All Marathon Runner Shells and Their Abilities – Explained

Marathon Server Slam is finally here, allowing players to experience what Bungie’s new extraction shooter has to offer on Tau Ceti IV. While players have been enjoying the new graphics and gameplay mechanics, Runner Shells have emerged as one of the game’s most fun aspects.

Runner Shells are Marathon’s version of classes, allowing players to decide what role they want to play on a squad. If you are looking for a comprehensive breakdown of every Runner Shell in the Marathon Server Slam, look no further, as this guide has you covered.

All Marathon Runner Shells and Their Abilities

Marathon features a total of 7 Runner Shells, each with its own specialties and playstyles. While you can use any weapons in Marathon with any of these Shells, certain Runner Shells are geared more towards utility than straight-up combat.

Destroyer

The Destroyer is the tank character of the Marathon roster. While other Shells focus on gathering intel or evading enemies, the Destroyer is designed to absorb frontline damage and dictate the pace of a firefight. The character is the bulkiest of all of the Runners, and features reinforced plating that makes it almost a spiritual successor to the classic Mjolnir armor from the Halo games. Here are all of its abilities:

Category	Name	Description
Prime Ability	Search and Destroy	Activates shoulder-mounted pods that fire homing micro-missiles at enemies you have recently damaged.
Tactical Ability	Riot Barricade	Deploys a portable energy shield in front of the Runner that absorbs incoming projectiles.
Passive Trait	Thruster	A short-range, directional burst of speed available in mid-air or on the ground.
Passive Trait	Tactical Sprint	A high-intensity sprint that allows for faster traversal at the cost of rapid Heat generation.

Assassin

While the Destroyer is the hammer, the Assassin Runner Shell in Marathon is the scalpel. This Runner Shell is designed for players who value the ability to catch their enemies off guard. It features a sleek and angular design with reactive optical plating that shines even when the character’s cloak is inactive. Here are all of the Assassin’s abilities:

Category	Name	Description
Prime Ability	Smoke Screen	Launches a specialized disc that creates a wall of thick, “smart” smoke.
Tactical Ability	Active Camo	Grants near-total invisibility for a limited duration.
Passive Trait	Shadow Dive	A vertical ground-pound that negates fall damage and creates a small smoke field upon landing.
Passive Trait	Light Frame	Grants increased base movement speed and a faster crouch-walk.

Recon

The Recon is one of the most important parts of any Marathon squad, being the eyes of the team. Getting jumped in Marathon means you lose your entire inventory, and the Recon’s ability to strip away the enemy’s ability to surprise attack is invaluable. Here are all of Recon Runner Shell’s abilities:

Category	Name	Description
Prime Ability	Echo Pulse	Sends out a wide-reaching sonar wave that highlights all enemies (and loot) through walls.
Tactical Ability	Tracker Drone	Deploys a “spider-bot” that hunts the nearest enemy, exploding on contact to deal damage and cause Overheat.
Passive Trait	Stalker Protocol	Breaking an enemy’s shield leaves a holographic “ghost trail” behind them for several seconds.
Passive Trait	Long-Range Link	Increases the distance at which you can “ping” items and enemies for your teammates.

Vandal

The Vandal, originally called Glitch in the Marathon Alpha Test, is the best option for players who prefer a high-mobility playstyle in Marathon, with the character being designed for players who want to outmaneuver their opponents at every step by using speed as both a defensive and offensive tool. Vandal’s design features exposed mechanical components that perfectly sell its “Combat Anarchist” look. Here are all of the Vandal Runner Shell’s abilities:

Category	Name	Description
Prime Ability	Amplify	Overclocks the Shell’s systems, granting a massive boost to movement speed and weapon handling while reducing Heat generated by movement.
Tactical Ability	Disruptor	An arm cannon that fires a kinetic energy projectile. Press to fire quickly; hold to charge for a larger radius and higher damage.
Passive Trait	Microjets	Allows the Runner to perform a second jump while mid-air.
Passive Trait	Power Slide	A supercharged slide that travels significantly further and faster than a standard slide.

Thief

The Thief is the most important character when it comes to the score in Marathon, serving as the game’s “Loot Goblin.” This Shell is for players who want to slip in, grab the rarest items and loot, and extract before the first bullet is even fired. Here are all of the Thief’s abilities:

Category	Name	Description
Prime Ability	Pickpocket Drone	Deploys a pilotable, near-silent butterfly drone that can interact with loot and “leech” items from enemy backpacks.
Tactical Ability	Grapple	A wrist-mounted tether that pulls the Runner toward surfaces or brings distant loot to the Runner.
Passive Trait	X-Ray Visor	Highlights loot containers, mission items, and nearby enemies through walls (limited range).
Passive Trait	Lightstep	Significantly reduces the sound of sprinting and landing from jumps.

Triage

The Triage Runner Shell can be the difference between a successful exfil and a total squad wipe, as the character fills the medic role in a Marathon squad. It is the only Shell in Marathon that provides active healing and remote utility to teammates. Here are all of the Triage Runner Shell’s abilities:

Category	Name	Description
Prime Ability	Capacitive Gauntlets	Fires electrical tendrils that can either damage enemies or instantly revive downed allies from a distance.
Tactical Ability	Med-Drone	Deploys a hovering drone that follows an ally, restoring their health and providing a temporary Over-Shield.
Passive Trait	Shareware	Using a consumable (Batteries, Stims, or Coolant) applies 50% of the effect to all allies within your immediate radius.
Passive Trait	Field Medic	Your standard “manual” revives are 30% faster and grant the revived ally 50% more starting health.

Rook

The Rook is essentially the “Hard Mode” of Marathon, as choosing this Runner Shell will drop you into matches that are already in progress. Rook is designed as a Scavenger frame and does not feature a vast array of abilities like the other Shells. Rather, it focuses on scavenging loot from in-progress matches and getting out as soon as possible.

Additionally, you cannot play as part of a squad when playing as a Rook, leaving you to fend for yourself with just the starter kit and an ability that masks the Rook’s presence from the UESC enemies in Marathon.

Which character are you choosing in Marathon? Tell us in the comments below!