Explore the Lost Colony in Marathon
Marathon just received its Mid-Season 2, and it comes with a brand-new experimental PvE mode called Vaultcracker alongside a fresh wave of balance adjustments, progression improvements, and quality-of-life updates.
Vaultcracker marks Marathon’s first roguelite-inspired PvE experience, taking players deep into the Cryo Archive aboard the UESC Marathon. In this limited-time mode, runners battle through increasingly dangerous chambers while searching for valuable loot and pushing further into the mysterious endgame zone with every run. The mode supports solo play, duos, and full three-player squads, and it’s available to all players regardless of their Runner level. Vaultcracker will be playable from July 21 through August 4.
The update also introduces several exclusive Codex Challenges, giving players the chance to unlock cosmetic rewards such as new emblems, a profile background, a weapon style, and a weapon charm during the event.
On the gameplay side, the developers have rolled out multiple balance changes. The WSR Combat Shotgun has received a buff, while the D54 Combat Pistol and Misriah 2442 Shotgun have been rebalanced. To reduce excessive utility usage, the Infil Runner now has a new equipment limit that restricts grenade and shield bladder spam. Players will also notice improved implant visuals for better readability.
Beyond the mid-season additions, Season 2 continues to expand Marathon with the Nightmoor zone, the Sentinel Runner Shell, new weapons, faster faction progression, the Runner Hull stat adjustment system, and several player-requested quality-of-life improvements.
Overall, this update gives players plenty of reasons to jump back into Marathon, especially with the limited-time Vaultcracker mode offering a fresh cooperative challenge and new rewards to earn.