Marathon Tier List: Best Weapons Ranked in Server Slam

Marathon features an extremely harsh world filled with not just UESC enemies, but rival Runners looking to get your loot before you successfully exfil. To survive on the harsh planet of Tau Ceti IV, you need to equip yourself with powerful weapons that not only pack a punch but also are efficient to help you manage your ammo and resources.

With almost 30 weapons in the game, you might find yourself confused about the best weapons to pick during Marathon Server Slam. To help you out, we have compiled a thorough tier list of all guns in the Marathon Server Slam, so you can make an informed decision about your loadout before heading out on a run.

Full Marathon Server Slam Weapons Tier List

Tier	Weapon Grouping
S	WSTR Combat Shotgun, BRRT SMG, Ares RG, Retaliator LMG, Hardline PR
A	Copperhead RF, Overrun AR, Longshot, Twin Tap HBR, Bully SMG, Magnum MC, M77 Assault Rifle, Stryder M1T, Misriah 2442
B	V00 Zeus RG, V66 Lookout, V22 Volt Thrower, Demolition HMG, V75 Scar, B33 Volley Rifle
C	CE Tactical Sidearm, Repeater HPR, Conquest LMG, V11 Punch

S-Tier Marathon Weapons

WSTR Combat Shotgun

Weapon Stats

• Firepower: 195
• Accuracy: 45
• Range: 8m
• Spread Angle: 3.4
• Magazine: 2
• Zoom: 1.1x

The first S-Tier weapon on the Marathon weapons tier list is the WSTR Combat Shotgun, which acts as a room cleaner. The weapon features a double-barrelled fire mode, with the two rapid shots being enough to send a Runner back to the lobby. While it lacks in the range department, it performs beautifully when defending an exfil point or navigating a room filled with enemies.

BRRT SMG

Weapon Stats

• Firepower:15
• Accuracy: 63
• Handling: 35
• Range: 16m
• Magazine: 35
• Zoom: 1.1x

Possibly the best SMG on the Marathon weapons tier list, the BRRT SMG is the ultimate melting machine for close-range engagements. Featuring a five-round burst firing mode, it can not only dish out Runner-deleting damage, but also use it in mid-range combat encounters for some surprisingly good results.

Ares RG

Weapon Stats

• Firepower: 159
• Accuracy: 100.0
• Handling: 55M
• Magazine: 4
• Range: 55m
• Zoom: 2.5X

The Ares RG (Rail Gun) is the definitive power weapon in Marathon. Despite running on Volt Cells, which are hard to come by on Marathon maps, the Ares RG allows you to take down a fully armoured Runner from a long distance away with one powerful shot. This is the perfect weapon if you find yourself waiting for exfil and want to eliminate an enemy before they even know you’re there.

Retaliator LMG

Weapon Stats

• Firepower: 16
• Accuracy: 63
• Handling: 22
• Range: 35m
• Magazine: 44
• Zoom: 1.2x

The Retaliator LMG (Light Machine Gun) is the best squad support weapon in Marathon, with the weapon’s massive drum magazine allowing players to hold tight corridors or as an exfil point charges up without reloading once. While its weight impacts your character’s movement speed, its raw power and efficiency make up for it.

Hardline PR

Weapon Stats

• Firepower: 44
• Accuracy: 61
• Handling: 36
• Range: 69m
• Magazine: 16
• Zoom: 1.2x

Possibly the best precision rifle in Marathon, the Hardline PR does almost everything better than most other weapons in the game. With an incredibly fast fire rate, significant damage numbers, and little to no kickback, the Hardline PR serves as one of the best long-range options in Marathon.

A-Tier Marathon Weapons

Copperhead RF

Weapon Stats

• Firepower: 17
• Accuracy: 49
• Handling: 46
• Range: 20m
• Magazine: 21
• Zoom: 1.1x

The Copperhead RF features the fastest fire rate among the SMGs in Marathon, and is possibly the best weapon to use during a close combat encounter. The weapon’s fire rate is balanced out by its lower damage per bullet. However, for an SMG, the Copperhead RF features limited ammo capacity, which keeps it from being the best SMG in the game.

Overrun AR

Weapon Stats

• Firepower: 14
• Accuracy: 42
• Handling: 36
• Range: 27m
• Magazine: 20
• Zoom: 1.2x

Overrun AR is your old trusty AR option when playing Marathon, which you might easily encounter when you are starting out in the Server Slam. This rifle features an impressive fire rate, and that, mixed with the damage it can deal, makes it a force to be reckoned with. While its 20-round ammo size can be a drawback, you can always upgrade it and make the Overrun AR even more viable.

Longshot

Weapon Stats

• Firepower: 70
• Accuracy: 74.8
• Handling: 29
• Range: 175m
• Magazine: 3
• Zoom: 4x

Longshot is essentially the base sniper rifle in Marathon, and while it doesn’t do anything special, it fills its role as a long-range behemoth perfectly. While Longshot features a limited magazine with only 3 bullets, you can always rely on it to perform, especially if you manage to connect each one of your shots in a row.

Twin Tap HBR

Weapon Stats

• Firepower: 21
• Accuracy: 73
• Handling: 51
• Range: 48m
• Magazine: 20
• Zoom: 1.4x

The Twin Tap HBR is a terrifying weapon to come across during your Marathon runs, as landing both shots of a burst on the head allows you to essentially bypass most shield levels instantly. This weapon rewards timing and rhythm when using it, and it can out-peak almost any other rifle in the game.

Bully SMG

Weapon Stats

• Firepower: 22.5
• Accuracy: 62
• Handling: 47
• Range: 27m
• Magazine: 23
• Zoom: 1.1x

The Bully SMG, unlike the BRRT SMG, doesn’t rely on speed. Rather, it focuses on brute force. This SMG uses heavy rounds, deals massive stamina damage, slows down enemies, and makes them easier targets. However, its reliance on heavy ammo holds it back, as it keeps your Marathon Runner Shell heavy and slows you down if you carry huge stacks of heavy ammo.

Magnum MC

Weapon Stats

• Firepower: 69
• Accuracy: 35
• Handling: 50
• Range: 21m
• Magazine: 12
• Zoom: 1.1x

The Magnum MC lets you channel your inner gunslinger, as the revolver hits like a truck and handles like a dream if used right. You can easily take out both UESC assets or enemy Runners with a few well-placed headshots. However, since it is a revolver, its body damage can leave a lot of room for enemies to use a weapon with a faster fire rate to take you out before you can take the next shot.

M77 Assault Rifle

Weapon Stats

• Firepower: 22.5
• Accuracy: 56
• Handling: 41
• Range: 37m
• Magazine: 26
• Zoom: 1.2x

The M77 Assault Rifle specialises in an entirely different role than the Overrun AR, with the weapon featuring a slower fire rate in favour of improved range. This assault rifle excels at mid-range combat encounters and can put out impressive damage numbers. However, its heavy recoil, which becomes harder to manage while also trying to keep track of enemies, holds it back from being the best.

Stryder M1T

Weapon Stats

• Firepower: 57
• Accuracy: 125
• Handling: 39
• Range: 84m
• Magazine: 12
• Zoom: 1.2x

The Stryder M1T is another extremely effective precision rifle in Marathon, boasting some of the best range within its category and damage that can easily break enemy shields in Marathon before you rush them to take them down. However, since it is a precision rifle, the Stryder M1T does not fare well in close-range combat encounters, forcing you to carry a secondary weapon to fulfil this role.

Misriah 2442

Misriah 2442 brings the pump-action front and centre, with the weapon featuring a better fire rate and range than most other shotguns in the game. While its reload time can easily spell doom for you, there is a very good chance that you take out an entire enemy squad before you have to take the time to reload.

B-Tier Marathon Weapons

The B-Tier weapons in the Marathon weapons tier list are balanced and effective, but usually only specialise in specific scenarios. Weapons like the V75 Scar and the V66 Lookout are definitely serviceable but can be considered niche tools. The Demolition HMG is unparalleled when you need to take out UESC turrets; meanwhile, the V22 Volt Thrower excels in PvE encounters. While these weapons are reliable and can take down other Runners, they will often lose in a fair duel against an M77 or BRRT.

C-Tier Marathon Weapons

The C-Tier weapons in Marathon are your starter gear or the scraps you find in ransacked loot zones. This tier of weapons consists of weak options like the CE Tactical Sidearm, V11 Punch, and the Conquest LMG. While some of these weapons, like the V11 Punch, provide fast swap speeds, their increasingly low damage holds them back from performing at their best. If you are carrying any of the C-Tier weapons, your main goal should be to find a dead Runner and pick up literally anything else on this tier list.

This tier list is subject to change with Marathon’s full release, as Bungie will make balance changes based on the Server Slam data.

What are your favourite weapons to equip yourselves with in Marathon? Tell us in the comments below!