Boss · Lux Lunae · Mission 28
Ace Combat 8 Shadow 22 — Ares (Girish Toprak)
Shadow 22 is Colonel Girish “Ares” Toprak — leader of Sotoa’s elite Lux Lunae 22nd Unit. He headlines the late Mission 28 dogfight: extreme PSM evasion, flare-heavy missile denial, and a fight you win with guns + recovery windows, not lock spam.
Story Boss Spoilers
Dossier
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Callsign / Tac | Shadow 22 · Ares |
| Name | Colonel Girish Toprak |
| Unit | Lux Lunae 22nd Unit (Sotoan Air Force elite) |
| Mission | Mission 28 — A Thousand Points of Light (Operation Locust Purge) |
| Related | Moon 11 / Selene (Carmille Tewy) · X-40 Nightmare |
Story framing (spoilers): Toprak is among the late-war Sotoan leadership opposing Joker Flight after the megafloat fight. Full ending context: ending explained.
How to beat Shadow 22
- Guns first. Flares and PSM wreck missile spam. Keep the gun on him whenever he slows or rotates.
- Watch the PSM cycle. Stay close while he flips; do not dump QAAMs mid-maneuver. Damage spikes right after he levels and accelerates away.
- Missiles as setup. Fire one standard missile to force flares/defense, then follow with gun or a better SP weapon (QAAM / SASM) on the recovery.
- Authorize wingmen. ESM + special-weapon Attack orders chip damage while you stay glued to his exit path.
- Conserve SP for the Shadow phase. Don’t empty multilock on early bombers if you’re about to duel Shadows.
Loadout priorities
- High-agility dogfighter you already fly well (F-22A, FA-36, Su-line, Gripen — no single “mandatory” jet).
- QAAM or SASM for recovery windows; gun comfort matters more than one meta plane.
- Parts: missile guidance / gun / handling — see Aircraft Tree and best aircraft.
S-rank note
Once Shadows appear, speed over mop-up. Stretching the Shadow duel for extra kills can cost the S even if your score looks high. Finish Toprak’s window fast, then close the sortie. Full farm loop: MRP guide · mission page: Mission 28.
Lux Lunae 22nd unlock chain
The five Su-57 Assault Records for Lux Lunae 22nd in Mission 28 require killing Shadow 24 in Mission 18 first. Shadow 22 himself is the story/boss fight — don’t confuse the unit unlock with the duel. Table: Hidden Aces.
FAQ
Who is Shadow 22?
Colonel Girish “Ares” Toprak — Lux Lunae 22nd Unit leader, fought in late Mission 28.
Best way to kill Shadow 22?
Gun damage during/after his PSM, missiles only on recovery windows, keep wingmen attacking.
Is Shadow 22 the same as Ares?
Yes — Ares is his tac name; Shadow 22 is the squadron call.
Why is Lux Lunae 22nd missing?
Destroy Shadow 24 in Mission 18, then replay Mission 28.
Related guides
Mission 28 · Post-stall / PSM · Lux Lunae · Moon 11 · Hidden Aces
Primary: Ace Combat 8 Shadow 22. Also: Ares, Girish Toprak, Mission 28, Lux Lunae. Independent fan guide — verify in-game after patches.