In cultures where wingknights form a military aristocracy, induction into their ranks often involves time as a wingsquire. Wingsquires are generally younger and consequently lighter; this considerably extends the flight range of their wingpacks. The price of this is that the wingsquires are less skilled or well-equipped for battle, and therefore must rely on their mobility to avoid direct confrontation with enemy air forces. Wingsquires are generally used for reconnaissance.
While virtually all wingknights carry ranged weapons for ground attack, their principal means of attacking other wingknights is through melee combat. This is because wingknights are such maneuverable targets that a wingknight cannot possibly carry enough ammunition or shoot fast enough to reliably hit another wingknight. This problem is exacerbated by the lack of adequate automatic weapons in the Locus. While an autosling might be able to provide a high enough rate of fire to hit another wingknight, it does not operate reliably if inverted (the ammunition will fall out of its hopper if not covered) and is thus unsuitable for use by an aerial unit that must occasionally perform complicated loops and flips.
Engaging air units in melee combat is generally rather difficult. To make this easier, wingknights use weapons that maximize their reach. Swordlances are a popular weapon for this reason. Another popular weapon is the force flail.
Wingknights are restricted in armor mainly in the weight they can carry. Because of their elite status, however, there is little restriction on the quality of their armor or protective gear. Wingknights usually wear preservation amulets when in battle. Their armor usually consists of a base of crystmail for flexibility and magic resistance, over which they carry multiple force shields and force rondels.
Wingknight tactics usually involve either facilitating melee combat or making it difficult, depending on whether the individual wingknight is more confident in their weapon or maneuvering skills. In some cases, a wingknight battle resembles a sword duel only at high altitude, with both soldiers hovering to face each other. In other cases, it becomes a complicated dogfight as both parties dart around to make themselves difficult to hit. One tactic that is commonly seen is that of jousting. Jousting tactics resemble a game of chicken, in which both wingknights charge recklessly towards each other. The first to change course to avoid a collision exposes their side to the enemy, which is a larger target area, whereas the one that turns last exposes only their front, which can be easily protected by a force shield.