If you've played Dire Marsh (Night), you've likely come across an Anomaly Specimen (if you want to know how to get one, we'll cover that too, so stick around). Anomaly samples aren't exactly the type of item you want to extract with, in fact quite the opposite.
Anomaly Samples are faction-specific contract items for Traxus and MIDAso if you don't currently have a contract that requires an anomaly test, just get rid of it; otherwise, you carry useless loot that prevents you from using your abilities.

Marathon: How to get and use UESC CERT
UESC CERTs are the key to getting extreme OP loot in Marathon's Dire Marsh (Night) map, and here's how to use them.
How to get anomaly samples in marathon
You can only get an anomaly sample from a dangerous drone. These drones will spawn randomly on Dire Marsh (Night), and your HUD will update if one enters the map, as it will say “Dangerous drone discovered”. Below the text you will get the location of the drone.
When you see the dangerous drone, which shouldn't be too hard as it has a glowing white light around it, you can shoot it. After a few bullets it will teleport away, and you'll have to find it a second and third time. On the third time I shoot it, the drone will crash and drop loot.
Hazardous Drone can now be looted, and inside its cargo boxes you can find anomaly samples. But before you pick them up, be aware that you get the OS: Ability Regen Paused debuffmeaning you cannot regenerate or use abilities.
You should only bother to collect the anomaly sample if you have the corresponding contract for it with Traxus or MIDA. If not, you should ignore them. If you have the contract, keep reading!
How to use the anomaly test in marathon
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If you have the Traxus mission, pick up the anomaly sample and take it to a DCON station, located on the map.
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If you have the MIDA mission, pick up the anomaly sample and take it to an incinerator, which you can see on the map.
We have more Marathon guides that may be useful to you:
- Released
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March 5, 2026
- ESRB
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Teen/animated blood, language, violence, in-game purchases, user interaction