Vandal is Marathon's most mobile runner shell, built for players who thrive on constant pressure, aggressive flanks, and getting in enemies' faces before they can react. If you want to zip across the map, chain movement abilities, and be the first one through the door on every engagement, Vandal is your shell. This guide breaks down every ability, the best loadouts, and exactly how to play Vandal effectively in both solo and squad scenarios.
What Are Vandal's Abilities in Marathon?
Every ability in Vandal's kit ties directly into movement. The trade-off is that most of them generate heat, which limits how aggressively you can chain them together. Managing that heat ceiling is the central skill challenge of playing Vandal well.
Amplify is the cornerstone of the kit. It does triple duty: speed boost, better weapon handling, and reduced heat output. Activating it before chaining Microjets or Power Slide lets you sustain movement far longer than you could cold. Disrupt Cannon is the only damage-focused ability in the set, and it doubles as a positioning tool since the knockback can separate enemies or push them into unfavorable spots.
What Is the Best Loadout for Vandal in Marathon?
Vandal's playstyle demands close-to-mid-range weapons that can delete enemies fast once you close the gap. Pairing that firepower with cores that reduce heat generation turns Vandal from a fragile speedster into a sustained threat.
Vandal loadout setup screen
Beginner-Friendly Loadout
If you are new to Vandal, start with a setup that rewards aggression without punishing heat mistakes too harshly:
- Primary Weapon: WRST Combat Shotgun
- Secondary Weapon: V75 Scar
- Core 1: Adrenal Core
- Core 2: Microjet Efficiency Package
- Implant 1: Augmented Capacitors V2
- Implant 2: Nimble Fingers V3
- Implant 3: Graceful Landings V3
The WRST Combat Shotgun is the go-to primary for close-range pressure. Once Amplify is active and you dash into range, a shotgun burst ends fights quickly. The V75 Scar covers mid-range gaps when you cannot close distance immediately.
Super Dash Loadout (Advanced)
This build pushes Vandal's mobility to its absolute ceiling. The goal is to use Amplify and Microjets together to get in and out of fights at will, overwhelming enemies before they can respond.
- Primary Weapon: Copperhead RF (with Thermal Optic, Steady Rounds, Suppression Muzzle)
- Secondary Weapon: Impact HAR (with Thermal Optic, Feather Mag, Combat Grip Deluxe)
- Equipment: Heat Grenade
- Shield: Protector V3
- Backpack: 24XS Med Pack
- Core 1: Microjet Efficiency Package
- Core 2: Adrenal Core
- Head Implant: Regen V4
- Torso Implant: Nimble Fingers V5
- Legs Implant: Bionic Leg Upgrades V5
Copperhead RF mod configuration
The Microjet Efficiency Package core grants an additional Microjet charge and reduces the heat each activation produces. That means more vertical mobility and easier access to elevated positions. The Adrenal Core reduces heat generation from movement abilities specifically while Amplify is active, and here is the bonus: landing a cardio kick while Amplify is running actually extends its duration. Throw the Heat Grenade before engaging to overheat targets, then close in for the elimination.
How Should You Play Vandal in Marathon?
Vandal rewards non-stop aggression. Standing still or playing passive wastes the entire kit. The core loop is: activate Amplify, close the gap using Microjets or Power Slide, engage at close range where your weapons dominate, and reposition before enemies can lock you down.
Disrupt Cannon fits into this loop as a fight-opener or a panic button. Firing it into a group before rushing in creates chaos and separates enemies, giving you a cleaner path to individual targets.