Wicked Ridge Invader M1 Review: De-Cock Crossbow Verdict

Light, budget-minded crossbows often make you shoot a bolt into a target at the end of every hunt. This Wicked Ridge Invader M1 review looks at the version that doesn't: a 5.8 lb, 390 fps crossbow that winds its string back down with a built-in crank, or with a sled in a second package. For tree-stand and blind hunters who want safe de-cocking on a light, American-built crossbow, it makes a strong case. The catch is that its numbers are ordinary for the class, and Wicked Ridge publishes fewer specs than we'd like. If you're comparing packages already, you can see the Invader M1 De-Cock crank package on Amazon.

Wicked Ridge Invader M1 specs

Wicked Ridge sells the De-Cock in two packages that share the same crossbow. The 2024 Invader M1, the non-de-cock model it replaces, is shown for comparison. Figures come from Lancaster Archery's listings, which carry Wicked Ridge's own descriptions, checked on 15 October 2026.

Two gaps are worth knowing about. The rating arrow: Wicked Ridge doesn't say which arrow weight produced the 390 fps figure. The supplied Match 400 arrows weigh 400 grains, while the 2024 listing describes a 445-grain bolt, so treat 390 fps as a maker rating rather than a promise with your arrows. Amazon's spec table shows a "Draw Weight" of 3.5 pounds, which matches the trigger pull, not the bow's draw weight. The colour: Lancaster's listings say Vektra camo, while the brand's Amazon listing and its title say Peak Camo, so check the photos of the exact package you're buying.

Design and features: what each part does for you

ACUdraw De-Cock: the reason this model exists

The ACUdraw is a crank built into the stock, so there's no cocking aid to clamp on or leave at home. Wicked Ridge says the original ACUdraw "reduces draw weight to just 5 lbs", and TenPoint's replacement De-Cock handle carries the same 5-pound figure.

The De-Cock version adds the part most budget crossbows lack. In Wicked Ridge's words: "If you don't take a shot, simply push the de-cock button and safely de-cock the crossbow with the built-in ACUdraw De-Cock." The brand's Amazon listing adds that if you take your hand off the handle at any point, it "will stop in place". That matters at dark, when shooting a bolt into a target or the ground is awkward and not always safe. Our guide to cocking and de-cocking a crossbow covers the alternatives if you're weighing this up.

ACUdraw 50 Sled De-Cock: the other package

The second package swaps the crank for the ACUdraw 50 sled. Lancaster's listing says you "manually de-cock the crossbow" with it after pressing the de-cock button, and TenPoint sells replacement draw cords for the ACUdraw 50, so it's a rope-and-sled system rather than a crank. Wicked Ridge doesn't publish how much effort it takes.

For a sense of how sled de-cocking works on a sister model, Shooting Sports Retailer's review of the Raider 400 De-Cock described installing the sled, pulling the string up slightly, then lowering it to the uncocked position. Follow the Invader's own manual rather than assuming the steps match.

D1 trigger and dry-fire protection

Lancaster calls the D1 a "crisp, no-travel" trigger. The Amazon listing describes it as "a 2-stage, zero-creep design" with "a consistent, crisp, 3.5-pound pull" and a Dry-Fire-Prohibitor (DFP), which is there to stop the crossbow firing without an arrow loaded.

Pro-View 400 scope

The package includes a Pro-View 400 scope with an illuminated reticle. Wicked Ridge says it "offers aimpoints out to 70-yards" and has an updated reticle "for a cleaner view". A Picatinny scope rail is included, so you can fit a different optic later. Our guide to sighting in a crossbow scope walks through zeroing it.

Weight, size and build

At 5.8 lb and 32 inches long, the Invader M1 is light to carry. Wicked Ridge says the 2024 redesign made it "5.5" narrower and 2.5" shorter than the last model", and stresses that it's built in America while other makers import crossbows at this price point. We can't check the second claim. It arrives fully assembled.

Fit, setup and what else you need

The De-Cock packages come with the scope, three Match 400 carbon arrows, a three-arrow quiver, an integrated bow hook and either the ACUdraw crank or the ACUdraw 50 sled. The Amazon listing also mentions an integrated string dampening system. To get it ready to hunt:

1. Read the manual first and practise both cocking and de-cocking with an empty crossbow until the sequence is automatic.
2. Use the arrows Wicked Ridge supplies or the same spec. Match 400 arrows are 20 inches long and 400 grains, with TenPoint's Alpha-Nock, according to Lancaster's listing. Buy spares to the same spec rather than guessing.
3. Zero the scope from a solid rest at 20 yards, then confirm the lower aim points at their marked distances.
4. Shoot your broadheads against your field points before the season, because not every broadhead hits where your field points do.
5. Look after the string and cables. Wax the string, check the serving for wear and follow the replacement interval in the manual.

Crossbow seasons, and the rules on lighted reticles, vary between states and provinces, so check your wildlife agency's current regulations before you hunt. Our explainer on how a crossbow works covers how power stroke, draw weight and cams combine into speed.

How the Invader M1 compares with other Wicked Ridge crossbows and rivals

Most buyers are choosing between Wicked Ridge siblings. Figures are from Lancaster Archery's listings unless noted.

Wicked Ridge Invader M1 vs Raider 400

The Raider 400 De-Cock was an earlier way to get a Wicked Ridge that de-cocks. Shooting Sports Retailer's 2023 review listed it at 15 inches cocked and 19 uncocked, 5.8 lb bare and 7.34 lb with accessories, on a 13.5-inch power stroke. Its rope-sled test model was listed at 400 fps, and the reviewer's chronograph averaged 373 fps with a 400-grain bolt. The Invader M1 De-Cock is 5.5 inches narrower when cocked for a 10 fps lower rating. We'd take that trade from a stand or blind, where narrower limbs are less likely to clip a rail or window.

Wicked Ridge Commander 400 vs Invader M1

The Commander 400, listed at Lancaster since December 2025, has a 400 fps rating, an 11-inch cocked width, a 36-inch length and 6.3 lb (TenPoint's own page gives 35.75 inches and 7.3 lb). It keeps the built-in ACUdraw and has Gordon Glass limbs and an MDX cam system, but Lancaster's listing doesn't mention de-cocking. Choose it for the extra 10 fps; choose the Invader to de-cock and save 1.5 inches of width.

Wicked Ridge Commander M1 vs Invader M1

On paper the Commander M1 is almost the same crossbow: 5.8 lb, 9.5 inches cocked, a 13.8-inch power stroke and a built-in ACUdraw. It's rated 10 fps slower at 380 fps, is 2.5 inches longer, uses a T5 trigger and comes with a 4x multi-line scope with aim points to 50 yards rather than the lighted 70-yard Pro-View 400. It can't de-cock, and Lancaster showed it out of stock when we checked.

Wicked Ridge Rampage XS vs Invader M1

The Rampage XS is Wicked Ridge's entry-level ACUdraw crossbow, rated at 390 fps but 15 inches wide, with a T5 trigger and no de-cock function. The Invader M1 De-Cock gives the same rated speed in a much narrower crossbow that you can unload without shooting.

TenPoint Venom X, Barnett Wildcat UltraLite DC and Killer Instinct Vital-X DC

TenPoint's Venom X matches the Invader's 390 fps and is a quarter-inch wider at 9.75 inches cocked, but heavier at 6.9 lb. Its ACUslide system cocks and de-cocks silently, and it has scope struts and a two-stage S1 trigger. Our TenPoint Turbo X review covers the ACUslide in more detail.

Barnett's Wildcat UltraLite DC is rated at 410 fps and only 7 inches cocked, according to Barnett. Like the Invader, it comes in two versions: one with a sled rope cocking device and one with a pre-installed, self-retracting crank. Killer Instinct's Vital-X DC is rated at 415 fps and 6.75 inches cocked, with a "DC Triggerbox" that de-cocks by hand without a crank, according to Lancaster.

Who should buy the Invader M1 De-Cock, and who shouldn't

Buy it if you are:

• A stand or open-blind hunter who wants to de-cock safely at the end of every sit.
• A newer or lighter-built hunter who wants a built-in crank rather than a rope cocker.
• Upgrading from a Rampage XS or a Raider 400 and wanting a much narrower crossbow.

Look elsewhere if you are:

• Hunting from small ground blinds or thick brush, where a 7-inch crossbow such as the Wildcat UltraLite DC is easier to swing.
• After the quietest, smoothest cocking at this weight, which is the case for TenPoint's ACUslide on the Venom X.

Where to buy the Wicked Ridge Invader M1 De-Cock

Wicked Ridge crossbows are sold through archery dealers such as Lancaster Archery, and TenPoint lists stockists on its dealer locator. Wicked Ridge also runs a brand store on Amazon. Wherever you buy, check three things: whether the package has the ACUdraw crank or the ACUdraw 50 sled, the camo pattern, and who the seller is, since warranty terms can depend on where you bought it.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Wicked Ridge Invader M1 De-Cock worth it?

For a stand or blind hunter who wants safe de-cocking on a light crossbow, it's a sensible choice. It weighs 5.8 lb, is listed at 390 fps and 9.5 inches cocked, and comes with a crank that both cocks and de-cocks. It's not the narrowest or fastest at its level, so skip it if width matters more than weight.

What's the difference between the Invader M1 and the Invader M1 De-Cock?

The 2024 Invader M1 cocks with a built-in ACUdraw crank but can't be de-cocked; you have to shoot it to unload it. The De-Cock version keeps the same 390 fps rating, 5.8 lb weight and 9.5-inch cocked width, and adds a de-cock button so the crank or sled can lower the string safely without firing.

Wicked Ridge Invader M1 vs Raider 400: which is better?

For most hunters, the Invader M1 De-Cock. Both de-cock and both weigh 5.8 lb bare, but the Invader is 9.5 inches wide when cocked against the Raider 400's 15 inches. The Raider is rated 10 fps faster at 400 fps, although Shooting Sports Retailer's chronograph averaged 373 fps with a 400-grain bolt.

How fast is the Wicked Ridge Invader M1?

Wicked Ridge rates both the Invader M1 and the Invader M1 De-Cock at 390 fps. It doesn't say which arrow weight that rating uses, and it doesn't publish a kinetic energy figure. The supplied Match 400 arrows weigh 400 grains, and any arrow heavier than the one behind the rating will fly slower.

Can you de-cock the Invader M1 without shooting it?

Only the De-Cock versions. Press the de-cock button, then let the string down with the built-in ACUdraw crank or, on the sled package, with the ACUdraw 50 sled. Wicked Ridge says the crank handle stops in place if you let go. The original 2024 Invader M1 has to be unloaded by shooting a bolt.