Stage objectives¶
Every sector in Panzer Island has one primary objective. Completing it advances you to the next sector or ends the stage. Some objectives change the whole approach: extract does not require destroying any drones, and escort fails the moment the escorted unit is destroyed, regardless of your other units' condition.
Extract¶
Goal: Move any one of your units to the extraction tile.
Clears when: A unit steps onto the extraction tile.
Fails if: All three units are destroyed before reaching the tile.
You do not need to destroy any drones. The extraction tile is always reachable; the question is how much fire you take getting there. Pick the unit whose movement type suits the terrain: Katyusha absorbs hits along a direct route, Nadeshiko flies over obstacles to find a clean path, and Maria can reach coastal extraction points from water.
Use your other units to draw drone attention or bait pursuers away from the extraction route before committing.
Destroy all¶
Goal: Eliminate every drone in the sector.
Clears when: The drone count reaches zero.
Fails if: All three units are destroyed.
The sector overview shows the remaining count. Note that drones summoned by a Nexus count toward the total and keep appearing until the Nexus itself is destroyed. If the count is not dropping despite combat, check whether a Nexus is still alive.
Clear the outer drones first to reduce incoming fire as you advance. Relay nodes and spotters are priority targets since they amplify everything around them.
Destroy type¶
Goal: Eliminate all drones of a specific type (shown in the objective banner).
Clears when: Every drone of that type is destroyed.
Fails if: All three units are destroyed.
All other drones in the sector can be ignored unless they block your path. This is how boss stages typically work: the Nexus is the target type, and destroying it ends the stage immediately even if escort drones and patrols remain alive.
Identify the target drones on the map before moving. Clear only what you have to on the way to them. Saving limit breaks for the target cluster is usually correct.
Collect¶
Goal: Pick up a set number of memory fragments placed on the map.
Clears when: The required number of fragments are collected.
Fails if: All three units are destroyed.
A unit collects a fragment by moving onto its tile. Fragments can be collected in any order and do not expire. The objective counter updates after each pickup.
Fragments are usually spread across the sector to force engagement with multiple drone clusters. Nadeshiko's mobility (flying over obstacles, long detection range) makes her the most efficient collector on stages with scattered fragments.
Escort¶
Goal: Move a designated unit to the destination tile.
Clears when: The escorted unit reaches the destination.
Fails if: The escorted unit is destroyed. Not your playable units: specifically the escorted unit.
This failure condition is absolute. The escorted unit does not return after the stage if destroyed. The sector fails immediately when they die, regardless of your other units' condition. Treat them as fragile even if their HP looks reasonable.
Clear a lane first, then move the escorted unit through it. Use Katyusha to absorb fire along the route or Nadeshiko to reach and eliminate high-threat drones ahead of the escort. Maria can provide covering fire from water when the route passes near the coast. Move the escorted unit last in each action cycle, after your playable units have dealt with nearby threats.
Hold¶
Goal: Survive for a set number of player actions at a defended position.
Clears when: The action counter reaches zero.
Fails if: All three units are destroyed before the count is reached.
Every action any of your units takes decrements the counter. You do not have to attack; simply acting counts. You cannot stall by doing nothing.
The primary challenge is minimizing damage while the counter runs down. Position units in terrain cover before the sector starts. Keep Katyusha in the thickest fire and use Iron Curtain when the pressure peaks. Have Maria fire at the most dangerous drones from a safe position. Avoid advancing: the objective is to endure, not to clear the sector.
Reading the objective before acting¶
The objective banner appears at the start of each sector. Reading it before your first move changes the approach entirely. A "Destroy all" stage with a relay node near the center calls for a different first move than an "Extract" stage where you can ignore that relay node entirely.
See Drone Reference for stats on drones you will encounter across these objectives, and Your Units for which unit handles each role best.