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Marathon: Items Explained – Mods, Consumables, Currency and More!

Learn how Marathon items work, including rarity levels, weapon mods, cores, implants, consumables, key cards, and more! Video guides are also available.

The Important Details

Items are part of your build, not just your backpack. Marathon’s customization loop is built around moddable weapons, implants, and core system upgrades tied to your Runner shell.
Focus on swapping weapon mods, cores, and implants outside a run rather than in the heat of the moment…you never know who or what is lurking nearby.
Consumables are your survival layer. Current guides consistently frame healing, shields, debuff-cleansing, and utility consumables as high-value inventory decisions during extraction runs.

September 30, 2026

Quick Menu − What are you looking for?

Items Explained / Rarity Levels

What to bring in your Run

Weapons / Weapon Mods

Cores, Implants, etc.

List of Consumables

Key Cards & High-Tier Materials

How to think about Item Value

Video Guides

ITEMS OVERVIEW & RARITIES

Items are the gear and support tools you bring into, find during, and extract from a run.
They generally fall into a few main buckets:
- Weapons
- Weapon mods / attachments
- Cores
- Implants
- Consumables
- Ammo, loot, and other carried resources
Marathon has a buildcrafting system built around moddable weapons, body implants, and core upgrades.

WEAPONS AND WEAPON MODS

Your Runner shell is your foundation.
Your cores and implants shape how that shell performs.
Your weapons can be tuned through mods and attachments.
Your consumables help you survive fights, recover, or counter threats mid-run.
A few notes:
- You can swap cores, implants, and weapon mods outside a run.
- Inspecting a weapon outside a run opens the mod workbench.
- Not all cores are universal; only Standard (gray) cores work on every shell, while others are shell-specific.

WEAPON RARITIES

Item rarity follows a tiered color-coded system that indicates the value, complexity, and scarcity of gear.
Notably, weapon rarity is dynamic and primarily determined by the quality and/or number of attachments or mods currently equipped on the gun.

HOW RARITY WORKS

Weapon Scaling: Unlike other shooters where a “Rare” gun is a fixed drop, a gray magnum can become a blue magnum if you install higher-tier attachments, like a blue barrel.
Gameplay Impact: Higher rarity doesn’t just buff stats; it can introduce unique mechanics like invisibility backpacks or burst-fire shotguns.
Acquisition: Most loot in standard containers is gray or green.
- Higher rarities (Purple and Gold) are generally secured behind locked vaults in locations like the Cryo Archive or Pinwheel Base, requiring specific key cards.

RARITY LEVELS

The standard progression of rarity, from most common to most coveted, is as follows:
- Standard (Gray/White): Common base items and resources with no or basic mods.
- Enhanced (Green): Uncommon tier, often containing basic improvements or low-level key cards.
- Deluxe (Blue): Rare items that typically offer better stats or more attachment slots.
- Superior (Purple): High-tier gear with advanced effects, often found in locked rooms requiring purple key cards.
- Prestige (Gold/Yellow): The highest standard rarity tear, providing significant gameplay shifts or “special effects” that change how a weapon functions. For Destiny players, this would be considered exotic-level.
- Contraband (Red): An exceptionally rare special tier reserved for some of Marathon’s most unusual and exclusive items.
  - Contraband gear can feature mechanics or value well beyond the standard rarity ladder and is generally associated with high-end activities, hidden rewards, or exceptionally rare discoveries.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING INTO A RUN?

Run Type	Bring This	Why It Matters	Runner Tip
Beginner Run	Basic weapon, light ammo, Patch Kit, Shield Charge, and a low-risk backpack.	Keeps your risk low while you learn routes, loot locations, enemy pressure, and extraction timing.	Do not bring anything you are afraid to lose. The goal is survival and map knowledge.
Loot Run	Larger backpack, healing item, Shield Charge, cleansing item, and flexible weapon ammo.	More space means more value, but better supplies help you survive long enough to extract with it.	Leave once the run is profitable. Greed gets loud fast.
PvP Run	Reliable weapon, tuned weapon mods, strong shield, grenades or combat equipment, healing, and ammo reserves.	Player fights usually come down to preparation, positioning, shield management, and whether you can recover after the first trade.	Build for the fight, but always keep an extraction route in mind.
Solo Run	Self-Revive, Patch Kit, Shield Charge, escape utility, and a weapon you can trust under pressure.	Solo players have fewer safety nets, so recovery tools and escape options matter more than raw aggression.	Pick fights carefully. Winning one fight can still leave you weak for the next squad.
High-Tier Room Run	Key or keycard, full healing setup, Shield Charges, strong weapon, extra ammo, and a planned exit route.	Locked rooms and high-value areas attract attention. The loot is better, but the pressure rises quickly.	Open the room, loot with purpose, and leave before nearby teams collapse on your position.
Recovery Run	Cheap weapon, minimal supplies, empty backpack space, and a simple plan.	Useful after a losing streak when you need supplies, credits, or basic gear without risking your best items.	Avoid unnecessary fights. Your win condition is leaving with more than you brought in.
High-Risk / Endgame Run	Best available weapon, strong shield, multiple sustain items, utility equipment, key items, and squad-ready support tools.	Endgame zones and high-value objectives punish weak preparation, slow decisions, and bad team coordination.	Go in with a goal. Wandering with expensive gear is just donating to another crew.

PROGRESSION & ECONOMY RESET

Marathon’s next confirmed progression and economy reset arrives with the Nightfall Refresh on October 6, 2026.
Bungie is using the Refresh to establish a healthier progression baseline following Season 2’s progression and reward issues.
Use valuable gear, complete any remaining progression goals, and watch for Bungie’s final reset guidance as the Refresh approaches.
For a complete overview of Marathon’s new update model and historical resets, visit our Marathon Game Updates page.

SPECIAL ITEM STATES & ODDITIES

Rarity isn’t the only property that determines how an item behaves.
Some Marathon items carry special states, modifiers, or conditions that change what happens during or after a run.

Compromised Compromised items cannot normally be secured through extraction until they are stabilized. A Matter Fixative can be used during the run to stabilize certain Compromised items and allow them to survive exfil.

Depleted Depleted items are weakened or temporary versions of standard equipment. Some, including certain Depleted Self-Revives provided during solo play, cannot be extracted and may be automatically converted or removed when the run ends.

Unique Weapons Unique weapons contain specially designed traits or modifications that are not available on the standard version of that weapon. Certain variants are tied to specific activities, rare discoveries, or secured locations.

Materialist Trinkets Season 2 replaced the previous Materialist item-status effect with Materialist Trinkets. These can be deliberately found, carried, and extracted rather than appearing as a random passive property attached to other gear.

WEAPONS AND WEAPON MODS

Weapons are one of the main pillars of your loadout.
In short…
- Mods let you tune how a weapon behaves
- Some improve consistency or handling
- Some lean into utility or survivability
- Some can push a weapon into a more specialized role
Mods can influence a weapon’s overall rarity/profile, and some specialized mods appear to alter how the weapon functions rather than just nudging stats.

AMMO

Typically used by standard, high-rate-of-fire assault rifles and SMGs (e.g., Overrun AR).
They offer high stability but lower damage per hit.

Used by high-caliber weapons like the Bully SMG or Demolition rifle.
They offer high damage and significant stopping power but often come with higher recoil.

Specialized ammo for high-damage, single-shot, or high-impact weapons, such as sniper rifles and shotguns.

Used by energy-based weapons.
Sprinting slowly regenerates ammo.
Reloading a Volt weapon discards any remaining energy in the magazine.

High-capacity, energy-based ammunition used for advanced, electrified weaponry.
They function as magazines for energy weapons (like the V75 Scar or V00 Zeus).
Sprinting slowly regenerates ammo.
Reloading a Volt weapon discards any remaining energy in the magazine.

WEAPON MOD TYPES

Customizable attachments that modify weapon stats and performance, with most weapons supporting 3-4 slots for components like Chip, Magazine, Barrel, and Grip mods.
These attachments can be swapped in your loadout, increase weapon rarity (e.g., green/blue), and are essential for maximizing combat efficiency.
Refer to the top left icons on the images below to understand which mods are for what weapon component.
Mods can be swapped by pressing ‘V’ (or your keybind) while hovering over a weapon in your loadout.
Mods can be found in the field or through supply drops.
A weapon’s rarity and profile are closely tied to its installed modifications, although Unique and Contraband weapons can follow additional rules of their own.

Chips are perk-focused weapon modifications that can significantly change how a weapon behaves or what it rewards you for doing.
Rather than simply increasing a base stat, Chips can introduce conditional effects tied to combat actions such as precision kills, reloading after eliminations, taking explosive damage, fighting particular enemies, crouching, or using a weapon while injured.
Chip effects and strength can vary by rarity, and some specialized Chips only appear at higher tiers.

Changes ammunition capacity and reload behavior.

Influences range, accuracy, and handling.

Improves stability and control.

CORES, IMPLANTS, EQUIPMENT AND SHIELDS

Runner Cores are powerful modifiers that enhance or alter specific parts of a Runner Shell’s kit.
Many Cores are Shell-specific, allowing abilities and traits to function in substantially different ways.
You can equip two Cores as part of your loadout.
Cores should not be confused with the Cradle.
- Cores modify your Runner’s abilities and playstyle, while the Cradle is Marathon’s broader system for increasing base Runner stats and unlocking statistical breakpoint perks.

Class-specific, high-impact modifiers that change how your Runner Shell operates.
You can equip two Cores per run.
- They often add new mechanics or drastically enhance existing abilities, such as allowing a Vandal to turn their arm cannon into a mobility tool for rocket jumping or letting a thief use a second grapple.
They are usually locked to a specific Shell archetype (e.g., Recon vs. Triage).

Implants are universal wearable upgrades that can be equipped by any Runner Shell across three slots: Head, Torso, and Lower Body.
Beginning with Season 2, each Implant has:
- A single fixed perk that defines the Implant’s primary identity, and a fixed package of Runner stats.
- Item rarity determines the overall amount of stats the Implant provides, scaling from Standard through Prestige. Certain powerful Implant perks are only available at higher rarity levels.
- This makes Implant choice primarily about selecting the perk that complements your build, with its associated stat package providing additional specialization.

In-match tools (tactical gear) for survival or navigation.
These are generally items that directly aid in looting, survival, and escaping the map rather than modifying your character’s abilities.
Typically limited per run; there are various grenades and claymores, some for damage or survival, like smoke.

The primary defensive layer for your Runner Shell, crucial for surviving high-stakes encounters.
These occupy a specific, often missed, slot in your loadout.
- They protect your health bar and can be upgraded for higher capacity (e.g., Enhanced Shields).
While implants provide minor survival buffs, the Shield is your main protection against damage.

CONSUMABLES EXPLAINED

Consumables are your emergency tools during a run.
- Some restore health or shields.
- Some clear dangerous status effects or software disruption.
- Some boost mobility, cooldowns, or stealth.
It is recommended to bring a mix of health, shield, and cleansing consumables per run.

MEDICAL, SHIELD AND SURVIVAL CONSUMABLES

Patch Kits restore health.
Shield Charges restore shields.
Higher-tier medical items are stronger, faster, or more complete recovery tools.
Self Revive is especially valuable for solo play.
ONI Tip: Bring healing if you want your loot to survive longer than your optimism.

Restores your health.
Higher rarity medical consumables restore more health.
Recommended to have on every run, if available.

Restores your shield.
Higher rarity shield consumables recharge your shield to full, and faster.

Allows a downed Runner to revive themselves without assistance from a crewmate.
Self-Revives can be acquired through loot and selected Armory/reward sources. They were increased from Deluxe to Superior rarity during Season 1 to better reflect their combat value.
Revive time is affected by your Revive Speed stat, making Self-Revives especially valuable for solo players and high-risk activities.

Fully restores health, fully recharges shields, and removes hazardous status effects.
- This includes removing negative effects like toxins and frost!

UTILITY AND CLEANSING CONSUMABLES

Some consumables fix problems instead of restoring health.
Mechanical cleanse tools remove physical or environmental effects, like getting hit by spores.
Software cleanse tools counter hacking or EMP-style disruption.
These are more situational than healing, but can save a run in the right zone or fight.

Helps remove OS debuffs such as the effects of being hacked or from an emp blast.
Maximizes your Firewall stat for a duration, with added benefits the greater the rarity.

Helps remove hazardous effects such as frost, immobilize, overheat and toxin.
Maximizes your Hardware stat for a duration, with added benefits the greater the rarity.

This allows you to safely enter the “Big Red Lockdown” force field zones without taking instant damage.
It acts as a protective buffer that slowly depletes while active, allowing runners to navigate high-threat, restricted areas, clear corruption, and secure high-tier loot.
It mitigates, but does not completely eliminate, the damage over time, allowing for temporary survival in restricted areas.

Temporarily disrupts your visual and detection profile, making it useful for stealth, repositioning, and avoiding certain detection systems.
Treat the Signal Jammer primarily as a movement and stealth tool, rather than guaranteed immunity during active combat.

PERFORMANCE AND STEALTH TOOLS

Some consumables are about momentum, not recovery.
Use them to move faster, recharge abilities, or avoid detection.
These tools are often strongest when used before a push, escape, or extraction attempt.

Provides a massive burst of stamina, allowing you to quickly rotate around a flanking squad or outrun a closing threat.
Temporarily spikes your Agility (movement speed) and Heat Capacity (stamina/overheat management).
Helps in chasing down enemy players or to get the frak out of intense combat.

Increases the recharge rate of your Runner’s primary and tactical abilities, the greater amount the higher the rarity.
It is ideal for use just before or during a heavy fight to allow for spamming abilities.
When paired with specific upgrades, it can allow for sustained, high-uptime abilities (e.g., permanent invisibility with certain builds).
Is your build ability-focused? Stock up on these!

KEY CARDS, KEY TEMPLATES & HIGH-TIER MATERIALS

Keys remain one of Marathon’s primary ways of accessing restricted rooms, high-value loot, rare equipment, and endgame rewards.
Keys are functional access items that open their associated locked area.
Key Templates require an embedded objective to be completed before they become functional keys.
Depending on the activity, this may require completing a specific task during a run and successfully extracting with the finished activity.
Higher-tier keys generally lead to more valuable, and more contested, loot opportunities.
Cryo Archive uses its own Vault Keys to access the ship’s heavily secured Vaults, which contain some of Marathon’s most lucrative rewards.

VALUABLE KEY CARDS AND LOOT

Gold Key Cards/Prestige Keys: These open high-tier vaults and prestige-locked rooms, often in the Cryo Archive.
Purple Key Cards: These are considered high-tier, frequently opening special locked rooms containing elite gear like deluxe guns, mods, and backpacks.
Green Cards: More common than gold or purple, these can be found frequently in areas like the Rook map, offering access to lower-level locked areas.

Where can you find keys?

Warden Bosses, UESC Commanders, and specific lockboxes found in buildings with red flares are primary sources.

Prestige and High-Tier Materials

Alien Alloy: A high-value item often found in Cryo Archive vaults or Locked Rooms [Prestige].
Ballistic Turbine & Hazard Capsule: Rare materials needed for faction upgrades, typically locked behind Prestige keys in the Outpost’s Pinwheel Base.
Biogenic Alloy: Found in locked rooms and used for advanced upgrades.

HOW TO THINK ABOUT ITEM VALUE

Not every item is valuable for the same reason.
When deciding whether something deserves backpack or Vault space, consider four questions:

Can I use it?

Does it improve your current loadout, survival options, or preferred Runner build?

Can I progress with it?

Some materials, equipment, and valuables support faction progression, contracts, Armory access, or other systems.

Can I convert it?

The Cradle’s Matter Converter can turn weapons, equipment, and other items into Cradle XP. Higher-value gear generally contributes more progression.

Can I profit from it?

Valuables, rare materials, keys, and other loot can be worth extracting even when they don’t directly improve your build.
Backpack space is limited. The best loot isn’t always the rarest item—it’s the item that best supports what you’re trying to accomplish during that run.

WHY ITEMS MATTER ACROSS GAME UPDATES

Marathon’s loot and progression systems will continue changing as new activities, gear, Runner Shells and progression systems are introduced.
Learning what an item does, and why it is valuable, is more useful than memorizing a single seasonal meta.
Major updates can change availability, rarity, Armory access, progression value, and the role certain items play within a build.
Understanding the fundamentals makes it much easier to adapt as Marathon evolves.
For a complete overview of Marathon’s new update model and historical resets, visit our Marathon Game Updates page.

VIDEO GUIDES

// ONI CONNECTION SUCCESSFUL

12:48

9:31

4:50

19:28

ASSESS // CONSUMABLES

1:06

10:47

ASSERT // I LIKE GOLD

12:51

25:50

29:35

9:20

ASSERT // WHERE KEY?

5:38

5:18

0:31

4:21

21:31

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Marathon: Items Explained – Mods, Consumables, Currency and More!

The Important Details

ITEMS OVERVIEW & RARITIES

WEAPONS AND WEAPON MODS

WEAPON RARITIES

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING INTO A RUN?

PROGRESSION & ECONOMY RESET

SPECIAL ITEM STATES & ODDITIES

WEAPONS AND WEAPON MODS

AMMO

WEAPON MOD TYPES

CORES, IMPLANTS, EQUIPMENT AND SHIELDS

CONSUMABLES EXPLAINED

MEDICAL, SHIELD AND SURVIVAL CONSUMABLES

UTILITY AND CLEANSING CONSUMABLES

PERFORMANCE AND STEALTH TOOLS

KEY CARDS, KEY TEMPLATES & HIGH-TIER MATERIALS

VALUABLE KEY CARDS AND LOOT

Prestige and High-Tier Materials

HOW TO THINK ABOUT ITEM VALUE

WHY ITEMS MATTER ACROSS GAME UPDATES

VIDEO GUIDES

MARATHON - INDEPTH BEGINNER GUIDE - BEST LOOT TO KEEP, CORES, IMPLANTS - Must know Tips

How Loot Works in Marathon!! Rarities, Guns, Materials, Upgrades, and More Explained!!

Marathon Loot Guide – What Loot Is Actually Worth Extracting

LOOT CORRECTLY In Marathon

Runner's Guide #356: Consumables | Marathon

Marathon's Consumables Are INSANE

How to Get GOLD Materials FAST (5 Pro Tips) | Marathon

How To Get GOLD & Purple Gear As A SOLO Player In Marathon (Outpost Guide)

ULTIMATE GOLD LOOT GUIDE - Marathon's Best Spots & Strats For Better Gear [Marathon Map Guide]

How to Get The BEST Loot in Marathon (Purple / Gold Items) | Marathon Loot Guide

How To Farm ALL Keys In Marathon – Fastest Methods (Every Location)

How to find the Conveyance Keycard in Marathon the game! #gaming #marathonthegame

Marathon Dormitories Key – Outpost Unlock Location Guide

Pinwheel Base Puzzle, Keycard Locations, Secret Commander Boss Fight [Marathon Outpost Guide]

Every KEYCARD SPAWN on Outpost in Marathon the Game! #marathonthegame #gaming

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