Marathon’s Ranked Mode: What We Know Ahead of Launch
As Bungie’s extraction shooter, Marathon, approaches its March release, details surrounding the game’s ranked mode are beginning to surface. While official information has been limited, insights from dataminers and early previews are offering a glimpse into how competitive play will function.
To participate in ranked mode, players, referred to as “crew members,” will need to select a zone, equip a loadout meeting the required gear level, and purchase a “Holotag” to establish a score target. Holotags are a mandatory requirement for entry into ranked matches.
The zones available for ranked play will rotate on a weekly basis, offering variety and keeping the competitive landscape fresh.
Ranked Progression and Scoring
Progress within the ranked system is determined by extracting high-value loot. The credit value of the loot acquired during a run directly contributes to a player’s progress, and players must meet or exceed the pre-set score target to advance.
The ranks within Marathon’s competitive system are as follows:
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Diamond
- Pinnacle
A “Master” rank is also mentioned, presumably reserved for the highest-performing players.
Each rank is further subdivided into three tiers – I, II, and III – allowing for granular progression within each level. For example, players will advance from Silver I to Silver II, and ultimately to Silver III before reaching the next rank.
Rewards for Competitive Play
Players can expect to earn cosmetic rewards through ranked play. Some rewards are immediately usable, while others are distributed at the end of each season based on final rank.
Zone Access and Scoring Mechanics
Access to zones is tiered based on rank. All players have access to low-stakes zones, while those ranked Platinum or higher gain entry to high-stakes zones.
A Holotag must be equipped to contribute to a player’s score during a match. Without a Holotag, a player’s actions will not impact the team’s overall score.
Successfully extracting from a ranked match without reaching the set score target will not result in a rank loss, but will also not yield any progress. Failing to extract, however, incurs a point loss equal to the established score target.
Holotag Rarities and Effects
Holotags come in varying rarities, each offering unique effects:
- Bronze Holotag: Adds an unknown number of credits to the score target upon infiltration. Looting an additional silver Holotag expands the credit capacity of the score target by an unknown amount.
- Silver Holotag: Adds 5,000 credits to the score target upon infiltration. Looting an additional silver Holotag expands the credit capacity of the score target by 1,000 credits.
- Gold Holotag: Adds an unknown number of credits to the score target upon infiltration. Looting an additional silver Holotag expands the credit capacity of the score target by an unknown amount.
- Platinum Holotag: Adds an unknown number of credits to the score target upon infiltration. Looting an additional diamond Holotag expands the credit capacity of the score target by an unknown amount.
- Diamond Holotag: Adds 15,000 credits to the score target upon infiltration. Looting an additional diamond Holotag expands the credit capacity of the score target by 3,000 credits.
- Pinnacle Holotag: Adds 20,000 credits to the score target upon infiltration. Looting an additional pinnacle Holotag expands the credit capacity of the score target by 4,000 credits.
Some zones will require multiple players, necessitating either a pre-formed crew or matchmaking to participate.
It’s important to note that this information is currently unofficial and subject to change, though with the game’s release just a month away, significant alterations are unlikely.
