The Marathon universe is based on surviving, extracting, & progressing over the long term on a hostile planet called Tau Ceti 4. Looting and getting out with as many items as you can are the short-term goals of every single run. However, the real progression for you comes from the Marathon faction network, which provides opportunities to Runners by giving you contracts that allow you to earn reputation points, upgrade your Runner’s gear, & the ability to buy unique items.
Upon launch, Marathon has 6 different factions, each with its own philosophy & way of playing. For example, there is a faction that values survival & technology, while another values aggression or resource control. As you fulfill your contracts and earn more reputation points within these factions, you will rank higher & have access to improved gear, permanent seasonal upgrades, or new contracts.
To effectively progress through the game, you need to understand faction operations. Here is an overview of the different types of factions, what types of contracts they offer, & what their benefits are.
How Marathon Factions and Contracts Work
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In Marathon, the factions provide players with long-term progression tracks that are based upon Contracts. Each of these Contracts is chosen prior to running the mission, after which the player has to return to that faction to complete the selected contract’s objective(s) during their run.
Since players may only have a single Contract during a run, when going into Tau Ceti IV (the world in the Marathon Universe), it is very important that each Run has a defined purpose.
There are four general types of Contracts:
Liaison Contracts: These are the introductory Missions to establish an association to the Faction. Completing a Liaison Contract will permanently associate the player with that Faction.
Standard Contracts: These are repeatable objectives that consist of collecting Resources, interacting with Technology, and defeating Enemies. Completing Standard Contracts will consistently reward players with Faction Reputation and Basic Rewards.
Priority Contracts: These are story-driven Missions that provide access to Faction Progression. These are the one-time Contracts that offer either a larger reward or offer access to additional levels of Faction Progression.
Boosted Contracts: These are more challenging versions of the Standard Contracts, but they provide much greater Reputation rewards and/or Loot.
When players complete the Contracts, they receive Reputation (Rep). As players gather Reputation, their Faction Rank will increase automatically. As players achieve higher Faction Ranks, they will gain access to new permanent upgrades and new Contracts, which improve the Players effectiveness in the previously completed Runs.
How to Unlock Marathon Faction
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At the start of Marathon, players will be associated with CyberAcme, which serves as the first faction. To gain access to the other factions, you need to complete all of the early priority contracts related to the beginning of the Tau Ceti colony.
To unlock your Marathon Faction, you’ll want to complete the following steps:
- Finish the tutorial.
- Connect to CyberAcme through the Factions menu.
- Activate and complete Welcome to Tau Ceti 1/2 Priority Contract.
- Return to CyberAcme and claim your rewards.
- Activate Welcome to Tau Ceti 2/2 and complete its objectives.
- Claim your rewards and open the Contracts screen.
- Decrypt the available Liaison Contracts.
Once you have completed all of the introductory missions, you will be able to see all of the new faction contracts. Once completed, these contracts will permanently unlock new factions for you to work with. After being unlocked, you may work for all of your factions at the same time and will not incur any penalties.
All Marathon Factions
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Here’s every Marathon faction explained:
CyberAcme
CyberAcme is the backbone technology provider behind Runner Shell systems. All the technologies that have been used to build ONI navigation intelligence are created and maintained by CyberAcme, making it the most user-friendly faction in the game for new players.
Most contracts with CyberAcme involve a degree of interaction with technology, scanning devices, or exploring new systems across the map. Through these objectives players will gain experience by learning important mechanics while simultaneously building reputation.
As for CyberAcme upgrades: they emphasize both quality of life and survivability. Players can unlock higher cooldown efficiency, increased inventory size and enhanced functionality of their shell. Since these upgrades apply across nearly all play styles, CyberAcme is the most universally safe starting faction.
NuCaloric
NuCaloric focuses on building and maintaining a sustainable management system for agriculture and food. In the Marathon universe this faction was intimately involved with providing resources and support to the Tau Ceti colony.
Most contracts with NuCaloric are focused on searching for or discovering hidden resources or data in remote locations, as well as collecting historical information on the events leading up to the collapse of the colony.
Upgrades with NuCaloric focus primarily on improving the player’s ability to move quickly and to understand their surroundings through increased sprint time, faster climbing ability and reduced fall damage. Thus making it possible for players to explore the game’s vast map and reach less accessible locations. Players interested in exploring and controlling the map will benefit from progression within this faction the most.
Traxus OffWorld Industries
Traxus OffWorld Industries is a prominent corporation operating within the Marathon universe. On Tau Ceti IV, Traxus is looking to exploit valuable resources while reclaiming lost commercial property.
Contract objectives for Traxus centre around extracting loot. Contracts will often include salvaging rare materials, recovering weapon components, or recovering high-end cargo that is situated throughout the map.
The faction’s upgrades support economic gain and firepower. As players progress with the faction, they will obtain access to weapon modifications, further advanced equipment, and a higher total payout of credits. For players that focus on acquiring loot or upgrading weapons, Traxus is one of the most rewarding pathways for progression.
MIDA
MIDA was originally a political movement that evolved into an insurgent revolution. The faction resists corporate domination of Tau Ceti IV and takes direct action against corporate infrastructure throughout the planet.
MIDA provides contracts that focus primarily on sabotage. Players will be asked to destroy supply lines, locate and plant explosives, or disrupt corporate operations across the map.
While the upgrades focus primarily on explosives and traps, they also provide stealth advantages that cater to players with an indirect style of play. As a result, MIDA players create instability within enemy factions by engaging in destructive actions rather than directly engaging in combat.
Arachne
Arachne is different from the rest of the factions because it is violence-obsessed. It is frequently referred to as a death cult, as the belief there is that through violence, you can be elevated to a higher plane of existence.
Arachne contracts are centered on PvP combat. Objectives can be to kill other Runners, do finishing moves, or deal precision damage in combat.
Arachne has an emphasis on lethality, with upgrades including high-speed reload, high-damage melee attacks, and combat-focused weapon mods, which provide Runners with advantages in gunfights. Players whose main playstyle is squads and actively seek out other Runners will reap the most benefits from this faction.
Sekiguchi Genetics
Sekiguchi Genetics is the creator of biomata Runner Shell technology, which enables human minds to inhabit mechanical bodies.
Sekiguchi is focused on endurance and survival instead of aggression. Consequently, Sekiguchi contracts usually involve surviving in dangerous areas, exploring high-risk areas, or gathering data in challenging environments.
Sekiguchi upgrades focus on resilience (health regeneration bonuses, resistance bonuses, and reduced penalties for dying). These upgrades also help Runners continue to be effective over time. Solo players and cautious explorers will receive the most benefit from progressing through Sekiguchi’s progression system.
Choosing the Right Marathon Faction
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No Marathon Faction is permanently locked, and players can rank up all six simultaneously. However, the order in which you invest time matters during each season because upgrades reset with new seasonal progress.
For example, if a player is currently focused on upgrading loot and weapons, they’ll likely begin with the Traxus faction. Conversely, if they’re looking to improve their survivability, they’ll likely want to focus on either the CyberAcme or Sekiguchi factions. Players who are more aggressive and enjoy player versus player (PvP) gameplay will probably find themselves gravitating towards the Arachne and MIDA factions.
The best way to determine which faction works best for each player is to test all of them in the early stages of the game. This way, players can gain insight into the contracts of each faction, as well as how to upgrade them so that they can create their ideal Runner build, all while building their understanding of the ever-growing world of Marathon.
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