Marathon’s highly anticipated experimental PvE mode arrives on July 21 as part of the game’s mid-season 2 update. Vault Breaker is a limited-time roguelite mode in which players infiltrate Vaults in Cryo Archive to collect Vault Data.
For those unaware, Vaults in Marathon are heavily guarded locations within Cryo Archive that contain the best loot in the game. In Vault Breaker, players can expect to encounter some of the game’s tougher Vaults full of UESC bots and Warden bosses.
Vault Breaker remains an experimental game mode and will likely undergo tweaks before becoming a permanent addition. Bungie has outlined several key details about the current version of Vault Breaker in Marathon, which players can read below.
How to play Marathon’s Vault Breaker PvE mode
Once it’s available on July 21, players can jump into Marathon’s Vault Breaker mode as a solo Runner, as a Duo, or as a full Trio. There’s no restriction on Runner level, so players won’t have to grind Marathon’s extraction mode to try Vault Breaker.
For solo players, Bungie is adding a solo queue, whereas Duos and Trios support matchmaking.
What to do with Vault Data in Marathon?
Players can use the Vault Data they earn by playing Vault Breaker in the Vault Breaker Armory. It can be found in the Armory Tab under the Event Section. Vault Data can be used to upgrade the Special Sponsored Kit or to purchase items and gear that can also be used outside of this PvE mode.
As for rewards, there are daily and weekly rotations and limited offers, including prestige rewards that players can grab one of each during the event.
Daily rotations include Deluxe Weapon, Cryo Key Templates, and Prestige Weapons, among other things. Meanwhile, Weekly rewards include items obtainable through different tiers of Vault Data.
In Marathon, Vault Data is available in two tiers. Tier 1 Vault Data is found within Vaults and needs to be exfilled. Additionally, it can be rewarded post-run for slaying a UESC commander, regardless of whether the exfill attempt was successful or failed.
As for Tier 2 Vault Data, it can be earned only by solving consecutive Vaults in a single run followed by a successful exfill.
At the armory, players can exchange Tier 1 Vault Data for weekly rewards with 3x or 5x availability per week. Likewise, Tier 2 Vault Data can be exchanged for higher-tier rewards that have 1x limited stock every week. Alternatively, players can convert it to Tier 1 to increase its weekly reward availability to 5x per week.
All Vault Breaker Codex Challenges and rewards in Marathon
| Vault Breaker Title | Vault Breaker Challenge | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Vault Breaker | Play Vault Breaker | Opposition marker (Profile Emblem) |
| Apprentice Vault Breaker | Solve Vault 01 or 02 and successfully exfil in Vault Breaker | UESC Command (Profile Background) |
| Certified Vault Breaker | Solve Vault 03 or 05 and successfully exfil in Vault Breaker | UESC Bulwark (Circuit Breaker Weapon Style) |
| Master Vault Breaker | Solve Vault 7 and successfully exfil in Vault Breaker | UESC Control (Weapon Charm) |
FAQs
Is Vault Breaker permanent in Marathon?
No, Vault Breaker is an experimental PvE mode in Marathon Season 2. It will be available to play until August 4.
Is Vault Breaker free to play?
No, players need to purchase Marathon (base game) to get free access to the Vault Breaker mode.
