Marathon is finally here, but even after a hefty Server Slam Playtest, the early game can still be quite overwhelming. With such a strong aesthetic and numerous menus to navigate, getting started can be more difficult than other titles of the same extraction shooter genre.
However, it doesn’t have to be so overwhelming, and with a little patience (and some handy tips), you’ll get the hang of things in time. Before long, you’ll be ruling over Tau Ceti and ready to take on the toughest challenges the game has to offer.
If you want to make it to the top, but you’re struggling with Marathon’s early game, then here are seven things you need to do first.
Familiarise Yourself With The UI/Menus
It was an early complaint that plenty of fans had during the Marathon Server Slam Playtest: the UI is too overwhelming and confusing. But in all honesty, once you take a moment to familiarise yourself with it, navigating the menus is truly an easy process.
There is no quick trick here; just take the time to flick through each section, and learn where you need to go for each task. Early game, so long as you’re aware of how to access your Vault, the Factions, and the Upgrades, you’ll do just fine. After that, delve into the Armory and figure out where you can buy different items—for that, though, you’ll need each of the Factions unlocked.
Unlock All Factions
There are six Factions to unlock in Marathon, with CyberAcme being the only one available at the start. Before long, you’ll unlock Liaison Contracts, which allow you to unlock each of the other five Factions.
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Do these as soon as possible. Each of the Factions offers unique upgrade paths to improve your Runner’s stats, as well as access to various items in the Armory. These are core to the main progression in Marathon, so the quicker you get them unlocked and ranked up, the better.
Prioritise Early CyberAcme Upgrades
That being said, you’ll want to prioritise CyberAcme upgrades early on in Marathon. Here, you’ll be able to increase your Vault storage, the Credit Wallet capacity, as well as handy upgrades to your loot speed and Heat Capacity.
It’s a very vital upgrade path that you’ll want to invest in early doors. Without them, you’ll find that your Vault overflows after a handful of raids, something no loot goblin ever wants to have to deal with.
Experiment With Each Runner Shell
There are six Runner Shells in Marathon, and they each come with a unique set of abilities and traits. Down the line, you’ll be able to craft the perfect build for a Shell, using Cores to enhance certain abilities and so on.
However, in the early game, it’s best to try out all six of them to see which ones resonate most with you. You might think that you’ll enjoy the stealthy Assassin, but find that Triage is what your team was lacking. Before devoting time and resources to crafting a Shell-specific build, just give them all a shot first—you might just be surprised which one you prefer.
Use Sponsored Kits Or Complete Rook Runs
If you’re running low on resources and can’t craft a good loadout, don’t be afraid to use Sponsored Kits. These can be purchased in the Armory for free, and they give you a basic loadout with a single gun and enough heals to get a Run done.
Use these to farm resources in the early game, so you don’t waste your gear on learning the various mechanics and maps. If you want to take it one step further, give Rook a try. It’s a solo-specific Shell, where you’ll load into ongoing matches on your own, but it’s a great way to scavenge for gear without the fear of losing anything.
Learn To Preserve Ammo & Heals
Marathon doesn’t hold your hand when it comes to resources. More often than not, you’ll find that after a gunfight or two, you’re practically out of ammo and heals, especially if you’re using a Sponsored Kit. Until you have a constant supply of them, it’s best to preserve your resources for gunfights you need to engage in—there’s no harm in sneaking by.
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That being said, if you are in need of a top-up mid-run, try looking around the outskirts of the Zones. You’re more likely to find ammo and healing items in these locations, and they’re typically Runner-free, so you should have a moment of peace and quiet before diving back into the action.
Identify Which Early-Game Items To Loot
There are a lot of items to find across Tau Ceti, and it can be confusing to know what to look out for in the early game. You’ll need a whole variety of resources to upgrade different Skills and barter for equipment in the Armory, but only a few should catch your eye early on. These are:
- Unstable Gunmetal
- Unstable Diode
- Unstable Biomass
- Unstable Lead
- Unstable Gel
If you stumble across any of these during a run, pick them up without hesitation. You’ll constantly be in need of these, especially for the first set of Faction upgrades, so stack your backpack to the limit and don’t leave any of them behind!
Hopefully, these tips can help you make a solid start to life on Tau Ceti. If you have any of your own, come and share them in the official Insider Gaming Discord Server.
For more Marathon content, check out how to earn Silk for the Season 1 Rewards Pass, as well as when Ranked should be joining the game.
Charlie is one of Insider Gaming's Guides Writers who's been in the gaming industry for a little over a year. Unfortunately for him, he enjoys every video game genre out…
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