Currencies & Progression

Marathon uses three distinct currencies and a seasonal progression model designed to keep loot meaningful by regularly resetting the playing field. Understanding what resets, what persists, and what each currency does is essential for making smart progression decisions.

Currencies

Credits

The core in-game currency earned through missions, contract completions, and successful extractions. Credits are spent at the Armory to purchase weapons, consumables, and loadout items before matches. This is the primary resource you build and spend every season, your loadout value is denominated in Credits.

• Earned: In-game through extractions and contracts
• Used for: Weapons, consumables, loadout items at the Armory
• Real money: No

Silk

Earnable currency awarded by leveling up your Runner (10 Silk per level). Used exclusively to advance through the Rewards Pass (battle pass). Important: Silk overflows and is lost once you hit 200 unspent, spend it regularly or you'll waste earned progression. Cannot be purchased with real money.

• Earned: 10 Silk per Runner level gained
• Used for: Rewards Pass tier progression
• Cap: 200 before overflow loss
• Real money: No

Lux

The real-money premium currency. Lux can only be used for cosmetic purchases, Shell skins (Styles), weapon skins, emblems, and profile items. Lux cannot be used to gain any gameplay advantage. It is the only currency that requires real money.

• Earned: Purchased with real money
• Used for: Cosmetics only (Shell Styles, weapon skins, emblems)
• Gameplay advantage: None

Seasons

Marathon runs on a seasonal model with each season lasting approximately 3 months. At the start of each new season, a full progression wipe occurs.

What Resets Each Season

• Vault contents (all stored gear and weapons)
• Runner Level
• Credit balance
• Loadout and Armory configurations

What Persists Across Seasons

• Faction progress and reputation (most important long-term investment)
• Codex progress (lore unlocks)
• All earned cosmetics (Rewards Pass items, Lux purchases)

The Rewards Pass

The optional seasonal cosmetic pass contains Shell Styles (skins), weapon skins, profile emblems, and customization items. Both a free track and a premium track exist, the premium track requires purchasing the pass. Critically, old Rewards Passes can be purchased retroactively and do not expire. All items are strictly cosmetic; no gameplay advantage is sold.

The Codex

A persistent lore journal that never resets. Unlock Codex entries by extracting specific rare items from Tau Ceti IV multiple times. Each entry tells the story of specific colonists, events, and discoveries from the 99-year gap between the original trilogy and the 2026 game. Completing Codex entries also awards cosmetic rewards.