Zombie Air Force aircraft and upgrades
Credits feed the 180+ node upgrade tree; medals and honors gate prestige unlocks. Upgrade primary weapon damage first — and remember the Grimhawk pass aircraft still earns its upgrade tree in game.
Everything you earn in Zombie Air Force funnels into one of two things: a better aircraft, or a deeper upgrade tree. This page explains the currency economy, how the upgrade tree is structured, and how to split roles across a squad.
The three currencies
| Currency | Where it comes from | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Credits | Every battle, scaled by performance | The main upgrade tree |
| Medals | Mission accomplishments and pass bundles | Higher-tier unlocks |
| Honors | Top-end accomplishments and pass bundles | Prestige-level unlocks |
Credits are the working currency — a normal session generates a steady stream of them. Medals and Honors are scarcer, which is why the paid bundles that include them (the Starter Pack bundles 3 medals and 3 honors alongside 25k credits) are aimed at players who want to skip early progression.
The upgrade tree
The developer's description of the game promises "over 180 upgrades", and the in-game tree backs that up: a branched layout of upgrade nodes with a prestige tab and a store tab alongside it.
How to read it:
- Nodes are grouped by system — weapons, aircraft handling, defenses and support — and the tree expects you to specialise, not to own everything.
- The store tab sells permanent upgrades with currency, separate from the accomplishment-gated nodes.
- Prestige resets your progress through the tree in exchange for a permanent multiplier, which is why veterans push one section far past the point a new player would stop.
Aircraft roles in a squad
Zombie Air Force aircraft split into two practical jobs, and a squad that brings only one of them struggles:
| Role | Job | Best targets |
|---|---|---|
| Area control (gunships) | Chain gun sustained fire, holding a lane | Densest zombie lines, allies under pressure |
| Precision / strike (fighters) | Hydra rockets, airstrikes, single-target bursts | Behemoths, armored packs, cluster cores |
The Grimhawk ZA-6 strike fighter is the game's headline fighter — its game pass unlocks the airframe instantly with the upgrade tree still earned in-game. Helicopter-style gunships are the other half of the pairing, and the MH-6 Little Bird is the fast, light option.
What to upgrade first
- Primary weapon damage — the cheapest way to make every mission easier.
- Sustained fire (cooling / reload) — keeps the chain gun talking.
- Defense durability and cooldown — defenses are how a squad survives the sections after the first.
- Aircraft unlock nodes — worth it once your weapon branch carries early waves.
- Prestige multipliers — only when a section is farmable without deaths.
FAQ
Can you unlock the Grimhawk without paying?
The Grimhawk ZA-6 is sold as a game pass for instant access. The rest of the aircraft roster is unlocked through progression, and every airframe's upgrade tree is earned in game regardless of how you got the plane.
What is the fastest way to earn credits?
Play the highest section your squad clears reliably, on a weekend, with the group bonus and a friend's invite buff active. Difficulty scaling pays better than repetition — clearing Section 3 slowly beats farming Section 1 forever.
Do medals and honors come from the tree?
No — they come from accomplishments and bundles. The tree spends credits; medals and honors gate the prestige-level unlocks.
