How does Ranked mode work in Marathon?

Ranked modes in FPS games are usually pretty straightforward: get kills and wins and you rank up. But when it comes to an extraction shooter like Marathon or even ARC Raiders, it's not so simple. The genre is all about getting the best gear, and less about racking up kills or high numbers on the scoreboard. It truly is all about the loot, baby. So, how does a Ranked mode work in an extraction shooter like Marathon? Here's everything Bungie has said about it.Table of contentsMarathon Ranked mode, explainedHolotagsChoose Your StakesRanked ScoringWeekends onlySeason 1 RewardsMarathon Ranked mode, explained Image via Bungie Holotags A Holotag is an item you must bring into your backpack when you queue for Ranked. These items can be found in the Armory and purchased for Credits, and they come in six tiers that match Ranked's different skill divisions: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Pinnacle. You can purchase a Holotag up to your own current specific rank division: Low StakesBronzeSilverGoldHigh StakesPlatinumDiamondPinnacleChoose Your Stakes Image via Bungie Marathon's Ranked mode has two different matchmaking pools: Low Stakes and High Stakes. Every time you enter a Ranked match, your Loadout Value determines your stakes. Low Stakes has a minimum gear "ante" or 3,000 Credits, while High Stakes has a minimum of 10,000. The pricier your gear and loadout is, the higher the risk, but also the higher potential reward.Ranked Scoring Image via Bungie Marathon's Ranked scoring system is a bit complicated, but basically, each match will feature a target score that is determined by your team's Holotag values. To win and rank up, you have to extract with expensive gear once you've reached your target of the gear score in your loadout. Exfiltrating before reaching your gear score will not reward any ranked rating points. If you die, you lose ranked points, but you can get "overperformance capacity" scoring by looting other players' Holotags or special Tag Chips items found from UESC enemies or world events in a match. This will be how to rank up most efficiently. The more valuable gear you extract with, the more points you earn, thus climbing through the ranks of the different divisions in the ladder.Weekends only Similarly to Destiny 2's Trials of Osiris competitive PvP mode, Marathon's Ranked mode is only available on weekends, usually beginning at 12pm CT on Saturday and ending at 12pm CT on Tuesday. Each week, a different map will be featured.Season 1 Rewards Image via Bungie Reaching different ranks will unlock rewards, such as gear caches filled with items. But each season, reaching certain thresholds unlocks exclusive rewards, like these in season one:PINNACLEGun StyleTitleDIAMONDGun StylePLATINUMGun StyleGOLDRunner Shell Style (Destroyer)TitleSILVERPlayer Background For more info on Ranked in Marathon, check out the Bungie website. The post How does Ranked mode work in Marathon? appeared first on Destructoid.

Mar 19, 2026 - 01:35

Ranked modes in FPS games are usually pretty straightforward: get kills and wins and you rank up.

But when it comes to an extraction shooter like Marathon or even ARC Raiders, it's not so simple. The genre is all about getting the best gear, and less about racking up kills or high numbers on the scoreboard. It truly is all about the loot, baby.

So, how does a Ranked mode work in an extraction shooter like Marathon? Here's everything Bungie has said about it.

Table of contents

Marathon Ranked mode, explained

Marathon Ranked mode, explained

Image via Bungie

Holotags

A Holotag is an item you must bring into your backpack when you queue for Ranked. These items can be found in the Armory and purchased for Credits, and they come in six tiers that match Ranked's different skill divisions: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Pinnacle.

You can purchase a Holotag up to your own current specific rank division:

Low Stakes
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
High Stakes
- Platinum
- Diamond
- Pinnacle

Choose Your Stakes

Image via Bungie Marathon's Ranked mode has two different matchmaking pools: Low Stakes and High Stakes. Every time you enter a Ranked match, your Loadout Value determines your stakes. Low Stakes has a minimum gear "ante" or 3,000 Credits, while High Stakes has a minimum of 10,000.

The pricier your gear and loadout is, the higher the risk, but also the higher potential reward.

Ranked Scoring

Image via Bungie Marathon's Ranked scoring system is a bit complicated, but basically, each match will feature a target score that is determined by your team's Holotag values. To win and rank up, you have to extract with expensive gear once you've reached your target of the gear score in your loadout. Exfiltrating before reaching your gear score will not reward any ranked rating points.

If you die, you lose ranked points, but you can get "overperformance capacity" scoring by looting other players' Holotags or special Tag Chips items found from UESC enemies or world events in a match. This will be how to rank up most efficiently.

The more valuable gear you extract with, the more points you earn, thus climbing through the ranks of the different divisions in the ladder.

Weekends only

Similarly to Destiny 2's Trials of Osiris competitive PvP mode, Marathon's Ranked mode is only available on weekends, usually beginning at 12pm CT on Saturday and ending at 12pm CT on Tuesday. Each week, a different map will be featured.

Season 1 Rewards

Image via Bungie Reaching different ranks will unlock rewards, such as gear caches filled with items. But each season, reaching certain thresholds unlocks exclusive rewards, like these in season one:

PINNACLE
- Gun Style
- Title
DIAMOND
- Gun Style
PLATINUM
- Gun Style
GOLD
- Runner Shell Style (Destroyer)
- Title
SILVER
- Player Background

For more info on Ranked in Marathon, check out the Bungie website.

The post How does Ranked mode work in Marathon? appeared first on Destructoid.

Tags:

This handy $15 D&D bundle gets you 47 books of random DMing tables, 91% off

What's Your Reaction?

Dislike

Love

Funny

Angry

Sad

Wow

XINKER - Business and Income Tips Explore XINKER, the ultimate platform for mastering business strategies, discovering passive income opportunities, and learning success principles. Join a community of thinkers dedicated to achieving financial freedom and entrepreneurial excellence.