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Marathon Destroyer Guide - Stats, Traits, Abilities and Cores

Destroyer is a Runner Shell in Marathon. This shell excells in aggressive combat, focusing on both dealing and avoiding damage. This class is a great choice for players who want to focus on combat with the enemy.

Below, you will find an overview of this Shell, as well as its abilities, traits, compatible cores, best Destroyer builds and loadouts and preferred weapons.

Updated on March 5 2026

Overview

Destroyers are the front liners of Marathon, featuring a signature Riot Barricade shield that allows them to either protect their allies or put pressure on enemies. After the Vandal, the Destroyer has the second most movement capabilities, so Heat Capacity is crucial on them. Overall, they're a versatile combat class that's a good choice if you want to learn the ropes.

Strengths And Weaknesses

Versatile mix of offensive and defensive combat capabilities
The premier frontliner of Marathon with Riot Barricade
Mobile from Thruster and Tactical Sprint

Effectiveness varies on map layout (better in narrow spaces rather than open)
Lacks utility outside of combat
Riot Barricade drains energy, so needs to be intentional or will get caught out

Abilities and Traits

Search and Destroy
Prime Ability
Activate your shoulder-mounted missile pods. Dealing sustained damage to targets launches homing missiles, immobilizing and dealing damage upon impact. (286 sec cooldown, 30 sec max duration)

Search and Destroy

Prime Ability

Activate your shoulder-mounted missile pods. Dealing sustained damage to targets launches homing missiles, immobilizing and dealing damage upon impact. (286 sec cooldown, 30 sec max duration)

Riot Barricade
Tactical Ability
Activate an energy barricade that blocks incoming damage, draining tactical ability energy over time. Taking damage drains additional energy. (12 sec cooldown)

Riot Barricade

Tactical Ability

Activate an energy barricade that blocks incoming damage, draining tactical ability energy over time. Taking damage drains additional energy. (12 sec cooldown)

Thruster
Trait 1
Activate while airborne to fire boosters that thrust you in the direction you are moving.

Thruster

Trait 1

Activate while airborne to fire boosters that thrust you in the direction you are moving.

Tactical Sprint
Trait 2
Double-press sprint to move faster at the cost of generating additional heat.

Tactical Sprint

Trait 2

Double-press sprint to move faster at the cost of generating additional heat.

Stats

Movement
Heat Capacity	15
Agility	10
Loot Speed	5
Fall Resistance	5

Combat
Melee Damage	15
Finisher Siphon	10

Recovery
Prime Recovery	5
Tactical Recovery	10
Self-Repair Speed	15
Revive Speed	10

Systems
Hardware	25
Firewall	20
Ping Duration	5

Compatible Cores

Core	Description
Bombardier	Defeating hostiles while your Search and Destroy is active extends its duration.
Heavy Ordnance	Defeating hostiles with explosive damage reduces the cooldown of your next Search and Destroy
Ankle Breaker	Your Thruster generates less heat while a hostile is nearby
Bombing Run	Each successive homing missile in your Search and Destroy volley deals increased damage.
Lock 'N Load	Your weapons ready and reload more quickly and receive less flinch from incoming fire.
Myrmidon	After using your Thruster, your Melee Damage is temporary increased.
Bullrush	Your Riot Barricade does not passively drain energy while you perform your Tactical Sprint
Intake Vents	Your Tactical Sprint generates less heat.
Counter Attack	When Riot Barricade takes damage, you periodically release a retaliatory missile at your attacker.
Impact Siphons	Incoming damage dealt to your Riot Barricade is returned to you as shield energy.

Factions to Focus

Cyberacme

Heat Sink.exe (Rank 1) - Heat Capacity increases the number of movement actions (sprint, sliding) you can perform before overheating. (+20 Heat Capacity each level of the 3)

Quick Vent.exe (Rank 1) - Your heat recovery begins more quickly after actions that generate heat. (-20%)

Active Cool.exe (Rank 1) - Your generated heat recovers more quickly. (15% Heat Recovery Rate)

Firm Stance.exe (Rank 1) - Fall Resistance reduces the amount of damage you take after falling. (+20 Fall Resistance each level of the 3)

Arachne

HARD_STRIKE.EXE (Rank 1) - Melee Damage increases the damage of your melee and knife attacks. (+20 Melee Damage each level of the 3)

CUTTHROAT.EXE (Rank 1) - Finisher Siphon increases the amount your shields recharge after you perform a finisher on a downed Runner. (+20 Finisher Siphon each level of the 3)