Pick the job the squad needs
Marathon is available now; a guide that still describes it only as a closed test is outdated. Begin with a task: find information, reach loot, hold space or support a teammate. A shell’s identity is a useful starting point, but it does not prove that one loadout is best for every map or player.
Source: Official game website
Read the roster beyond the launch overview
Bungie’s initial overview describes six shells and the solo scavenging option Rook. Season 2 adds Sentinel. The table is a role reference, not a current competitive tier list; balance and equipment can change.
| Role to investigate | Shells to compare |
|---|---|
| Protection and holding space | Destroyer; Sentinel’s area-denial kit |
| Information and finding loot | Recon; Thief |
| Concealment or mobile pressure | Assassin; Vandal |
| Squad sustain | Triage |
| Solo entry without your own loadout | Rook, under its separate entry rules |
Source: Initial shell roles · Sentinel announcement
Inspect the perk before the stat total
Bungie’s Season 2 explanation changes implants toward a perk-first system with fixed associated stats. It also describes rarity restrictions. An old screenshot showing a different roll structure should not be your shopping list. Compare the current slot, perk requirement and stat effect in-game before committing valuable gear.
Source: Implant system changes
Make a minimum viable loadout
- Name one objective and one exit plan before choosing equipment.
- Choose the shell job that helps that objective. Avoid giving every teammate the same responsibility by default.
- Inspect each implant’s actual perk and slot; select equipment that you can replace after a failed run.
- Check whether the weapon, ammunition and carried resources support the expected engagement range.
- After a run, change the part that caused the failure: missing information, insufficient supplies, unsafe route or an equipment mismatch.
Version your saved build
Keep patch 1.1.9.5 and the check date with this reference. Community loadout managers can help record a setup, but their shell lists may lag behind the live game; the TauCeti tools page still required a roster/version check during this review. We did not create an account or test its save function.
Source: Community loadout and comparison tools
Continue with this game
Sources & scope
This article uses the official and individually identified community references linked below. It is not a hands-on review. Screenshots are credited to their original publishers; they are not evidence that we tested these steps. Game details can change after publication.
- Bungie · Runner shell overview
- Bungie · Season 2 systems and Sentinel (27 May 2026)
- Bungie · update 1.1.9.5 (20 Oct 2026)
Sources checked: 22 Oct 2026. Read how we use sources and AI assistance.
