Tactical Plugins
Choose the right faction-specific plugin set, understand each slot, and plan the EXP, catalysts, and duplicate copies required for orange plugin upgrades.
Quick read
- Each formation vehicle has four plugin slots: Opening, Offensive, Defensive, and Jamming.
- Match plugins to the active formation's faction; changing factions uninstalls the current set.
- Each star contains eight progression markers, including EXP steps and material gates.
- The published data verifies 0★–8★ costs. Parts of 9★ and 10★ remain estimates, not confirmed totals.
What are Tactical Plugins?
Think of Tactical Plugins as Hero Equipment for your modded vehicle. Hero gear strengthens individual heroes; Tactical Plugins equip the vehicle supporting a formation and provide troop statistics, faction-hero bonuses, and combat effects. Each vehicle formation has four distinct slots, and the plugins belong to a faction-matched set.
1. Equip the right faction
Match the plugin set to the vehicle formation's faction. Changing that faction may unequip the current set, so check the active formation before battle.
2. Fill the four slots
Opening, Offensive, Defensive, and Jamming each bring a different kind of support. Work toward an orange in every slot to activate the four-plugin Resonance system.
3. Feed lower rarities for EXP
Green, blue, and purple plugins can help build Plugin EXP. Save orange duplicates for specific upgrade gates rather than treating them like ordinary fodder.
4. Upgrade strategically
Focus on your main fighting formation and useful slot effects. When chasing Resonance, bring up the lowest-starred orange plugin instead of upgrading only one far ahead.
For the hero-side comparison, see the Hero Equipment Guide. For numeric star-up requirements, use the cost tables below.
The four tactical plugin slots
| Slot | General purpose |
|---|---|
| Opening | Shield / initial protection |
| Offensive | Attack pressure and damage |
| Defensive | Protection and mitigation |
| Jamming | Disruption and combat effects |
For example, the published Wings of Dawn set includes Ultra EM Shield IV (Opening), Ultra Fire Amplifier IV (Offensive), Ultra Capacitor Armor IV (Defensive), and Ultra Electro Pulse IV (Jamming). Equivalent faction sets have matching cost curves, but their hero bonuses apply to different factions.
Orange plugin star-up costs
Costs below are per plugin. Duplicate requirements refer to exact copies of the same orange plugin, not generic fodder.
| Star | EXP for this star | Duplicate copies / catalyst gate | Total EXP to this star |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1★ | 129,500 | 20 catalysts | 129,500 |
| 2★ | 512,000 | 1 | 641,500 |
| 3★ | 1,266,300 | 2 | 1,907,800 |
| 4★ | 3,195,700 | 3 | 5,103,500 |
| 5★ | 5,292,100 | 6 | 10,395,600 |
| 6★ | 9,680,600 | 8 | 20,076,200 |
| 7★ | 16,149,800 | 16 | 36,226,000 |
| 8★ | 22,260,700 | 21 | 58,486,700 |
| 9★ — partial | ~30.7M estimate | Unknown | ~89.2M estimate |
| 10★ — estimate | ~42.3M estimate | Unknown | ~131.5M estimate |
How the eight steps work
| Star bracket | Progression track |
|---|---|
| 1★–2★ | 7 EXP steps → final material gate |
| 3★–4★ | 4 EXP steps → gate → 2 EXP steps → final gate |
| 5★–8★ | 2 EXP steps → gate → 1 EXP step → gate → 2 EXP steps → final gate |
| 9★ | Same eight-marker arrangement observed; full gate costs unknown |
Where do orange plugins come from?
Orange Plugin Choice Boxes are especially valuable because they let you pick the exact orange plugin needed for a duplicate gate. Random orange plugin rewards can be useful, but they may give another faction or slot. Lower-tier chests primarily supply EXP fodder and crafting materials, with occasional higher-rarity rewards.
Because an orange upgrade can require many copies of the same plugin, think of a Choice Box as more than a random power boost—it can finish a specific star-up. Check the event shop or chest description for the current acquisition method and limits.
EXP fodder and crafting
| Material | Value or recipe |
|---|---|
| Green plugin | 1,000 plugin EXP |
| Blue plugin | 5,000 plugin EXP |
| Purple plugin | 50,000 plugin EXP |
| Craft one purple plugin | 100 purple Plugin Crafting Materials |
| Craft one orange plugin | 100 gold Plugin Crafting Materials |
Non-orange plugins may be fed for EXP. Orange plugins are not general EXP fodder; exact orange duplicates are needed at star-up gates.
Understanding the four slot effects
Each slot adds more than raw power. The Opening plugin emphasizes protection at battle start; Offensive increases damage pressure; Defensive mitigates incoming damage; and Jamming influences skill-related combat effects. The exact magnitude depends on faction, rarity, and star level.
When reading a plugin, look separately at its hero stat line, troop stat bonus, and unique effect. Two plugins with similar power numbers may contribute differently to actual combat.
Plugin resonance
Installing orange plugins activates resonance. Its level depends on the lowest star level among all installed plugins, not the highest. Leveling a balanced set therefore matters when your goal is resonance bonuses.
| All installed plugin stars | All Heroes ATK & DEF bonus |
|---|---|
| 0★ | +20 |
| 1★ | +40 |
| 2★ | +60 |
| 3★ | +80 |
| 4★ | +100 |
| 5★ | +150 |
| 6★ | +200 |
| 7★ | +250 |
| 8★ | +300 |
| 9★ | +350 |
| 10★ | +400 |
Example: planning your next upgrade
Suppose your main vehicle has three orange plugins at 3★ and one at 2★. Upgrading an existing 3★ to 4★ strengthens that plugin, but your Resonance remains at 2★. Upgrading the lagging 2★ to 3★ raises the shared Resonance level once all four are at 3★. This doesn't mean resonance always outweighs a powerful slot effect—compare the immediate combat gain against the shared bonus.
What to focus on
Early upgrades
Build useful faction-matched coverage across the four slots and watch the EXP requirement per star.
High-star planning
Exact orange duplicates become a major bottleneck by 7★–8★. Choice boxes are especially useful when a specific plugin copy is needed.