All Shells in Marathon, Ranked

The competition is heating up in Marathon, as runners now have access to ranked matches and the end-game zone, Cryo Archive, where players are required to equip a loadout worth at least 5,000 credits if they wish to enter.

With all of your hard-earned guns and gear on the line, preparation becomes absolutely vital, and you'll be making a lot of decisions about what gear to bring.

From gadgets like proximity sensors or trap packs, to consumables such as self-revives, shield charges, and patch kits, these items will increase your chances of survival greatly, but the most important choice you'll have to make is what shell you'll be playing.

To help you make an informed decision and pick a shell that best suits your playstyle, here is a ranked list of the best shells in Marathon.

7 Rook

The Loot Goblin

If you're looking to complete quests or restock your vault with supplies, this solo-only scavenger shell is the way to go.

Unlike the other six shells that come equipped with a prime ability, a tactical ability, and two traits, the Rook does not have any traits and will spawn later into the match armed with some very basic, but free, guns and gear.

The Rook's tactical ability, signal mask, allows the runner to go undetected by UESC forces for a short time, so while the Rook isn't as powerful as the other shells, it still has some tools to help you get the job done.

6 Recon

Invaluable Intel

Whether it's UESC reinforcements or hostile runners, fending off ambushes is no easy task, but with the Recon shell, you'll at least know where the threat is coming from.

Recon's prime ability, echo pulse, will detect hostiles in a large area around you, allowing you to essentially see your enemies through walls.

Recon ranks lower on this list due to the shells' lack of mobility, but make no mistake, in the right hands, Recon is a defensive beast and an efficient tracker.

5 Destroyer

Push the Pace

With a riot barricade and an advanced weapons system including homing missiles, the Destroyer was built for the frontline. The riot barricade is great in many different situations, but it's the destroyer's high-mobility traits that really make this shell dangerous.

If you like leading the charge for your team and playing the role of a frontline tank, the destroyer could potentially be your main shell. Use tactical sprint and thrusters to close the gap between you and your enemies, while staying safe behind the cover of your shield.

Using this strategy, I've found the combat shotgun to be the perfect weapon for the Destroyer, as you can get up close and personal to deal big damage.

4 Assassin

Master of Deception

The Assassin's kit is perfectly tailored for stealthy takedowns, but it also comes in handy when you're running for your life. With the tactical ability, active camo, you will become invisible for a short time, giving you the opportunity to sneak up on your opponents or sneak away from certain death.

While this shell is renowned for its offensive capabilities, the Assassin's prime ability, smoke-screen, is a fantastic way to provide cover for downed teammates and buy some time while you revive them.

3 Vandal

Moving Targets are Harder to Hit

Vandal takes the number three spot with a kit that will have you running circles around your enemies. In competitive FPS games such as this, we often see high-level players taking full advantage of movement mechanics to disorient their targets and make themselves harder to hit, and that's exactly what Vandal is all about.

The Vandal's prime ability, Amplify, increases your overall movement speed and reduces heat generation from your movement abilities, so you can cover ground extremely quickly.

So whether you're sprinting towards the last exfil as the clock ticks down, or you're hunting down an unlucky runner, with Vandal, you'll get there in record time.

2 Thief

Versatile Villain

The Thief has been one of my go-to picks so far, and it's more about the shells' mobility and recon than the ability to steal. The Thief's grappling device allows you to not only get on top of buildings easily, but it's also a great way to reposition horizontally in the midst of PvP combat.

In addition, the pickpocket drone gives you the option to play this shell in a multitude of ways. If you want to fill your inventory with loot without the mess of engaging an enemy squad, the drone is an excellent way to do that, but it also doubles as a scout.

I like to use the drone to find out where nearby runners are lurking, and mark their location for my teammates. Whether your intention is to avoid conflict or cause it, the drone is a great source of intel.

1 Triage

Not Your Average Healer

Whether it's ticks, toxins, UESC, hostile runners, or fall damage, Triage will be there to pick you up when you need it most. When it comes to playing squads, triage has the potential to turn the tide of a losing battle and, for that reason, it takes the number one spot.

When you're engaged in PvP, and one of your teammates has been downed or finished, you are automatically at a huge disadvantage. Unless you outplay your opponents in incredible fashion, there's a good chance you're headed back to the lobby, but with Triage's prime ability, Reboot+, you can revive your teammate from a distance and give them a chance to get back in the fight.

Reboot+ is potentially the most impactful prime ability in the game, and on top of that, the shells' med-drone ability allows you to heal multiple teammates simultaneously.