Marathon makes looting simple, auto-selling all valuable items at the end of a successful run, leaving only weapons, consumables, and other gear. The only exception is Salvage items, which have a couple of uses apart from selling.
Here’s everything you need to know about Salvage items in Marathon.
Table of contents
How to use Salvage in Marathon
Buy Faction upgrades
The main use for Salvage items is to buy Faction upgrades. There are six Factions in Marathon, each with its own set of upgrades. As you complete contracts and increase your level with a Faction, you’ll be able to purchase new upgrades for Credits and specific Salvage items.
Unlocking these upgrades gives permanent buffs until the end of a season and unlocks new items to buy in the Armory. It’s a core part of Marathon‘s progression and the main way for you to get consistent access to better gear, so always make sure you know which items you need for future upgrades.
Buy Armory items
As you buy Faction upgrades, you gain access to more items in the Armory. Most items cost Credits, but gear in the Barter Wares section of each Faction store requires Salvage. It’s a great way to get some decent gear if you have Salvage to spare.
Every Faction focuses on a specific type of equipment. For example, NuCaloric offers defensive Implants and consumables, while MIDA offers primarily gadgets and throwables. Use that to guide which Faction upgrades you buy and what Salvage you hunt for.
Sell for Credits
Of course, if you don’t need Salvage for any upgrades or items in the Armory, you can sell it for Credits. Hover over the item in your vault and hold the sell button to sell it. Salvage is worth fewer Credits than Valuables, but it’s still extra money if you need it.
How to find Salvage in Marathon
Salvage comes in multiple rarities, including Standard, Enhanced, Deluxe, Superior, and Prestige Eccentric. You can find Salvage almost anywhere, but certain items only appear in specific locations. For example, some of the rarest, Prestige Eccentric rarity Salvage, spawns in the locked rooms on the Cryo Archive map.
To know where to look for a specific Salvage item, hover over it in the Faction upgrade screen. There, you can select to track Salvage, marking respective POIs on the map during the run. You can also inspect POIs during a run to see what Salvage is commonly found there.
