Runner Shell Tier List (Squad Mode)

Welcome to our Tier List of the best Runner Shells for the 3-man squad mode in Marathon.

Note that these rankings are predictive and are subject to change during the free Server Slam weekend (February 26th - March 2nd) and again after the release date (March 5th).

As always with our tier lists, you should prioritize your personal playstyle over following meta trends. Ultimately, choose the Runner Shell that you will have the most fun with and will want to get better playing as.

Our rankings factor in playing with randoms, but lean more toward assuming that you will be coordinating with an assembled squad with access to voice comms.

If you're playing alone, head to our Tier List for Solo Mode.

Triage

Triage is built for teamplay as the only Runner that can erase their squad's mistakes through heals and revives, allowing you to effectively reset between combat.

They do lack mobility, but this can be mitigated by their teammates protecting them.

Lastly, while they lack raw combat power, they have some offensive utility in the form of EMPs and shield-breaking.

Recon

Recon is another Runner that shines because of the incredible utility it provides to the team.

Rather than healing and reviving like Triage, Recon instead, prevents the bad situations from happening at all by being best-in-class for gathering information.

This is because Recon has access to Echo Pulse, which reveals nearby hostiles, including those with stealth like the Assassin.

The class also relies on protection from its allies due to its lack of mobility and combat power, but otherwise, they are an invaluable asset to their squad.

Destroyer

The Destroyer is the closest thing to a frontlining tank in Marathon, and is a versatile Runner in combat.

Its signature ability is the Riot Barricade, which is able to block you and your allies from damage while your energy lasts.

When you want to go on the offensive, the Destroyer has Thruster and Tactical Sprint to engage upon enemies and can then provide sustained pressure with their Search and Destroy missiles.

Overall, it's a Runner that is always a welcome sight on a team, but due to their lack of out-of-combat utility, are best paired with a Triage and/or Recon.

Assassin

If enemy teams don't have a Recon or weapons with thermal sights, the Assassin would likely be S-tier.

This is because they are the Shell whose playstyle centers around their Active Camo ability which allows them to turn invisible.

Extraction shooters, by nature, can be unpredictable and chaotic — the Assassin can really capitalize on these moments if their opponents can't see them coming.

However, on the flipside, if their enemies do know they're coming, the Assassin could easily fall to B-tier.

This is because if they aren't dictating the time and place of a fight, they lack the offensive power to fight other Runners head-on and are relegated to trying to disengage and escape.

Thief

If your team just wants to loot and avoid combat altogether, the Thief is best-in-class since they can X-ray to find the most valuable items.

They are also the second best choice for gathering info, after the Recon, due to their Pickpocket Drone. Compared to Recon, they have the upside of being more self-sufficient since they can be mobile with their Grapple Device.

However, similar to the Assassin, the Thief is on the lower end in a direct fair fight, so you'll need to play around their more indirect gameplan.

Vandal

The Vandal has the most offensive capabilities of any Runner, but they have a loud and linear playstyle. You're going to be looking to fight as an aggressor, rather than sneaking around.

A good Vandal can carry their team through mechanical prowess and playmaking, but their kit doesn't offer any team utility if their shot isn't on point.