Battlefield 6‘s campaign isn’t just about explosions and epic firefights—it’s also packed with challenges that test your creativity and skill. One of the most interesting (and initially intimidating) is Challenge Expert 1, which requires you to complete an entire mission without firing a single bullet from a gun.
Wait, what? A Battlefield mission without shooting? That sounds impossible, right? Here’s the good news: it’s actually way more manageable than it seems once you know the right approach. You can still use melee weapons, gadgets, and explosives—you just can’t pull the trigger on any firearms.
Let me walk you through the easiest way to knock this challenge out and earn that sweet Polar Nexus weapon camo.
Understanding Challenge Expert 1 Requirements
Before diving into strategy, let’s clarify exactly what you can and can’t do:
What’s ALLOWED:
- Melee weapons (including special ones like the Sledgehammer)
- Gadgets (RPGs, C4, claymores, etc.)
- Grenades (frag, flash, smoke—all fair game)
- Vehicle weapons in specific contexts
- Letting your AI squadmates do the shooting
What’s FORBIDDEN:
- Firing any gun (pistols, rifles, shotguns, SMGs, LMGs, sniper rifles)
- Even a single accidental bullet voids the challenge
The key is picking a mission that naturally supports close-quarters combat and provides powerful alternative weapons. Not every mission works well for this—some are too open and will get you shredded if you try to melee rush across exposed ground.
Best Mission Choice: No Sleep (Mission 5)
The absolute best mission for Challenge Expert 1 is Mission 5: “No Sleep” where you play as MSgt. Haz Carter. This mission is perfectly designed for this challenge because you get access to a one-hit-kill Sledgehammer early on, and most encounters happen in tight, close-quarters environments.
Why No Sleep Works So Well
Close-quarters combat: Most of the mission takes place in buildings and tight corridors where melee is actually viable (unlike open desert or sniper-heavy missions).
Early Sledgehammer unlock: You get this beast of a weapon within the first few minutes, and it one-shots every enemy in the game.
Forgiving AI on Recruit: When you dial down the difficulty, enemy accuracy drops significantly, giving you time to close the distance for melee kills.
AI squad support: Your teammates will handle distant enemies while you focus on close-range targets.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough for No Sleep
Pre-Mission Setup
Select Mission 5: “No Sleep” from the campaign menu
Set difficulty to RECRUIT: This is crucial. The AI becomes much more forgiving, giving you breathing room to approach enemies for melee kills. Don’t be a hero—save the higher difficulties for when you’re not handicapping yourself.
Phase 1: The Briefing (Safe Zone)
The mission starts with you exiting a helicopter. Follow Sgt. Acre to the briefing room—you won’t have access to weapons here anyway, so there’s no risk of accidentally firing.
This section is essentially a tutorial walkthrough, so just follow your squad and enjoy the calm before the storm.
Phase 2: Getting the Sledgehammer (Game Changer)
As you approach the second building, you’ll need to go downstairs to meet Gecko. When prompted, select the “Force Open” option. A cutscene triggers where your squad member hands you the Sledgehammer.
IMPORTANT: This Sledgehammer is your best friend for the entire mission. It kills any enemy in a single hit—no exceptions. To keep it equipped and ready:
- Hold down the melee button (don’t just tap it)
- Your character will carry the Sledgehammer in a ready position
- You can now sprint around with it and swing instantly when enemies appear
Don’t switch away from the Sledgehammer unless absolutely necessary. It’s your primary weapon for this run.
Phase 3: First Combat Encounters (Close Quarters)
Head up the stairs to face your first enemy group. These early encounters are perfect for the Sledgehammer since everything happens in confined spaces:
Engagement strategy:
- Let enemies come to you when possible
- Use doorways and corners for cover
- Single out isolated targets first
- Don’t rush into groups of 3+ enemies at once (even on Recruit, they can overwhelm you)
Pro tip: If you hear enemies approaching, position yourself just around a corner or behind a door. When they walk through, swing the Sledgehammer for an easy takedown before they can react.
Phase 4: Rooftop Section (Let Your Squad Work)
When you reach the rooftop and need to deal with enemies across the street, here’s the smart play: do absolutely nothing.
Your AI squadmates will handle these distant enemies for you. There’s no need to expose yourself or risk anything. Just wait it out and let them clear the threats.
Bonus option: If you want to speed things up, there are RPGs lying around the rooftop. These count as gadgets, not guns, so using them is completely legal for this challenge. Aim carefully and blast away any grouped enemies or vehicles.
Phase 5: Remaining Mission (Sledgehammer Supremacy)
For the rest of No Sleep, stick to this formula:
1. Keep the Sledgehammer equipped at all times
- Only switch if you need to use a gadget, then immediately switch back
2. Play cautiously, not aggressively
- This isn’t a speedrun—take your time
- Clear rooms methodically
- Use cover between enemy groups
3. Don’t face tank multiple enemies
- Even on Recruit difficulty, 3-4 enemies shooting simultaneously will down you
- Isolate targets or funnel them through chokepoints
4. Collect the dog tags while you’re here
- There are three collectibles in No Sleep
- Since you’re playing through anyway, grab them for bonus unlocks
- They unlock exclusive character skins
5. Use gadgets strategically
- Grenades for grouped enemies
- RPGs for vehicles or heavy targets
- Let your squad handle anything you can’t safely reach
Mission Complete: Your Reward
Once you finish No Sleep without firing a gun, you’ll unlock the Polar Nexus weapon camo—a distinctive cosmetic that shows you completed one of the trickier campaign challenges.
More importantly, you’ll have conquered Challenge Expert 1 and can move on to other achievements and trophies in the game.
Alternative Mission: Nile Guard (Mission 7)
Some players have reported that Challenge Expert 1 can be buggy on certain missions. If No Sleep isn’t working properly for you, Mission 7: “Nile Guard” offers a viable alternative approach.
Nile Guard Strategy
Phase 1: Tank Section
- The mission starts with you driving a tank
- Only use the primary fire (the main cannon)
- Avoid using the secondary machine gun, as that’s technically “firing a gun”
- This section is straightforward—just blast enemy vehicles and positions with the main cannon
Phase 2: On-Foot Combat
- Once you exit the vehicle near the end of the mission (before the final encounter), you’re back to melee and gadgets only
- Use explosives, grenades, and melee to handle remaining enemies
- The final section is relatively short, so you won’t have many encounters to worry about
Important note: The tank’s primary cannon is a gray area. Most players report it works fine, but the consensus is that No Sleep remains the more reliable mission for this challenge since there’s zero ambiguity about what counts as a “gun.”
If you’re tackling Nile Guard, check our full collectibles guide to grab all the dog tags while you’re there.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Accidental firing: This is the #1 challenge killer. Be extremely careful with controller/keyboard inputs. If you accidentally tap the fire button even once, the challenge fails. Some players unbind their fire key temporarily to prevent accidents.
Choosing the wrong difficulty: Playing on Veteran or Hardcore makes this unnecessarily painful. Swallow your pride and select Recruit—you can always replay missions on higher difficulties later.
Rushing into open areas: Just because you have a one-hit-kill melee weapon doesn’t mean you should sprint into crossfire. Enemies will shred you before you reach them if you’re not tactical.
Forgetting about gadgets: You’re not limited to just melee. Use explosives liberally—they’re there to make your life easier.
Not using your squad: Your AI teammates are surprisingly effective. Let them thin out enemies or handle distant threats while you focus on close-range targets.
Related Campaign Challenges & Content
While you’re working through campaign challenges, consider tackling these related objectives:
Mission-Specific Collectibles
- Always Forward Dog Tags
- Operation Ember Strike Dog Tags
- Operation Gladius Dog Tags
- The Rock Dog Tags
- Moving Mountains Collectibles
- Night Raid Collectibles
Complete Guides
- All Campaign Collectibles
- Campaign Missions Overview
- All Character Skins Unlocks
- Achievements & Trophies Complete Guide
Transitioning from Campaign to Multiplayer
Once you’ve mastered the campaign challenges, you’ll want to dominate in multiplayer too. Here are some essential guides:
Core Mechanics
Class Optimization
Weapon Builds
General Resources
Final Thoughts
Challenge Expert 1 might sound intimidating at first—completing an entire Battlefield mission without firing a gun feels counterintuitive. But once you understand the mechanics and pick the right mission (No Sleep), it becomes surprisingly straightforward.
The Sledgehammer is an absolute beast that trivializes most encounters, and playing on Recruit difficulty gives you enough breathing room to play tactically rather than desperately. Take your time, don’t rush into dangerous situations, and let your squad handle anything you can’t safely melee.
Most importantly, remember this is supposed to be fun. If you find yourself getting frustrated, take a break and come back with fresh eyes. The Polar Nexus camo will still be waiting for you.
Ready to grab the game or join the community? Check out Battlefield 6 on EA Games, Steam, PlayStation Store, or Epic Games Store. Join the discussion on the Battlefield 6 Reddit to share your challenge completion times and strategies.
Now get out there and start swinging that Sledgehammer! ????
