I remember standing on Perimeter’s second-floor ledge, heartbeat loud through my headset as a small antenna started to glow. The pulse lit the radar and a dozen red blips snapped into focus—someone else had already marked the area. You learn fast that a single TAD can change the game in an instant.
TAD locations in Marathon
I found TADs on Perimeter’s rooftops during several casual runs.
Target Acquisition Devices (TADs) are antenna-like beacons that spawn on top of buildings across Marathon‘s maps. They don’t sit in fixed slots; spawns are semi-random, which means you won’t always find one where you expect—but you can tilt the odds.
Perimeter is the friendliest map for hunting these beacons: fewer patrols, more consistent spawns, and an easier window to check rooftops. Dire Marsh will have more TADs overall but it’s louder and riskier—be prepared for AI reinforcements and human hunters.
Common Perimeter spawns we’ve identified so far:
- Second floor of the Hauler sublocation
- On top of a smaller building beside the main structure in North Relay
- A smaller rooftop in the lower South Relay area
Because TADs behave like server-side objects with random placement, community tools—Discord scout channels, Reddit threads, and Steam groups—are the fastest way to track fresh reports if you want a live edge.
How do I find TADs in Marathon?
Search Perimeter first, check rooftops and ledges, and follow active community feeds on Discord and Reddit for spawn reports. Streamers on Twitch and Moyens I/O posts often show recent locations; jump into a warm lobby and sweep the high points.
How to use a TAD
I activated a TAD in the South Relay and watched the map bloom with enemy positions.
Approach the antenna and hold your game’s “Use” button until the short animation finishes. The TAD will pulse and reveal nearby enemies—both AI and players—on your HUD and minimap. The pulse cuts through the noise like a lighthouse beam.
- Use one in contested loot zones—South Relay is a frequent hotspot—to spot patrol clusters or enemy squads before you step into them.
- Activate when you have cover or a retreat route. The scan paints targets; it doesn’t make them harmless.
- Pair a TAD activation with sound cues and a headset to identify whether blips are moving toward you.
What does a TAD reveal?
TADs show enemy locations within a radius that varies; some will highlight direction, others give distance markers. The Traxus faction offers an upgrade that extends that radius, letting TADs snag targets from farther away.
TADs and contracts
Traxus contracts recently asked me to interact with multiple TADs over a week of runs.
TAD interactions are tied to several faction contracts. Completing those steps often rewards faction standing and gear; Traxus specifically sells an upgrade that increases scan range. If you play on PC, keep an eye on community spreadsheets and the Steam Workshop for routes and efficient contract runs.
Are TADs reliable for farming contracts?
They are useful but not guaranteed—spawns are random and contested. Treat them as high-value objectives rather than guaranteed checkpoints; when they appear in a quiet area you can clear them fast, when they appear in a hot zone they become bait for other players.
Quick tactical checklist:
- Scan rooftops on spawn—TADs favor elevated positions.
- Use community channels (Discord, Reddit, Moyens I/O) to confirm fresh spawns.
- Activate from cover and be ready to trade the moment you reveal enemies.
- Invest in the Traxus upgrade if you want scans that reach farther and earn faster contract progress.
One last thing: TAD spawns stick to metal roofs and small structures like iron filings to a magnet—learn the usual placements and you’ll start finding them instinctively.
Will you race for the next rooftop beacon or let someone else call the shots?