Marathon launched its Server Slam with 28 weapons spread across eight categories, and the early meta is already taking shape. Precision rifles and assault rifles dominate mid-to-long range engagements, while a handful of SMGs and shotguns control close-quarters fights. Weapon rarity in Marathon is attachment-based rather than inherent — a gray weapon frame has identical base stats to a gold one, with the rarity color reflecting the quality of equipped modules. That means raw weapon performance matters more than the color of your loot.
Quick answer: The strongest weapons in Marathon's Server Slam are the Hardline PR, Stryder M1T, Overrun AR, M77 Assault Rifle, Ares RG, WSTR Combat Shotgun, and BRRT SMG. These sit at S-Tier for their combination of damage output, versatility, and reliability across most engagement distances.
Marathon Server Slam weapon tier list
| Tier | Weapons |
|---|---|
| S | BRRT SMG, WSTR Combat Shotgun, Hardline PR, Stryder M1T, Overrun AR, M77 Assault Rifle, Ares RG |
| A | Magnum MC, Bully SMG, Copperhead RF, Misriah 2442, V85 Circuit Breaker, Twin Tap HBR, BR33 Volley Rifle, Impact HAR, Retaliator LMG, Longshot, Outland, V99 Channel Rifle |
| B | V22 Volt Thrower, V66 Lookout, V75 Scar, Demolition HMG, V00 Zeus RG |
| C | Repeater HPR, Conquest LMG |
| D | CE Tactical Sidearm, V11 Punch |
These rankings reflect raw weapon performance without mods. Several weapons — particularly the Copperhead RF and V85 Circuit Breaker — can jump tiers with the right attachments, but their baseline consistency keeps them lower for now. The meta will almost certainly shift once the full game launches and balance passes arrive.
Precision rifles lead the early meta
Precision rifles are the standout weapon class in the Server Slam. The Hardline PR fires Light Rounds, has a 16-round magazine, 69m effective range, and virtually zero recoil. Its fire rate is high for the category, and it deals substantial per-shot damage. It is arguably the best long-range weapon currently available.
The Stryder M1T plays almost identically to the MIDA Multi-Tool from Destiny 2 — fitting, given the developer's pedigree. With 57 firepower, 84m range, and 125 accuracy, it rewards aggressive repositioning and consistent headshots. The BR33 Volley Rifle fires three-round bursts and feels like a Destiny pulse rifle, making it a strong pick for players who prefer burst-fire weapons over semi-auto.
The Twin Tap HBR shoots two-round bursts with high accuracy at 48m range. Landing both shots on the head is devastating. The V66 Lookout is a charging Volt weapon with the longest time-to-kill among precision rifles, placing it in B-Tier despite its raw damage numbers. The Repeater HPR hits extremely hard at 96 firepower but loads one round at a time, making it painfully slow to reload and better suited as a secondary weapon.
Assault rifles are the safest all-rounders
The Overrun AR fires at 720 RPM using Light Rounds, making it devastating in close-to-mid range fights. Its 20-round magazine runs dry fast, but finding a magazine attachment transforms it into an easy S-Tier pick. Even without one, the raw fire rate earns it a top placement.
The M77 Assault Rifle trades fire rate for a larger 26-round magazine and better range at 37m. It kicks hard but deals excellent damage per shot, making it the best mid-range AR in the current build. The Impact HAR uses Heavy Rounds and functions as the heavy-hitting option in the AR category, sitting comfortably in A-Tier. The V75 Scar is a Volt-powered AR with tracking projectiles and an overheating mechanic — interesting but inconsistent enough to land in B-Tier.
For beginners, the M77 and Overrun AR are the most forgiving weapons to learn. They perform well without requiring precise burst timing or charge management.
SMGs dominate close-quarters combat
The BRRT SMG is a five-round burst weapon with a 35-round magazine and Light Rounds ammo economy. It is one of the best weapons in the entire Server Slam — fast-firing, capable at mid-range, and efficient with ammo. The burst pattern rewards disciplined trigger pulls over spray.
The Bully SMG uses Heavy Rounds, which gives it superior stopping power but creates an inventory problem. Heavy ammo stacks take up significantly more space than Light Rounds, eating into loot capacity. At 27m range and 22.5 firepower, it handles well in short-burst engagements and even pushes into mid-range territory.
The Copperhead RF has the highest fire rate in the SMG category but low per-bullet damage and only 21 rounds in the magazine. It behaves like an HK Vector — lethal up close, punishing at distance. With the right mods, it can reach S-Tier. The V22 Volt Thrower has a lock-on system and an overheating mechanic that slows fire rate during sustained use. It sits in B-Tier as a specialist pick that needs specific mod support to shine.
Shotguns, railguns, and sniper rifles
The WSTR Combat Shotgun is a double-barreled MIPS shotgun with 195 firepower and only 8m effective range. Inside that range, it deletes targets. Outside it, the damage falls off sharply. Its two-round magazine means every shot counts, and missed blasts are severely punishing. It is the best shotgun in Marathon but demands precise positioning.
The Misriah 2442 is a pump-action with slightly longer range (around 12m) and faster follow-up shots. The V85 Circuit Breaker is a Volt-powered shotgun that may function as an auto-shotgun — details are still emerging, but it sits in A-Tier based on early performance.
Railguns require Volt Cells, the rarest ammo type in the game. The Ares RG charges fast, kills fast, and is more forgiving than the V00 Zeus. It earns S-Tier as the best heavy weapon available. The V00 Zeus RG delivers 180 firepower at 155m range with a 2.5x zoom, but its charge time and 50 Volt Drain per shot make it difficult to use against moving targets. It lands in B-Tier.
Among sniper rifles, the Longshot is a reliable 3-round semi-auto with a 175m range and 4x zoom. The Outland and V99 Channel Rifle both sit in A-Tier, though full stat details for both were still being confirmed during the Server Slam window.
LMGs and sidearms fill niche roles
LMGs work well for squad suppression but struggle in the extraction shooter format where time-to-kill is relatively low. The Retaliator LMG has a 44-round magazine and steady output at 600 RPM, making it the most practical option in A-Tier. The Conquest LMG features a charge-up mechanic similar to the Devotion from Apex Legends — it starts slow and ramps up — but the spin-up time puts you at a disadvantage in sudden engagements. It sits in C-Tier. The Demolition HMG fires at only 225 RPM but deals 31.5 damage per bullet, placing it in B-Tier as a slow but hard-hitting suppression tool.
Sidearms are generally weak as primary weapons. The Magnum MC is the exception, with 69 firepower and 12 Heavy Rounds in the magazine. It kills quickly with headshots and functions as a legitimate secondary. The CE Tactical Sidearm is Rook's starting weapon and has a golden mod that grants invisibility on kill-and-reload, but its combat performance is poor. The V11 Punch can overcharge for a high-damage burst, but it is otherwise underwhelming. Both sit in D-Tier.
Ammo types shape loadout decisions
Marathon uses five ammo types, and understanding them is critical for inventory management during extraction runs.
- Light Rounds are the standard ballistic ammo. They stack efficiently and feed the majority of top-tier weapons including the BRRT SMG, Hardline PR, and Overrun AR.
- Heavy Rounds deliver higher per-shot damage but take up more inventory space. Weapons like the Bully SMG and Repeater HPR use them.
- Volt Batteries power standard energy weapons such as the V22 Volt Thrower and V66 Lookout.
- Volt Cells are rare, high-density energy cells reserved for railguns and the V99 Channel Rifle.
- MIPS Rounds are specialized high-impact ammo for shotguns and sniper rifles.
Volt weapons introduce a unique "reload risk" — manually reloading discards any remaining charge in the battery. Swapping to another weapon and letting the Volt gun recharge passively while stowed is often safer than panic-reloading mid-fight.
Attachments and mods change everything
Weapon rarity in Marathon reflects attachment quality, not base stats. A gray Overrun AR and a gold Overrun AR deal identical damage. The difference is that higher-rarity versions come with better modules that improve handling, stability, and reload speed.
The rarity ladder runs from green (Uncommon) through blue and purple (Rare/Epic) to gold (Exotic). Gold-tier Exotic attachments fundamentally alter weapon behavior — the V22 Volt Thrower can gain an explosive plasma burst, and optic mods can turn the Magnum MC into a pocket precision platform. Chip Mods function as the perk system, with options like Afterburner (partial mag reload and stability boost on slides) and Keen Scout (improved detection range).
Thermal optics are currently one of the strongest force multipliers in the meta. They highlight enemy runners as bright silhouettes through foliage and smoke, giving a massive advantage in chaotic fights.
The Server Slam meta is still evolving, and balance changes at full launch will almost certainly shuffle these rankings. Several weapons with incomplete stat profiles — the Outland, V99 Channel Rifle, Impact HAR, and V75 Scar, among them — could move significantly once their full performance is understood. For now, building around Light Rounds weapons like the Hardline PR, BRRT SMG, and Overrun AR gives you the most consistent and inventory-efficient loadouts for extraction.