Top Vandal Loadout for Marathon Completing and Solving

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Marathon offers a variety of classes called Runner Shells. Some focus on attacking, others excel at sneaking, and some have unique drones that amusingly steal enemy loot. One of these is Vandal.

While it’s true that all Runner Shells can be powerful and you can succeed with any of them if you’re skilled at the maps and shooting, some classes are more complex than others. Let’s explore Vandal, examining their potential builds and abilities in Marathon.

Vandal Overview

If you’re new to the game, Vandal might not be the best choice. You’ll need a lot of practice to master their movement enhancements because it’s crucial to get a feel for when to run, use the Power Slide, manage heat, and understand each map’s layout.

With Vandal, you can run to high places and reach elevated platforms thanks to their built-in double jump. They’re arguably the fastest character in Marathon, with excellent mobility that can make them outperform many others in this aspect.

However, as you use their abilities, you’ll notice how quickly heat rises, which can leave you vulnerable if you’re not careful. Additionally, Vandal is more of a solo performer — they lack abilities that directly support teammates.

Vandal Abilities

Ability	Type	Description	Cooldown/Duration
Amplify	Prime	Gives a buff where less heat is generated, and movement and weapon handling improve.	About 164 seconds (base)
Disrupt Cannon	Tactical	Converts Vandal’s left arm into a cannon that fires damage-dealing blasts which push enemies. It can be charged for a bigger shot.	About 64 seconds (base)
Microjets	Trait	Allows double jumping.	No cooldown, increases heat
Power Slide	Trait	Lets you slide farther and faster.	Same as Microjets; two slides overheat quickly

Using Disrupt Cannon

You can use the Disrupt Cannon to toss enemies out of cover or push them into your line of fire, making them vulnerable. When enemies take cover, you’ll force them out of hiding, which can help your team. But if used poorly, it might push enemies out of your team’s sight altogether, ruining your chances. It’s best to start by using it mainly for damage until you become more comfortable with its limitations.

Power Slide Tips

Power Slide is tricky because you can’t shoot while sliding. Use it to get into unexpected positions, reach higher ground, or evade attacks. Remember, performing two Power Slides in quick succession or using them without managing heat could cause you to overheat, leaving you vulnerable.

Vandal Abilities Summary

Amplify (Prime): Buff that reduces heat and boosts speed/dexterity; 164 sec cooldown.
Disrupt Cannon: Fires a damaging blast; 64 sec cooldown.
Microjets: Double jump; no cooldown but increases heat.
Power Slide: Long-range slide; causes heat buildup.

Best Vandal Loadouts

You can approach Vandal in two ways: either pack them with enough gear to survive their fragility, especially as a beginner, or keep things minimal with just essential weapons and supplies.

Early Game Vandal Build

Item	Recommendation
Primary Weapon	M77 Assault Rifle
Secondary Weapon	CE Tactical Sidearm
Backpack	The best available
Shield	The best available
Equipment	Smoke Grenade
Cores	– Out of Dodge: Clears heat when shields break. – TAG!: Enhances Disrupt Cannon for extra damage and target pinging.
Implants	– Head: Augmented Capacitors V2 – Torso: Survival Kit V2 – Legs: Graceful Landing V2 or Distance Runner V2

Note: Basic implants that boost mobility and speed are recommended early on, with situational cores like TAG! offering strategic advantages.

Late Game Vandal Build

Item	Recommendation
Primary Weapon	V75 SCAR
Secondary Weapon	WSTR Combat Shotgun
Backpack	The best available
Shield	The best available
Equipment	EMP Grenade
Cores	– Adrenal Core: Reduces heat generated during movement abilities, especially with a Cardio Kick. – Mechanized Holsters: Reloads weapons from reserves and recharges current batteries.
Implants	– Head: Regen V4 – Torso: Hurting Hands V4 or Survival Kit V4 – Legs: Bionic Leg Upgrades V5 or V4

Note: Currently, Vandal’s late-game cores are fairly standard, with some players switching to the Microjet Efficiency Package for extra jumps if available. Movement remains a focus even if their core options aren’t as impressive as other characters.