Perimeter Map Guide: Best Loot Locations, POIs, and Tips – Marathon Guide – IGN
But here’s where the real challenge begins: Perimeter is the entry point to Marathon’s full extraction shooter experience, offering more freedom than the Beginner variant while still introducing you to the map’s core dynamics. It’s a fairly expansive, mostly open map with key points of interest laid out in a way that encourages exploration and loot collection without constantly bumping into USEC forces.
What you’ll find here is a concise rundown of the notable POIs on Perimeter, the top loot locations for beginners, and practical tips to start your Marathon journey on the right foot.
Perimeter POIs
Perimeter is the simplest map in Marathon. It’s a mostly flat area with important locations spaced out, sitting on the edge of the colony’s expansion zone. It appears barren and relatively quiet but is defensively guarded by USEC and frequently visited by Runners seeking fast loot or quick Exfil opportunities.
Key POIs on Perimeter include:
- North Relay
- Station
- Hauler
- Overflow
- South Relay
There are also several smaller regions or secondary POIs for the Beginner variant:
- Data Wall
- Tunnels
- East Wall
- Ravine
- Columns
Best Loot Spots on Perimeter (Beginner)
In Perimeter (Beginner), prioritize the North Relay, Station, Hauler, Overflow, and South Wall. These sites are your main loot hubs, offering rarer weapons and valuable items, plus possible exclusive loot if you possess a specific keycard or crate access code.
Note, these areas are guarded by USEC forces, so plan to neutralize threats or be ready to retreat when reinforcements arrive during looting.
North Relay: Key loot spots and buildings
The North Relay hosts several large buildings filled with crates and enemy defenders. It’s a central focus of USEC activity on Tau Ceti IV within the Perimeter Zone and often features an Exfil point and runs’ activities. Notable loot locations include:
- NuCaloric Research Building: The second floor can hold rare Implants, valuables, and transmutable resources. It may also contain rare Lockboxes that require keys to open, though these are rarer in Perimeter’s Beginner variant.
Station: Key loot spots
The Station is a sprawling complex of connected buildings on Perimeter’s eastern side. Inside, you’ll find numerous chests and containers that hold loot.
- Tox Clear Room: The southwest portion of the Station contains a Tox Clear room with a set of Treasures inside.
Hauler: Key loot spots
The Hauler sits on the map’s western side and houses tougher enemies and some of the game’s rarer loot. It’s a challenging destination, especially in Beginner Perimeter, so be prepared.
- Upper Floor Locked Room: The Hauler’s upper floor contains highly valuable loot, accessible with the Hauler Observation Key obtained in a prior run or your current session.
Overflow: Key loot spots
The Overflow is a large research building toward the south of Perimeter, known for strong enemy resistance and occasional rare loot drops.
- Central Building Locked Room: A locked room in the large southern building; it’s guarded by a priority target, making access difficult.
Perimeter PvP Tips
Perimeter is easiest to learn when you treat it as a mixed landscape of indoor and outdoor terrain. It’s tempting to linger, but the map’s layout makes you vulnerable to ambushes from other runners or a lone Rook shell. The best approach is to stay indoors and use buildings as cover, avoiding prolonged exposure in open areas.
The terrain also features notable verticality, especially in the southern hills and around various buildings. Gaining high ground with cover gives you a tactical edge against UESC forces and rival runners. When you do climb, always have a plan to retreat or an escape route in mind while leveraging elevated positions such as rooftops, walkways, or rock faces to influence gunfights.
Notes
This page is a work in progress and will be updated as Server Slam evolves.
Was this guide helpful? If you’d like, I can tailor this to beginner playstyles, add short-instruction checklists for each POI, or expand with example loadouts for Perimeter.
