Best Vandal Loadout In Marathon

Marathon has many different classes in the form of Runner Shells. You have those that are more focused on offensive tactics, others that are better at sneaking in, and some unique ones with their drones that hilariously take away enemy loot. Then there is Vandal.

While it can be argued that all Runner Shells are strong and you can succeed with any of them as long as you get good at the maps and shooting, it's also true that some classes are much more complicated than others. Let's learn more about Vandal, diving deep into their possible builds and abilities in Marathon.

Vandal overview

Vandal in the Runner Shells selection screen in Marathon.

If you are a newcomer, this character may not be for you. Firstly, it takes a lot of practice to learn how to use Vandal's moves effectively, as you need to learn the feel of the character, when you're going to run and use your Power Slide, heat managementand also have a good idea of each of the available maps.

With Vandal you are free to run to places and reach higher platforms thanks to their integrated double jump. They are perhaps the fastest character in Marathonwith amazing mobility that makes them capable of out-performing any other character in this regard.

But when you use the abilities, you will notice how quickly the heat risesand that can leave you in a bad place pretty quickly. Also, with Vandal, you kind of have to stand out on your own because yyou really don't have any abilities that directly help your team.

Shooting a UESC unit while playing as Vandal in Marathon.

Maybe you can use your Disrupt Cannon to push enemies aroundand if they take cover, you'll cause them to lose it and become available to your allies' sight. But at the same time, you can accidentally move them out of your team's line of sight, ruining the run. We recommend only used it for damage at first, until you learn its disadvantages.

Vandal's Power Slide is also a complicated thing because you can't use it and shoot at the same time. You have to use it to reach places faster, jump and start shooting your rival, preferably to get a new position that they don't expect. But it is not easy. Also, if you perform two Power Slides in a row and don't have Heat upgrades, you might already be overheated.

The Runner Shells in a squad waiting to go out in the Marathon.

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Vandal abilities

Ability	Type	What it does	Base cooldown/duration
Strengthen	Foremost	You gain a buff state where you generate less heat overall, and your speed and weapon skill increase.	Base cooling: 164 seconds
Disrupt Cannon	Tactical	Transforms Vandal's left arm into a cannon that fires a blast, dealing damage and knocking the enemy. It can be charged for a larger blast.	Base cooling: 64 seconds
Microjets	Features	You can double jump.	No cooling, but increases heat.
Power Slide	Features	It allows you to slide a longer distance and in a shorter time.	Ditto Microjets. Two Power Slides and you're overheated.

Best Vandal Loadouts

Vandal shows his stats and charge in Marathon.

You have two ways of looking at this. Either you accept it Vandal can be a really fragile Runner Shellespecially if you take your first steps in the game, so you equip them with a lot of things to survive. Or, you go the other way and equip only the bare minimum you need — a decent primary weapon with some ammo — and keep your inventory light.

Best early game Vandal Build

Primary weapon	M77 assault rifle
Secondary weapon	CE Tactical Sidearm
Backpack	Best available
Protect	Best available
Equipment	Smoke grenade
Cores	Core site 1: Out of Dodge. (When your shields break, your generated heat is instantly clear.) Core Slot 2: NOTICE! (The Disrupt Cannon deals additional damage and pings targets caught in the explosion.)
Implant	Main implant: Amplified capacitors V2. Torso Implants: Survival Kit V2. Bone implants: Graceful Landing V2 or Distance Runner V2.

Nothing unique when it comes to the cheap implants you can equip. These will improve your agility and speed a bit. Then the cores are more situational, especially if you learn how to use your Disrupt Cannon well.

Best late game Vandal Build

Primary weapon	V75 SCARS
Secondary weapon	WSTR Combat Shotgun
Backpack	Best available
Protect	Best available
Equipment	EMP grenade
Cores	Core site 1: The nucleus of the adrenal gland. (While amplified, your movement abilities generate even less heat. Using a stamina kick extends Amplify's duration.) Core Slot 2: Mechanized holsters. (Your Power Slide reloads your ballistic weapons from reserves and recharges some of your volta weapon's current battery.)
Implant	Main implant: Regen V4. Torso Implants: Hurting Hands V4 or Survival Kit V4. Bone implants: Bionic Leg Upgrades V5 or V4.

At the moment, Vandal doesn't have great cores for his late game, at least when you look at what other options other characters have. If you get the chance to find it, you can trade mechanized holsters with the Prestige Core Microjet Efficiency Package, which lets you jump a third time. Not a bad mix with Adrenal Core, but nothing great either. At least you have better movement!

A close-up of _gantry's face in Marathon.

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