Marathon Balance Overhaul Preview: Ziegler's Big Changes Coming Soon

Ziegler_Dev confirmed on X that significant balance changes are in development, promising to "talk about it soon." This marks the first major balance overhaul since ranked mode launched, and the timing suggests these changes will reshape the competitive landscape before Season 2.

Based on current meta dominance, expect adjustments to Thief - Stealth's X-Ray Visor ability and potentially the Scan drone's Holotag interception range. The shell's S-tier solo ranked performance has made it mandatory at Platinum+ tiers. Destroyer - Combat's Force Slam may also see cooldown adjustments — its ability to force Holotag drops every 45 seconds creates oppressive squad scenarios.

The Stryder M1T - Precision Rifle's 36 damage per shot dominance in ranked sightlines needs addressing. Pair it with ◈ Pinpoint Barrel - Barrel MOD - Superior for maximum stability, and few weapons can compete at mid-range. The V00 Zeus RG - Railgun's 120 damage railgun shots may see charge time increases — one-shot potential shouldn't come with a 90 RPM fire rate.

If you're pushing ranks now, master the current meta before changes hit. Focus on Thief extraction routes and Destroyer squad compositions while they're at peak power. The balance window between now and the official announcement represents your best opportunity to climb with optimized builds.

First, expect major shell ability adjustments targeting Thief and Destroyer dominance. Second, weapon damage values will likely shift to create more viable mid-range options beyond Stryder M1T. Third, use this advance warning to master current meta builds before they're nerfed — climb now while the tools are strongest.