Marathon map - all zones and locations

What are the zones on the Marathon map? The lost colony of Tau Ceti IV is filled to the brim with treasure, including loot that will make you stronger beyond your wildest dreams. To find the best equipment out there, you're going to need to venture into the furthest Marathon zones.

The threat level continues to rise as you travel through the Marathon zones, but so do the potential rewards. With 18 players on the map at any given time, it's important to pick the correct Marathon classes to give yourself the best opportunity against everyone lurking around. The Marathon release date is rapidly approaching, and with another tech test on the horizon, it's worth knowing what to expect when you land on Tau Ceti.

Here are all the zones on the Marathon map:

• Perimeter
• Dire Marsh
• Outpost
• Cryo Archive

Perimeter

Perimeter is the starting zone in Marathon. Located on the outskirts of the map, the action is spread out to give beginners more breathing room. The UESC used Perimeter as an expansion site when they first landed to help them understand the mysteries of the colony. While this area may be beginner-friendly compared to the other zones, it's still dangerous due to the number of UESC soldiers guarding the buildings, so you need to keep your wits about you.

Dire Marsh

The Dire Marsh is a swamp region that was being used by the UESC as a farming sector until the Anomaly appeared. Splitting the terrain in half directly in the middle of the map, an invisible force suspends large storage containers and rocks in the air, giving us a glimpse of the destruction it caused. It's unclear who caused the Anomaly to appear, but the signs point to the UESC due to the number of buildings they have surrounding the zone.

The surrounding areas within the marsh have been largely unaffected by the Anomaly, though you will likely have to go near this dangerous area due to the size of the zone. Some of the buildings on Dire Marsh are linked via an underground tunnel system, making this map a hotspot for PvP as it's difficult not to run into rival squads.

Outpost

Unlike the previous two zones, the UESC primarily operates within the Outpost, so you'll need to fight to get inside this facility. The UESC has increased the level of security in this zone, forcing you to contend with scan drones, trip wires, and even weather hazards to stop you from interfering. The Outpost is smaller than the other zones, but it makes up for this with taller buildings to spread the battle out.

If you do slip past the enemy forces, you're rewarded with excellent spots to find loot, including what Bungie refers to as the "Pinwheel," a tall, corkscrew-like building. The Pinwheel is densely packed with security, and the layout of the building makes it obvious to everyone inside when a fight is going down. The winding staircases make it difficult to avoid other players when you've secured your loot - expect to see many rats waiting to pick off the groups doing the hard work.

Cryo Archive

The Marathon ship, also known as the Cryo Archive, is by far the most dangerous zone in Marathon. The Cryo Archive is locked at launch, giving you plenty of time to acquire powerful gear and adjust your builds to prepare for the endgame content. Don't expect to clear the Cryo Archive in a single day, as there are raid-like security measures to stop you in your tracks.

Packed with the highest tier of UESC guards and every environmental effect seen in the previous zones, squads are forced to tackle danger head-on. It's obvious the UESC is hiding something inside the Cryo Archive, featuring vaults that get progressively more difficult to clear as you get closer to the truth. The seventh and final vault is said to contain an entity that even the UESC fears.

That's all there is to know about the Marathon map so far, but stay tuned as we'll have detailed breakdowns of each zone once we get our hands on the game. While you're here, you may want to check out our star-studded Marathon voice actors guide to discover who is on the cast list. Make sure your PC is ready for action with our Marathon system requirements guide, highlighting exactly what you need to make the multiplayer game run smoothly.