Sector Z is one of the toughest stages for medal hunters in Star Fox. Unlike most missions, simply defeating enemies isn’t enough—you’ll also need to defend the Great Fox from incoming Copperhead missiles while maximizing your hit count. Missing even a handful of points or allowing a missile to get through can cost you the medal.

Here’s the best strategy for clearing Sector Z with the required score.

Sector Z Medal Requirements

To earn the Sector Z medal, you must:

  • Finish the mission with 100 hits.
  • Keep Falco, Peppy, and Slippy alive.
  • Prevent every Copperhead missile from striking the Great Fox.

If even one missile reaches the Great Fox, the mission continues, but the medal becomes unattainable.

Prioritize the Copperhead Missiles

The six Copperhead missiles launched during the mission are your biggest source of points.

Each missile awards 10 hits, meaning all six account for 60 of the 100 hits needed for the medal.

However, there’s one important catch: you must land the final shot that destroys each missile. If one of your allies—or Kat Monroe, if she’s present—delivers the finishing blow, you won’t receive those points.

Because of this, staying close to each missile and timing your attacks is essential.

Earn the Remaining Hits Early

With 60 hits coming from the missiles, you’ll need roughly 40 additional hits from the rest of the stage.

During the opening section:

  • Eliminate as many enemy fighters as possible.
  • Destroy every blue salvage crate you encounter.
  • Stay aggressive to avoid falling behind on your score.

Building a strong hit count before the missile phases makes the final stretch much less stressful.

Don’t Ignore the Salvage Crates

Blue salvage crates are easy to overlook, but they provide valuable bonus points.

Each crate is worth 2 hits, and destroying several throughout the level can easily make up the difference if you’re falling short of the medal requirement.

If your runs consistently end in the low 90s, missed salvage crates are often the reason.

Sector Z Changes Depending on Your Route

The mission plays slightly differently depending on how you reached Sector Z.

Sector X Warp Route

If you entered Sector Z through the Sector X warp, you’ll only have the standard Star Fox team.

This makes defending against the final wave of missiles more difficult, but it also reduces the chance of an ally stealing the finishing hit on a missile.

Zoness Route

If you arrived from Zoness after rescuing Kat Monroe, she’ll join the battle during the final missile assault.

Her extra firepower makes protecting the Great Fox easier, but she can also destroy missiles before you land the final shot, costing you valuable points.

Keep Your Team Alive

Enemy fighters frequently target your wingmates while the missile attacks are underway.

Although the Copperhead missiles should remain your top priority, don’t ignore teammates calling for help. Quickly eliminating enemies chasing Falco, Peppy, or Slippy helps ensure everyone survives until the end of the mission—a requirement for earning the medal.

Players using standard lasers should be especially careful, as missiles take longer to destroy without Hyper Lasers.

Survive the Final Missile Wave

The last phase of Sector Z is where most medal attempts are decided.

Three Copperhead missiles arrive in quick succession, forcing you to balance defense, positioning, and scoring.

If Kat is assisting, stay aggressive so you can claim the final hit on each missile before she does. Without Kat, you’ll have full control over the missiles, but you’ll also have fewer allies helping defend the Great Fox.

Keeping calm and reacting quickly during this sequence is often the difference between finishing with 98 hits and earning the medal.

Every Hit Counts

Sector Z rewards precision more than any other stage in Star Fox. Since most of your score comes from the Copperhead missiles, losing even one finishing blow can put the medal out of reach.

Destroy enemy fighters and salvage crates early, protect your teammates throughout the mission, and make sure you’re the one delivering the final shot to each Copperhead missile. With careful play, you’ll reach the 100-hit requirement and add another medal toward unlocking Expert Mode.