Apocalyptic Weapons Challenge: Winners and Honorable Mentions Revealed
Sierra Division- May 6
- 4 min read
The Apocalyptic Weapons Challenge has officially wrapped, and we’re truly impressed by the outstanding submissions received. Running from March 10 to April 17, the challenge brief had participants designing the ultimate weapon for surviving an apocalypse. The submissions showcased remarkable skill and creativity that left our judges thoroughly impressed. We can confidently say that we are ready to face whatever the apocalypse has in store, thanks to such badass weapons!
We would like to thank our judges for taking the time to carefully review each submission: Javier Perez, Jon Arellano, Alex Beddows, Jonjo Hemmens, Robin Mariančík, Inka Sipola, Miroslav Baev, Niels Couvreur, Jacob Norris, and Doru Bogdan.
We would also like to thank our prize sponsors for offering awesome prizes to our winners and making this challenge extra special: Dash, Adobe Substance 3D, Rizom UV, ArtStation, Marmoset and Fox Renderfarm.
Take a look at our challenge announcement here to see what awesome prizes each winner will receive.
THE CHALLENGE WINNERS
1ST PLACE: Shady Hamza - Shell Shock
Shady’s challenge submission centers on an apocalyptic water world—one submerged in chaos and ruled by water and scavengers. To capture the essence of this harsh environment, Shell Shock reflects on the brutality of the setting and the desperation of those struggling to survive.
In addition to crafting a striking apocalyptic weapon, Shady presented his submission with exceptional organization and attention to detail, making his work-in-progress a pleasure to follow.
Judges Feedback:
"A very well thought out, clear and unique concept. Combining organic shapes with hard-surface elements and bringing it together in harmony. The renders showcase the asset in its natural habitat, and provide some more context about the inner workings."
"Incredibly creative concept, well executed textures with interesting materials, interesting world building, and very impressive beauty renders."
"This one is an easy choice for me, very impressive presentation. Great and unique idea, great textures, awesome presentation environment. Even the unique Shell Shock logo is awesome."
Congratulation Shady for taking 1st place!
2ND PLACE: Maya Ivanova - The Ender of Tuesdays
Maya’s submission explores the idea that an apocalypse will strike without warning, leaving you to scramble and build a weapon from whatever you can find on a random Tuesday. Grounded in realism, her weapon is crafted from everyday garage items such as pipes, valves, cables, a flashlight, car parts (like a compressor and steering column), bolts, soda cans, wooden planks, zip ties, and various other bits and pieces.
For The Ender of Tuesdays, Maya used Photoshop for concept planning, Autodesk Maya for the blockout, ZBrush for sculpting, and Substance Painter and Designer for texturing.
Judges Feedback:
"Really nice silhouette and an intricate design to create a unique pistol. Lots of small details like stickers and loose wiring that really play up apocalyptic theme."
"A complex design with lots of components working together. Combining different materials such as wood and metals to form one whole. In a post-apocalyptic world, it feels like it's been put together by someone who knows his sh*t. The renders showcase the asset nicely. On top of all of this, the asset is nicely optimized and would work well in a real-time environment."
"The combination of metals, wood, tape, and stickers of different material types makes this weapon a lot of fun to look at. From a technical perspective it works really well and show a strong understanding of the artistic elements throughout the weapon. Really great idea and executed on a high level!"
Congratulation Maya for taking 2nd place!
3RD PLACE: Daniils Bobers - Ol' Loudmouth
Set in a post-apocalyptic Texas overrun by the undead, Ol’ Loudmouth is a gritty, improvised grenade launcher built by the unhinged and fearless Mad Uncle Shoo—a stubborn farmer with no concern for safety. Crafted from scrap parts like a sewer pipe barrel, cooking pot drum, and a gas pump handle stock, the weapon fires nails and gunpowder. Brutal, unstable, and loud—just the way Shoo likes it.
Daniil’s project stands out for its strong focus on storytelling and character-driven design. By building a detailed backstory for Uncle Shoo and his chaotic world, Daniil gave the weapon a distinct personality and purpose. The result is a design that feels authentic and strongly connected to the narrative it supports.
Judges Feedback:
"I liked the approach to this weapon, looking at how traditional guns are made for production and using that to motivate choices. I think this was a really fun spin on an old classic that I enjoyed looking at the details of."
"This asset has some great elements, and you discover more the longer you look at it. It really feels like it's been put together with everyday items that you'd find in a post-apocalyptic setting. There's elements you would find on a regular weapon, such as a grip, buttstock, etc.. making it a believable, functioning weapon. The textures bring everything together!"
"The combination of different types of props and elements found throughout a post apocalyptic world is hilarious and amazing. This is exactly the type of creativity we were hoping to see with this challenge and the quality produced from the concept idea. High fidelity texturing details with a good understanding of material types, storytelling, and setup."
HONORABLE MENTIONS
We’re thrilled to give Honorable Mentions to three additional artists whose exceptional work truly stood out.
Honorable Mention: Jacek Barabasz- Master Key
Master Key is a beautifully crafted weapon by Jacek Barabasz, previous 1st place winner of the Himalayan Treasures Challenge. Wrapped in tape and cloth straps for a secure grip in any situation, the weapon is reinforced with keys, nails, and metal scraps to enhance its durability.
Congratulations Jacek!
Honorable Mention: Maksym Danko - ApocBlade
ApocBlade is a machete-style weapon crafted from scavenged materials in a post-apocalyptic world. Designed for survival, it features a reinforced handle and sharp edges, making it both practical and deadly.
Congratulations Maksym!
Honorable Mention: Rafael Murta - Shock Factor
Rafael drew inspiration from games like Dead Island and Bloodborne, leading to the creation of a makeshift halberd designed for both one- and two-handed use. Equipped with a sturdy battery and copper wiring, the weapon can deliver electric shocks to any enemy it strikes.
Congratulations Rafael!
CHALLENGE SHOWCASE
Our Showcase is a celebration of all the outstanding artwork made for the challenge. Make sure to check it out!
Join our Discord to congratulate participants, and be the first to know about upcoming activities at Sierra Division.
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