Marathon

Marathon is an extraction shooter developed by Bungie set in 2893 on the abandoned UESC Marathon colony ship at Tau Ceti IV. Players take on the role of Runners, exploring dangerous zones, completing faction contracts, battling UESC mechanoids and rival players, while managing permanent gear loss on death. The game features PvPvE gameplay with 8 unique Runner Shells, 6 factions, and multiple maps.

Rook is the most beginner-friendly Runner Shell, offering enhanced shield regeneration and damage resistance that makes it forgiving for new players. For solo play, Assassin (stealth-focused) or Vandal (mobility-focused) are also excellent choices. Triage and Vandal are considered S-Tier for team play.

Only CyberAcme is unlocked at the start. To unlock the remaining factions, complete Liaison Contracts sequentially — CyberAcme unlocks NuCaloric, which unlocks Traxus, then MIDA, then Arachne, and finally Sekiguchi (requires Level 12+ for Outpost access). Each faction must be unlocked in order by completing the previous faction's Liaison Contract.

Marathon is an extraction shooter with permanent gear loss. If you die during a run, you lose all equipment and loot you were carrying. However, items stored in your Vault are safe. Some quests require completion in a single run without dying, while others allow progress across multiple runs. Always extract successfully to keep your loot.

Priority Contracts are the main quest lines given by each of the 6 factions. They offer the greatest rewards including weapons, gear, faction reputation, and credits. Completing Priority Contracts is essential for unlocking new factions, accessing faction upgrades (like vault expansion and heat management), and progressing through the game's content.