Loot is extremely important in Marathon because every run revolves around risk vs reward extraction gameplay. Containers, lockboxes, cabinets, and secure vaults across each map can contain rare weapons, implants, cores, credits, and salvage materials used for crafting upgrades.
Some of the best loot is hidden behind keycard-locked rooms or security clearance doors, making them priority targets during most runs. While every map has valuable areas, Perimeter is widely considered the best early map for high-tier farming, while Dire Marsh and Outpost offer strong mid-to-late-game loot if you know the exact buildings to search.
1. Perimeter
Perimeter is one of the most rewarding maps for farming rare weapons, salvage materials, and implants. However, it is also one of the most contested maps because most squads rotate between the same high-value buildings.
The main POIs include North Relay, Hauler, Overflow, South Relay, and Station, each containing multiple buildings filled with containers, cabinets, and locked rooms.
1.1. North Relay – NuCloric Research Building
North Relay location
North Relay sits on the far northern edge of the map and is one of the highest-traffic areas due to the NuCloric Research Building, which frequently spawns high-tier containers. You can also find Target Acquisition Devices (TADs) on smaller buildings near this area, which can reveal nearby enemies when activated.
| Location | What to Search | Loot Type |
|---|---|---|
| NuCloric Research Building (east side) | Weapon lockers, research cabinets | Rare weapons, implants |
| East Wing Storage Rooms | Supply crates and med containers | Med packs, armor upgrades |
| Upper Research Offices | Lockboxes and desks | Credits, data drives |
1.2. Hauler – Upper Floor Locked Room
Hauler Location
Hauler is a large industrial building located on the western side of the map. It is one of the best places to farm salvage materials and weapon attachments. A TAD device can spawn on the second floor of Hauler, allowing players to scan the area for nearby enemies before opening high-value rooms.
| Location | What to Search | Loot Type |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Floor Locked Room | Armory containers | High-tier weapons |
| Loading Bay Containers | Cargo crates | Unstable Gunmetal, ammo |
| Maintenance Hallway Lockers | Cabinets | Credits and crafting materials |
1.3. Overflow – Central Building Locked Room
Overflow location
Overflow is located in the southwest portion of Perimeter and contains one of the most valuable locked rooms on the map. Overflow is also heavily guarded by UESC patrols, making it a risky area to farm unless your squad is well-equipped.
| Location | What to Search | Loot Type |
|---|---|---|
| Central Research Building | Locked laboratory room | Purple weapons, implants |
| Lower Storage Rooms | Cargo crates | Rare salvage |
| Rooftop Supply Boxes | Weapon cases | Attachments and ammo |
1.4. South Relay – Industrial Storage Area
South Relay
South Relay is less crowded than the northern POIs but still contains reliable loot. A Target Acquisition Device can also spawn on smaller structures near the southern buildings.
| Location | What to Search | Loot |
|---|---|---|
| Central Relay Building | Tool cabinets | Crafting materials |
| Destroyed Warehouse Section | Crates and containers | Armor upgrades |
| Relay Control Room | Lockers and desks | Credits |
1.5. Station – Tox Clear Room
Station location
The Station is located in the northeast corner of Perimeter and is one of the best areas for industrial components and rare salvage. The Station also contains DCON terminals nearby, which players use to deposit contract items during a run.
| Location | What to Search | Loot |
|---|---|---|
| Tox Clear Room (locked) | Armory containers | Rare gear |
| Central Blue Building | Lockboxes | Credits, implants |
| Maintenance Corridors | Toolboxes | Crafting components |
1.6. Secondary Loot Routes
If main POIs are contested, rotate through these safer areas:
- Data Walls
- Tunnels
- Ravine
- East Wall
- Columns
These areas often contain smaller supply caches and hidden containers that can still provide solid mid-tier loot.
2. Dire Marsh
Dire Marsh is a dense swamp environment filled with research facilities and biotech labs. It offers some of the best crafting materials and implants, but the terrain and enemy density make it harder to navigate.
2.1. Quarantine Facility
Quarantine Location
Located on the southwestern side of Dire Marsh, this research facility contains multiple locked rooms. A DCON terminal also exists south of this facility, used for contracts.
| Location | What to Search | Loot |
|---|---|---|
| Central Quarantine Building | Lockboxes | Cores, implants |
| Biohazard Storage Room | Cabinets | Medical supplies |
| Security Wing | Weapon lockers | Rare weapons |
2.2. Bio Research Compound
Bio Research Location
This area focuses on biological research labs and specimen tanks. The Bio-Research Tank Key is required to open the most valuable room in the facility.
| Location | What to Search | Loot |
|---|---|---|
| Tank Research Room | Locked containers | Rare implants |
| Lab Storage | Cabinets | Research materials |
| Security Office | Weapon lockers | Weapons and ammo |
2.3. Algae Ponds
Algae Ponds
This is a safer farming location early in a run. Algae Ponds is one of the best places to farm Unstable Biomass, a key material used in upgrades.
| Location | What to Search | Loot |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-floor Research Building | Containers | Unstable Biomass |
| Observation Deck | Lockboxes | Credits |
| Terminal Rooms | Cabinets | Rare crafting items |
2.4. AI Uplink
AI Uplink
Located near the center-east of Dire Marsh, this area features communication towers and computer terminals. This area is also where you can find Greenhouse Keycards.
| Location | What to Search | Loot |
|---|---|---|
| Server Room | Cabinets | Data drives |
| Equipment Storage | Weapon lockers | Rare weapons |
| Network Control Hall | Lockboxes | Credits and implants |
3. Outpost
Outpost Map
Outpost is a smaller and more vertical map with compact structures and dense combat zones. Because of the vertical layout, players can quickly move between loot areas.
3.1. The Pinwheel
The Pinwheel is the central tower structure and one of the most valuable locations on Outpost.
| Location | What to Search | Loot |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Tower Rooms | Lockboxes | Rare weapons |
| Maintenance Floors | Cabinets | Crafting materials |
| Cargo Platforms | Containers | Armor upgrades |
Expect heavy enemy presence here.
3.2. Clearance Code Rooms
Across Outpost, you can find security terminals requiring clearance codes. Codes include:
- Green Clearance
- Yellow Clearance
- Master Clearance
These unlock deeper areas containing superior salvage and rare equipment.
3.3. Outer Buildings
Several side buildings contain consistent loot. These locations are excellent early-run farming routes before rotating toward the center.
| Building | Loot |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Standard salvage |
| Dormitories | Armor upgrades |
| Flight Control | Weapon crates |
4. Cryo Archive
Cryo Archive
Cryo Archive is considered a late-game or endgame map inside the Marathon vessel itself. The map features sealed vaults and cryogenic storage chambers, many of which contain the highest-tier loot in the game.
4.1. Vault Rooms
There are multiple vaults scattered throughout the map, each requiring a specific key or event completion.
| Vault Type | Loot |
|---|---|
| Cryo Weapon Vault | Legendary weapons |
| Implant Storage Vault | Rare implants |
| Salvage Vault | High-value crafting materials |
4.2. Archive Chambers
Large interior halls filled with archive stacks and storage containers. These areas generally contain less loot than vault rooms, but still provide consistent gear during exploration.
| Location | Loot |
|---|---|
| Archive Cabinets | Data drives |
| Security Lockers | Rare armor |
| Storage Containers | Salvage materials |
