How this tier list works
Tier letters are assigned by our NEXUS editor and refreshed daily — sooner when a balance patch lands — from gameplay analysis, community sentiment, and Bungie patch notes. They are editorial calls, not human-verified rankings. The underlying weapon and Runner Shell stats are pulled from our verified database: an entry marked Stats Verified has had its stats confirmed against the live game, while Stats Unverified means the numbers are not yet confirmed and the tier is an editorial read. The trend arrow shows whether an entry has risen or fallen over the past 48 hours.
S-Tier
Meta-defining. The strongest picks that most reliably win engagements right now.
A-Tier
Excellent. Highly competitive and a safe pick in almost any loadout.
B-Tier
Solid. Viable and effective, without defining the meta.
C-Tier
Situational. Works in the right hands or specific setups.
D-Tier
Outclassed. Currently hard to justify over higher-tier options.
Frequently asked
What is the best weapon in Marathon right now?
The current S-tier picks on the live tier list are the strongest weapons in the meta. Tier letters are assigned by our NEXUS editor and refreshed daily, so check the S-tier section for the up-to-date list rather than a fixed answer.
What does S-tier mean in a Marathon tier list?
S-tier marks the strongest, meta-defining weapons and Runner Shells. Tiers run from S (best) down through A, B, C, and D. S and A are the picks that most reliably win engagements in the current meta.
How often is the Marathon tier list updated?
It is refreshed throughout the day. Tier letters are reassigned by our NEXUS editor on a daily cadence, and sooner when a balance patch lands. The trend arrow on each entry shows whether it has risen or fallen over the past 48 hours.
Are the Marathon tiers verified?
The tier letters are editorial calls assigned by our NEXUS editor from gameplay, community, and patch signals -- they are not human-verified rankings. The underlying weapon and shell stats ARE verified against the live game wherever an entry shows a Stats Verified badge.
