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SR disambig icon This article is about the SNG tank. For the tank favored by STAG, see Crusader. For the achievement of the same name, see Achievements in Saints Row IV.

The Challenger is a vehicle in Saints Row: The Third[1] and Saints Row IV.[2]

Overview[]

The favored tank of SNG, the Challenger is a heavily armored vehicle boasting phenomenal endurance and excellent firepower. It is armed with a trio of potent weapons - a 120mm Cannon, a coaxial heavy machine gun, and a roof-mounted heavy machine gun used by the passenger. Both of its machine guns have a limited heat capacity.

Whilst not as powerful as STAG's Crusader tank, the Challenger is nonetheless a devastating force if used correctly. Heavy armor paired with exceptional firepower means that it has little trouble surviving the worst of what enemy gangs can dish out, and its sheer mass allows it to simply flatten various enemy vehicles caught in its path - only heavily armored vehicles (such as N-Forcer/another Challenger) or exceptionally large vehicles (such as the Steelport Municipal) cannot be crushed in this fashion.

The Challenger is painfully slow and easily out-maneuvered and is extremely vulnerable from the air, further complicated by its lack of Nitrous under all circumstances since its weapons are far less destructive. Additionally, the use of a tank means that enemies take notice - Gangs deploy Brutes (which are still very vulnerable to the tank's arsernal) and enemies with Annihilator RPGs or GL G20s, Steelport Police and SNG units use Eagles, Tornados, and Vulture, and STAG deploy F-69 VTOLs, Crusaders, and soldiers use RPGs. Nevertheless, Challengers can still dish out and absorb significant punishment, never going down without a fight.

Also, getting into trouble with the Challenger is almost unavoidable. This is because the sight of the 70 ton vehicle rolling down the street terrorize the pedestrians and drivers as they panic and try to make a futile escape, which lead them right in front of the Challenger. This may cause the Challenger to accidentally run them over, crush vehicles, or cause other type of property damage while trying to avoid these situations. This inevitably, leads to notoriety

The Challenger has headlights and rear lights that are made up of three triangles that point to the outer edge of the vehicle.

Saints Row IV[]

There are two variants of the Challenger: with normal cannon and static.

The Challenger with normal cannon is used in Cat & Mouse Diversion and can be saved by scanning it.

The Challenger with static turret is used by ZPD officers in Mayhem, UFO Mayhem, Tank Mayhem and Mech Suit Mayhem. To get one, start Mayhem near Broken Shillelagh and after the Challenger appears, generate the black hole, so it can suck the driver but not the tank. Then push it to Activity start location and wait until the Activity fails, pressing Enter button continually.

Obtaining[]

Saints Row: The Third[]

  • Tank Homie shows up in one when dialed once the associated upgrade is purchased. A stored Challenger can also be delivered by calling for a vehicle delivery.
  • Challengers show up during maximum Notoriety (level 5) and can be obtained after killing the gunner. Challengers are mostly replaced by Crusaders when STAG occupies Steelport until post-game. Saving and reloading causes STAG to reappear.

Saints Row IV[]

  • The Challenger is one of the Cat vehicles in Cat & Mouse and can be kept.
  • The Challenger appears in On-Foot Mayhem near the Broken Shillelagh. When the tank appears, suck the driver out with the Black Hole Launcher, but don't destroy the tank. Press the "Enter Vehicle" button, then do nothing until the timer runs out. After exiting the activity, the Challenger is there.

Modifications[]

Saints Row: The Third

The Challenger has a total of 4 Vehicle Customization options. It does not have Kneecappers or Wheel Options available.

Mods
  • 2 Decal 1s
  • 1 Grime 1s
  • 1 Grime 2s
Paints
  • Body Color
  • Trim Color
  • Window Tint

Variants[]

Saints Row: The Third
  • Average (100%)
  • bigwheels (0%)
Saints Row IV
  • Average (100%)
  • bigwheels (0%)

Trivia[]

  • The Cheat for this vehicle in Saints Row: The Third is "givechallenger".
  • There is no Cheat for this vehicle in Saints Row IV.
  • The Challenger resembles the real world M1A1 Abrams, specifically, the M1-A1HA (Heavy Armor) version since it does not have the CITV (Commander Independent Thermal Viewer). It has features of the TUSK (Tank Urban Survival Kit) upgrade, specifically, the ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) side skirts. It also includes the additional armour package for the loader's weapon, though this is mounted on the commander's weapon (the loader's being absent) instead of using a Remote Weapon Station.
    • The real driver station on the Abrams is located in the center on the lower hull, right under the cannon. There is no hatch here on the Challenger, and the player, as usual with videogame tanks, takes the role of the entire crew by climbing into the turret.
  • It is named after the British Challenger tank series.
  • Driving it, while having police Notoriety level 4 or above, causes the SNG to send Bulldogs and Tornados after the player.
  • Entering a Challenger which has never been stored in the Garage gives an automatic level 5 Notoriety. Retrieving the tank from Garage or by Vehicle Delivery Homies does not give any Notoriety.
  • The Challenger is the most durable ground vehicle in Saints Row: The Third, along with the ASP, Bear and Crusader, which all have exactly the same hit points.
  • There is a bug affecting the Challenger, which can make the vehicle impossible to enter. This is due to the fact that the cannon barrel is solid. And since a good part of the barrel protrudes over the lower hull, if it struck solid ground, such as going down hill too fast, it may get stuck in it. If the tank is still moving forward, the stuck cannon barrel acts as a pivot and cause the tank to leave the ground permanently. Since the programming does not recognize this, it causes the tank to shift, spin and "tapdance" wildly out of control. This is impossible to stop. The only thing the player can do is get out and move away from the tank since if they get too close, they may get run over and get killed. THQ has promised to address this in an upcoming patch.[Reference needed]
  • The Challenger's treads spin, but its roadwheels do not.
  • The police have unique dialogue when driving any Tank, for example, some cops say: A tank... Are you serious?, Stop wrecking my town! and, You in the tank... Please pull over!
    • Playa also has unique dialogue when fighting enemies in any Tank, such as How are you going to stop a tank?!
  • Sometimes when being chased by the National Guard, pursuing Challengers have flashing headlights as on other police vehicles. These cannot be used by the player. If a Challenger is stolen with the flashing lights active, they cannot be turned off, but they stop flashing when the vehicle is stored or modified.
  • In Saints Row: The Third, the Challenger can be upgraded and recolored via a Vehicle Customization glitch.
    • If the Challenger's armor is upgraded to level 4 via glitches or external tools, it can absorb much more fire and become near-impenetrable.
  • In Saints Row IV, Rim Jobs does not list any kind of tanks on its lineup, thereby preventing the glitch being used.
  • It is possible to get Respect really quick by using a Challenger or any other tank. Get any gang's Notoriety and/or STAG's and then go to the dock where Kinzie's Warehouse is located. Enemies appear only from the main street and they can be easily killed by simply using the tank's weapons.
  • It is possible to perform a "Windshield Cannon" if the speed value is changed in the gamefiles.
  • The Challenger is fully functional in Saints Row: Gat out of Hell but can only be spawned by external tools.

Gallery[]

Peacemaker Challenger Eagle in Saints Row The Third Promo

A police officer about to be crushed by a Challenger in Saints Row: The Third and the Eagle armed in the air

Challenger - right in The Walking Apocalypse trailer

The Challenger in the "Walking Apocalypse" Trailer

Tank Mayhem in Saints Row The Third

A leaked image of Tank Mayhem from the Eurogamer Expo

Challenger - during Tank Mayhem in the Saints Row - The Third Open World Gameplay trailer

Challenger - during Tank Mayhem in the Saints Row - The Third Open World Gameplay trailer

Challenger - front right in Saints Row The Third

SNG Challenger in Saints Row: The Third

Challenger - top view in Saints Row The Third

A Challenger in Saints Row: The Third

Challenger - customised - top view in Saints Row The Third

A custom Challenger in Saints Row: The Third made using the Vehicle Customization glitch

Pink Challenger

A pink Challenger, made using the Vehicle Customization glitch

X-2 Phantom with SNG Bear and Challenger in Saints Row The Third

a Challenger and Two Bears forming a Road Block

Challenger - customised - rear left in Saints Row The Third

Rear & side profile of the Challenger (pink paintjob via Vehicle Customization glitch)

Challenger - M1 Abrams in real life

The real life M1 Abrams

Challenger - SNG variant - front right in Saints Row The Third

Challenger - SNG variant - front right in Saints Row: The Third

Challenger - rear in Saints Row The Third

Challenger in Saints Row: The Third

Challenger - left in Saints Row The Third

Challenger in Saints Row: The Third

Challenger - front right in Saints Row The Third

Challenger in Saints Row: The Third

Challenger - front right in Saints Row The Third Remastered

The Challenger in Saints Row: The Third Remastered

Challenger in Saints Row The Third Remastered Front

The Challenger in Saints Row: The Third Remastered

Challenger in Saints Row The Third Remastered Side

The Challenger in Saints Row: The Third Remastered

Challenger in Saints Row The Third Remastered Rear

The Challenger in Saints Row: The Third Remastered

Challenger - front right angled in Saints Row IV

Challenger in Saints Row IV

Challenger - front right in Saints Row IV

Challenger in Saints Row IV

SRG - Challenger

Challenger in Saints Row: Gat out of Hell

SRG - Challenger logo

Challenger logo in Saints Row: Gat out of Hell


References[]


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