You're missing out on getting Marathon's best loot for free because it's hidden in a menu

Marathon: The Thief shell aiming a sniper directly ahead, set against a wall of bright green tarpaulin in the background. — (Image credit: Bungie)

Your whole goal in Marathon is to get the best guns in your hands, kill a few Runners, and eventually lose it all—especially if you're playing Cryo Archive, AKA the 'lose it all factory'. Collecting good loot typically means risking what you've already got against other players and high-tier UESC.

But what if I told you that you've been sitting on a pile of some of the best gear this whole time? And no, I'm not talking about faction upgrades like Safeguard, Restore, or Shielded that give you a handful of specific items from the faction's stores each day. No, no, no, there are actually two free sections in the store, because of course there is. Marathon's complicated UI strikes again.

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You can get some of the best guns, consumables, cores, and other loot just by heading to the store each day and checking each corporation's offerings. I've seen the M77 assault rifle from Traxus, high-tier Patch Kits and Shield Charges from NuCaloric, and even the WSTR shotgun from Arcachne. A free double-barrel? Don't need to ask me twice—it rips on Cryo Archive.

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Marathon Priority Access: A red box highlights the Priority Access section of the Armory. — (Image credit: Bungie)

Now, the deal is that you need to unlock each faction's Priority Access section by completing their first block of quests. For example, Traxus demands you complete all stages of Equitable Distribution, while Sekiguchi requires you to beat the troublesome Parasitism quest chain. The odd one out is Arachne, which simply asks you to reach rank 10 with the murder cult.

I'll admit, I didn't realise this loot haul existed for the longest time, but now I know, I'm making sure to check it daily. Even if you don't have time to play a match, log in and check your Priority Access. It's perfect if you're trying to gear up for Ranked or Cryo Archive, since some very valuable, powerful items can crop up if you're lucky.

Plus, if you're new or otherwise paralysed by gear fear, you don't need to complete hard map events or risk fights against kitted-out players to have a bit of fun with the best loot Marathon has to offer. It's just a few clicks away every day.

Rory has made the fatal error of playing way too many live service games at once, and somehow still finding time for everything in between. Sure, he’s an expert at Destiny 2, Call of Duty, and more, but at what cost? He’s even sunk 1,000 hours into The Elder Scrolls Online over the years. At least he put all those hours spent grinding challenges to good use over the years as a freelancer and guides editor. In his spare time, he’s also an avid video creator, often breaking down the environmental design of his favourite games. If you can’t track him down, he’s probably lost in a cave with a bunch of dwarves shouting “rock and stone” to no end.

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