Batman™: Arkham Origins

Batman™: Arkham Origins

148 ratings
A Nutcase's Guide to completing the Worst Nightmare Track challenges
By Professional Ghost
This guide goes into obsessive detail of how you can get through the slog of all 15 ranks of the Worst Nightmare challenge track inside Batman Arkham: Origins; hopefully without having to deal with the persistent annoyance of having to start new game+ or having to spam the "Restart Checkpoint" button in the pause menu just because of a bug the devs left in due to time restraints.

I have been playing this game since it's release in 2013 (That means many years of playing. DANG!). So the information here should hopefully help anyone out who is unlucky enough to try this broken and buggy mess of challenges. I have played both PS3 (ewwwwww!!!!!!) and PC versions of this game, though I do not see how this guide might not help anyone on XBOX.

This guide is specially for and should work for all difficulty playthroughs prior to New Game+.
7
4
4
6
   
Award
Favorite
Favorited
Unfavorite
Basic Tips
-VERY IMPORTANT!!! Make sure to carefully read the WHOLE GUIDE before attempting to use it in-game. Last thing you want is to miss an important bit of information and have to start a new game because of it.

-(For PC only) You can backup saves to prevent the need to start a new game in case the autosave messes everything up. You can find it in:

STEAM VERSION: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\138477022\209000\remote (though bear in mind the file location may differ depending on each person, so you may need to dig around to find it. Just around look for anything relating to Steam)

GOG VERSION: C:/Users/"username"/AppData/Local/GOG.com/Galaxy/Applications (<- don't click not a real link, just a coding bug on here!!!)

EITHER IF ONE DRIVE ENABLED ON WINDOWS 11: C:\Users\"Your_Username"\OneDrive\Documents

The main save(s) will be named as one of the following: SpSave_v2_0.sgd, SpSave_v2_1.sgd, SpSave_v2_3.sgd or SpSave_v2_4.sgd.

-Each and every rank has to be done in order. You can't unfortunately do whatever one you want out of order like in Arkham City.

-Read through the guide while attempting these ranks to maximise chances of success.

-If you make a mistake. Just remember you can restart the encounter as long as you don't let the game save after finishing one. And most importantly (If on PC) try to store a backup save.

-XP for predator required upgrades can be farmed by doing non-story combat encounters in outside areas. This game is not as stingy with XP as Arkham Knight.

-When obtaining upgrades make sure that you avoid picking up the proximity detonator upgrade for the explosive gel, as it has the tendency to blow the explosive gel too soon before even being able to KO enemies with weak walls.

-Take your time and don't rush. Rushing will only make things worse. I should know.

-Here are some other ways of taking down enemies that you may not know about:
  • Explosive gel blast enemies off railless gaps on walkways.
  • Remote control batarang boost enemies off railless gaps on walkways.
  • Pulling enemies over railings with the batclaw.
  • Ultra Stunning enemies off railless gaps on walkways. (WARNING! CAN BE BUGGY.)
A video for people that hate reading:
At 0:58 I said not to use the Proximity Detonator upgrade before Rank 5, when I meant to say Rank 6. So my apologies for that.
Shameful self-advertisement:
- https://www.youtube.com/@Professional_Ghost
- https://www.twitch.tv/professionghost
Rank 1: Perform an inverted takedown, a vent takedown and a wall takedown.
Do not worry about this rank as the game makes the player complete it by default. Unless of course significant effort is made to skip past it. Though I am not sure why anyone would do that do be honest.
Rank 2: Perform 3 silent takedowns in a single predator encounter.
-Can be done at any point in the game as long as it is a predator encounter. (aka an area with Firearmed enemies.)

-Best attempted before entering The Final Offer (The big cruise liner/HUGE BOAT) so that the rest of the ranks are not locked out.

-(This is optional, but I recommend doing this alongside rank 6 of the Gotham Protector Track involving taking down a henchman while under the influence of a smoke pellet. As this is a great time to do it.)
Rank 3: Finish a predator encounter without being seen.
-Must be done during the encounter inside The Final Offer, as failing to do so locks out other ranks.

-Recommend only doing silent takedowns on henchmen, as doing any other takedown is likely to trigger a glitch which results in the player failing the challenge despite getting the UNSEEN bonus.
Rank 4: Use a sonic batarang to lure an enemy into a takedown.
-This must be done 3 times for this rank to be passed.

-Recommend attempting outside Sionis Steel Mill or GCPD Rooftop, as henchmen respawn every time you leave the Industrial/Burnley District and return. So this can be attempted as many times as the player likes.
Rank 5: Complete a predator room without using detective vision.
-Can be done on the rooftop outside the GCPD, outside Sionis Steel or inside the GCPD Pullpen before any of the other ranks are locked out.

-Avoid using smoke pellets or fire extinguishers, so that detective vision is not forced on by mistake by entering the smoke cloud.

-(Only if in an outside area.) The player can leave the Burnley or Industrial District(s) and return from another district to retry this rank if the player has accidentally used detective vision.

-Recommend upgrading the Line Launcher fully before attempting this rank in the GCPD Bullpen room for highest probability of success. As the heavy reel ammo can be used to quickly remove some of the enemies in the room.

-There are two explosive tanks in the GCPD Bullpen room that can also be used by the Line Launcher to quickly take down at least two different enemies.
Rank 6: Perform these 4 exotic takedowns in one encounter: vent takedown, explosive gel takedown, corner takedown...
...and hanging ledge takedown. (the one where you stand on a platform directly above the henchman)

-Must be done at the Gotham Mechant's Bank to prevent other ranks being locked out.

-Bear in mind that the encounter automatically ends after the SECOND TO LAST enemy is knocked out. As the player is required to interrogate the last henchmen.

-Recommend using the corner takedown on the thug with the signal jammer pack at the start of the encounter to make detective vision usable early on.

-Also recommend doing the vent takedown after pulling off/sliding into a vent cover before confronting Black Mask in the Vault Room and triggering the predator encounter to spare time; then using the Sonic Batarang ON THE FLOOR near the vent cover (As throwing it into a wall or ceiling causes the effected enemy to just shoot it and not luring them to where they are needed to be. Throwing it on the floor results in the enemy going over to it to stomp on it, this is when you do the takedown.)

-The player should attempt to do the hanging ledge takedown last, as this is the hardest to do because attempting this takedown has a very high chance of alerting enemies due to how long it takes to do and the very small size of the Bank's room. The player could also use the sonic batarang again to lure an enemy away from the player as they do the takedown.
Rank 7: Complete a predator encounter without doing any takedowns.
-Must be done during the predator encounter INSIDE the Sionis Steel Mill, to prevent other ranks being locked out. (Extra note: I saw from a comment link/video that you can do this outside the Steel Mill, however because it relies on a glitch I cannot confirm this will work %100 of the time, as Origins is a buggy game.)

-Recommend only using the cape stun attack to quickly KO enemies, to prevent player from being picked off by the enemies in the room. As using standard punches and combos is not as effective; alerts enemies frequently and takes up too much time and effort, making this encounter unnecessarily harder.

-Sonic Batarangs can be used to lure a single enemy to a spot secluded from everyone else in the room.

-The Disruptor can be used to disable guns if the player is in a situation where enemies are too close together. (Though bear in mind that enemies can still run off to get another gun.)

-The noise from the cape stun attack can have the advantage of luring a single enemy to a secluded spot after knocking out an enemy. Which can be exploited to take out the majority of the henchmen, if not the whole room.
Rank 8: Complete a predator encounter without using detective vision - and without being seen.
-Must be done during the encounter in the Hotel Lobby inside the Royal Hotel to prevent other ranks being locked out.

-Recommend attempting a few silent takedowns on the henchmen on the upper levels of the room first to maximise chances of success.

-Be wary of henchmen that are equiped with thermal goggles when on gargoyles. (Even if you have the Thermal Masking upgrade, as moving to another gargoyle while being scanned still results in being detected.)

Rank 9: Perform 4 loud takedowns in one predator encounter: grate takedown, inverted takedown, knock-out smash takedown...
...and ledge takedown.

-This rank must be done alongside and BEFORE rank 10 inside the Pool Room, inside the Royal Hotel (Just before the first Bane Boss fight) to prevent other ranks being locked out.

-Recommend doing the inverted takedown first, as taking down too many enemies results in bombs on gargoyles being activated; making it impossible to do this takedown during the later stages of this encounter.

-Using the line launcher on some of the henchmen can make it easier to do any remaining takedowns that still need to be performed.

-The distrupter's: mine disruptor upgrade can be used to blow up the two mines near the entrance of the room and blow any mines being placed by henchmen, knocking them out.

-Keep track of how many enemies are in the room to prevent the need for restarts.
Rank 10: Complete a predator encounter with a high threat level or higher without being seen.
-Must be done along with AND AFTER rank 9, to prevent other ranks being locked out and to prevent the possibility of this rank failing through a bug.

-Recommend always using detective vision to keep track of where everyone is in this small room so that chances of being caught are kept to a minimum.
Rank 11: Take out an enemy with the sonic shock batarang.
-Just follow the "hint" given by the game, and it's that simple.
Rank 12: Complete a predator encounter with a high threat level or above by performing at least 5 different takedowns.
-Recommend attempting at either the Gotham Merchant's Bank (Deadshot side mission) or the Gotham Cathedral (Black Mask side mission) so that remaining ranks are not locked out.

-Take your time and make sure to keep track of how many different takedowns you have performed.

-Here are some takedown types you can use:
  • Silent Takedown
  • Remote Batarang boosting off high platforms
  • Floor Grate Takedown (the floor vents and not in the wall)
  • Hanging Ledge takedown 1 (the one where you stand directly above an enemy, I know confusing name)
  • Ledge Takedown 2 (The one where you manually hang under an enemy; then press the takedown prompt)
  • Inverted Takedown (Gargoyles)
  • Knockout Smash
  • (If the covers are still there) Vent Takedown (the wall ones, not the ones on the floor)
  • Sonic Batarang blast
  • Line Launcher rope takedowns (the ones where you string up enemies on gargoyles and the one where you walk across a rope attached between two Gargoyles, directly above an enemy)
  • Explosive gel wall blast takedown (If there are any weak walls remaining)
Rank 13: Eliminate 3 enemies within the duration of one smoke pellet.
-Can only be done after acquiring the increased smoke duration upgrade obtained from completing the Black Mask side mission and obtaining the increased smoke volume upgrade from leveling-up.

-Recommend attempting either at the GCPD rooftop or outside the Sionis Steel Mill, even though getting the thugs close together is a pain. Or you could just do it in five seconds during the encounter in the Boiler Room, inside the Pioneers Bridge. Though be aware that there may be thugs with thermal goggles.
Rank 14: Eliminate 3 enemies using a Propane Tank.
-Must be done before finishing the third and final Pioneers Bridge encounter so that rank 15 is not locked out. (So this means 3 opportunities to complete this rank. FANTASTIC!)

-In order to complete this challenge, one henchman needs to be standing close to two henchmen who are on the floor when the propane tank is used. Being too close or too far from the tank will cause the tank to miss at least one of the enemies. The tank must be used on the STANDING henchman.

-I VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND skipping the first Pioneers Bridge encounter, inside the Boiler Room; due to the ridiculously small size of this room and how cramped the areas with the propane tanks are. Doing this Rank during the second or third encounter in the Bridge Train Station is much easier and less of a headache to deal with.

-If attempting inside the Train Station, there are some anchor points where the Line Launcher can be used to get a better observation of the room. (Just be mindful of where the enemies are looking.)

-Sonic Batarangs are useful for luring ONE enemy to a nearby tank for a short period. Detonating the shock feature of this gadget will lure the rest of the enemies to where it was detonated; though this will lock out this gadget for the rest of the encounter. So I recommend just doing a loud takedown on the lured enemy to lure the rest over to where they are needed.

-The Glue Grenade's Cluster upgrade can be used to restrain the 3 enemies in a small group. If done this way, it is recommended that the player uses the line launcher to pull down the two enemies which are closest to the tank then using the small opportunity to quickly use the line launcher again to pull a nearby tank into the last enemy (who should still be standing the furthest from the tank) to KO all three at once. As using the tank on the wrong enemy can have the annoying consequence of only knocking out one or two of the henchmen due to the limited explosive range of the tank.
Rank 15: Pull two Henchmen over two railings at the same time using advanced gadget techniques.
-This challenge is ONLY POSSIBLE during The final two Pioneers Bridge & final Blackgate Prison predator encounters.

-Unfortunately the Line Launcher is very awkward to use when pulling enemies over the railings. You may need to do some experimenting with enemy distance to beat this one. As these enemies being too close causes at least one to bounce off the railing and being too far away severs the connection too soon before they can be pulled over. So you'd need to experiment with both orange and green connection line distances depending on which areas you attempt this final challenge at.

-Sonic Batarangs can be used to lure one henchmen to a railing, however there is a waiting period before it can be used again. Bear in mind that, if the shock feature of this gadget is used it cannot be used again.

-Glue grenades can be used to keep one henchmen in place for a short period of time. (Upgrade the grenade to extend the amount of time they remain stuck.) I would recommend spam throwing the glue grenade to keep the henchman in place indefinitely while waiting for the Sonic Batarang to recharge. Though enemies will look where the grenades are being tossed from.
Final thing to say:
Feel free to say if this guide has worked for you. Or if I need to wipe it from the face of the web, because it's so diabolically BAD. Hopefully the latter does not happen.

Anyways GOOD LUCK! And enjoy yourself!
24 Comments
acdshe45 17 Oct @ 5:35am 
This game was designed by sadists. The difficulty spike from city is insane and these 1 and done challenges are a joke, I did number 8 in the hotel lobby, didn't count maybe because I did a glide attack? Who knows really because it's not very ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ clear. My run was perfect up until this, now I don't wanna play anymore because I can't restart the level. Thank you wb for giving this to a different studio who's sheer incompetence cannot be understated. Actually I meant ♥♥♥♥ you wb
bingus 8 Sep @ 7:17am 
I've started I Am The Night mode and I've only got 7 out of 15 challenges.

Wish me luck
The Infernal Angel 24 Jun @ 8:17am 
Cause I had to go into NG+ for the last third of them, Rank 14 and 15 got pulled off in the Steel Mill. Turns out, at least for Rank 14, it does not need to be a Predator/stealth encounter. The guy that gets hooked directly to the propane tank gets KO'd on contact, but everyone else in the radius has to be on the ground. So here's what I do, I see three guys standing in a circle next to a propane tank, I Remote Claw two of the guys to each other and the third to the propane tank. Boom, done. No fuss, no muss.

I mean that's the same thing you said to do with the Glue Grenade's Cluster upgrade, just without the Glue Grenade cause I don't have that back yet.. Still though, major thanks for making this guide. This whole list of challenges is the single worst aspect of the entire Batman Arkham series, hands down. This alone is why Origins is my least played Arkham game.
The Richardson Parable [HF] 31 Jan @ 4:22pm 
I read number 8, did that, read number 9 realize I need to do that at the same time with number 8, restart from checkpoint, and I lose progress. Now I have to continue from New Game Plus.

♥♥♥♥ this and the game dawg😭
GSG Fatass 13 Jan @ 9:54pm 
So for #3 what if you've down the final offer mission and other story related predator encounters, can I still do it or am I unable to
RustyKn1ght 22 Nov, 2024 @ 10:23pm 
Regarding rank 7, the rooftop glitch still works, just tested it yesterday. I tried to complete it outside of Sionis Steel Mill but it didn't unlock. However beating up unarmed thugs on nearby rooftop unlocked it.

Not surprising, since last official patch to this game was 2014, which only handled most common showstopper bugs but left plenty of others (henchmen clipping inside wall textures, running in the air when they try to jump from walkaways, stuff like that), so it makes sense Dark Knight challenge system has been left alone.
Tony Stark 25 May, 2024 @ 7:25am 
Got rank 10 to work. IDK how. Also, as I got to the mission where you're supposed to go to the morgue, I started by clearing the roof of the GCPD with different takedowns, and when I went to the sewer entrance and beat up the cops that are guarding it, I got rank 12. So there's a method that could work for people who don't want to expend a room on it :)
Tony Stark 24 May, 2024 @ 4:49pm 
So, I've been going insane because I have now twice done the rank 9 and 10 challenges in the pool room.

I get the notification that both ranks have unlocked, the upgrade for the Sonic Batarang appears in the menu.
After going back to the Batcave, I pop the menu and am back at rank 9.
Load the back up save. Do it all again. Notifications, menus, done.
Game saves before I get on the Penthouse Elevator.
I quit the game and load in the game to check. I'm standing in front of the elevator doors and rank 10 is gone again.

*Ryan Gosling Blade Runner screams*

Anyone else had this?
Math Namikaze 24 May, 2024 @ 4:02pm 
Dude, I did rank 9 but I didn't do rank 10 at the same time, is there no other place to do it? (some side mission). Or will I have to start another save?
Blue.EXE 28 Mar, 2024 @ 3:08pm 
Thanks for the guide

I did find it much easier to try and get rank 14 at the main entrance to blackgate than on the bridge.