The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter Marathon was pushed back last year from its original release date on September 23rd to March of 2026. This action was taken as developers at Bungie acknowledged the negative community and playtester feedback the game had received–and though they did not directly address it as reason for the delay, it’s not a stretch to imagine that the controversy surrounding the allegedly stolen assets from artist Antireal might have something to do with it as well. But since then, Marathon launched a marketing push starting around December of last year promising players that they’ve addressed a lot of their concerns.
Yesterday, the Marathon Youtube channel released an in-depth look at some of the runner “Shells” they’ve teased on social media, which serve as the classes or sort of heroes that you take control of in its run-based gameplay either solo or in a squad. In the world of the game, Shells derive their namesake from the fact that they aren’t really humans, rather bio-mechanical replicants a la Blade Runner that have someone’s consciousness injected into them. As such, death is more of a financial inconvenience than an existential threat to runners. The developers emphasize that the Shells can be shaped by your buildcrafting as opposed to locking you into a particular playstyle. Make sure to check out the video to see the Shells in action–because they look like a blast to play–but here’s our summary of the six main shells available at launch, as well as the approach to the ubiquitous extraction-shooter free loadout approach Bungie has taken.
Destroyer:
As the name implies, the Destroyer Shell is about pulverizing the opposition with aggressive tactics and weaponry. You’re equipped with a mobile shield, shoulder-launched missiles, immobilizing shots, and booster rockets that allow you to blitz your opponents with ease. And if you’re old enough to have enjoyed the original Marathon games this reboot is based on, this Shell’s armor might look a little familiar–and that’s because it’s a revamp of the fighter-pilot-esque Mjolnir set from the games’ artwork.
Assassin:
This is the complete polar opposite of the Destroyer Shell. Assassin’s main gimmick is a cloaking ability that fluctuates with your movement, so you’re encouraged to take heavy flanks or ambushes to achieve lethal stealthy performance. Assassin is also one of the main voiced characters seen in the stunning short-film teaser for the game directed by the talented Alberto Miego.
Recon:
Continuing the rock-paper-scissors dynamic Bungie has set up, the Recon Shell focuses on tracking those who’d rather run and hide. The developers jokingly call them the “fun police,” because their kit includes an exploding seeker drone that essentially immobilizes you, a helmet scanner that tags enemies through walls and cloak alike, and a passive ability that reveals the footprints of anyone you’ve broken the shield of. So rat teams camping in the dark corners of extracts beware; there will be no such shenanigans if there’s a competent Recon shell on the enemy team.
Vandal:
For you movement gods out there, the Vandal Shell will probably be your first pick. They have a double-jump, a power slide, a speed-boost, and an arm cannon with a shockwave projectile that you can use to either knock people or yourself around. Yes, that’s right, rocketjumping is an option with this Shell so long as you have the correct modification core installed. A version of Vandal was also present in the teaser film mentioned above, though here their appearance is a bit different from than on the silver screen.
Thief:
Plain and simple, the Thief Shell is a “loot goblin.” Their abilities allow you to see containers through walls, steal loot from players mid-fight, a grapple hook for quick getaways, and a passive that actually makes you faster the more stuff you have in your inventory. Perhaps in a team composition this would be a bit of a selfish pick, but the utility their drone ability brings extends to some minor reconnaissance capabilities as well. Also, you have the advantage of dibs on loot, because after all, why shouldn’t the Thief player be responsible for carrying the team’s spoils if it makes them move faster? It’d sure be a waste…
Triage:
The Triage Shell is the premiere support role in Marathon. Fix up your teammates and share buffs with them with drones, bring them back to life, and keep your team going by being a damage power-house yourself, suping up your weapons with bonus elemental damage. It’s that last ability that for once makes it seem like this support character has been designed not for masochists who enjoy getting berated by their team for lack of heals.
Rook:
Although there are six main Shells for normal squad-based runs, there’s actually a seventh one that’s exclusive to solo. Selecting the Rook shell automatically grants you a randomized free loadout and allows you to blend in with the NPCs in the map, with the catch of no other special abilities, forced solo play, and always getting injected mid match instead of at the start like everyone else. It’s common for extraction shooters to stagger players into matches to avoid overcrowding and introduce tension, but in Marathon, it seems like only Rook players are subject to this. Some have pointed out that it’s actually a boon to have a visual indicator of player who is running a free loadout, as it could help to inform more nuanced interactions than a simple kill on sight approach.