Ready for Marathon’s Ranked Mode? Bungie Reveals Strict Rules for New Competitive Branch

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Bungie has revealed details about Marathon’s competitive Ranked mode, which will be in beta during Season One. The mode opens for the first time this weekend, running from March 21 to 24. According to Bungie, Ranked mode is designed to test players’ knowledge of loot farming, PvP combat, and risk management. To participate, players must reach Level 25 as Runners. The mode will only be active on weekends, rotating through three maps: Perimeter, Dire Marsh, and Outpost. The opening weekend will feature the Perimeter map. Matchmaking will mix all team sizes, allowing players to enter with a squad or solo, where they risk encountering three-player teams. A Gear Ante system requires players to meet a minimum credit value of equipped gear before entering a match, preventing participants from joining with minimal equipment and negatively affecting their teammates’ experience.

In Ranked mode, each match has a target score based on a team’s Holotag values. Players must extract with high-priced gear to reach this target gear score, which is necessary to climb the ranks. Extracting before hitting the target score will not earn any ranked rating points, and dying results in a loss of ranked points. Players can gain extra scoring points by looting other players’ Holotags or collecting special Tag Chips dropped by UESC enemies or found during world events during a match. To climb the ranks, players must buy Holotags and meet certain gear requirements. There are six tiers, from Bronze to Pinnacle. Low-stakes areas are open to players from Bronze to Gold, featuring lighter competition and less harsh penalties. Holotag targets are also smaller in these areas. High-stakes zones open at Platinum, offering better loot and more skilled players. Because of the gear ante, these zones require a stronger gear setup, and losing rank progress upon death is much steeper. Meeting or exceeding the Holotag score target during extraction earns rank progress. Reaching a new rank for the first time will give players a reward package from the Marathon Codex.

There are two distinct matchmaking lines. However, only the easier version will be available during the first weekend: Low Stakes: Requires a minimum Gear Ante of 3,000 credits (equivalent to green gear with some blue pieces) and a Bronze Holotag. High Stakes: Requires a minimum Gear Ante of 10,000 credits (blue and purple gear) and a Platinum Holotag. In Ranked mode, your Loadout Value determines the stakes, with more expensive setups yielding higher risk and potential payoff. The scoring system revolves around Holograms, an obligatory item that defines match rules and determines rank progression: 1. Target score: The combined value of a team’s Holograms sets the loot value needed to earn Ranked Points (RP). 2. Penalty: Dying and failing extraction results in RP loss based on the Hologram values carried. 3. Neutral extraction: Extracting alive with less loot than the target results in no gains or losses. 4. Bonus (Overperformance): Surpassing the score limit requires stealing enemy players’ Holograms or collecting Tag Chips from map events.

Competing in Marathon’s Ranked Mode – Climbing Ranks Awards Highest Achieved Rank and Loot Packages

To alleviate competitive anxiety, Bungie also stated that end-of-season rewards will be based on the highest rank achieved, even if players drop divisions before the season ends. Additionally, players will receive a loot package with gear and keys each time they climb a rank. This comprehensive Ranked mode promises a challenging and rewarding experience for Marathon players.

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