Bungie's marathon update gives recon shell a much-needed boost

Bungie's sci-fi extraction shooter Marathon is set to receive a mid-season update on April 14, bringing with it some significant buffs to the underpowered Recon Shell.

Recon's echo pulse and tracker drone abilities get a boost

Recon's Echo Pulse, which marks enemies within a certain radius, will now differentiate between hostile UESC bots and real player Runners. Additionally, Runners with an active Signal Jammer effect will be pinged as UESC bots instead. The ability will also be more challenging to determine if you're within range.

Recon's tactical ability, the Tracker Drone, is also receiving a much-needed buff. The explosive spiderbot that chases hostile Runners along its path will now latch onto a different target if its initial one escapes its range, improving its tracking behavior.

These changes come as a welcome relief to Recon mains, who have seen the Shell struggle in high-difficulty raids like Cryo Archive. Echo Pulse's ineffectiveness in firefights against mixed enemy groups and the Tracker Drone's tendency to get stuck in pathing loops have been major drawbacks.

Despite these limitations, Recon's loyal fans remain committed to the Shell due to its unique traits, such as marking enemy positions with melee finishers and tracking footsteps after breaking shields. With these buffs, it's hoped that Recon will become a more appealing option for players.