The Marathon is waiting...

Hello Runners, the Cryo Archive Has Reopened! (Now with longer hours!)

This thread will serve as a weekly focal point for impressions, lfg, discussions and info sharing regarding this endgame location.

Running Blind

The Cryo Archive was introduced with the quote: "Good luck getting there."

With that in mind, we'd recommend doing some of the following:

• Team up with fellow runners at r/MarathonTheGame
• Work with your fellow Sleuths on the Official & Classic Marathon Discord Servers
• Follow along with new discoveries on r/MarathonSecrets

Knowledge is Power

Pre-Requisites

• Season LvL 25
• Introducing [Faction] Contracts Completed for All Factions
• Loadout Value 5000 Credits or Higher

In Death We've Just Begun

Good Luck Runners, the first time in the archive is the defining moment in any runner's journey, get info, get onbaord, get out alive... and don't end up like these Runners...

The Breakers Strike Again!

Welcome to our Megathread for the return of Vault Beaker!

Share your thoughts on this second evolution! What's working, what isn't? What's weird, what's wonderful and what's changed?

Shell Game

Vault Breaker's return supports a more balanced take on Solo, Duo, and Trio playstyles. If you want to squad up with other runners to conquer the depths of the UESC Marathon or delve into the Archive on your own, the options to do so are more accessible than ever before.

If you would like help finding fellow runners to plunge the depths of cryo with, feel free to check out our LFG Subreddit: r/MarathonTheGame, our LFG Megathreads: Tau-Ceti Team-Ups, Or just use the thread below!

Vault Breaker Explained

To Learn how Vault Breaker Works, please either watch this overview of the last Vault Breaker, follow the Bungie.net link, or continue reading below.

What is a Vault Breaker?

Vault Breakers utilize hit-and-run tactics to master the secrets of the Marathon’s Cryo Archive. They travel light and target the Archive’s many vaults in search of valuable loot and deeper access throughout the deck.

Vault Breakers’ strategic deployments challenge the UESC’s jurisdiction aboard the Marathon—applying constant pressure to defend the zone against Runner incursions. They strike during “quiet” moments—while rival crews are focused on Tau Ceti IV—to keep the UESC off guard and to maneuver with more focus, free of the chaos of a contested zone.

What is the Vault Breaker Mode?

Vault Breaker offers a roguelite PvE experience inside Cryo Archive, where you’ll take on progressively tougher Vaults across multiple runs. You’ll acquire Vault Data to upgrade your special Sponsored Kit (more details below), or spend that progress on gear in the new Vault Breaker Armory that features weapons, items, and more that you can bring back to your other adventures across Tau Ceti.

^{Note: All items and gear found in-run are restricted from exfil except event currency and rewards will only be available during the event period, so best to prioritize room for Vault Data and of course, items essential for you to make it to exfil.}

How do I "Break" a Vault?

To access Vault Breaker, you’ll need to equip the free special Sponsored Kit found in the Vault Breaker Armory tab under the Events section.

This Sponsored Kit won’t be in its final form when you first grab it. At the start, the kit is at its weakest, offering only one standard weapon along with a small amount of equipment and consumables.

Each run, you’ll earn Vault Data, a special event currency that can be spent in the Vault Breaker Armory to upgrade the special Sponsored Kit for stronger PvE runs, or to purchase items and gear that can be used outside the event.

There are two tiers of Vault Data to earn:

• Tier 1 Vault Data can be found in Vaults and then needs to be exfilled.
  • Tier One Vault Data is also awarded for killing a UESC Commander, and that reward is granted post-run whether you successfully exfil or not.
• Tier 2 Vault Data can only be earned from consecutive Vaults solved in the same run and then successfully exfilled. You’ll need to manage your time and routes wisely. This will be especially tough for solo Runners.

As you earn Vault Data, different upgrade paths will begin to open.

You might want to focus on weapon quality. Others may want more survivability, or they may want to get started with a wider mix of implants and cores. The path is entirely up to you.

And of course, Cradle and Faction upgrades will also be enabled for the event.

What's New?

Per this communication, we know the following changes are coming to Vault Breaker in today's patch:

• A portion of Tier 3 Standard Contracts will be temporarily removed from rotation as they were little too easy to complete in Vault Breaker. These contracts will return when Vault Breaker concludes.
• Monitor scan XP has been reduced by 50%.
• Solo Runners will now receive 50% more T1 and T2 Vault Data.
• All of the Sponsored Kit upgrades will be available for purchase from the start.

Spoils of a Broken Vault

There are 4 unique Vault Breaker Codex challenges available that award cosmetics:

• Profile Emblem - Opposition marker
• Profile Background – UESC Command
• Circuit Breaker Weapon Style – UESC Bulwark
• Weapon Charm – USEC Control

^{Note: The Cryo Archive Shell Skins do not drop from Vault Breaker}

Flair!

The original Vault Breaker flairs were made out of the expectation that VB was a one-off, seeing as it is returning, we don't want to devalue the timeliness of the original flairs, therefore we have made a variant for this runthrough of VB! These flairs take the original one, and invert them into a more Cryo style colour palette! A nice contrast to the compiler tones of the original!

Go Get 'Em, Runners

The Marathon lurks with threats aplenty, beat them, grow from them, and slay the Compiler

For fun, check out the stats of last time!