Shell Selection Guide for Marathon Ranked Mode

With Marathon's ranked mode launching soon, your shell choice directly impacts your Holotag extraction success and rank progression. Death means losing gear AND rank points, making shell synergy crucial.

dominates solo ranked (S-tier). Built for hitting Holotag targets and extracting safely, Thief excels at the core ranked loop. Its extraction-focused kit keeps you alive when stakes are highest.

and

are S-tier in squad ranked. Destroyer forces Holotag kills with highest damage output, while Triage enables consistent squad extractions. This combo creates aggressive squads that secure Holotags and survive.

is your best entry point (A-tier solo/squad). Versatile and forgiving, it works in most squad compositions while you learn ranked fundamentals. Pairs well with Triage or Destroyer teammates.

teaches ranked basics (C-tier both modes) but gets outclassed quickly. Use it to understand Holotag mechanics, then transition to specialists.

provides invaluable intel (A-tier squad). Knowing where Holotag hunters are prevents costly ambushes.

offers highest risk/reward (A-tier solo) with Holotag theft specialization, but demands expert positioning.

Successful ranked squads combine roles: Destroyer + Triage for aggressive plays, or Recon + Vandal for balanced approaches. Avoid solo-focused shells like Thief in squad modes.

Higher Holotag tiers favor specialists over generalists. Vandal works well in early tiers, but Platinum+ rewards focused shells like Thief for extractions or Destroyer for eliminations.