Complete Marathon Runner Shell Overview: Everything you need to know

Bungie’s Marathon is a First-person Extraction Shooter set within the Lore universe of the original Marathon titles. Unlike other Extraction Shooters, Marathon has a class-based system in the form of Runner Shells. Here, we’ll go over each Runner Shell and what sets them apart in our Marathon Runner Shell Overview.

What are Runner Shells in Marathon?

A Runner Shell is a biosynthetic body created to explore the dangerous world of Tau Ceti IV. Players in Marathon, before loading into a match, create their loadout of choice. However, you’ll also be able to select from a cast of multiple Runner Shells to play, each with their own unique kit and traits. Each Runner Shell has a Prime Ability, Tactical Ability and a set of Traits. Below is our complete Marathon Runner Shell overview.

Marathon Runner Shell Overview

There is an already wide-range of Runner Shells to pick from. As a result of Marathon being a Live Service title, we can expect to see more Runner Shells added over time. Be sure to check back to learn about the ever-growing cast of Runners.

Assassin

The Assassin is your go-to stealth fantasy Runner Shell. With the Assassin, you can utilize smoke, stealth shrouds and more to sneak around the zone for loot. Or, with deadly silence, completely take out enemies at the most unexpected of times.

Assassin Prime Ability, Tactical Ability & Traits

• Prime Ability: Smoke Screen – Throw a smoke disc that emits a line of smoke fields in front of you, disrupting the optics of those who step inside.
• Tactical Ability: Active Camo – Activate you shell’s camouflage systems, pulling a shroud of invisibility over yourself.
• Trait 1: Shadow Dive – Activate while airborne to slam a smoke disc into the ground, deploying a smoke field.
• Trait 2: Shroud – Your shell automatically activates camouflage systems when entering any smoke field, making you invisible. Invisibility persists for a short time after leaving the smoke field.

Base Stats

Below is a list of the Assassin Runner Shell’s base stats:

• Heat Capacity: 10
• Agility: 20
• Loot Speed: 15
• Fall Resistance: 10
• Melee Damage: 10
• Finisher Siphon: 10
• Prime Recovery: 10
• Tactical Recovery: 5
• Self-Repair Speed: 10
• Revive Speed: 15
• Hardware: 10
• Firewall: 20
• Ping Duration: 10

Destroyer

The Destroyer is the party starter of the Runner Shells in Marathon. Leading the charge with no fear, the Destroyer excels in being an aggressive frontline player for the crew. Utilizing thrusters to dash in any direction and an energy shield, advance into the enemy and destroy them. Alternatively, use your shoulder-mounted missiles to blast enemies at a distance.

Destroyer Prime Ability, Tactical Ability & Traits

• Prime Ability: Search and Destroy – Activate your shoulder-mounted missile pods. Dealing sustained damage to targets launches homing missiles, immobilizing and dealing damage upon impact.
• Tactical Ability: Riot Barricade – Activate an energy barricade that blocks incoming damage, draining tactical ability energy over time. Taking damage drains additional energy.
• Trait 1: Thruster – Activate while airborne to fire boosters that thrust you in the direction you are moving.
• Trait 2: Tactical Sprint – Double-press sprint to move faster at the cost of generating additional heat.

Base Stats

Below is a list of the Destroyer Runner Shell’s base stats:

• Heat Capacity: 15
• Agility: 10
• Loot Speed: 5
• Fall Resistance: 5
• Melee Damage: 15
• Finisher Siphon: 10
• Prime Recovery: 5
• Tactical Recovery: 10
• Self-Repair Speed: 15
• Revive Speed: 10
• Hardware: 25
• Firewall: 20
• Ping Duration: 5

Recon

The Recon is exactly what you’d expect a Recon Runner Shell to be – informative for the team. This Runner Shell has a large amount of reconnaissance utilities to keep your crew in the know. Ping and detect hostiles with scans, search the zone from above with a Tracker Drone, follow holographic trails. Alternatively, interrogate a captured Runner on their crews whereabouts, before finishing them off.

Recon Prime Prime Ability, Tactical Ability & Traits

• Prime Ability: Echo Pulse – Activate your shell’s advanced detection systems, releasing a series of sonar pulses that reveal the location of nearby hostiles.
• Tactical Ability: Tracker Drone – Deploy a mechanized micro-bot that tracks down nearby hostiles and explodes, overheating any targets caught in the blast.
• Trait 1: Interrogation – When pinged by a hostile Runner, you automatically receive a warning in your shell’s HUD. Performing a finisher on a Runner pings their crew.
• Trait 2: Stalker Protocol – After breaking a combatant’s shields, they leave behind a lingering holographic trail for a short time.

Base Stats

Below is a list of the Recon Runner Shell’s base stats:

• Heat Capacity: 20
• Agility: 15
• Loot Speed: 10
• Fall Resistance: 5
• Melee Damage: 5
• Finisher Siphon: 25
• Prime Recovery: 5
• Tactical Recovery: 10
• Self-Repair Speed: 5
• Revive Speed: 10
• Hardware: 10
• Firewall: 15
• Ping Duration: 25

Thief

The Thief Runner Shell is every loot goblins dream. The main advantages of the Thief allows it to thrive when it comes to finding high-value loot and where it’s located. However, you’re not just a looting machine. Increase the potency of your weapon handling and the speed of your Grapple Device by hording as much loot as possible. This is a result of having more items in your backpack. The Thief’s Grapple Device is a very powerful tool in combat, getting the high ground or even a good flank on unsuspecting enemies. Grappling also works as a quick escape.

Thief Prime Ability, Tactical Ability & Traits

• Prime Ability: Pickpocket Drone – Deploy a remotely piloted flying drone with a limited lifespan.
• Tactical Ability: Grapple Device – Launch a grapple device in your aim direction, propelling yourself towards it.
• Trait 1: X-Ray Visor – Activate your visor, highlighting hostiles and containers in the color of the most valuable item they’re storing. Containers are revealed through walls, while hostiles require line of sight. While active, aiming at a hostile for a short time Hacks their optics, disrupting their vision until you look away.
• Trait 2: The Finer Things – Gain increased weapon handling and accelerated Grapple Device recharge rate based on the number of items in your backpack.

Base Stats

Below is a list of the Thief Runner Shell’s base stats:

• Heat Capacity: 15
• Agility: 20
• Loot Speed: 25
• Fall Resistance: 20
• Melee Damage: 10
• Finisher Siphon: 15
• Prime Recovery: 10
• Tactical Recovery: 5
• Self-Repair Speed: 5
• Revive Speed: 5
• Hardware: 5
• Firewall: 15
• Ping Duration: 5

Triage

The Triage Runner Shell is the support Shell of Marathon. Triage in every sense is a combat medic, armed with a medical drone and a ranged revive ability. However, it doesn’t stop there, the Triage can also share the effects of medical consumables with their crew, providing they have a Med-Drone attached. If being a healer or support in PvP is your preference, Triage is a must.

Triage Prime Ability, Tactical Ability & Traits

• Prime Ability: Reboot+ – Lock on to downed crew members or hostile targets and fire your Reboot+ device at them, which revives crew members and + EMPs hostiles.
• Tactical Ability: Med-Drone – Deploy a floating medical drone that attaches to crew members and restores health or recharges shields, and prevents them from bleeding out while downed.
• Trait 1: Shareware.exe – Benefits from medical consumables are shared between crew members with Med-Drone attached to them.
• Trait 2: Battery Overcharge – Divert energy from your cooling systems to boost the performance of your weapons at the cost of generating additional heat.
• While active, breaking a target’s shield with a volt weapon + EMPs them.

Base Stats

Below is a list of the Triage Runner Shell’s base stats:

• Heat Capacity: 10
• Agility: 10
• Loot Speed: 10
• Fall Resistance: 5
• Melee Damage: 5
• Finisher Siphon: 5
• Prime Recovery: 10
• Tactical Recovery: 5
• Self-Repair Speed: 25
• Revive Speed:20
• Hardware: 15
• Firewall: 15
• Ping Duration: 15

Vandal

The Vandal Runner Shell excels in movement and slippery gunplay. With the ability to double jump, slide further and faster than other Shells and move faster – you’re truly a speed demon. Vandal is highly dexterous with weapons thanks to their Prime Ability. Finally, don’t be fooled to think that all the Vandal has is movement. You’ll also be able to utilize an energy cannon in your arm to deal damage in a radius and push enemies away.

Vandal Prime Ability, Tactical Ability & Traits

• Prime Ability: Amplify – Overcharge your movement systems, reducing the heat build-up of movement abilities. Increases movement speed and weapon dexterity.
• Tactical Ability: Disrupt Cannon – Press: Transform your arm into a cannon and fire a high-powered energy projectile that deals damage and pushes targets away. Hold:Overcharge your arm cannon, greatly increasing the size and damage of the blast.
• Trait 1: Microjets – Activate in air to perform another jump at the cost of generating additional heat.
• Trait 2: Power Slide – Grants a supercharged slide that generates additional heat.

Base Stats

Below is a list of the Vandal Runner Shell’s base stats:

• Heat Capacity: 25
• Agility: 30
• Loot Speed: 5
• Fall Resistance: 10
• Melee Damage: 5
• Finisher Siphon: 10
• Prime Recovery: 10
• Tactical Recovery: 5
• Self-Repair Speed: 5
• Revive Speed: 5
• Hardware: 10
• Firewall: 5
• Ping Duration: 5

Rook

The Rook Runner Shell is your low-risk approach to Tau Ceti IV in Marathon. Rook acts as a scavenger Runner Shell, with the sole purpose of snagging some loot and making a quick getaway. It is in your best interest to try and make friends while you’re a Rook. This is a result of being able to Solo Queue only as a Rook. It is also worth noting that you’ll always spawn into a match in-progress as Rook, never at the start. The Rook comes equipped with abilities that assist you by diverting the attention and detection of UESC enemies. This allows you to get by fairly safe to collect some low-risk loot. In our Marathon Runner Shell overview, we recommend utilizing this Runner when you’re down on your luck.

Rook Prime Ability, Tactical Ability & Traits

• Prime Ability: Recuperation
• Tactical Ability: Signal Mask – Activate a masking system that prevents UESC enemies from detecting Rook.
• Trait 1: N/A
• Trait 2: N/A

Base Stats

Below is a list of the Rook Runner Shell’s base stats:

• Heat Capacity: 40
• Agility: 40
• Loot Speed: 60
• Fall Resistance: 20
• Melee Damage: 0
• Finisher Siphon: 20
• Prime Recovery: 0
• Tactical Recovery: 0
• Self-Repair Speed: 20
• Revive Speed: 20
• Hardware: 0
• Firewall: 0
• Ping Duration: 0

For more information on Marathon similar to our Marathon Runner Shell overview, check out our main page! You can also check out our Release Date and Server Slam information.