In Marathon, your gear is expendable. Luckily, Schemas become your lifeline to rebuild your arsenal. While you might lose your favorite rifle during an extraction, a Schema allows you to rebuild your weapon from the Armory. To help you build an endless supply of weapons for your arsenal, here's a guide on Schemas.
What are Schemas in Marathon?
Schemas are basically digital weapon blueprints you can find during extractions in Marathon. Once you find one, that weapon is unlocked for purchase or crafting at your Faction Vendors.
📌Note: The only caveat to Schemas is that they are finite. They will typically grant a set number of "prints" or uses. Once you reach the limit, you'll need to find the same Schema in extractions.
There are three tiers of Schemas: Standard, which are colored gray or green; Superior, which are colored blue or purple; and Prestige, which are colored gold.
💡Tip: You should be on the lookout for Prestige-tier Schemas since they don't have a limit for uses. Once you find one, the blueprint it contains becomes permanent.
How to Unlock Schemas in Marathon
Unlocking Schemas is straightforward, since they are available in every part of the game. Here are the primary ways to get Schema in Marathon Season 1.
Faction Contracts
Each of the six Factions in Marathon offers Schemas as reputation rewards. If you want a guaranteed path to getting Schemas, focus on your Faction's contracts. At the start of the game, focus on CyberAcme Liaison Contracts. They will unlock early-game Schemas for the Overrun AR and CE Tactical Sidearm. As you complete contracts, you unlock higher Market Tiers, which will let you buy rare Schemas for Credits.
In-Match Looting
The second option is loot Schemas in matches, but it's based on RNG and isn't guaranteed. You can find Schemas in Data Ports and Secured Lockers across the three launch zones.
- Perimeter: Great for Standard and occasional Superior Schemas.
- Dire Marsh: High density of weapon mods and mid-tier SMG Schemas like the Copperhead RF.
- Outpost: A high-risk zone with a boosted drop rate for Sniper and Railgun blueprints.
The Season 1 Reward Pass
The seasonal reward pass also provides Schemas as you level up. The pass includes the Prestige version of weapons with a unique aesthetic and improved base stability.
How to Craft Your Weapons with Schemas in Marathon
Now that you know how to obtain Schemas, it's time to use them to craft yourself weapons for your arsenal. Here's how to craft weapons with Schemas in Marathon.
- Head to the Armory in the hub world.
- Choose the Schema you want to use.
- Make sure you have the required materials for Schemas, such as Synthetic Rubber or Volt Cells.
- Once you have the materials, you'll need to pay a small amount of Silk to craft the weapon.
- After you pay with Silk, the weapon will appear in your Vault, ready for your next Infil.
Schema Farming Guide: Where to Find the Best Blueprints
If you want to farm for the best weapons in Marathon, here are the Schemas to look out for in Marathon and where to find them.
|
Weapon |
Tier |
Best Farming Location |
|---|---|---|
|
V85 Circuit Breaker |
Prestige |
Cryo Archive (Vault Room 4) |
|
Copperhead RF |
Superior |
Dire Marsh (Sunken Lab Data Ports) |
|
V00 Zeus Railgun |
Prestige |
Outpost (Command Center Security Safes) |
|
Magnum MC |
Standard |
Perimeter (Residential District Lockers) |
If you want to farm Schemas during matches, here's a guide on how to do it using the Rook Shell. The Rook is a great Shell to use if you plan on just looting during matches. Here's what you need to do. Enter a match in progress, and prioritize looting Data Ports. Even if you die, you don't lose your main gear, but if you live, the Schema you find is yours after the extraction.
Do Schemas Reset in Marathon?
The Standard and Superior Schemas reset at the end of the season to keep the loot economy fresh. However, Prestige Schemas and those earned through the Paid Reward Pass are Legacy Unlocks and will stay in your library permanently.
