Top Weapons in Marathon for Completing and Solving

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You can use 29 different weapons in Marathon. This number doesn’t include various equipment like grenades, or your reliable knife, which sometimes feels overly powerful. With so many guns available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed about where to start and which ones are actually good.

Don’t worry, we’ve tested and experimented with all of them for you. Our Marathon weapons tier list highlights the top and most useful guns you can find throughout the game. Your main challenge will be gathering and filling your vault with these top-tier options.

Keep in mind, Marathon is a live-service game that regularly updates to adjust weapon balance. Weapons can be nerfed or buffed with patches, so consider this guide as a general overview rather than absolute.

How Do Tiers Work?

Our tier list divides weapons into four categories:

Tier S: The best of the best. These weapons deliver everything you need and more. Prioritize them.
Tier A: Excellent weapons with minor downsides compared to S tier.
Tier B: Okay guns that can work well—though they may need some skill to handle.
Tier C: We suggest avoiding these unless necessary.

We assessed weapons in their base versions without attachments. For more specific weapon lists tailored for PvE or PvP, check dedicated guides.

Tier S

Weapon	Type	Reason
Biotoxic Disinjector	Hybrid	Introduced in Cryo Archive, this is arguably the most overpowered weapon in the game. To unlock, you must defeat a Compiler. Best for skilled players.
Longshot	Sniper Rifle	A powerful sniper that’s surprisingly not nerfed yet. It delivers three quick shots with low recoil and huge damage.
M77 Assault Rifle	Assault Rifle	Whether you prefer the M77 or BR33, they’re interchangeable. Their damage is especially effective against UESC.
BR33 Volley Rifle	Precision Rifle	Known for its stability and accuracy. Its burst fire can be tricky, but it’s reliable for precise shots.
WSTR Combat Shotgun	Shotgun	Land both shots and it can take down nearly any enemy. Only enemies far away or shielded are safe.
Missriah 2442	Shotgun	Offers more shots per magazine than just two, making it extremely powerful.
Bully SMG	Submachine Gun	The most accessible and powerful gun in this tier, great for early gameplay.

Tier A

Weapon	Type	Reason
Outland	Sniper Rifle	Very strong but slow firing rate brings it to Tier A.
Stryder M1T	Precision Rifle	Very stable with decent damage. Great if you aim well.
BRRT SMG	Submachine Gun	Strong close-range option—manage its recoil well to succeed.
V99 Channel	Sniper Rifle	A charge sniper that builds power as you aim. Timing is key, but skilled players can excel.
Demolition HMG	Machine Gun	Heavy, but with better damage and fire rate than similar weapons.
Twin Tap HBR	Precision Rifle	Good damage with a fast kill time; short-range limitation is a drawback.
Magnum MC	Pistol	Strong for PvP if you’re skilled at headshots, but weaker if not.
V11 Punch	Pistol	Great for PvP, especially if you charge your shots.

Tier B

Weapon	Type	Reason
Hardline PR	Precision Rifle	Decent for PvE, especially if you excel at headshots.
V85 Circuit Breaker	Shotgun	Moderate weapon—requires charging shots to perform well.
Twin Tap HBR	Precision Rifle	Good damage but recoil and range can be disadvantages.
Impact H-AR	Assault Rifle	Fire rate could be better; closer combat can be challenging.
V75 Scar	Assault Rifle	Many shots before reloading, but less effective at longer distances.
V66 Lookout	Precision Rifle	Better for long-range, but damage isn’t enough to elevate it higher.
V00 Zeus RG	Railgun	Not popular, due to charging and discomfort. When charged, can deal significant damage.
Conquest LMG	Machine Gun	Needs to be fired for a few seconds to reach optimal rate; situational choice.
V22 Volt Thrower	Pistol	Fun to use, effective against weaker UESC units, but not recommended for PvP.

Tier C

Weapon	Type	Reason
Overrun AR	Assault Rifle	Not bad but lacks unique features; not worth prioritizing.
Retaliator LMG	Machine Gun	Heavy and inconsistent fire rate.
Ares RG	Railgun	High skill required; charges are difficult to manage.
Repeater HPR	Precision Rifle	Decent damage with headshots, but overall stats are weak.
Copperhead RF	Submachine Gun	Weak at ranges beyond close combat; high cost not justified.
CE Tactical Sidearm	Pistol	The worst weapon in the game.