diff --git a/engine/client/gl_studio.c b/engine/client/gl_studio.c
index ed0ceff4..814a3ad0 100644
--- a/engine/client/gl_studio.c
+++ b/engine/client/gl_studio.c
@@ -102,13 +102,22 @@ typedef struct
 	vec4_t		lightpos[MAXSTUDIOVERTS][MAX_LOCALLIGHTS];
 	vec3_t		lightbonepos[MAXSTUDIOBONES][MAX_LOCALLIGHTS];
 	float		locallightR2[MAX_LOCALLIGHTS];
+
+	// drawelements renderer
+	vec3_t			arrayverts[MAXSTUDIOVERTS];
+	vec2_t			arraycoord[MAXSTUDIOVERTS];
+	unsigned short	arrayelems[MAXSTUDIOVERTS*6];
+	GLubyte			arraycolor[MAXSTUDIOVERTS][4];
+	uint			numverts;
+	uint			numelems;
 } studio_draw_state_t;
 
 // studio-related cvars 
-convar_t			*r_studio_sort_textures;
-convar_t			*r_drawviewmodel;
+static convar_t			*r_studio_sort_textures;
+static convar_t			*r_drawviewmodel;
 convar_t			*cl_righthand = NULL;
-convar_t			*cl_himodels;
+static convar_t			*cl_himodels;
+static convar_t			*r_studio_drawelements;
 
 static r_studio_interface_t	*pStudioDraw;
 static studio_draw_state_t	g_studio;		// global studio state
@@ -135,6 +144,7 @@ void R_StudioInit( void )
 	cl_himodels = Cvar_Get( "cl_himodels", "1", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "draw high-resolution player models in multiplayer" );
 	r_studio_sort_textures = Cvar_Get( "r_studio_sort_textures", "0", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "change draw order for additive meshes" );
 	r_drawviewmodel = Cvar_Get( "r_drawviewmodel", "1", 0, "draw firstperson weapon model" );
+	r_studio_drawelements = Cvar_Get( "r_studio_drawelements", "1", FCVAR_ARCHIVE, "use glDrawElements for studiomodels" );
 
 	Matrix3x4_LoadIdentity( g_studio.rotationmatrix );
 	Cvar_RegisterVariable( &r_glowshellfreq );
@@ -1723,7 +1733,7 @@ R_LightLambert
 
 ====================
 */
-void R_LightLambert( vec4_t light[MAX_LOCALLIGHTS], vec3_t normal, vec3_t color )
+void R_LightLambert( vec4_t light[MAX_LOCALLIGHTS], vec3_t normal, vec3_t color, byte *out )
 {
 	vec3_t	finalLight;
 	vec3_t	localLight;
@@ -1761,7 +1771,53 @@ void R_LightLambert( vec4_t light[MAX_LOCALLIGHTS], vec3_t normal, vec3_t color
 		}
 	}
 
-	pglColor4f( finalLight[0], finalLight[1], finalLight[2], tr.blend );
+	out[0] = finalLight[0] * 255;
+	out[1] = finalLight[1] * 255;
+	out[2] = finalLight[2] * 255;
+}
+
+static void R_StudioSetColorBegin(short *ptricmds, vec3_t *pstudionorms )
+{
+	float	*lv = (float *)g_studio.lightvalues[ptricmds[1]];
+	rgba_t color;
+
+	if( g_studio.numlocallights )
+	{
+		color[3] = tr.blend * 255;
+		R_LightLambert( g_studio.lightpos[ptricmds[0]], pstudionorms[ptricmds[1]], lv, color );
+		pglColor4ubv( color );
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		if( RI.currententity->curstate.rendermode == kRenderTransColor )
+		{
+			color[3] = tr.blend * 255;
+			VectorCopy( (byte*)&RI.currententity->curstate.rendercolor, color );
+			pglColor4ubv( color );
+		}
+		else pglColor4f( lv[0], lv[1], lv[2], tr.blend );
+	}
+}
+
+static void R_StudioSetColorArray(short *ptricmds, vec3_t *pstudionorms, byte *color )
+{
+	float	*lv = (float *)g_studio.lightvalues[ptricmds[1]];
+
+	color[3] = tr.blend * 255;
+
+	if( g_studio.numlocallights )
+		R_LightLambert( g_studio.lightpos[ptricmds[0]], pstudionorms[ptricmds[1]], lv, color );
+	else
+	{
+		if( RI.currententity->curstate.rendermode == kRenderTransColor )
+			VectorCopy(  (byte*)&RI.currententity->curstate.rendercolor, color );
+		else
+		{
+			color[0] = lv[0] * 255;
+			color[1] = lv[1] * 255;
+			color[2] = lv[2] * 255;
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 /*
@@ -1934,11 +1990,8 @@ _inline void R_StudioDrawNormalMesh( short *ptricmds, vec3_t *pstudionorms, floa
 
 		for( ; i > 0; i--, ptricmds += 4 )
 		{
-			lv = (float *)g_studio.lightvalues[ptricmds[1]];
+			R_StudioSetColorBegin( ptricmds, pstudionorms );
 
-			if( g_studio.numlocallights )
-				R_LightLambert( g_studio.lightpos[ptricmds[0]], pstudionorms[ptricmds[1]], lv );
-			else pglColor4f( lv[0], lv[1], lv[2], tr.blend );
 			pglTexCoord2f( ptricmds[2] * s, ptricmds[3] * t );
 			pglVertex3fv( g_studio.verts[ptricmds[0]] );
 		}
@@ -1970,10 +2023,7 @@ _inline void R_StudioDrawFloatMesh( short *ptricmds, vec3_t *pstudionorms )
 
 		for( ; i > 0; i--, ptricmds += 4 )
 		{
-			lv = (float *)g_studio.lightvalues[ptricmds[1]];
-			if( g_studio.numlocallights )
-				R_LightLambert( g_studio.lightpos[ptricmds[0]], pstudionorms[ptricmds[1]], lv );
-			else pglColor4f( lv[0], lv[1], lv[2], tr.blend );
+			R_StudioSetColorBegin( ptricmds, pstudionorms );
 			pglTexCoord2f( HalfToFloat( ptricmds[2] ), HalfToFloat( ptricmds[3] ));
 			pglVertex3fv( g_studio.verts[ptricmds[0]] );
 		}
@@ -2009,10 +2059,13 @@ _inline void R_StudioDrawChromeMesh( short *ptricmds, vec3_t *pstudionorms, floa
 		{
 			if( glowShell )
 			{
+				color24 *clr = &RI.currententity->curstate.rendercolor;
+
 				idx = g_studio.normaltable[ptricmds[0]];
 				av = g_studio.verts[ptricmds[0]];
 				lv = g_studio.norms[ptricmds[0]];
 				VectorMA( av, scale, lv, vert );
+				pglColor4ub( clr->r, clr->g, clr->b, 255 );
 				pglTexCoord2f( g_studio.chrome[idx][0] * s, g_studio.chrome[idx][1] * t );
 				pglVertex3fv( vert );
 			}
@@ -2020,9 +2073,7 @@ _inline void R_StudioDrawChromeMesh( short *ptricmds, vec3_t *pstudionorms, floa
 			{
 				idx = ptricmds[1];
 				lv = (float *)g_studio.lightvalues[ptricmds[1]];
-				if( g_studio.numlocallights )
-					R_LightLambert( g_studio.lightpos[ptricmds[0]], pstudionorms[ptricmds[1]], lv );
-				else pglColor4f( lv[0], lv[1], lv[2], tr.blend );
+				R_StudioSetColorBegin( ptricmds, pstudionorms );
 				pglTexCoord2f( g_studio.chrome[idx][0] * s, g_studio.chrome[idx][1] * t );
 				pglVertex3fv( g_studio.verts[ptricmds[0]] );
 			}
@@ -2032,6 +2083,220 @@ _inline void R_StudioDrawChromeMesh( short *ptricmds, vec3_t *pstudionorms, floa
 	}
 }
 
+
+_inline int R_StudioBuildIndices( qboolean tri_strip, int vertexState )
+{
+	// build in indices
+	if( vertexState++ < 3 )
+	{
+		g_studio.arrayelems[g_studio.numelems++] = g_studio.numverts;
+	}
+	else if( tri_strip )
+	{
+		// flip triangles between clockwise and counter clockwise
+		if( vertexState & 1 )
+		{
+			// draw triangle [n-2 n-1 n]
+			g_studio.arrayelems[g_studio.numelems++] = g_studio.numverts - 2;
+			g_studio.arrayelems[g_studio.numelems++] = g_studio.numverts - 1;
+			g_studio.arrayelems[g_studio.numelems++] = g_studio.numverts;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			// draw triangle [n-1 n-2 n]
+			g_studio.arrayelems[g_studio.numelems++] = g_studio.numverts - 1;
+			g_studio.arrayelems[g_studio.numelems++] = g_studio.numverts - 2;
+			g_studio.arrayelems[g_studio.numelems++] = g_studio.numverts;
+		}
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		// draw triangle fan [0 n-1 n]
+		g_studio.arrayelems[g_studio.numelems++] = g_studio.numverts - ( vertexState - 1 );
+		g_studio.arrayelems[g_studio.numelems++] = g_studio.numverts - 1;
+		g_studio.arrayelems[g_studio.numelems++] = g_studio.numverts;
+	}
+
+	return vertexState;
+}
+
+/*
+===============
+R_StudioDrawNormalMesh
+
+generic path
+===============
+*/
+_inline void R_StudioBuildArrayNormalMesh( short *ptricmds, vec3_t *pstudionorms, float s, float t )
+{
+	float	*lv;
+	int	i;
+	float alpha = tr.blend;
+
+	while( i = *( ptricmds++ ))
+	{
+		int vertexState = 0;
+		qboolean tri_strip = true;
+
+		if( i < 0 )
+		{
+			tri_strip = false;
+			i = -i;
+		}
+
+		for( ; i > 0; i--, ptricmds += 4 )
+		{
+			GLubyte *cl;
+			cl = g_studio.arraycolor[g_studio.numverts];
+			lv = (float *)g_studio.lightvalues[ptricmds[1]];
+
+			vertexState = R_StudioBuildIndices( tri_strip, vertexState );
+
+			R_StudioSetColorArray( ptricmds, pstudionorms, cl );
+
+			g_studio.arraycoord[g_studio.numverts][0] = ptricmds[2] * s;
+			g_studio.arraycoord[g_studio.numverts][1] = ptricmds[3] * t;
+
+			VectorCopy( g_studio.verts[ptricmds[0]], g_studio.arrayverts[g_studio.numverts] );
+			g_studio.numverts++;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+/*
+===============
+R_StudioDrawNormalMesh
+
+generic path
+===============
+*/
+_inline void R_StudioBuildArrayFloatMesh( short *ptricmds, vec3_t *pstudionorms )
+{
+	float	*lv;
+	int	i;
+	float alpha = tr.blend;
+
+	while( i = *( ptricmds++ ))
+	{
+		int vertexState = 0;
+		qboolean tri_strip = true;
+
+		if( i < 0 )
+		{
+			tri_strip = false;
+			i = -i;
+		}
+
+		for( ; i > 0; i--, ptricmds += 4 )
+		{
+			GLubyte *cl;
+			cl = g_studio.arraycolor[g_studio.numverts];
+			lv = (float *)g_studio.lightvalues[ptricmds[1]];
+
+			vertexState = R_StudioBuildIndices( tri_strip, vertexState );
+
+			R_StudioSetColorArray( ptricmds, pstudionorms, cl );
+
+			g_studio.arraycoord[g_studio.numverts][0] = HalfToFloat( ptricmds[2] );
+			g_studio.arraycoord[g_studio.numverts][1] = HalfToFloat( ptricmds[3] );
+
+			VectorCopy( g_studio.verts[ptricmds[0]], g_studio.arrayverts[g_studio.numverts] );
+			g_studio.numverts++;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+/*
+===============
+R_StudioDrawNormalMesh
+
+generic path
+===============
+*/
+_inline void R_StudioBuildArrayChromeMesh( short *ptricmds, vec3_t *pstudionorms, float s, float t, float scale )
+{
+	float	*lv, *av;
+	int	i, idx;
+	qboolean	glowShell = (scale > 0.0f) ? true : false;
+	vec3_t	vert;
+	float alpha = tr.blend;
+
+	while( i = *( ptricmds++ ))
+	{
+		int vertexState = 0;
+		qboolean tri_strip = true;
+
+		if( i < 0 )
+		{
+			tri_strip = false;
+			i = -i;
+		}
+
+		for( ; i > 0; i--, ptricmds += 4 )
+		{
+			GLubyte *cl;
+			cl = g_studio.arraycolor[g_studio.numverts];
+			lv = (float *)g_studio.lightvalues[ptricmds[1]];
+
+			vertexState = R_StudioBuildIndices( tri_strip, vertexState );
+
+			if( glowShell )
+			{
+				idx = g_studio.normaltable[ptricmds[0]];
+				av = g_studio.verts[ptricmds[0]];
+				lv = g_studio.norms[ptricmds[0]];
+
+				cl[0] = RI.currententity->curstate.rendercolor.r;
+				cl[1] = RI.currententity->curstate.rendercolor.g;
+				cl[2] = RI.currententity->curstate.rendercolor.b;
+				cl[3] = 255;
+
+				VectorMA( av, scale, lv, vert );
+				VectorCopy( vert, g_studio.arrayverts[g_studio.numverts] );
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				idx = ptricmds[1];
+				R_StudioSetColorArray( ptricmds, pstudionorms, cl );
+
+				VectorCopy( g_studio.verts[ptricmds[0]], g_studio.arrayverts[g_studio.numverts] );
+			}
+
+			g_studio.arraycoord[g_studio.numverts][0] = g_studio.chrome[idx][0] * s;
+			g_studio.arraycoord[g_studio.numverts][1] = g_studio.chrome[idx][1] * t;
+
+			g_studio.numverts++;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+_inline void R_StudioDrawArrays( uint startverts, uint startelems )
+{
+	pglEnableClientState( GL_VERTEX_ARRAY );
+	pglVertexPointer( 3, GL_FLOAT, 12, g_studio.arrayverts );
+
+	pglEnableClientState( GL_TEXTURE_COORD_ARRAY );
+	pglTexCoordPointer( 2, GL_FLOAT, 0, g_studio.arraycoord );
+
+	if( !( g_nForceFaceFlags & STUDIO_NF_CHROME ) )
+	{
+		pglEnableClientState( GL_COLOR_ARRAY );
+		pglColorPointer( 4, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, 0, g_studio.arraycolor );
+	}
+
+#if !defined XASH_NANOGL || defined XASH_WES && defined __EMSCRIPTEN__ // WebGL need to know array sizes
+	if( pglDrawRangeElements )
+		pglDrawRangeElements( GL_TRIANGLES, startverts, g_studio.numverts,
+			g_studio.numelems - startelems, GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT, &g_studio.arrayelems[startelems] );
+	else
+#endif
+		pglDrawElements( GL_TRIANGLES, g_studio.numelems - startelems, GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT, &g_studio.arrayelems[startelems] );
+	pglDisableClientState( GL_VERTEX_ARRAY );
+	pglDisableClientState( GL_TEXTURE_COORD_ARRAY );
+	if( !( g_nForceFaceFlags & STUDIO_NF_CHROME ) )
+		pglDisableClientState( GL_COLOR_ARRAY );
+}
+
 /*
 ===============
 R_StudioDrawPoints
@@ -2054,6 +2319,9 @@ static void R_StudioDrawPoints( void )
 
 	if( !m_pStudioHeader ) return;
 
+
+	g_studio.numverts = g_studio.numelems = 0;
+
 	// safety bounding the skinnum
 	m_skinnum = bound( 0, RI.currententity->curstate.skin, ( m_pStudioHeader->numskinfamilies - 1 ));	    
 	ptexture = (mstudiotexture_t *)((byte *)m_pStudioHeader + m_pStudioHeader->textureindex);
@@ -2151,6 +2419,8 @@ static void R_StudioDrawPoints( void )
 	for( j = 0; j < m_pSubModel->nummesh; j++ ) 
 	{
 		float	oldblend = tr.blend;
+		uint startArrayVerts = g_studio.numverts;
+		uint startArrayElems = g_studio.numelems;
 		short	*ptricmds;
 		float	s, t;
 
@@ -2184,11 +2454,24 @@ static void R_StudioDrawPoints( void )
 
 		R_StudioSetupSkin( m_pStudioHeader, pskinref[pmesh->skinref] );
 
-		if( FBitSet( g_nFaceFlags, STUDIO_NF_CHROME ))
-			R_StudioDrawChromeMesh( ptricmds, pstudionorms, s, t, shellscale );
-		else if( FBitSet( g_nFaceFlags, STUDIO_NF_UV_COORDS ))
-			R_StudioDrawFloatMesh( ptricmds, pstudionorms );
-		else R_StudioDrawNormalMesh( ptricmds, pstudionorms, s, t );
+		if( CVAR_TO_BOOL(r_studio_drawelements) )
+		{
+			if( FBitSet( g_nFaceFlags, STUDIO_NF_CHROME ))
+				R_StudioBuildArrayChromeMesh( ptricmds, pstudionorms, s, t, shellscale );
+			else if( FBitSet( g_nFaceFlags, STUDIO_NF_UV_COORDS ))
+				R_StudioBuildArrayFloatMesh( ptricmds, pstudionorms );
+			else R_StudioBuildArrayNormalMesh( ptricmds, pstudionorms, s, t );
+
+			R_StudioDrawArrays( startArrayVerts, startArrayElems );
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			if( FBitSet( g_nFaceFlags, STUDIO_NF_CHROME ))
+				R_StudioDrawChromeMesh( ptricmds, pstudionorms, s, t, shellscale );
+			else if( FBitSet( g_nFaceFlags, STUDIO_NF_UV_COORDS ))
+				R_StudioDrawFloatMesh( ptricmds, pstudionorms );
+			else R_StudioDrawNormalMesh( ptricmds, pstudionorms, s, t );
+		}
 
 		if( FBitSet( g_nFaceFlags, STUDIO_NF_MASKED ))
 		{