Marathon Best Weapons: Tier Lists, Rankings and Best Picks

Best Weapon in Marathon Overall (Key Takeaways)

We know your time is precious, so we’ve decided to reveal the top 5 Marathon weapons right from the start.

• 1. Twin Tap HPR
• 2. WSTR Combat Shotgun
• 3. Longshot
• 4. V00 ZEUS RG
• 5. Bully SMG

Introduction

Welcome to our Marathon best weapons guide. Marathon’s closed alpha has already revealed a brutal PvP pace, with a very fast time to kill where even basic weapons can drop geared opponents if your aim and positioning are clean.

We’ll start by explaining what makes a weapon strong in Marathon, then cover weapon types, rarity tiers, and the role of mods. After that, you’ll get a complete set of tier lists for overall meta, beginners, close range, and long range.

By the end, you’ll know exactly which weapons to prioritize, how to build a loadout that covers multiple engagement distances, and what to avoid when the lobby turns into a high risk firefight.

The Vital Role of Weapons in Marathon Gameplay

In Marathon, your weapon choice affects everything: how confidently you take fights, how safely you hold sightlines, and how often you extract with valuable loot. Since the alpha has no rocket or grenade launchers, precision and consistent gunplay matter even more.

What makes a weapon good in Marathon?

A good Marathon weapon combines fast, reliable time to kill with control under pressure. The meta favors weapons that win both clean duels and messy third party engagements. Key factors:

• 1. Practical time to kill in real fights, not just perfect range scenarios.
• 2. Accuracy and recoil control when you are forced to spray or snap aim.
• 3. Burst potential that punishes peeks and breaks shields fast.
• 4. Mod flexibility since mods can raise weapon stats and even unlock build synergies.
• 5. Ammo logistics especially for Volt weapons that rely on volt batteries or volt cells.

Note: Marathon’s arsenal mixes classic kinetic firearms with Volt energy weapons. The best guns are not only powerful, they stay consistent when fights shift from open sightlines to tight interiors in seconds.

All Weapon Types in Marathon

How many weapons are available in Marathon?

In the closed alpha, there are 16 confirmed weapons. Based on multiple weapon list overviews, the launch pool is commonly estimated at 26 to 28 weapons across eight weapon categories. Names and counts can still change before release, so this guide focuses on what is confirmed in alpha, plus a light overview of the broader weapon ecosystem.

➤ Assault Rifles

Assault rifles are your flexible primaries for close to mid range pressure, with enough stability to take longer lanes when you tap fire. In alpha, the key choices are the M77 Assault Rifle and Overrun AR, with additional rifles expected at launch.

➤ Light Machine Guns

LMGs trade mobility for sustained suppression. In alpha, Conquest LMG is the standout, and it can lock down approaches when you commit to firing lanes instead of fast flanks.

➤ Precision Rifles

Precision rifles reward clean crosshair placement with high impact shots. Alpha highlights include Twin Tap HPR, Hardline PR, Repeater HPR, and the Volt option V66 Lookout.

➤ Pistols

Pistols are your clutch finishers when your primary runs dry. The CE Tactical Sidearm is a safe budget option with a big magazine, Magnum MC brings heavy punch, and V11 Punch is a Volt sidearm that can burn through volt ammo fast.

➤ Rail Guns

Rail guns are Volt long range power weapons with charge timing and massive damage. In alpha, V00 ZEUS RG is the headline pick, especially when you can play disciplined angles and make shots count.

➤ Shotguns

Shotguns rule interiors and corner fights. The WSTR Combat Shotgun is the alpha standard, with two quick shots and one shot potential at point blank range.

➤ Snipers

Snipers are for overwatch and extract denial. In alpha, Longshot is the iconic pick: bolt action, extremely high per shot damage, and one shot headshot potential in skilled hands.

➤ SMGs

SMGs are close range kings. BRRT SMG melts fast in panic fights, Bully SMG hits hard and holds hallways, and V22 Volt Thrower brings Volt utility and strong close quarters pressure.

Weapon Rarity in Marathon

Rarity affects how strong a gun feels, how many attachments it can roll with, and how much risk you take into a run. Higher rarity weapons can offer better perks and mod coverage, but your backpack value rises, so losing a kit hurts more.

• Gray (Standard): basic weapons to get you started, functional with no extras.
• Green (Enhanced): small upgrades, sometimes a single attachment or minor stat bump.
• Blue (Deluxe): multiple attachments and noticeable performance improvements.
• Purple (Superior): significant advantages like improved recoil and faster reload feel.
• Gold (Prestige): top tier, high value weapons that can feel game changing and are hardest to extract with.

How to get & upgrade weapons in Marathon?

Finding Weapons During Runs

In alpha impressions, weapons come from your run economy: looting, caches, and weapon lockers, plus drops from enemy units. Some high impact guns show up in high risk areas, and certain Volt weapons are tied to enemies carrying advanced shields.

Mods and Build Value

Marathon has a massive mod pool, with over 400 weapon mods mentioned in previews. Mods raise key stats like recoil control, reload tempo, and consistency, and gold mods can fundamentally change a weapon’s role, such as turning an energy SMG into a needle style finisher or enabling stealth focused sidearm play with invisibility on kill setups.

Volt Ammo Management

Volt weapons feed on volt batteries or volt cells. Because reload behavior can punish waste, treat Volt ammo like a resource. Make shots count, plan your fights, and avoid panic reloading when you are not committed to finishing an engagement.

Marathon Tier List: Detailed Breakdown

This section ranks the best weapons in Marathon based on alpha performance impressions, PvP utility, and how reliably each weapon converts good positioning into winning fights.

Before we jump into the tables, here is what each tier means:

• S Tier: The absolute best weapons in the game. These combine penetration, accuracy, mod versatility, and efficiency under all conditions. Ideal for consistent extractions.
• A Tier: High performing weapons that are reliable in most scenarios. They have minor drawbacks but remain top tier for most playstyles.
• B Tier: Solid all rounders with good damage and control but limited by niche performance or weaker mod options.
• C Tier: Starter or situational weapons with clear weaknesses. Useful early on but easily outclassed as you progress.

Disclaimer: These rankings reflect early alpha meta impressions and weapon utility. Weapon balance will shift as Marathon evolves, so treat this as a snapshot of the current landscape.

Best Weapons for Beginners

Beginner picks should feel stable, forgiving, and easy to understand. You want low recoil, clean sight picture, and weapons that stay useful even when your aim is not perfect.

Best Close-range Weapons for in Marathon

Close range fights are decided in a blink. Shotguns and SMGs rule interiors, corners, and objective rooms. Your goal is simple: win the first second of contact.

Best Weapons for Long-range in Marathon

Long range weapons decide who controls approach lanes and extracts. If you like overwatch roles, pick guns that punish peeks and force enemies to reroute.

Marathon Meta Weapon

The simplest meta rule in early Marathon is to cover both ends of the distance spectrum. A lot of alpha players gravitate to the same core idea: win long lanes with precision, then delete pushes in tight spaces.

Best meta loadout: Twin Tap HPR plus WSTR Combat Shotgun. Twin Tap lets you hold sightlines and punish peeks, while WSTR ensures any close range breach ends instantly.

Alternative meta loadout: M77 Assault Rifle plus Magnum MC. This setup is cheaper, stable, and still covers most fights, especially if you want one primary that stays comfortable in chaotic mid range duels.

How to choose your Weapon in Marathon

Use this quick checklist to pick weapons that match your route goals and your comfort in fights.

• Cover your distances: Pair a long lane weapon with a close range finisher, like Twin Tap with WSTR, or Longshot with an SMG.
• Choose your risk level: Prestige and Volt power weapons are strong, but losing them hurts. Do not overcommit if you are learning routes.
• Play to your strengths: If your aim is sharp, Twin Tap and Longshot will carry. If you prefer brawls, pick Bully, BRRT, or WSTR.
• Respect interiors: Indoor zones reward SMGs and shotguns. If you enter buildings without a close range answer, you are gambling.
• Think about Volt ammo: Volt weapons are powerful, but they demand discipline. Waste less, commit more, and reload only when it is safe.

About KBoosting

Thank you for reading our Marathon weapons guide. At KBoosting, we also provide Marathon boosting to help you progress faster, optimize your loadouts, and save time when the grind gets intense.