Best Marathon faction upgrades to unlock first

Marathon is brutal: Server Slam statistics show Perimeter had a 41.8% exfil rate and Dire Marsh only 35.6%, meaning most Runners lose whatever loot they brought or collected. You don’t have to rely only on finding better gear to improve your chances—each faction offers permanent upgrades you can unlock by completing contracts and leveling their skill trees.

Start with CyberAcme. Expansion (+8 vault space) is vital early on if you hoard loot, and you can upgrade it through five tiers. Informant.exe raises data card rewards by 50%, and the Heat perks—beginning with Heat_Sink.exe—boost stamina capacity and recovery via Quick_Vent.exe and Active_Cool.exe, making sprinting feel far less sluggish.

Locksmith is also useful, as it lets you purchase Lockbox Keys instead of relying on RNG. NuCaloric’s Shielded perk unlocks Enhanced Shields for purchase in the Armory, and its Safeguard and Restore skills grant daily Shield Charges and Patch Kits. MIDA’s Flex_Matrix.exe increases base Agility by +20, improving movement speed and jump height.

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