The extraction alarm wails as two squads converge on the same stash. You watch a teammate fall and a Med‑Drone slide into the firefight — the run flips on a coin. That single pivot makes you rethink which Runner you pick before every drop.
I’ve been tracking Server Slam runs on Twitch and Discord, testing every kit on Tau Ceti IV so you don’t waste a raid. I’ll tell you which Shells win matches, which ones force mistakes, and what counters you should memorize.
Which Runner Shell is best in Marathon Server Slam?
Short answer: Triage and Recon lead the meta for their team-level leverage. If you want raw solo power, Assassin and Destroyer are the ones that make plays when you press forward.
Marathon Runner Shells Tier List
On live streams and ranked lobbies I counted six playable Shells in the Server Slam beta; Thief is missing from the open beta but will join the roster later.
| Tier | Runner Shells |
|---|---|
| S | Triage, Recon |
| A | Assassin, Destroyer |
| B | Vandal |
| C | Rook |
S-Tier Marathon Runner Shells
Watching pro runs, you notice the heal or intel play decides extractions more than raw DPS.
Triage
Triage is a lifeline wrapped in a drone. Its Med‑Drone smooths out recoil and bad trades by feeding constant health and shield ticks — that pacing alone flips fights you thought were lost.
Capacitive Gauntlets let you poke and revive from distance, which means a single Triage can keep an entire squad inside the fight while the rest loot or reposition. You won’t be the highest scorer, but you will be the reason the score exists at the end of the match.
Recon
Recon is a flashlight, sweeping corners and forcing campers to react. Echo Pulse reveals heat through walls and Tracker Drones pin movement — that intel converts to safer looting and cleaner third‑party plays.
Recon doesn’t need to land all the shots; it needs to ensure your team fights with information. On Pub matches and streamed scrims I’ve seen Echo Pulse shut down entire flank plays before they happen.
A-Tier Marathon Runner Shells
In casual lobbies you can spot A‑tier players leaning on mobility and timing to win fights.
Assassin
Is Assassin good for solo play?
Yes — Assassin’s Active Camo and Shadow Dive are built for silent rotations and clean exfil. You can drop into a loot zone, take a crate, and vanish before a third party arrives. Against Recon, however, your stealth is fragile — Echo Pulse can reveal you mid‑fade and ruin an otherwise perfect theft.
Destroyer
Destroyer is the forgiving pick for players who prefer a hulking, methodical approach. Riot Barricade forces choke control and Search and Destroy missiles punish exposed foes — it’s straightforward and effective for solo queue.
Be mindful: mobility‑heavy classes like Assassin and Vandal can bypass the Barricade or punish its slow frame, and Destroyer’s high Heat footprint makes it vulnerable to Overheat pressure from Recon’s trackers.
B-Tier Marathon Runner Shells
In heated scrims you see high variance: some Vandals carry teams, others die to basic pressure.
Vandal
Vandal has the highest skill ceiling and the steepest crash potential. Its Microjets and Power Slide deliver incredible mobility but burn Heat fast; without high‑tier cooling Implants (they can run about $5 (€5) on some third‑party markets) you’ll overheat mid‑play and become a sitting target.
Against Recon, Tracker Drones can apply Overheat pressure and neutralize Vandal movement — the class requires precise timing and implant investment to reach S‑tier performance.
C-Tier Marathon Runner Shells
In public matches the Rook shows up when players want a no‑risk test run rather than a competitive edge.
Rook
Rook removes the risk of losing your own gear, which makes it attractive for practice runs or new players testing loadouts. But that safety comes at the cost of combat tools and squad integration: you can’t join a squad while on Rook and its silhouette sticks out against other Runners.
If you want to warm up without gambling your high‑end weapons, Rook is the training wheels. If you want to win the Server Slam match, you’ll pick one of the Shells above.
How do you counter Recon’s Echo Pulse?
Primary counters are simple: use cover, stagger your heat bursts, or force Recon to waste the ability by baiting it with decoys. Assassin’s Shadow Dive and Triage’s Med‑Drone both change the timing requirements for Echo Pulse and create windows where Recon’s value drops.
I test kits on both PC (Steam) and consoles while watching Bungie dev streams and community clips on YouTube. If you’re building toward ranked play, watch high‑level runs on Twitch, read strategy channels on Discord, and practice the heat/implant pairings until they feel second nature.
Which Shell are you learning first, and which one are you ready to ban from your lobby?