Marathon: Heat System, Explained (How to Manage & Increase…

In Marathon, Runners are cybernetic shells that build up Heat when performing movement-based actions, effectively acting like a stamina bar. There's only so much Heat a shell can sustain before it gets overloaded, and its movement speed is restricted. This forces players to balance aggression and caution as they navigate Tau Ceti IV's zones. This guide will help you effectively manage Heat in Marathon and showcase methods that will allow you to increase maximum Heat, essentially giving your Runners more stamina.

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Marathon: How to Find NuCal Employee ID in Tick-Infested Building (Introducing Nucaloric)

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By Ayyoun Ali

How to Manage Heat in Marathon

Heat is essentially stamina in Marathon, which will be generated by sprinting, or any movement-related abilities like the Destroyer's dash or Vandal's double-jump. Once the Heat meter fills up, the Runner's movement capabilities will become extremely limited. Sprinting or any other movement abilities will be disabled until the bar cools down to zero.

To better manage Heat in Marathon, players will need to learn to immediately stop sprinting or use abilities that generate Heat to bring the levels down. The goal is to avoid getting Overheated, as it can put you in a vulnerable position for the duration of the cooldown. Keep an eye on the Heat bar, and optimize your stamina usage to ensure you're still agile enough to maneuver in dangerous situations.

Crouch walking is one of the best ways to quickly cool down your Heat meter in Marathon. You'll be stealthy and on the move while recovering your Runner Shell's Heat gauge rapidly. While crouch walking, you'll need to ensure your Runner has ample cover, whether it's inside a building or in terrain covered in bushes or boulders.

It's also important to note that your Runner Shell will cool down quicker from heat in rainy weather or over bodies of water (like a pond). You'll also generate less Heat overall when running over bodies of water or in the rain, which is helpful when planning your loot run or an escape route .

How to Increase Maximum Heat in Marathon (Max Stamina)

Players can also increase their maximum Runner's Heat capacity through the following methods.

One of the first methods to increase the max Heat/stamina capacity in Marathon is to use Implants. There are some Implants like the Regen V2 or the Sprint Kit V2, that will increase your maximum Heat capacity. These will be helpful in letting you perform heat-generating abilities for an increased amount of time before getting Overheated.

Marathon Increase Max Heat Cyac Upgrades

If you want to permanently upgrade your Heat/Stamina capacity in Marathon, you can check out the Heat_Sink.exe skill in the Cyberacme Tree. You'll need to invest 12x Unstable Biomass and 2500 credits in your first upgrade, which will increase your Heat capacity by +20 points.

There are other skills in this tree as well that will allow you to reduce the Heat cooldown rate when out on the field. However, these skill trees will reset at the end of the season.

Lastly, you can temporarily increase your max Heat capacity in Marathon by using consumables like Cardio Kick. These will give your Heat gauge a nice boost, allowing you to temporarily generate heat past the regular threshold. These can be crafted in the armory or simply be found while looting various containers.

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Released: March 5, 2026
ESRB: Teen / Animated Blood, Language, Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
Developer(s): Bungie
Publisher(s): Bungie
Multiplayer: Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op