15 Essential Marathon Prep Tips for Beginners
▼ Summary
– Marathon is a challenging and complex extraction shooter where players should expect to die frequently and not understand everything immediately.
– Players should prioritize collecting “Unstable” materials like Diodes and Biomass to unlock crucial upgrades, such as vault expansion.
– Completing introductory quests to unlock factions and then consistently completing contracts is essential for leveling up and gaining access to new items and upgrades.
– Several gameplay tips can aid survival, such as using crouching and water to manage sprint heat, and deploying claymores, smoke grenades, and signal jammers to handle enemies.
– Useful mechanics include noting that depleted health/shield items don’t extract, red flares mark lockbox locations, and TAD devices can reveal enemy players.
Stepping into the world of Marathon for the first time can feel like being thrown into the deep end. Bungie’s extraction shooter is a complex beast, and even seasoned players are still piecing it all together. If you’re new to the hostile planet of Tau Ceti IV, these essential pointers will help you survive longer, secure better gear, and start making sense of the chaos. Remember, death is a constant companion here, so embrace the learning curve.
Accept that mastery takes time. Don’t be discouraged if the game feels overwhelmingly intricate after your first dozen matches. The maps, loot systems, gear stats, and core mechanics have many layers. It will take considerable playtime and inevitable failure before things truly click. Consider this guide a helpful primer, but understand that genuine comprehension is a marathon, not a sprint.
Prioritize collecting unstable materials. Early on, you’ll be flooded with loot. Your primary focus should be on grabbing anything labeled “Unstable,” especially Unstable Diodes and Unstable Biomass. These are not vendor trash. Hoard them, as they are crucial for unlocking major upgrades, including a significant expansion of your personal vault storage capacity.
Unlock every faction immediately. Pay close attention to the introductory quests tagged as “Introducing.” Complete these missions as soon as possible. They are your gateway to the game’s various factions. Gaining access to them opens up a wider array of missions, known as contracts, and allows you to begin earning reputation with each group.
Always be completing contracts. Make it your mantra to always be working on faction contracts. This is the fastest route to leveling up your reputation. Higher faction ranks unlock the ability to spend your unstable materials on stat upgrades, new gear from the armory, and other critical progression paths. If a contract seems overly tedious, remember you can spend credits to reroll it for a new one.
Explore alternative reputation gains. Contracts aren’t the sole method for boosting faction standing. Each faction’s agent screen details bonus activities. For instance, simply picking plants grants reputation with the NuCaloric faction. You can often advance one faction’s goals while completing a contract for another, efficiently multitasking your progress.
Manage your shell’s heat efficiently. Sprinting and sliding build up heat, and overheating leaves you vulnerable. To cool down quickly, remember two simple tricks: crouch or find water. Crouching accelerates cooldown, and moving through any water, even puddles, slows heat buildup. Combine both by crouching in water for an extremely rapid temperature drop.
Deploy claymores defensively. While attaching them to drones is a popular tactic, claymores are incredibly valuable for solo play. Place them in doorways or near ladders while you loot or prepare to extract. This creates a security perimeter that can stop enemy runners from sneaking up on you, potentially saving your mission and your loot.
Utilize smoke grenades against bots. If you accidentally aggro a patrol of robotic soldiers, a well-placed smoke grenade can be a lifesaver. Toss smoke between you and the bots to break their line of sight and cover your retreat. They are notoriously confused by smoke, allowing you to disengage without a costly firefight.
Carry signal jammers. For more direct stealth, Signal Jammer kits are indispensable. Activating one masks your presence from enemy robots and automated turrets. This is perfect for slipping past heavy patrols or ambushing other players who think they’re safe while looting near bot-controlled areas.
Use depleted consumables in the field. Any shield kits or health packs that are fully depleted will not extract with you. If you have several in your inventory, don’t hoard them. Use them liberally when needed during a match, as they hold no value back at your vault.
Follow red flares to lockboxes. When you have a lockbox key but don’t know where to use it, scan the horizon for distinctive red flares. These mark buildings that contain the lockboxes you can unlock for valuable loot.
Leverage the map for contract details. If a contract objective seems vague, open your map. On the right side, you can view your team’s active contracts. Hovering your cursor over a specific contract often provides additional clarifying details, helping you locate elusive objectives with less frustration.
Upgrade factions to empower Rook. Rook is your automated shell that can be sent on loot-gathering runs. To make him more effective, focus on leveling up factions and purchasing upgrades until you unlock each one’s “Capstone” node. These capstones directly enhance Rook, equipping him with better gear and making him a more formidable asset.
Activate TADs for intel. Scattered around the maps are interactable antenna structures called TADs. Activating one will ping the surrounding area, briefly revealing the locations of enemy players. Be aware that the pulse is visible to others, announcing your presence, but the tactical advantage of knowing where threats are hiding is often worth it.
Counter poison plants with mechanic kits. The toxic plants that explode and inflict a healing debuff are a major nuisance. To instantly cleanse this effect, carry a Mechanic Kit. Using one will remove the poison, allowing you to heal normally again.
Beyond these proactive strategies, there are also critical pitfalls to avoid. Learning what not to do is just as important as mastering these essential techniques for surviving and thriving in Marathon’s demanding environment.
(Source: Kotaku)
