Marathon Beginner Survival Checklist – 120+ Hours, Zero Hype, Fewer Deaths

Marathon beginner survival checklist for new players who are struggling to survive their first raids without bleeding gear and progress.

No hype. No fluff. This is the checklist I needed after my first 30 raids turned into pure frustration. It’s what turned my extract rate from ~18% to 65–72% over the last couple months of testing.

If you’re jumping in from Apex, Warzone, Destiny, or even Tarkov and still treating Marathon like a regular deathmatch – this is written for you. Tarkov spreadsheet gods: you’ll probably find it too basic. That’s okay.

Launch drops March 5, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC – full crossplay and cross-save. Standard $39.99, Deluxe $59.99 (cosmetics only). Pre-orders are live now.

Let’s cut to the chase.

Marathon Beginner Survival Checklist: First 10 Runs to Stop Dying

Runs 1–3 – Learn the Exits

• Walk every extract from at least two spawns. No looting. No fighting. Just pathing.
• Time how long each takes at walking speed. Write it down.
• Stop dead for 10 seconds every time you hear footsteps outside pistol range.
• If you’re sprinting more than 20% of the raid, you’re already donating gear.
• Target: Extract 5 times with nothing but the starter pistol. Feel dumb? Perfect. That’s the foundation.

Runs 4–6 – Stop Being the First to Shoot

• Hear sprinting that’s not yours? Crouch or prone immediately.
• If footsteps head your way, back up to hard cover with two exits.
• If they pass → wait 30 seconds, then move perpendicular.
• Take a fight only if:
• a) you have first-shot advantage
• b) hard cover
• c) a clear escape route
• d) your current loot < 1.2k credits
• Extract with at least 800–1200 credits. Dying with 4k because “one more fight” is the fastest way to stay broke.

Runs 7–10 – Commit to One Map
Lock in the current starter map (usually “Habitat” — starter map / early rotation). Don’t touch another until:

• You can guess spawn locations within 15 seconds from audio alone
• You know at least four quiet rotation paths most players ignore
• You can name the three most common third-party spots around every major POI
• You can reach any extract from map center in <90 seconds crouched
• Extract rate ≥60% over 10 straight runs

Hit those? Now you’re allowed to branch out.

Gear – The Harsh Reality

Good gear doesn’t teach you the game. Gear you can lose 10 times without tilting does.

Safe Starter Kit (~1.4–1.8k total, replaceable in one good extract)

• Primary: M41 Burst SMG (or equivalent starter burst-fire) – fast TTK <18m, easy to control
• Secondary: Default 9mm pistol + two spare mags
• Armor: Tier 2 plate carrier + basic helmet (stops 1 headshot / 2 body)
• Utility: 1 frag or 1 flash – that’s it. More = panic death
• Meds: 2 field stims + 1 surgical (enough to reset one bad scrap and run)
• Backpack: Small or medium. Large stays in stash until run 25+

Rules I still live by:

• Kit over 3k? Stash it until you’ve extracted 8/10 of your last runs
• New legendary? Rook Shell test first, always
• Tilted after two deaths? Next run is Rook or you’re done for the night

Combat – Where Most Players Lie to Themselves

Gunplay is peak Bungie – crisp, satisfying. Doesn’t mean you should play it like Halo.

From rewatching my own VODs and others’:

1. First shooter usually loses—if the other player has ears.
2. Audio is the real advantage. Visuals are backup.
3. You can hear DMR reloads from 45m through concrete.
4. Crouch-walk is silent until ~12–15m.
5. Best fights are the ones you say no to.

Rules that actually work:

• Reload only behind full hard cover with 3+ seconds safe
• Take damage and enemy isn’t one-tapped? Disengage now
• Prefer 90°/180° peeks over straight hallways
• Third-partying isn’t dirty – it’s the design
• Two squads fighting? Wait for one dead or both low, then clean
• If you’re fighting → someone is already watching you

Solo Queue – Don’t Hate the Game

Dedicated solo queue exists. It’s fairer than people whine about.

Non-negotiable solo rules:

• Win = extract, not kills. 1 kill + extract beats 8 kills + death
• Early extract with 900–1500 credits isn’t ratty – it’s smart math
• Die to a trio as solo? Queue again. Mode is built for it
• No revenge chases. Ever.
• Warm up in Rook Shells. I still run 3–5 before real raids on off days

Stat that keeps me honest: 58–65% extract rate over 200+ raids beats 85% K/D players who extract 22% of the time.

The 7 Habits Killing New Players (And How Long It Took Me to Fix)

1. Sprinting everywhere → 14 runs
2. Looting during gunfire → 9 runs
3. Taking every fight for “aim practice” → 22 runs
4. Forgetting extract timer exists → 7 runs
5. Tilt-queuing after two deaths → 11 runs (biggest account killer)
6. Rushing loud POI first 5 minutes → 16 runs
7. Fast/predictable main-corridor rotates → 19 runs

Best fix order: Tilt control → stop sprinting → audio discipline → fight selection → map knowledge → gear control → rest

Progression – Pain Now, Reward Later

Curve: heavy front pain, back-loaded satisfaction.

Rough timeline from my account + friends:

• 0–15 runs: mostly dead, 10–25% extracts
• 16–40: start surviving, 35–50%
• 41–80: feels “normal”, 55–68%
• 80+: conscious decisions instead of panic

Real gains come from:

• Successful extracts (duh)
• Keeping average run cost <2.1k for first 50 raids
• Not rage-buying expensive kits after bad nights
• Only upping risk after 60%+ extracts for 20 straight runs

Quick Status – January 20, 2026

• Launch: March 5, 2026 (confirmed, pre-orders live)
• Price: $39.99 Standard / $59.99 Deluxe (cosmetics only)
• Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC – full crossplay/cross-save
• Beginner saver: Rook Shell mode (protected loadout, real PvP, zero stash risk)
• Core: PvP extraction with light PvE (creatures, turrets)
• Tarkov DNA, but cleaner movement, better audio, shorter raids (~18–22 min)

Bottom line:

This game doesn’t want 20 minutes of dopamine spam. It wants 30 seconds of perfect decisions that make the whole raid worth it.

If that sounds exhausting – maybe skip it. If that tension is what you’ve been craving – welcome to the club.

Screenshot the checklist. Keep it open. Check it before every queue. You’ll curse this checklist in week one. You’ll thank me around run 35—guaranteed.

See you on Tau Ceti IV.