Advanced Marathon PvP Guide

Advanced Marathon PvP Guide Quick Summary:

• Marathon’s PvP stands on four pillars: sound, positioning, abilities, and right weapons.
• Sound is the most important ally. Birds, UESC alarms, turrets, spores, footsteps, doors, healing, and exfil sound cues will all help you track player position.
• Good positioning is what makes the difference between a fight won and a fight lost. Take high ground, change angles, disengage when at a disadvantage.
• The biggest mistakes players make are rushing, ignoring consumables, not using abilities, underestimating enemies, overcommitting to finish the downed enemy, and not listening to their teammates' comms.

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How PvP Works in Marathon

Marathon is not just another extraction shooter. The key difference is that it has Shells, which you need to treat like heroes in hero shooters or classes in RPGs. I won’t be explaining all Shells here, as we already have a separate article about them. What you need to understand is that all Shells have some form of protection to survive an unfavorable fight:

• Destroyer: Shield, Tac Sprint, and Air Dash.
• Vandal: Every part of a kit.
• Recon: Lacks any defense, but can quickly transfer into offense with the help of a bot that the attacker will need to react to.
• Assassin: Invisibility and Smoke.
• Triage: Doesn’t have any escape abilities, but is less susceptible to dying because of the heal bot.
• Thief: Grappling Hook.
• Rook: UESC Imitating device.

All PvP is built around the abilities each of the Shells has. Weapons are great and all, but they’re secondary to your abilities. There are several factors that influence successful exfil, in order of importance:

1. Sound
2. Positioning
3. Abilities
4. Weapons

Mastering all these will make you god. Today, we’ll dive deeper and talk about how you should play to stay alive.

Key Rule: Learn to Listen

One thing that makes Marathon harder than your average FPS is that you die extremely fast, no matter how well you’re equipped. If you come into a fight unprepared or if you aren’t alert at all times, you’ll die more than you can count. Basically, the person who lands the first shot usually wins. Seems unfair, right? What can you do if you don’t react to the person shooting fast enough? Well, the game actually tells you everything before someone lands the first shot.

If you take away one thing from this guide, let it be this - sound is everything in Marathon. Marathon is a very sound-centered game. Learning to listen lowers your odds of being killed. Everything emits some sound that is sometimes so alien you can’t even identify what’s going on. Knowing the sounds is the key to victory. Here are some sounds to look out for:

• Birds: When the birds are startled, you’ll hear shrieking coming from the side where the birds noticed the danger. You’ll also see them flying up, so you have a general idea where this happened. Note that birds can just scream sometimes, but there’s a very specific sound when they get startled.
• UESC Forces: Even if they’re not shooting at anyone, they will emit a loud alarm, signifying someone’s presence. Opening a door, breaking a window, running, dropping from a height - all these things make UESC react.
• Turrets: They’re placed in a manner where they can notice Runners in multiple locations. If you hear a turret being activated, but you’re sure you didn’t trigger it, someone else is around.
• Spores: When toxic spores blow up, you can see a green glow around the area and a hissing sound. Usually, people who trigger them aren’t very careful, and they’re probably rushing somewhere, and it’s a good moment to catch them off guard while they’re using their Mechanic’s Kit.
• Lightning: On maps like Perimeter and Outpost, lightning usually shows that someone is in the area. They’re not very accurate and don’t show you the exact location where the people are, but it’s enough to know that someone’s in the vicinity.
• Ticks: I jump up every time I hear a tick spawn. Ticks are really annoying to deal with and will pursue you to the ends of Tau Ceti IV. Most Runners kill them with knives, but they can’t stay around, as tick nests will spawn more of these critters.

Doors, curtains, healing, and interacting with virtually anything make a very noticeable and recognizable sound. Is someone calling in a loadout drop? You will hear this on the other end of the map. Exfil is being called? You’ll see the beam and hear a loud noise. Know that everything you do makes a sound, even crouch walking. Pro tip! If you’re in the middle of the fight, it’s easy to understand the enemy Runner’s position because their footsteps will sound much louder than your teammates'.

I’ve dedicated such a big section of this article to sound because this is the key mechanic that helps you survive. Your shooting is only good enough if you are aware of your surroundings. Of course, there are sometimes cases where you won’t hear an attacker because they’re camping and are sitting still, but if it’s on a big location and not between them, you can tell someone’s there because UESC will be sending their troops over and over.

How to Win Every Fight in Marathon

I know that’s a loud header, but what I’m about to tell you will change your perspective on how you should take fights. Positioning is the most important aspect in any shooter, but it’s one of the most important in Marathon. If the information wasn’t conveyed so much through sound, I would say that positioning is the #1 principle to winning fights. Here are a few rules to win PvP in Marathon:

• Higher Ground Wins: If you’re on top and the enemy is below, you have a huge advantage over them.
• Never Take the Same Angle: When you shoot an enemy, they already know where the danger is coming from, so they’ll be waiting for aggression from that side. If you’re playing solo, try to change your position as fast and as safely as possible after an opening shot if you can’t take down a Runner immediately. If you’re in a group, let one of your teammates rotate so you take enemy Runners from multiple positions. Never peek from the same corner as a group. This is the most important advice on how to win every fight in Marathon.
• Don’t Rush: After you’ve downed a Runner, don’t be a loot goblin. Loot’s not going anywhere. You’ve likely attracted the third side to the encounter. After a shootout, change your position once again and observe the area. I guarantee you that in higher-ranked lobbies, you’ll see at least one squad trying to contest your loot.
• Respect the Abilities: You heard an enemy Destroyer pop their Prime? Hide, run, do whatever you want, but don’t get caught. Recon used her Prime? Blend in with the UESC and don’t start the fight. Always drain the enemies of their resources, but don’t sit on yours.
• Use Grenades to Force Reposition: If you are bad with landing nades, it’s no problem. Their main use is to cut off the enemies. Toxin grenades are the worst. Flechette grenades are the second worst.
• Disengage if Ambushed: This is another important piece of advice to win fights in Marathon PvP. If you didn’t expect the enemy, which is the worst-case scenario, immediately disengage from the fight and regroup. Don’t start shooting back if the enemy hits you first, unless they caught you in the open with no cover. Even then, you should try to disengage in any way possible. Smoke grenades, dashes, and grappling hooks are all great ways to escape damage.

One of the more important tips I can give is to count the squad numbers. Each squad you take out decreases the chance of you being taken out, so play aggressively. Unlike ARC Raiders, no new squads spawn later into the round. You start each round with a set number of players. Here’s the number of players for each Marathon map:

Map	Number of Squads
Perimeter	5 Squads (15 players)
Dire Marsh	6 Squads (18 players)
Outpost	4 Squads (12 players)
Cryo Archive	6 Squads (18 players)

Note that Rooks will join your match after a 15-minute mark. Even if you are sure that you’re the last squad on the server, don’t play recklessly. There are enough videos of Rooks wiping out squads.

 

 

Common PvP Mistakes to Avoid in Marathon

Following the principles above will make you win 80% of the fights. Of course, it’s hard to keep all of this in mind, especially during the stress of the shootout, but you have to actively make your brain follow these things. Never play on autopilot. But it’s easy to understand how to win. What about the best ways to lose? Let’s talk about the most common PvP mistakes in Marathon:

• Finish an Enemy Once They’re Downed: Kill the enemy outright, ignoring all other danger around, especially if they’re starting to crawl towards their teammate, revealing their position.
• Never Use Any Consumables: Signal Jammer? What a useless consumable. Now I’m just a blur. I want the enemy to see me in their thermal scope, and UESC to react to me every time I walk past them. Energy Amp? Nah, I let my Prime charge for 5 business days.
• Underestimate the Enemy: This Assassin sniper definitely can’t shoot. I can pop out and take him down even though he aims right at me, and is 200 feet away.
• Not Cooperating With Teammates: I’m gonna run into the enemies solo even though my teammates are far behind and want to approach the fight slowly.
• Don’t Use Abilities: It’s a shooter game, so I shoot. I’m not gonna play to my strength, using Destroyer’s Prime to deal more damage, running a Volt weapon to trigger EMP explosions as Triage, or X-Raying the enemy as a Thief.

Even though it might seem that I sound condescending, that’s because I am. This is a list of mistakes that I’m guilty of making myself. But if you want to actually start winning, you have to stop listening to your monkey brain and lock in.

Best PvP Weapons in Marathon

Alright, if you’ve read what I’ve written before, you probably understand that I don’t think that weapons are a key solution to automatically winning the fight, even if you’re a god of aim. Of course, your chance of winning increases, but shooting well doesn’t automatically mean that you win, unlike other shooters. Not making headshots kill in a single shot is a very purposeful decision that forces you to play aggressively instead of picking your fights. This is not going to be a best weapon tier list, since I already wrote one, but more of a recommendation list of best weapons for each Shell in Marathon:

Shell	Best Weapons	Description
Destroyer	LMGs and Shotguns	LMGs directly proc the Destroyer’s Prime, and Shotguns synergize with some of the Destroyer’s Cores, not speaking about the fact that a Destroyer can safely close the gap between you and the enemy.
Vandal	SMGs, Snipers, Shotguns	Weapons influence your movement speed, so for the most movement-heavy character in the game, it’s logical that we don’t want to lower the speed. You can also build into melee damage and one-shot enemy Runners with heavy melee.
Recon	Precision Rifles, Snipers, Railguns	Since Recon can identify and tag enemy Runners, it’s a good idea to pick hard-hitting weapons that can help them line up a shot. Even the Railguns that I generally use on UESC can be useful on her.
Assassin	Shotguns, Sniper Rifles, Assault Rifles.	Assassin doesn’t rely on his movement, unlike Vandal, but this Shell still wants to close the distance, or, on the contrary, stay as far away as possible. For this reason, these weapons will work the best for the class.
Triage	Any Volt weapon	Triage’s only synergy comes with energy weapons, so pick up whatever you feel comfortable with. Just don’t forget to pop your Tactical.
Thief	SMGs, Shotguns, ARs	Truth be told, anything goes with Thief. This runner shell is a great all-rounder, especially when it comes to solo runs.

The weapon of choice doesn’t really matter. Right now we have domination of LMGs with shields, cause shield’s HP is so big that you’re likely to lose any 1v1 fight against it. WSTR Shotgun is an ultimate close-quarter solution. V75 Scar is one of the favorites in ARs, though I much prefer M77. I don’t recommend using Overrun AR and Hardline PR, as well as Railguns. Anything else should work pretty fine.

 

 

Solo vs Squad PvP Tips

In this final section of the article, I’ll list a few tips that help me do better in my runs. They might be pretty generic, but I’ll try to scrape out a few less obvious insights from the back of my mind. Solo and Squad gameplay cannot be any more different. Solo Marathon is often compared to a horror game, which I agree with. The Squad Marathon is where the game truly shines, since most Shells’ abilities and Implants focus on providing some kind of support for squad members. Playing solo means that you have to pick specific Shells, as someone like Triage isn’t that useful when playing alone. Now let’s talk about some Solo vs Squad PvP tips.

Solo Queue Marathon PvP Tips

When playing solo, picking up information from the sound cues is even more important than when playing with squads. Here, you can only rely on yourself. First of all, let me list the best Shells for solo in Marathon:

1. Thief: If you just wanna loot, this Shell is the best in the game. Though her Prime ability is kind of unsafe when playing solo, the rest of her kit works pretty well.
2. Assassin: As much as I don’t like playing as Assassin, he’s objectively one of the best Shells for solo in Marathon. All his kit is focused on his survival and sudden attacks. I think other Shells are stronger than him, but if you’re a new player, this Shell will save you more than one time. Just don’t sit on him too long, or you’ll start playing the game a bit too safely.
3. Destroyer: His Prime + LMG = Any 1v1 won. His shield will get you out of harm’s way if you’ve been ambushed. His Tac Sprint can help you travel between points lightning fast. His Air Dash lets you escape into the cover quickly or close the gap between you and the target. My personal favorite.
4. Vandal: If you’ve been playing Apex before coming to Marathon, you’ll like this Shell. Good in offense and defense, especially if you know her limits. Popping your Prime during an encounter helps you change the position quickly, as well as disengage from the fight.

Now that you know which Shell to play in solo queue, let’s focus on some solo PvP tips for Marathon:

1. Run Less: Though crossing a vast space without cover might seem scary, running around like a crazy chicken will get you killed very fast.
2. Don’t Fight on Free Sponsored Kit: Gray guns on the sponsored kit aren’t good enough to kill UESC, let alone Runners. Your best choice is to avoid all conflict. Unless you catch another Runner off guard when they’re looting and defenseless. Even then, I suggest knifing them.
3. Play Tactical: This is a continuation of the first tip. When playing solo, you don’t have the luxury of your teammates reviving you if you die. That’s why you have to carefully consider your steps. Even something as minor as opening a door can be deadly.
4. Never Loot Runners Immediately: Once you down a Runner and finish them, don’t loot right away. Check for any unwanted attention first.
5. Stay Close to Cover: When travelling between POIs, always try to have at least one of your sides covered, or at the very least have a cover nearby.
6. Fake Information: I think this is a very underestimated tactical move. Open the doors, startle the birds, trigger UESC at one point, and then rotate to another. Trick your opponents into thinking you’re clueless.

These six simple tips will improve your extraction rate in Marathon significantly. A lot of players treat the game more like a Battle Royale, but they forget that dying has consequences. Don’t be like them, and you’ll have a leg up.

Squads Marathon PvP Tips

I usually like playing solo in extraction shooters, but in Marathon, this is a very harsh experience. Doesn’t matter what you think, Marathon was made to play in a group first and foremost. That’s why the whole game is balanced for this, and solo play sometimes feels like an afterthought or a different game altogether. The gameplay in squads is completely different from solo play, though some ideas remain the same. Let’s go over the best tips for Squad PvP in Marathon:

1. Never Play with Randoms: Yes, randoms can be quite good at the game and can even occasionally communicate, but this can turn into a bad experience quite fast. Playing with randoms is just ruining your experience. If all else fails, join the Official Marathon Discord and find a party there.
2. Communicate Your Moves: Never go in unannounced. This goes without saying, but for some reason, people always forget about that, myself included. Warn your teammates that you’re taking a risky move, throwing a grenade, pushing your enemy, or staying behind. Information is key, especially information about your squad.
3. Play to Your Strengths: I’m good at being an aggressive player. My duo and trio are great as snipers or tactical players. Don’t pick a Vandal just to walk or pick a Thief and never drone. Understand your strengths first and play accordingly. If you have no idea what you’re good at, force yourself to play in various scenarios. You’ll lose some of your gear, but that’s a minimal price to pay for future wins.
4. Don’t Play Recklessly: If you take down a player and fall yourself, this isn’t good. The odds stay the same, but now your team has lost a player. And has to think about how to help you. This can easily lead to squad wipe and frustration. Always try to make an opener. Take down shields, damage one of the players, but never go in without weakening the enemy.
5. Stay Close, But Not Too Close: Another mistake I see players make is staying 60-100 meters away from each other. When you’re in a team, this significantly weakens you and makes you an easy target to pick out. Try to stay close, but don’t be too close cause then it’s easier for the enemy to lock you in place.
6. Don’t Be Shy to Leave Your Teammates: No need to risk it all if your teammate is dead. You can revive them later. Disengage, return, and revive them later. They might lose a lot of their loot, but the game works in a way where your opponent can’t take everything from them, unless they were on a hobo run.
7. Announce Suspicions: If you think that you’ve heard an enemy, don’t write it off as paranoia. Being paranoid in extraction shooters is actually a good feature. Tell your squadmates that someone’s nearby. Even if it’s a false call, it’s never bad to take your time and play slower in Marathon.

As you can see, most of the tips here consist of communication tactics. While this might seem obvious, sometimes you gotta hear an obvious truth to realize it. I didn’t provide any snake oil tactics. Instead, I focused on something that will bring real impact to your game. TL;DR, be thoughtful in your decisions and don’t take stupid risks if you don’t want to win stupid prizes.

Read our other Marathon guides:

• Cryo Archive Guide
• Beginner's Guide
• Factions Guide
• Best Settings

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