Marathon Guide — Tips for Successful Gameplay

In May 2023, the studio Bungie announced the sci-fi PvPvE extraction shooter Marathon during the PlayStation Showcase presentation. The game is a continuation of the series of shooters of the same name that were released in the mid-1990s.

The events of Marathon take place in the year 2850 on the planet Tau Ceti IV. Players take on the role of “Runners,” who are cybernetic mercenaries tasked with exploring dangerous zones and searching for various artifacts and supplies.

The game was released on March 5, 2026, and is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Players have received the game quite well; on Steam it has 87% positive reviews, with a peak concurrent player count of 88,337.

That is why we have created a short Marathon guide for you, which will help you understand the game.

Core Gameplay in Marathon

The goal of players is to collect valuable resources and technology on the map, after which they must evacuate. A danger during a raid is the possibility of encountering enemies, so frequent PvPvE encounters are guaranteed. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a balance between the desire to obtain maximum loot and leaving the area in time, avoiding the risk of being killed and losing the collected resources.

The Role of Factions in Marathon

To progress in Marathon, you need to complete various contracts that you receive from factions. By completing these contracts, you will earn reputation, which grants access to each faction’s exclusive shop, where you can purchase special weapon modifications, powerful gadgets, and other items that are not available anywhere else.

Here is a brief overview of the available factions:

• CyberAcme: This is the starting faction and is quite versatile. It focuses on basic mechanics such as inventory management, looting, and heat control.
• NuCaloric: Contracts from this faction are more focused on exploring abandoned colonies. Through it, you can improve your survival skills, healing, and shields.
• Traxus: This is the largest weapons corporation, so it follows the principle of “high risk — high reward.” Contracts from this faction are quite dangerous but provide access to much better weapons and powerful modifications.
• Mida: This is a resistance movement that opposes other corporations in Marathon. Its contracts are based on sabotage, and completing them grants access to various gadgets such as grenades, mines, and other tools for indirect pressure on the enemy.
• Arachne: This faction is focused on PvP tasks, with contracts often involving hunting other players in dangerous zones. As a reward, you will be able to upgrade melee combat skills, combat implants, and kill execution speed.
• Sekiguchi: This is a genetic corporation that created the core technology for the “Runners.” Contracts from this faction speed up ability recovery, increase base survivability, and most importantly, reduce death penalties.

We recommend actively leveling several factions that best suit your playstyle. Focusing on just one faction will make it harder to quickly adapt to unpredictable situations in the game.

Classes in Marathon

Marathon features six main Runner classes. Each class has a different set of unique active abilities, passive bonuses, and movement physics. All of this directly affects the player’s tactics during a raid.

Currently, the class tier list in Marathon looks as follows:

S-Tier

• Triage: An important player for the team thanks to the ability to heal autonomously and revive allies at a distance.
• Thief: Its advantage is the grappling hook, which allows for maneuvering and stealing loot from enemy backpacks.
• Recon: This class is essential in team play, as it can track enemies.

A-Tier

• Assassin: Best suited for solo players who focus on stealth and surprise attacks on enemies.
• Vandal: A class for players who prefer an aggressive playstyle; thanks to double jumps and knockback cannons, it allows for quick repositioning and catching enemies off guard.

B-Tier

• Destroyer: A heavy fighter equipped with homing missiles and an energy shield that absorbs damage.

Weapon Meta in Marathon

Currently, the weapon meta in Marathon is built around three main factors: overall damage output, reliability, and impact on the course of a match. Therefore, it is important to understand which weapons are the most optimal in order to maintain a high success rate in raids.

If we talk about the most optimal weapon choices, you should pay attention to the Bully SMG (SMG), Longshot (sniper rifle), Misriah-2442 (shotgun), Hardline PR (rifle), and Stryder M1T (rifle). At the moment, these weapons are considered the best in the game.

You can also take a look at the Impact HAR and M77 assault rifles. Among shotguns, V85 Circuit Breaker and WSTR Combat Shotgun can be considered solid options. You may also consider the Demolition HMG machine gun or the Overrun AR assault rifle, but it cannot be said that these weapons will be effective in all situations.

It is best to avoid Conquest LMG, Magnum MC, Retaliator LMG, V11 Punch, and CE Tactical Sidearm. In all parameters, they are significantly weaker than their competitors.

Tips for Successful Gameplay in Marathon

Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

Sound plays a crucial role in Marathon. This was also stated by the game director, Joe Ziegler, because players will often hear the enemy before they see them. This will help you be prepared for a firefight or, on the contrary, avoid it. Therefore, we have put together a short guide to audio settings in Marathon.

Here are the optimal settings:

• Listen Mode: For sound-based navigation on the map, it is best to use Headphones or Studio Reference.
• SFX Volume: The optimal value here is 8–10.
• Game Volume: 10.
• Gameplay Music Volume: Turn it off or set it to a minimum, as it can interfere with tracking enemy movement.
• Cinematics Volume: 5–6, which allows you to hear system notifications without distracting you from more important sounds.
• Lobby Music Volume: Up to your preference.

 Chat Volume: The optimal range is 5–7, as it won’t overpower environmental sounds while still keeping team communication clear.

Don’t Be Stingy with Resources

Raids on Tau Ceti require a large amount of resources, as in addition to PvP encounters, you will also face PvE enemies that are quite strong. All of this requires a significant supply of ammunition and medical items, so bring plenty to avoid running out at the worst possible moment.

Focus on Priority Contracts

By completing priority contracts from factions, you will be able to level them up faster and obtain better gear.

Manage Your Heat Level Effectively

Heat in Marathon acts as a kind of stamina level that affects your mobility. If you crouch or stay in water, the Heat level will recover faster. However, if it reaches the red zone, recovery will take much longer.

Play as a Team

Yes, this may sound like a common tip for cooperative games, but here it has a serious impact on your results. Playing as a team allows for better coordination in critical situations and makes completing contracts easier.

We hope this guide was useful for you. Good luck with your raids!