Marathon’s New Rook Shell Is A Big Win For Solo Players

A major appeal of the game Marathon is the chance to live as a ‘Runner.’ These Runners are people whose minds exist within advanced, customizable synthetic bodies. The game developers, Bungie, have explained how players can modify these bodies to increase their chances of survival on the planet Tau Ceti.

Each Runner character specializes in a different playstyle—whether it’s collecting information, hindering enemies, or supporting allies with healing. They also have unique designs, making it easy to identify their role during fast-paced battles. Players can tailor each Runner with equipment like cores, implants, weapons, and upgrades, and further personalize their appearance with cosmetic items earned through gameplay.

Players can really customize their experience. For instance, you could focus on speed and agility, turning the “Combat Anarchist” Vandal shell into a scout capable of triple-jumping and zipping around the map. If you prefer a more chaotic style, invest in upgrades that give you an edge in aerial combat and let you deal area-of-effect damage when you land. Plus, powerful Cores can be combined for even more unique abilities.

Players who want to avoid losing their hard-earned gear can play as a Rook in Scavenger Mode. Rooks can join matches that are already happening without bringing any weapons or equipment, so they won’t lose anything if they’re defeated. Other players can choose to help Rooks by giving them gear, or eliminate them immediately.

So far, the list of Runner shells includes the following models:

Destroyer

Archetype: Combat specialist

These shells are equipped with protective barriers, missile launchers, and thrusters for quick movement, letting them engage enemies in close combat.

Assassin

Archetype: Shadow agent

Assassins specialize in stealth, using camouflage to hide and strike unsuspecting enemies from the shadows.

Recon

Archetype: Intel specialist

All teams benefit from having someone who can scout ahead, and Recon shells are perfect for this. They use sound pulses, small drones, and even fake footprints to find dangers and follow enemy movements.

Vandal

Archetype: Combat anarchist

As a fan, I’ve noticed the Vandal is incredibly quick and just throws enemies into disarray during fights. They have a bunch of skills that really mess with the opponent’s plans, making them a total chaos agent on the battlefield!

Thief

Archetype: Covert acquisitions

Thieves are drawn to treasure left by goblins. They use high-tech visors to see both loot and enemies, even through walls. Plus, they have a drone that can grab items and explore areas for them.

Triage

Archetype: Field medic

If you enjoy supporting your team and keeping everyone healthy, the Triage class is a great choice. Triage Runners can use healing drones and give teammates helpful boosts. They can also improve their weapons during a fight to deal more damage.

Rook (Scavenger Mode exclusive)

Archetype: Scavenger

Rook shells are great for players going it alone. They come with a set loadout, so there’s no risk involved. Plus, you get to keep all the loot you find!

Marathon, a sci-fi extraction shooter, is finally launching on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 in March for $40. The game, originally planned for release last year, faced a challenging development process, including accusations of art theft (which were later resolved) and the departure of its art director after several years of work.

2026-01-15 20:10