Overview
This guide covers how the Weapon Challenge system works in America’s Army: Proving Grounds. In addition to functionality of the system, this guide examines all specific weapon challenges and all rewards available to players by completing these challenges.
Weapon Challenge Overview
Weapon Challenges test a player’s skill with the weapons of America’s Army: Proving Grounds. Each weapon has its own set of tiered challenges that require the player to perform certain tasks with that weapon. Completing the challenge provides the player with rewards such as bonus experience, weapon skins, and new optics. A new, more difficult, challenge will then unlock for that weapon.
Players have a specific weapon challenge available to every weapon at all times. Players must complete all challenge requirements before moving on to the next challenge and cannot make progress towards a challenge before unlocking said challenge. For example, if a newly unlocked challenge requires a certain number of kills, then kills the player made before unlocking the challenge do not count towards satisfying that challenge’s requirements. Players must also wait for their current match to end before beginning a newly unlocked weapon challenge.
Players can view their currently available challenges, as well as progress towards those challenges, on the Loadout Screen in game. Just press F1 while in game, cycle through your weapon loadouts, and look for detailed challenge information for your selected weapon on the right side of the screen.
Challenge Coins Explained
It is important to understand Challenge Coins before diving in to specific Weapon Challenge requirements. Players earn Challenge Coins in game by performing specific tasks. Players can collect these coins multiple times (once per round) and compare their accomplishments with their friends. Certain Weapon Challenges require players to earn a Challenge Coins using a specific weapon. See the list below for a description of each Challenge Coin.
A note on Challenge Coins in regard to Weapon Challenges:
When a weapon challenge asks you to earn a challenge coin with a particular weapon, you must meet all of the challenge coin’s requirements with that specific weapon. For example, getting 2 M4 Kills and 1 M9 Kill in a round would NOT earn you a Hawkeye Challenge Coin, but by picking up an additional kill with the M4 in that same round (giving you 3 M4 Kills) you would gain a Hawkeye Challenge Coin for the M4.
M4 Weapon Challenges
The M4 Weapon Challenges below are listed by tier. Completing a challenge will unlock the next challenge in the list. Challenges my not be repeated, with the exception of Elite Challenges. You may not begin making progress on a challenge before it is unlocked. Only tasks completed by using the M4 will count towards these challenge requirements.
Requirements
15 M4 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M4 Novice II Weapon Challenge
Requirements
35 M4 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M4 Novice III Weapon Challenge
Requirements
Earn Bronze or better on the M4 shoothouse
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M4 Veteran Weapon Challenge
Requirements
250 M4 Kills
10 Hawkeyes with the M4
1 High Speed with the M4
Rewards
‘Worn’ weapon skin
Holosight optic (unlocks for all available weapons)
500 Experience Points
Unlocks M4 Expert Weapon Challenge
Requirements
500 M4 Kills using iron sights
20 Hawkeyes with the M4
1 Deadeye with the M4
Rewards
‘Desert’ weapon skin
1000 Experience Points
Unlocks M4 Elite Weapon Challenge
Requirements
1000 M4 Kills
20 Deadeyes with the M4
1 Golden Hawkeye with the M4
Rewards
‘Chainlink’ weapon skin (first completion)
‘Frost’ weapon skin (second completion)
‘OCP’ weapon skin (third completion)
2000 Experience Points
M16 Weapon Challenges
The M16 Weapon Challenges below are listed by tier. Completing a challenge will unlock the next challenge in the list. Challenges my not be repeated, with the exception of Elite Challenges. You may not begin making progress on a challenge before it is unlocked. Only tasks completed by using the M16 will count towards these challenge requirements.
Requirements
15 M16 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M16 Novice II Weapon Challenge
Requirements
35 M16 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M16 Novice III Weapon Challenge
Requirements
Earn Bronze or better on the M16 shoothouse
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M16 Veteran Weapon Challenge
Requirements
250 M16 Kills as a Rifleman
10 Hawkeyes with the M16
1 Eagle Eye with the M16
Rewards
‘Worn’ weapon skin
SUSAT optic (unlocks for all available weapons)
500 Experience Points
Unlocks M16 Expert Weapon Challenge
Requirements
500 M16 Kills as a Designated Marksman
20 Eagle Eyes with the M16
1 Deadeye with the M16
Rewards
‘Sand’ weapon skin
1000 Experience Points
Unlocks M16 Elite Weapon Challenge
Requirements
1000 M16 Kills
20 Deadeyes with the M16
1 Golden Hawkeye with the M16
Rewards
‘Woodland’ weapon skin (first completion)
‘Snow’ weapon skin (second completion)
‘Urban’ weapon skin (third completion)
2000 Experience Points
870 MCS Weapon Challenges
The 870 MCS Weapon Challenges below are listed by tier. Completing a challenge will unlock the next challenge in the list. Challenges my not be repeated, with the exception of Elite Challenges. You may not begin making progress on a challenge before it is unlocked. Only tasks completed by using the 870 MCS will count towards these challenge requirements.
Requirements
15 870 MCS Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks 870 MCS Novice II Weapon Challenge
Requirements
35 870 MCS Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks 870 MCS Novice III Weapon Challenge
Requirements
Earn Bronze or better on the 870 MCS shoothouse
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks 870 MCS Veteran Weapon Challenge
Requirements
250 870 MCS Kills
10 Hawkeyes with the 870 MCS
1 On Point with the 870 MCS
Rewards
‘Worn’ weapon skin
AMR optic
500 Experience Points
Unlocks 870 MCS Expert Weapon Challenge
Requirements
500 870 MCS Kills using iron sights
20 Hawkeyes with the 870 MCS
1 High Speed with the 870 MCS
Rewards
‘Clay’ weapon skin
1000 Experience Points
Unlocks 870 MCS Elite Weapon Challenge
Requirements
1000 870 MCS Kills
35 Hawkeyes with the 870 MCS
1 Golden Hawkeye with the 870 MCS
Rewards
‘Brush’ weapon skin
2000 Experience Points
M249 Weapon Challenges
The M249 Weapon Challenges below are listed by tier. Completing a challenge will unlock the next challenge in the list. Challenges my not be repeated, with the exception of Elite Challenges. You may not begin making progress on a challenge before it is unlocked. Only tasks completed by using the M249 will count towards these challenge requirements.
Requirements
15 M249 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M249 Novice II Weapon Challenge
Requirements
35 M249 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M249 Novice III Weapon Challenge
Requirements
Earn Bronze or better on the M249 shoothouse
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M249 Veteran Weapon Challenge
Requirements
250 M249 Kills
10 Hawkeyes with the M249
Suppress five or more enemies in a single round
Rewards
‘Worn’ weapon skin
500 Experience Points
Unlocks M249 Expert Weapon Challenge
Requirements
500 M249 Kills using iron sights
20 Hawkeyes with the M249
1 High Speed with the M249
Rewards
‘Sandstorm’ weapon skin
1000 Experience Points
Unlocks M249 Elite Weapon Challenge
Requirements
1000 M249 Kills
35 Hawkeyes with the M249
1 Golden Hawkeye with the M249
Rewards
‘Blizzard’ weapon skin
2000 Experience Points
M14 Weapon Challenges
The M14 Weapon Challenges below are listed by tier. Completing a challenge will unlock the next challenge in the list. Challenges my not be repeated, with the exception of Elite Challenges. You may not begin making progress on a challenge before it is unlocked. Only tasks completed by using the M14 will count towards these challenge requirements.
Requirements
15 M14 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M14 Novice II Weapon Challenge
Requirements
35 M14 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M14 Novice III Weapon Challenge
Requirements
Earn Bronze or better on the M14 shoothouse
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M14 Veteran Weapon Challenge
Requirements
250 M14 Kills
10 Hawkeyes OR 10 Eagle Eyes with the M14
1 Deadeye with the M14
Rewards
‘Worn’ weapon skin
SLDG Optic (unlocks for all available weapons)
500 Experience Points
Unlocks M14 Expert Weapon Challenge
Requirements
500 M14 Kills
20 Hawkeyes OR 20 Eagle Eyes with the M14
1 Silver Hawkeye with the M14
Rewards
‘Arid’ weapon skin
1000 Experience Points
Unlocks M14 Elite Weapon Challenge
Requirements
1000 M14 Kills
50 Hawkeyes OR 50 Eagle Eyes with the M14
1 High Speed with the M14
Rewards
‘Urban Digital’ weapon skin
2000 Experience Points
M24 Weapon Challenges
The M24 Weapon Challenges below are listed by tier. Completing a challenge will unlock the next challenge in the list. Challenges my not be repeated, with the exception of Elite Challenges. You may not begin making progress on a challenge before it is unlocked. Only tasks completed by using the M24 will count towards these challenge requirements.
Requirements
15 M24 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M24 Novice II Weapon Challenge
Requirements
35 M24 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M24 Novice III Weapon Challenge
Requirements
Earn Bronze or better on the M24 shoothouse
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M24 Veteran Weapon Challenge
Requirements
250 M24 Kills
10 Hawkeyes OR 10 Eagle Eyes with the M24
1 Deadeye with the M24
Rewards
‘Arctic’ weapon skin
TR20 Optic (unlocks for all available weapons)
500 Experience Points
Unlocks M24 Expert Weapon Challenge
Requirements
500 M24 Kills
20 Hawkeyes OR 20 Eagle Eyes with the M24
1 Silver Hawkeye with the M24
Rewards
‘Jungle’ weapon skin
1000 Experience Points
Unlocks M24 Elite Weapon Challenge
Requirements
1000 M24 Kills
50 Hawkeyes OR 50 Eagle Eyes with the M24
1 Golden Hawkeye with the M24
Rewards
‘Snakeskin’ weapon skin
2000 Experience Points
M9 Weapon Challenges
The M9 Weapon Challenges below are listed by tier. Completing a challenge will unlock the next challenge in the list. Challenges my not be repeated, with the exception of Elite Challenges. You may not begin making progress on a challenge before it is unlocked. Only tasks completed by using the M9 will count towards these challenge requirements.
Requirements
10 M9 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M9 Novice II Weapon Challenge
Requirements
20 M9 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M9 Novice III Weapon Challenge
Requirements
Earn Bronze or better on the M9 shoothouse
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M9 Expert Weapon Challenge
Requirements
100 M9 Kills
3 Hawkeyes with the M9
1 On Point with the M9
Rewards
‘Worn’ weapon skin
1000 Experience Points
Unlocks M9 Elite Weapon Challenge
Requirements
250 M9 Kills
3 Deadeyes with the M9
1 High Speed with the M9
Rewards
‘Dust’ weapon skin (first completion)
‘Olive’ weapon skin (second completion)
2000 Experience Points
M1911 Weapon Challenges
The M1911 Weapon Challenges below are listed by tier. Completing a challenge will unlock the next challenge in the list. Challenges my not be repeated, with the exception of Elite Challenges. You may not begin making progress on a challenge before it is unlocked. Only tasks completed by using the M1911 will count towards these challenge requirements.
Requirements
10 M1911 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M1911 Novice II Weapon Challenge
Requirements
20 M1911 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M1911 Novice III Weapon Challenge
Requirements
30 M1911 Kills
Rewards
50 Experience Points
Unlocks M1911 Expert Weapon Challenge
Requirements
100 M1911 Kills
3 Hawkeyes with the M1911
1 On Point with the M1911
Rewards
‘Tan’ weapon skin
1000 Experience Points
Unlocks M1911 Elite Weapon Challenge
Requirements
250 M1911 Kills
3 Silver Hawkeyes with the M1911
1 Defender with the M1911
Rewards
‘Jade’ weapon skin (first completion)
‘Vintage’ weapon skin (second completion)
2000 Experience Points
Visual Reference: Weapon Skins
A visual list of all weapon skins and their unlock requirements.
Standard Issue
This weapon’s default skin
Worn
Earned by completing the M4 Veteran weapon challenge
Desert
Earned by completing the M4 Expert weapon challenge
Chainlink
Earned by completing the M4 Elite weapon challenge
Frost
Earned by completing the M4 Elite weapon challenge a second time
OCP
Earned by completing the M4 Elite weapon challenge a third time
Standard Issue
This weapon’s default skin
Worn
Earned by completing the M16 Veteran weapon challenge
Sand
Earned by completing the M16 Expert weapon challenge
Woodland
Earned by completing the M16 Elite weapon challenge
Snow
Earned by completing the M16 Elite weapon challenge a second time
Urban
Earned by completing the M16 Elite weapon challenge a third time
Standard Issue
This weapon’s default skin
Worn
Earned by completing the 870 MCS Veteran weapon challenge
Clay
Earned by completing the 870 MCS Expert weapon challenge
Brush
Earned by completing the 870 MCS Elite weapon challenge
Standard Issue
This weapon’s default skin
Worn
Earned by completing the M249 Veteran weapon challenge
Sandstorm
Earned by completing the M249 Expert weapon challenge
Blizzard
Earned by completing the M249 Elite weapon challenge
Standard Issue
This weapon’s default skin
Worn
Earned by completing the M14 Veteran weapon challenge
Arid
Earned by completing the M14 Expert weapon challenge
Urban Digital
Earned by completing the M14 Elite weapon challenge
Standard Issue
This weapon’s default skin
Arctic
Earned by completing the M24 Veteran weapon challenge
Jungle
Earned by completing the M24 Expert weapon challenge
Snakeskin
Earned by completing the M24 Elite weapon challenge
Standard Issue
This weapon’s default skin
Worn
Earned by completing the M9 Expert weapon challenge
Dust
Earned by completing the M9 Elite weapon challenge
Olive
Earned by completing the M9 Elite weapon challenge a second time
Standard Issue
This weapon’s default skin
Tan
Earned by completing the M1911 Expert weapon challenge
Jade
Earned by completing the M1911 Elite weapon challenge
Vintage
Earned by completing the M1911 Elite weapon challenge a second time
Visual Reference: Optics
A visual list of all optics, their unlock requirements, and what weapons support them.
Unlocking an optic unlocks it for all weapons that use that optic.
^ – Locked
* – Uses
# – Uses and unlocks optic through Veteran Challenge
Iron Sight
Used by: M4, M16, M249, M9, M1911
Unlocked by: Default
Ghost Sight
Used by: 870 MCS
Unlocked by: Default
M68
Used by: M4, M16, M249
Unlocked by: Default
Holosight
Used by: M4, M16, M249
Unlocked by: M4 Veteran Challenge
AMR
Used by: 870 MCS
Unlocked by: 870 MCS Veteran Challenge
ACOG
Used by: M16, M14
Unlocked by: Default
Elcan
Used by: M249
Unlocked by: Default
SUSAT
Used by: M16, M14, M249
Unlocked by: M16 Veteran Challenge
SLDG
Used by: M16, M14
Unlocked by: M14 Veteran Challenge
Mk4
Used by: M14, M24
Unlocked by: Default
TR20
Used by: M14, M24
Unlocked by: M24 Veteran Challenge
Additional Unlocks
This pistol is unlocked by earning the Zippity Doo Dah Achievement.