A new developer diary video from Marathon provides players with a deep dive into the game’s Runner Shells.
With Bungie’s next first-person extraction shooter, Marathon, releasing in March 2026, the developers have been slowly sharing more details about the game. Last month, players were informed about pricing details, battle passes, new features, weapons, improvements, and more. Now, the developers are going straight into Runner Shells, the biosynthetic bodies you will be playing as.
Each Marathon Runner Shell Has Its Own Archetype
In the universe of Marathon, players are transferred into biosynthetic shells known as Runner Shells to navigate the Tau Ceti system. Each Runner Shell has its own archetype, which may include roles such as intel gathering, combat disruption, or combat healing. Additionally, these shells are designed with distinctive silhouettes, allowing players to identify them from a distance and strategize accordingly.
Players can experiment with different playstyles using the game’s cores, implants, weapons, and mods. Additionally, players can look forward to visual customizations that will be revealed at a later date.
Runner Shell Cores and Impants
Players can use Cores and Implants to customize their Runner Shell’s playstyles in Marathon. Cores are designed for one Runner Shell, mostly, where they can “buff or modify” the shell’s ability. Implants, on the other hand, can be used by any Runner Shell, and they grant additional stats and a random perk. Higher-tier implants also feature a bonus fixed perk.
For example, if players are going for a mobility build, with cores they can turn the Vandal’s double jump into a triple jump, and with implants they can increase its base movement speed, jump height, and heat capacity. Cores, implants, weapons, and mods can be combined with Runner Shells in Marathon to create unique play styles that best suit the player. Players can check out the new dev diary to learn more about these systems.
Marathon Runner Shells Archetypes and Abilities
Bungie has provided details on the base archetype and abilities of Runner Shells in Marathon. You can check them out below:
Destroyer
- Archetype: Combat specialist
- Armed with a personal defense barricade, missile systems, and movement thrusters, Destroyer shells are designed to bring the fight to enemy threats.
Assassin
- Archetype: Shadow agent
- Synthetic smoke deployment and camouflage technology allow Assassin shells to plan unseen strikes or take cover during hostile engagements.
Recon
- Archetype: Intel specialist
- Recon shells excel at identifying threats and tracking movements using echo pulses, tracker drones, and holographic footstep trails.
Vandal
- Archetype: Combat anarchist
- Vandal shells traverse ground at incredible speeds, using their advanced movement and knockback cannon to disrupt combat.
Thief
- Archetype: Covert acquisitions
- With enhanced visors and piloted butterfly drone, Thief shells can locate and acquire loot, then use their grapple to push an advantage or make an escape.
Triage
- Archetype: Field medic
- Triage shells help keep themselves and allies alive using deployable healing drones, onboard reboot abilities, and combat buffs.
Rook
- Archetype: Scavenger
- The Rook frame is designed for scavenger mode, a unique way to play Marathon. As Rook, you’ll drop into a match that’s already in progress as a solo player. You won’t be able to bring a loadout, but you also aren’t risking anything, which makes Rook an excellent option for scavengers.
Details about the Runner Shells were found through Bungie’s new blog post.
In other news, Marathon’s senior art director, Joseph Cross, left Bungie ahead of the game’s launch. What are your thoughts on Marathon’s Runner Shell details? Leave your thoughts on all this and more down in the comments, and join the official Insider Gaming Discord server.
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