Detection is one of the cheat codes to an easier victory, and in Bungie’s extraction shooter Marathon, Blackbird does that trick for you. Its abilities are simple enough to track down enemies and monitor their whereabouts. So, if you want to be the scout for your team in Marathon, here is everything you need to know about Blackbird and its abilities, traits, and playstyle.
Marathon Blackbird Abilities and Traits
Each character in Marathon features a unique set of abilities and traits. Blackbird follows the same structure, with a kit built around detection and swift execution. They are also equipped with one primary ability, one tactical ability, and two passive traits. Below is a breakdown of all Blackbird’s abilities and traits in Marathon.
Echo Pulse
Pressing the Q button on PC, the LB+RB button on Xbox, and the L1+R1 button on PS5 will trigger Blackbird’s primary ability, Echo Pulse. It is not a simple sonar detection. Once you activate the ability, it will trigger a pulse that runs for a good amount of time. During the pulse time, you will see a red marker on all the nearby enemies.
Echo Pulse is an ideal ability to use before you engage in a fight or want to loot a specific location. This will give you early info on how to initiate. Moreover, you can easily counter faster Runners like Glitch with the constant pulse of detection running in a sphere around you. This is a perfect tool for supporting the team for extraction purposes.
Tracker Drone
Blackbird’s tactical ability is also all about detecting enemies. Just like any other hero shooter’s drone ability, Tracker Drone works. You can press F on PC, LB on Xbox, or L1 on PS5 to instantly equip the drone. Once you have it, move your aim and launch it in the desired direction. After you throw the drone forward, it will walk to the nearby enemy and detonate.
This is a perfect ability to clear corners or push enemies back from a fighting situation. After the detonation, an ‘overheat’ damage is applied to all the nearby enemies. The drone locks onto an enemy, so most Marathon Runners cannot outrun it.
Interrogation
In Marathon, traits are one of the key ingredients to make or break a character. And for Blackbird, their first trait, Interrogation, fits perfectly into their kit. When you are shot, the HUD instantly lights up thanks to this passive. But that’s not all. If you use a finisher on an enemy, it will ping a marker on their teammates’ location. Now, that’s a perfect executioner.
Stalker Protocol
When I said Blackbird is ‘THE’ scout character, I meant it completely. Their second trait, Stalker Protocol, justifies it even further. Whenever you break an enemy’s armor, they will leave a trace behind them. This will help your team hunt down enemies with better loot even faster.
Bungie’s Marathon Blackbird Playstyle
If you notice Blackbird’s abilities and traits, they are all about detection and execution. As I mentioned earlier, their power in Bungie’s extraction shooter is mostly scouting. And, let me be very honest, scouting is one of the most important parts of any FPS game, let alone a shooter where you must know where to go after you have looted some of the rare items.
Moreover, the Marathon maps are built in a way that chaos is bound to happen all the time. To avoid unintentional fights, it’s important to know where the enemies are. That is where Blackbird shines in Marathon. Ensure you use your abilities properly to help your team learn about all the dangers ahead of time. Also, ask your teammates to let you execute enemies for more valuable intel through your interrogation trait.
Overall, how Bungie built Blackbird in Marathon, along with their abilities and traits, makes them one of the most valuable Runners in a team with a supportive playstyle. Are you using Blackbird to give your team some intel boost? Do tell us in the comments below.
