Challenge Expert 3 asks you to finish any single-player mission using only a pistol. The requirement sounds strict, but it’s manageable if you choose the right level and lower the difficulty. Two missions stand out: an early stealth-heavy operation that limits large firefights, and a later chapter that keeps you inside a tank for most of its runtime.

Challenge Expert 3 requirements and reward

Assignment Requirement Recommended mission(s) Exceptions that don’t void it Reward
Challenge Expert 3 Complete a mission using only a pistol Night Raid (early), Nile Guard (later) Night Raid’s scripted launcher; Nile Guard’s tank Hardware XP Booster (consumable)

How to complete Challenge Expert 3 on the easiest path

Set the campaign to the lowest difficulty before you start. You can attempt the assignment on any mission, but the paths below minimize risk and reduce the amount of pistol combat you’ll need to win.

Night Raid (early campaign): stealth first, controlled fights later

  • Play on the lowest difficulty. Keep your sidearm equipped and avoid picking up rifles, SMGs, shotguns, or LMGs.
  • Use stealth in the first half. This section is built around quiet movement and takedowns, so you can conserve pistol ammo and avoid open fights.
  • Expect short, contained firefights when the mission opens up. Enemy squads are small and wear light protection, so a few well-placed pistol shots end most encounters quickly.
  • Final set-piece with an attack helicopter: use the mission-provided launcher when prompted. This scripted launcher use does not invalidate the pistol-only requirement for this assignment.
  • Hold a defensible position with your squad. Stay inside cover, take measured pistol shots at enemies who push close, and rely on squad revives if you get downed.

There’s also an achievement tied to completing Night Raid with only a pistol, which aligns naturally with this challenge.

Nile Guard (later campaign): vehicle-heavy, minimal on-foot combat

  • This mission keeps you in a tank for long stretches, drastically cutting down the time spent firing a sidearm on foot.
  • When dismounted, stick strictly to your pistol. Do not swap to primary weapons you find in the environment.
  • Using the tank’s weapons does not void the assignment; vehicle combat is allowed within the parameters of this challenge.

What counts as “only a pistol” for this assignment

  • Do use your sidearm for all on-foot combat.
  • Do not fire or equip standard primary weapons (assault rifles, SMGs, shotguns, LMGs, DMRs, sniper rifles).
  • Scripted mission tools and vehicles are permitted where required:
    • Night Raid: the anti-vehicle launcher used against the helicopter is allowed.
    • Nile Guard: tank usage throughout the mission is allowed.

To minimize risk, avoid unnecessary weapon pickups and keep your loadout lean—pistol only—so you don’t accidentally swap in a primary during hectic moments.

Why these missions work

Night Raid leans on stealth early, then shifts to short engagements against lightly armored Pax Armata squads with your team nearby to revive you. Nile Guard sidesteps most on-foot gunfights by putting you behind a tank’s armor for much of the mission. Both routes reduce the amount of pistol dueling you need to survive while staying within the assignment’s rules.

What you earn

Completing Challenge Expert 3 grants a Hardware XP Booster. In multiplayer, this consumable increases XP gains for weapons and equipment rather than overall character level, making it a useful unlock if you’re actively leveling your kit.

If you’re chasing several campaign assignments, this is one of the fastest to bank—provided you pick the right mission and resist swapping off your sidearm.