be your vehicles. Remember to use your CO power to heal your units after you've powered them up. Be sure to stay out of the range of any rockets and medium tanks until you have enough units just outside of their firing and movement range to attack the next turn.
Mission 5: Gun Fighter!
Andy vs. Grit
Difficulty: **
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 10
Usable CO: Andy
Enemy CO: Grit
Mission Briefing: You must defend the Orange Star capital from the hordes of Blue Moon forces led by Olaf. Nell talks to you about using your CO power to heal units, the Terms of Victory, and Intel. Good luck to you!
Starting Properties:
OS / BM / Neutral
Cities: 3 / 4 / 0
Factories: 0 / 0 / 0
Airports: 0 / 0 / 0
Seaports: 0 / 0 / 0
Missile Silos: 0 / 0 / 0
Predeployed Units:
OS: 2 Infantry, 1 APC, 1 Tank
BM: 2 Infantry, 2 Mech, 1 Recon, 3 Tank, 1 Md Tank, 2 Rocket
General Strategy:
This is the first mission with a difficulty spike from the last mission. You have two deployment bases. Grit doesn't. What that means is that you can build two units per turn in the two bases northeast of your HQ, but Grit can't build any more units. On day 1, move your infantry into your APC and then drop it eastward. Move your artillery and tank eastward so that your artillery can attack anything that directly attacks your infantry. Build a tank. Olaf will then move some units towards you, including a tank that attacks your infantry.
On day 2, move your infantry southward onto the mountain, attack the tank with your artillery, and finish it off by pulling your tank forward to take it out. Now you can start inching your other units forward. Be sure to check the firing ranges of both rockets and both artillery as you do, so that those units don't fire on you first before you get a shot at them. As you continue playing through the mission, build tanks (and at least one medium tank later on when you get closer to the medium tank) to take out Grit's tanks, artillery, and rockets. Meanwhile, with any remaining funds, build as many infantry as you can to cross the river and attack Olaf's two infantry and mechs north of the river.
Mission 6: Air Ace!
Andy vs. Eagle
Difficulty: **
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 7
Usable CO: Andy
Enemy CO: Eagle
General Strategy:
On turn 1, you can take out the battle copter with your anti-air and use your medium tank to damage Eagle's tank. The unit you must keep alive is your transport copter. That transport copter will allow you to bring an infantry or mech to the HQ.
To get that transport copter there, you need to move your missile and anti-air eastward and get them in position to down the fighters. Keep moving your other units eastward and then northward toward the HQ goal as well. Meanwhile, you can protect your transport copter by surrounding it with your own land units on all four sides. That way, Eagle's fighter can't attack the transport copter directly. There's no airport on the map for you to heal the transport copter's HP.
You'll also need to take out the bomber with a missile or anti-aircraft, or else the bomber will kill any infantry you land on the HQ in a single strike. Lure the bomber into range with any unit other than your anti-aircraft and then kill it with your anti-aircraft. Then land an infantry on the HQ with the transport copter immediately north of it so that the transport copter absorbs tank strikes that may target the HQ-capturing infantry. Capture the HQ by Day 6 for an S-rank victory.
Mission 7A: Max Strikes! (Andy)
Andy vs. Olaf
Difficulty: **
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 7
Usable CO: Andy
Enemy CO: Olaf
General Strategy:
The fastest strategy involves an HQ capture. To do that, you need to take out Olaf's navy to protect a lander that you take to the southeast island.
On turn 1, you want to use your battleship and then sub to take out Olaf's first battleship. You also should put an infantry and mech into the lander and start taking it east. However, make sure to check Olaf's second battleship range and not put your lander in that range. Up north, you want to line up your units on the bridge and move your artillery and rocket as far as they can go so that they can keep targeting Olaf's units that move up.
In later turns, you want to keep moving your subs east. Make the subs dive so that they can't be hit by the battleships. Then use the subs to sink the battleships and then land your mech and infantry on the island. Then you can move the mech or infantry to capture Olaf's HQ. Olaf's recon should be out of reach, and in the north, you can keep moving up your rocket and artillery to fire on enemies, and then finish them off with your tanks and remaining mech. That'll give you the Power score needed to complete a perfect S-rank score on this map.
Mission 7M: Max Strikes! (Max)
Max vs. Olaf
Difficulty: ***
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 7
Usable CO: Max
Enemy CO: Olaf
General Strategy:
On day 1, use your battleship to attack Olaf's battleship, and dive your submarines. On later turns, you'll use that battleship to fire from afar, and your diving submarines to attack the three remaining battleships directly. In the meantime, move your units east to attack Olaf's tanks. Have your medium tank attack the medium tank, and the other two tanks attack Olaf's tanks. Bring the artillery and rocket as far right as you can take them so that they can fire on enemies on your next turn, ideally the more expensive tank units. On Olaf's day 1, Olaf will move the battleships and other land units closer to you.
On the later days, move your battleship to the right and use those diving submarines to attack the battleships. On land, try to use your indirect units (artillery and rocket) to get the first attack in, then use your tanks to damage the enemy tanks. Continue to advance eastward until you wipe out the remaining units. Winning in 4 days by complete destruction is possible.
Mission 8A: Max's Folly (Andy)
Max vs. Grit
Difficulty: ***
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 6
Usable CO: Max
Enemy CO: Grit
General Strategy:
This is Andy's path, but Max charges in to fight Grit. You can't let Grit's two infantry take your HQ in the 6-day period or you'll lose. Max's two artillery and rocket have limited range (-1), so your goal will be to move those tanks up to attack.
You'll lose some of those tanks, but do your best to check Grit's enhanced rocket and artillery range before moving your tanks up so that you don't face a barrage until you know you can move a few units at a time. You can't fully avoid the barrage because Grit will hit you with his Sharp Shooter CO Power, but it'll allow you to preserve enough tanks to keep advancing.
You'll need to wipe out the two rockets and three artillery that are west of your HQ, plus the two infantry that advance on your HQ. At that point, you hang back and avoid getting hit by Grit's remaining rockets and artillery in that 6-day period and you'll pick up the victory.
Mission 8M: Sniper! (Max)
Max vs. Grit
Difficulty: ***
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 7
Usable COs: Andy, Max
Enemy CO: Grit
General Strategy:
This is a Fog of War mission. On turn 1, move your recon down 5 squares and to the right 1 to reveal the hidden infantry. Move your tank down the road and that'll uncover a tank. Use your battle copter to weaken it. Move your other units down the road.
There's a rocket in the forest south of you. Reveal it on day 2 to attack it. There's another recon that will run toward you. Make use of your direct units to attack and wipe both units out. If you move your recon to the right, you'll find that there is a rocket on the city. You can't attack with your land units, but if you attack the rocket head-on from the top or left, a missile to the north will knock the battle copter out of the air. You'll want to locate the missile near or at the blue city in the center-top part of the map before you attack the rocket directly, or strike that rocket from the bottom or right.
Meanwhile, Grit will still have an anti-air and artillery that you'll need to clear before you can advance land units toward the HQ. Use your tanks, which have higher movement and an advantage against both, to take both units out. Meanwhile, you can take a battle copter and transport copter over to the HQ, but beware of the artillery just east of the HQ when you bring an infantry over for the HQ capture. If you are going for a full KO, you'll need to bring a battle copter to the northeast island to take out the remaining artillery.
Mission 9A: Olaf's Navy! (Andy)
Max vs. Olaf
Difficulty: ***
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 6
Usable COs: Andy, Max
Enemy CO: Olaf
General Strategy: Be forewarned that the AI does not always act consistently and will not follow this day-to-day guide perfectly, but if you generally follow most steps, you can just go off the basic idea of the strategy.
In this Fog of War mission, don't bother trying to take out Olaf's whole navy or trying to go up to the northern bridge. You could in the original Advance Wars 1, but the naval AI has gotten much smarter.
Use Max. On day 1, put a mech into an APC, and that APC and another mech into the lander, then move it northeast along the bridge as far as you can take it. Move all other units north and northeast along the southern bridge, moving your recons last (keep your tank east of your recons). Move your battleship south to the reef, and move your sub down to the battleship and dive it. Moving your ships down will lure Olaf's battleships away from the southern bridge. Olaf will then attack your lander with a tank.
On day 2, use your battleship and your sub to target battleships, aiming for the northernmost ones first. Move your tank westward so your medium tank can get to Olaf's tank on the bridge. Then use your medium tank to destroy the medium tank (or just medium tank if your rocket is out of range), and advance all your other land forces eastward. Land your APC on the forest tile across the narrow sea, and the mech northward. Olaf will then try to destroy all your naval units.
On day 3, move your mech up 2 squares. There's a rocket hidden on the forest tile 2 squares north of that mech spot, across the river. Keep moving your other units as far as they can go eastward other than any western units that can't move that far, such as infantry.
On day 4, drop off your mech within 2 squares of the HQ. Keep moving your remaining eastern units down the road toward the HQ. Move your mech up 2 squares to reveal the rocket. On day 5, destroy the rocket with your mech and recon, use your medium tank to destroy the tank, and have the mech start capturing the HQ. At this point, hold at the rivers and capture the HQ and you'll clinch the win.
Mission 9M: Blizzard Battle (Max)
Max vs. Olaf
Difficulty: ****
Days for S-Rank: 8
Usable COs: Andy, Max
Enemy CO: Olaf
General Strategy:
Max has direct power, which is what you need for a faster victory here. You'll need to capture all neutral properties on your side of the river, plus one more. On day 1, move your two infantry up to capture the neutral cities. Move both tanks up and to the right, one mech to the northeast, and another mech into the APC and to the northeast to land on the neutral city to start capturing it the next day. Build two infantry.
On day 2, keep moving your infantry up and continue the neutral city captures that you've started or are about to start. Olaf will continue moving an artillery, two tanks, and a medium tank over. You'll want to move your tank and mech over to wipe out the tank that attacks the mech you moved over with the APC.
Keep building one or two infantry every turn, with the other unit being a tank if you're able to afford it. You'll want to keep moving tanks north and east to defend your side of the bridge and to attack any infantry, tanks, and artillery that may try to cross the river. And you'll want to take the northern neutral base so it doesn't take you forever to move tanks toward the northern bridge. The best neutral city to take will be the city just across the southern bridge. If you can distract Olaf enough with tanks and a medium tank, secure the two bridges, and capture that city, you'll come out with the win. Just make sure Olaf doesn't take any cities on your side of the river.
Mission 10A: Olaf's Sea Strike (Andy)
Max vs. Olaf
Difficulty: ****
Days for S-Rank: 11
Usable COs: Andy, Max
Enemy CO: Olaf
General Strategy:
This is primarily a sea map. On day 1, use your northern battleship and a cruiser to destroy the sub while moving your transport copter down. Move your subs eastward and have them dive so they can't be located. Move your southern battleship eastward to the reef so it stays hidden on this Fog of War map.
For the naval fight on later days, the matchups are as follows: battleships beat cruisers, cruisers beat subs, and subs beat battleships. Landers can be sunk by subs and battleships. After you clear Olaf's navy following these matchups, move your battleships closer to the northeast island where Olaf has his HQ, so that the battleships can fire on those units. He's got two tanks, two infantry, and a few other hidden units, including a battleship to the northwest and a rocket on the northeast forest tile. Reveal those units by getting next to them, damage them by battleship, and then bring a mech or infantry over to capture the HQ for the win.
Mission 10M: History Lesson (Max)
Max vs. Grit
Difficulty: ****
Days for S-Rank: 7
Usable CO: Max
Enemy CO: Grit
General Strategy:
You can creep up on Grit like Max says, but you'll lose some valuable speed. Instead, you want to go for an HQ capture. To do that, you need to win the naval battle.
Again, remember your naval matchups. Battleships take out cruisers, cruisers take out subs, and subs take out battleships. On day 1, use your cruiser to destroy the enemy sub. Move your remaining naval units to the northeast and dive all your subs. Those diving subs can attack a battleship on later turns. Make sure you've got at least one lander that has an infantry heading to the HQ. One idea is two mechs, an infantry, and a medium tank.
With anything you don't put in your landers, take those units, ideally including your recon, north to attack Grit's hidden units. Beware of an artillery that may hang out on one of the forest tiles. Meanwhile, use your naval units to secure a path to the HQ for the HQ capture based on the naval matchups mentioned above. You'll want to, in particular, use your subs to take out a battleship northeast of the HQ so that it can't fire on your infantry or mech when it takes the HQ.
Mission 11: Sami's Debut!
Andy vs. Eagle
Difficulty: ***
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 9
Usable COs: Andy, Max, Sami
Enemy CO: Eagle
General Strategy:
This is a Fog of War map, and you'll be going up against Eagle and his Lightning Drive CO Power that allows him to attack twice in one turn. Choose Andy so that you can make use of indirect units. If you're not comfortable with indirect positioning, use Max instead for stronger air units.
On day 1, use your bomber to attack the missile, anti-airs to attack the battle copters, and your fighter to weaken the remaining battle copter. Move your vehicles along the road to take advantage of movement bonuses, and move your infantry and mechs upward.
On later turns, your objective is to keep your transport copter alive so you can bring infantry to the HQ. Use your bomber against tanks, fighters against bombers, and anti-air against other aircraft. Protect your medium tank from bomber strikes by positioning other units nearby.
Eagle has additional fighters that appear unexpectedly, but once you clear them with anti-air units, you'll open a safe path to advance toward the HQ.
Mission 12: Kanbei Arrives
Andy vs. Kanbei
Difficulty: ****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 6
Usable COs: Andy, Max, Sami
Enemy CO: Kanbei
General Strategy:
Use Andy. Sami's direct units are weak, and Max struggles with indirects. This mission requires balance. On day 1, move your medium tanks east to damage rockets, then retreat them back to cities on day 2 for healing.
Use terrain to your advantage. The mountain range prevents tanks from reaching your indirect units. Position artillery and rockets just behind your front line with units protecting them.
Kanbei will attack in waves. Prioritize targets in this order: medium tanks, artillery, then tanks. Use cities and HQ for healing and continue trading efficiently until his forces collapse.
Mission 13: Mighty Kanbei!
Andy vs. Kanbei
Difficulty: *****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 7
Usable COs: Andy, Max, Sami
Enemy CO: Kanbei
General Strategy:
Build a large number of indirect units. Do not choose Max. Andy is recommended due to balanced units and Hyper Repair.
Control both bridges. If Kanbei breaks through, you lose. Use rockets and artillery behind your front line, with medium tanks blocking access.
Capture nearby properties early, then focus on building artillery. Use indirects to deal damage first, then tanks to finish units. Eventually you'll break through from the south and can push toward the HQ for a capture victory.
Mission 14: Kanbei's Error?
Max vs. Kanbei
Difficulty: ****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 11
Usable COs: Andy, Max, Sami
Enemy CO: Kanbei
General Strategy:
Choose Max for stronger air units. You must capture 15 properties before Kanbei does.
On day 1, avoid enemy air range. Let enemy air units approach, then counterattack with fighters and battle copters. Begin capturing properties across multiple islands using transport copters.
Continue building transport copters to expand capture coverage. Use battle copters for damage, but always check missile and anti-air ranges before committing.
Mission 15: Divide & Conquer!
Max vs. Sonja
Difficulty: ****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 8
Usable CO: Max
Enemy CO: Sonja
General Strategy:
This is a Fog of War mission. On day 1, move your APC to reveal a hidden rocket and destroy it with your rocket and mech. Begin capturing cities on the left while advancing units on both sides.
On day 2–3, eliminate nearby threats and continue advancing carefully. Use tanks and artillery together to clear resistance.
Continue north while staying on forests to avoid detection. Watch for hidden rockets and artillery. Always reveal with one unit and destroy with another.
Keep a mech near your HQ to stop enemy capture attempts. Continue clearing hidden threats until all enemy units are eliminated.
Mission 16: Sami Marches On!
Sami vs. Sonja
Difficulty: *****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 10
Usable CO: Sami
Enemy CO: Sonja
General Strategy:
This is a Fog of War map focused on property capture across two islands. Protect your landers and use reefs to keep naval units safe.
On day 1, move your submarine east and dive to reveal enemy units. Position your cruiser on a reef and use your battleship to fire safely. Begin moving tanks and rockets onto both islands while building infantry for transport.
On later days, continue revealing enemy naval threats while positioning your units outside of battleship range. Use cruisers to eliminate subs and your sub to weaken battleships.
Up north, use tanks and rockets to clear artillery and maintain control. Down south, establish a production base and build medium tanks to handle incoming waves.
Mission 17: Sonja's Goal!
Andy vs. Sonja
Difficulty: ****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 12
Usable CO: Andy
Enemy CO: Sonja
General Strategy:
This Fog of War map centers around a large lake. Begin by clearing naval threats using your sub, cruiser, and battleship.
Use your anti-air to control enemy air units and carefully move your land forces along the southeastern path. Watch for hidden rockets and artillery near forests and mountains.
As you advance, use combined arms (tanks, copters, battleships) to clear resistance. Protect your transport copter to enable a HQ capture or clean up remaining units for a full KO.
Mission 18A: Captain Drake! (Andy)
Andy vs. Drake
Difficulty: *****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 11
Usable CO: Andy
Enemy CO: Drake
General Strategy:
You need to capture 12 properties across multiple islands. Begin by securing the northwest island while protecting your submarines and lander.
Use submarines to eliminate naval threats and maintain control of the sea. Land infantry on the central island to begin capturing cities while defending bridges with tanks and indirect units.
Continue building infantry and tanks while advancing south. Eventually transport units to the northeast island to secure the final properties.
Mission 18M: Captain Drake! (Max)
Max vs. Drake
Difficulty: ****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 6
Usable CO: Max
Enemy CO: Drake
General Strategy:
Dive all submarines on day 1 and begin positioning your forces defensively. Use landers to deploy a rocket and infantry to the southern beach.
The naval battle is key. Follow unit matchups carefully: battleships and rockets vs cruisers, cruisers vs subs, subs vs battleships.
Hold position early, then strike decisively on days 3–5 to eliminate all enemy naval forces and secure victory.
Mission 18S: Captain Drake! (Sami)
Sami vs. Drake
Difficulty: *****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 11
Usable CO: Sami
Enemy CO: Drake
General Strategy:
This is a capture mission requiring control of most northern properties. Focus on maintaining defensive positioning early while gradually expanding control.
Use naval matchups to eliminate Drake’s forces before advancing. Keep key units protected using terrain and positioning.
Build mostly mechs and infantry for sustained capture pressure. Once naval control is established, push south to capture the final property needed for victory.
Mission 19A: Naval Clash! (Andy)
Andy vs. Drake
Difficulty: ****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 10
Usable CO: Andy
Enemy CO: Drake
General Strategy:
Your objective is to keep your missile unit alive for 10 days. Retreat vulnerable units immediately while using stronger units to delay the enemy.
Use coordinated attacks between your battleship, sub, rocket, and tanks to eliminate key threats while maintaining distance from enemy naval fire.
Survive the full duration while dealing enough damage to maintain a high score.
Mission 19M: Naval Clash! (Max)
Max vs. Drake
Difficulty: ****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 9
Usable CO: Max
Enemy CO: Drake
General Strategy:
Focus on efficient direct unit usage. Use your sub and battleship to eliminate naval threats early.
Advance land forces carefully while maintaining control of both land and sea. Use unit matchups effectively to maintain momentum.
Push toward the HQ for capture or eliminate remaining threats for a full victory.
Mission 19S: Naval Clash! (Sami)
Sami vs. Drake
Difficulty: ******
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 12
Usable CO: Sami
Enemy CO: Drake
General Strategy:
This is a difficult Fog of War mission. You must secure naval control before attempting landings.
Use reefs for protection and eliminate enemy subs and battleships before advancing. Once safe, begin landing units to push toward the HQ.
Use combined naval and land forces to clear defenses, then capture the HQ for victory.
Mission 20A: Wings of Victory! (Andy)
Andy vs. Eagle
Difficulty: *****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 8
Usable CO: Andy
Enemy CO: Eagle
General Strategy:
Focus on maintaining your key air units for an HQ capture. Advance north while positioning missile and rocket units to counter Eagle’s forces.
Use your anti-air, missile, and fighters to eliminate Eagle’s air units. Then move your air force along the top path to avoid anti-air coverage.
Destroy key missile threats and land a mech near the HQ for capture. Keep land units back for defense and scoring purposes.
Mission 20M: Wings of Victory! (Max)
Max vs. Eagle
Difficulty: *****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 7
Usable CO: Max
Enemy CO: Eagle
General Strategy:
Prioritize air superiority. Use fighters against fighters first, then bombers, then copters.
Use bombers to eliminate anti-air and tanks. Maintain pressure while advancing eastward.
Use Max Force on day 2 to secure control and quickly eliminate Eagle’s remaining air units.
Mission 20S: Wings of Victory! (Sami)
Sami vs. Eagle
Difficulty: ******
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 9
Usable CO: Sami
Enemy CO: Eagle
General Strategy:
This is the harder variant. Keep your key air units alive for an HQ capture.
Follow the same approach as Andy’s version: eliminate air threats, move along safe paths, and avoid anti-air zones.
Destroy missile threats, then land a mech near the HQ for capture while maintaining defensive positioning with your ground units.
Mission 21A: Battle Mystery! (Andy)
Andy vs. Drake
Difficulty: *****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 12
Usable CO: Andy
Enemy CO: Drake
General Strategy:
This is another Fog of War map. Use your landers to establish positions on both shores early while advancing your naval units north and east. Dive your submarines and protect your battleship using proper naval matchups and unit spacing.
On land, use your recon, tank, and medium tank to clear enemy forces while moving your rocket into range to support from a distance. Your APC is important for refueling submarines so they do not sink later in the mission.
After winning the naval battle in the north, move your fleet around the island to the southeast. Use your submarines, rocket, and ground units together to destroy the hidden lander and complete the mission.
Mission 21M: Battle Mystery! (Max)
Max vs. Drake
Difficulty: *****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 11
Usable CO: Max
Enemy CO: Drake
General Strategy:
You'll need to win battles on the northern island, at sea, and on the southern island without overcommitting on any front. Move your submarine north and east, dive it, and begin positioning your navy just outside enemy submarine range.
Transport a medium tank across the sea and prepare a second lander with a rocket and mech for the HQ approach. As you advance, use naval matchups carefully and stay out of range of hidden artillery positions on land.
Push toward the HQ while using your rocket and battleship to weaken defenses. Once the artillery south of the HQ is gone, use your mech to capture the HQ for the win.
Mission 21S: Battle Mystery! (Sami)
Sami vs. Drake
Difficulty: *****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 8
Usable CO: Sami
Enemy CO: Drake
General Strategy:
You must relocate the infantry from the eastern island to the southwest island. On turn 1, move the infantry north and send a transport copter toward it so you can extract it the following turn.
Because of enemy anti-air coverage, your battle copters are mostly useful as escorts. Move your air units northwest, then use the transport copter to carry the infantry safely across the sea to the southwest island.
Meanwhile, retreat your naval units west, dive your submarine, and use your rocket and navy to defeat Drake's sea forces using the usual matchups. Once the infantry is transferred safely, the mission is secure.
Mission 22: Andy Times Two
Andy/Sami and Eagle vs. Andy
Difficulty: *****
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 8
Usable COs: Andy, Max, Sami
Allied CO: Eagle
Enemy CO: Andy
General Strategy:
Sami or Andy are both strong choices. Your main goal is to get a transport copter with a mech to the HQ for a capture. Eagle will usually establish air superiority quickly, which helps clear the eastern island.
Move your transport copter east on day 1 and continue north over the following turns, staying clear of rocket range. Block the bridge with the transport copter if needed so no tank can attack your HQ-capturing mech.
At the same time, use your lander to move your rocket and medium tank north early. Bring the rest of your forces up as well so you can destroy most or all of Clone Andy's army and secure the power rating if the HQ capture alone is not enough.
Mission 23: Enigma!
Max vs. Sturm
Difficulty: *******
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 18
Usable COs: Andy, Max, Sami
Enemy CO: Sturm
General Strategy:
Use Max. This is a huge map, and the key is gaining ground efficiently. On day 1, move your sub east and dive, transport an infantry and anti-air across the sea, and begin moving the rest of your army south over the first two days.
Secure the sea by eliminating Sturm's submarine and later battleship and landers. You may need to capture the port or build an APC by day 5 so your underwater submarine does not sink from lack of fuel.
In the middle, concentrate most of your pressure on the southern neutral base. Keep anti-air units on the road to handle air threats, then build a large number of tanks. Max's direct unit bonus gives you excellent vision, mobility, and KO potential against Sturm's forces.
You have some room on Technique, but Sturm's raw stats make it difficult to preserve every unit. Focus on momentum, expansion, and maintaining enough strength to keep advancing.
Mission 24: The Final Battle!
3 COs vs. Sturm
Difficulty: ********
Days for Perfect S-Rank: 12 (Kanbei), 13 (Others)
Usable COs: All but Sonja
Left: Max, Olaf, Grit
Center: Andy
Right: Sami, Eagle, Drake, Kanbei
Enemy CO: Sturm
General Strategy: Be forewarned that the AI does not always act consistently and will not follow this day-to-day guide perfectly, but if you generally follow most steps, you can just go off the basic idea of the strategy.
Unlike in the original Advance Wars 1, you can choose your left and right COs regardless of path. Max on the left and Kanbei on the right are strong recommendations because their direct units help you advance the fastest.
Sturm has a large number of bombers, fighters, and medium tanks. The key is to destroy his advancing forces quickly, then push your strongest direct units forward while continuing to capture cities and bases for extra production.
Always check enemy ranges before moving. When Sturm's CO Power is charged, spread out your expensive units because Meteor Strike always targets the most valuable clump. Do not let Andy be eliminated or the mission is over.
Keep building units throughout the battle, especially direct units and infantry. Use Andy to stabilize the center, have Max drive up the left, and use Kanbei or Eagle to pressure from the right while supporting Andy when needed. As you move past the river and overwhelm Sturm's production, the battle turns in your favor.
Mission 25: Rivals!
Andy vs. Eagle
Difficulty: *******
Usable CO: Andy
Enemy CO: Eagle
General Strategy: Be forewarned that the AI does not always act consistently and will not follow this day-to-day guide perfectly, but if you generally follow most steps, you can just go off the basic idea of the strategy.
This is the hardest mission of AW1 Classic Campaign. Eagle begins with far more territory, and his CO Power is dangerous. Your long-term goal is to win air superiority, then use that advantage to land infantry at the HQ for the capture.
On day 1, build two transport copters and load them with mechs. Over the next several days, move those transports east, drop units to capture properties, and keep expanding your income. Add more transport copters, then build a battle copter and later fighters.
Use your battle copters and transport copters to stall and trap Eagle's bombers until your fighters can take over the skies. Keep your fighters just out of range when possible, and build enough of them to stay ahead of Eagle's production and healing at airports.
Meanwhile, defend your HQ with medium tanks and continue expanding east with transports, infantry, and mechs. Once you control the air, build a bomber, clear the anti-air and remaining resistance around the HQ, and land an infantry by transport copter to capture it for the win.