Discover everything you need to know about the best weapons tier list for PvP and PvE in Marathon, including how to use them effectively.
Weapons are your basic tools to fight enemies and compete with other players in Marathon. Using the best weapon can make your work easy towards the objective. Some weapons have only niche use, while others can dominate enemies in different ranges.
Damage depends on weapon type, ammo used, and distance, making it crucial to choose the best one for the match. You can carry multiple weapons and swap between them quickly depending on the situation.
Best Weapons Tier List in Marathon
This tier list is based on the weapon performance in both PvP and PvE scenarios, depending on how well they perform in speed, DPS, and range.
| Tier | Weapons |
| S-Tier | V75 Scar, CE Tactical Sidearm, Twin Tap HBR, Bully SMG, WSTR Combat Shotgun |
| A-Tier | Ares RG, Impact HAR, Retaliator LMG, M77 Assault Rifle, V66 Lookout, BR33 Volley Rifle, Stryder M1T, BRRT Smg |
| B-Tier | V11 Punch, Magnum MC, Outland, Conquest LMG, Misriah 2442 |
| C-Tier | Demolition HMG, V99 Channel Rifle, Repeater HPR, V00 Zeus RG, Hardline PR |
| D-Tier | V85 Circuit Breaker, Copperhead RF, V22 Volt Thrower, Overrun AR, Longshot |
S-Tier
Weapons in these tiers are the best ones to choose in any situation. S-tier firearms can work with any Runner Shell, but use them properly in Marathon.
V75 Scar (Assault Rifle)
The V75 SCAR uses Volt Batteries as ammo in Marathon and can fire automatically, but sustained fire can overheat. This weapon supports weapons like optics, chips, mags, and barrels to enhance the overall performance. Pairing it with other weapons shotgun or precision rifles, allows you to handle different engagements effectively. It excels at close-mid range combat and comes with manageable recoil.
CE Tactical Sidearm (Pistol)
The CE Tactical Sidearm uses Light Rounds and fires semi-automatically in Marathon. This pistol has a simple, balanced design, making it a crucial choice when your primary weapon is not working.
Use this weapon only as a starter or backup sidearm to dominate enemies at a short range. It has low damage and a limited range, but it pairs with any weapon during a match.
Twin Tap HBR (Burst Rifle)
The Twin Tap HBR can fire two-round bursts per trigger pull using Light Rounds. This weapon is specifically designed for mid-to-long range fights with high accuracy in a match. It has good aim and timing, making it useful for headshots to quickly defeat armored enemies.
The recoil is manageable and has solid damage per burst. Two quick hits from this weapon are enough to clear the enemy with excellent aim. Twin Tap HBR is less forgiving than other automatic weapons when you miss shots.
Bully SMG
The Bully SMG uses ballistic ammo to eliminate enemies in close-range combat. This weapon is best suited for an aggressive playstyle when you’re the only one alive. Each shot from this SMG does more stopping power than light SMGs due to heavy ammo.
You need to manage the inventory because the heavy ammo is less common. The stronger recoil of Bully SMG makes it harder to control at long ranges.
WSTR Combat Shotgun (Double-Barrel Shotgun)
The WSTR Combat Shotgun uses MIPS Rounds and can absolutely shred enemies in close-range combat. This shotgun hits like a hammer, and the double-barreled design allows you to fire two powerful shots before reloading.
You can use this weapon to defeat opponents and delete enemies instantly at point-blank range. This makes the WSTR Combat Shotgun more effective in small rooms and tight corridors.
A-Tier
These weapons rank slightly lower than the S-tier weapons because they lack something in their stats and overall performance.
Ares RG (Railgun)
The Ares RG in Marathon can fire magnetically accelerated single shots to deal massive damage in long-range engagements. Volt Cell ammo type is used in this Railgun, making it harder to keep supplied. This weapon is more about precision hits when it counts and is less about spamming fire in combat.
The high precision of Ares RG makes it great at picking targets before they even spot you. It has slower fire rates and reload speeds, so accuracy and timing are key to using this weapon properly.
Impact HAR (Assault Rifle)
The Impact HAR uses heavy ammo to deal massive damage per shot to opponents in mid-range combat. Use different mods on this weapon to improve accuracy, handling, and reload speed. Hitting harder per shot than lighter-ammo rifles makes it reliable at medium range.
The range and balance of Impact HAR make it versatile for tough encounters. Base recoil and handling are higher for this assault rifle, so recoil control and mods are helpful for overall performance in a match.
Retaliator LMG (LMG)
The Retaliator LMG is designed for sustained fire and area suppression in combat. This weapon can only use Light Rounds and fire fully automatically, allowing you to shred enemies. It comes with a high rate of fire and a large magazine, making it useful for crowd control while holding a cover.
This LMG provides suppressive fire while teammates reposition because of sustained output. Due to the light rounds, this weapon can be less bursty against specific targets in combat.
M77 Assault Rifle (AR)
The M77 Assault Rifle is stable and versatile in Marathon, allowing you to deal excellent damage at many ranges. This AR comes with a balanced mix of damage, recoil control, and stability. Stable recoil, manageable handling, and a decent damage capability make it forgiving in a match.
Use this weapon to tackle enemies across close, mid, and mid-long engagements. This is the best weapon for beginners because it’s easy to use.
V66 Lookout (Precision Rifle)
The V66 Lookout is a volt-based long-range rifle that uses Volt Batteries in combat and is designed for sharpshooting. Use the best mods to customize its zoom, charge speed, or handling. The decent precision and charge mechanic make it good for holding sightlines and punishing peeks.
The charging of this weapon increased when you hit the enemy, making it useful for tactical play. This rifle fires slowly, and its time-to-kill is long.
BR33 Volley Rifle (Precision Rifle)
The BR33 Volley Rifle can fire in three-round bursts and uses Light Rounds to deal damage to opponents. The round burst of this weapon can quickly punish misses and take down enemies fast at mid- range.
You can use this weapon for long sightlines to tackle enemies without giving them a chance to react. It scales with attachments, and you can pair mods to tighten burst accuracy.
Stryder M1T (Precision Rifle)
The Stryder M1T uses Light Rounds and is more accurate and effective at distance while handling mid-range enemies. It excels at mid-to-long-range engagements where shots matter due to effective range and precision.
Semi-automatic fire makes it more flexible than slow single-shot snipers. The accuracy, range, and handling are the top reasons to put this Precision Rifle into multiple loadouts.
BRRT SMG
The BRRT SMG can fire in five-round bursts and is specifically designed for close-to-mid range combat. This weapon has a high fire rate and decent accuracy, allowing you to dominate enemies when they’re nearby.
Its fast burst fire makes it excellent at melting enemies in tight spaces. However, the effectiveness of this SMG decreases at long ranges.
B-Tier
Weapons in this tier can still deal massive damage, but they have minor limitations. Not every Runner Shell can use these weapons due to their playstyle.
V11 Punch (Pistol)
The V11 Punch in Marathon works like a small, lightweight secondary weapon with a charging mechanic. This pistol can fire in semi-auto or hold the trigger to charge up and release a higher-damage burst.
Its damage and performance are much weaker than those of other pistols like the Magnum MC. Make sure to use this weapon in a pinch or if you like its charging mechanic.
Magnum MC (Heavy Pistol)
Magnum MC in Marathon uses Heavy Rounds to get high stopping power in combat. This is a hard-hitting, hand cannon-style pistol that comes with a slower fire rate and massive damage per shot.
Magnum MC rewards precision and aim, but missing shots can be punishing. Slow rate of fire and limited magazine size mean precision matters a lot. You can use it as a backup sidearm to deal damage to enemies when the primary weapon fails to perform.
Outland (Sniper Rifle)
The Outland excels at long-distance engagements and is built for precision. This weapon uses ballistic ammo, making it easier for you to take out targets from far away.
The shots from this sniper rifle allow you to hit hard and can often take down enemies quickly when you connect. Outland requires good aim and has limited close-range.
Conquest LMG
The Conquest LMG uses Light Rounds as its ammo type and is fully automatic in Marathon. The rate of fire increases when you hold down the trigger for a longer time. The stability improves when crouched, making it more controllable in sustained fights.
However, the base damage and DPS aren’t as competitive as those of other LMGs. The need to fire sustained bursts before reaching peak fire rate can highly affect the overall performance.
Misriah 2442 (Shotgun)
The Misriah 2442 can only fire MIPS Rounds and is designed for only close-range engagements. Its effectiveness decreases when you use it in mid or long-range fights.
Use this pump-action shotgun to deal massive damage per shot, but has a slower reload time. This weapon can quickly take down targets at point-blank range if you land shots accurately.
C-Tier
These weapons are situational, and you can only use them in specific conditions. They have more limitations than the B-tier weapons. Using them accurately can make a huge difference.
- Demolition HMG- A heavy machine gun that fires Heavy Rounds with lower handling.
- V99 Channel Rifle- Grants sustained precision damage and is more forgiving.
- Repeater HPR- A lever-action rifle that comes with lower overall DPS.
- V00 Zeus RG- A railgun that works on a charge mechanic, but the burst damage is staggering.
- Hardline PR- A burst precision rifle that requires accuracy and can deal massive damage at mid-range.
D-Tier
Weapons in this tier are not recommended due to their attacking power and other limitations.
- V85 Circuit Breaker: a Shotgun that uses a Volt Battery and deals decent damage in close range.
- Copperhead RF: The fastest-firing SMG that can tackle enemies with a laser beam in combat, but it depends heavily on the magazine.
- V22 Volt Thrower: Use this weapon to melt enemies, but the overheat mechanic makes it less reliable.
- Overrun AR: A reliable assault rifle that can apply massive pressure at mid-range.
- Longshot: A sniper rifle that can eliminate enemies from a safe distance, but struggles in tight areas.
