Playing Arkham Knight

The usual way

You will usually try to upgrade Batman, his tools and the Batmobile over time. This method allows you to take on challenges with a variety of takedowns, like one that allows you to take down a few enemies at once, or a way to remove a weapon from a fight entirely, among other things, it's very helpful.

The issue with this method

It gets easy, after 500+ hours, you manage to not feel the challenge anymore, or not much. At the end of a day, you're playing Batman, not Superman, not Flash, you're a human, you're vulnerable, it makes very little sense to absolutely anihilate 60 enemies while wearing 100 kilograms of equipement without breaking a sweat.

The solution: No Upgrades challenge

What is it?

The No Upgrades challenge brings you back to your first playthrough, at first anyway, you get ploughed by even basic enemies, because you're trying to multi ground takedown and you can't. Your options are limited, a Grapple Takedown is out of the question, Break Weapon takedown too, your main takedown becomes the single enemy takedown, or a beat down. You also lose combo damage, which, as you'll find out very quickly, makes you weak.

Rules of No Upgrades challenge

• You can have the default upgrades you get by having the Pass.
• You cannot upgrade anything else.
  Exceptions: You need Disruptor: Sabotage Mine for 100% (Riddler trophies), which means you also need Disruptor: Sabotage Medic. That means you can upgrade them, but then refrain from using them later in the game and in New Game Plus.
  That being said, the rules of No Upgrades are loose, if you consider an upgrade you need to be an upgrade you have, just use it.
  Exceptions, New Game Plus: You can upgrade Traversals as they give no big bonuses, unless you haven't three-starred the challenges where they could help with Batman (no need to do challenges with other characters, takes far too long).
• Challenges are bonus, you don't have to do them, but they're really... Challenging, without upgrades. I recommend trying them.
• You have to get to 240%.
• There are two challenges that require you to get Upgrades, don't do them until you have 240% already, they're more difficult to avoid using later.
• The number one rule: Have fun 😄