Marathon Vault Breaker PvE Mode Guide

Marathon Vault Breaker TL;DR

• Vault Breaker, a new roguelite PvE mode, runs from July 21 through August 4.

• You can enter through solo, duo, or trio queues, and there is no minimum Runner Level.

• Your starting kit contains one standard weapon and limited supplies that you’ll upgrade throughout the run.

• Tier 1 Vault Data comes from individual Vaults and UESC Commanders, and Tier 2 Vault Data requires consecutive Vault clears in one deployment.

• Vault Breaker includes four exclusive Codex cosmetic rewards for you to get.

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What is a Marathon Vault Breaker?

Vault Breaker is a limited-time roguelite PvE mode introduced with Marathon Update 1.1.5. It runs from July 21 through August 4 and supports play with any team size and any Runner level.  Instead of entering Cryo Archive with your regular handpicked loadout, you’ll use a pre-built Sponsored Kit. Completing Vaults earns Vault Data, which can improve that kit or let you purchase new equipment through the Vault Breaker Armory.

Your enemies in this mode will be UESC forces defending Cryo Archive in the progressively harder Vaults placed throughout the zone.

Vault Breaker uses a roguelite progression structure. You begin with a weak event-specific kit, complete Vaults across multiple runs, and spend your extracted currency on permanent kit improvements. Each successful upgrade gives you more equipment, survivability, or weapon power for later deployments.

You can also spend Vault Data on Armory items usable outside the event. This creates a choice between improving your ability to clear harder Vaults and securing permanent rewards for standard Marathon activities. There’s also a full-fledged PVE mode planned for a Season 3 release, so this event might be an attempt to make that as good as possible.

The Compiler boss is also set to be an ultimate boss of the mode, letting you fight this rare enemy using stronger PVE loadouts. Since he’s already a boss of the extraction version of Cryo Archive, it makes perfect sense to include him in the PVE version, too.

How the Vault Breaker Gameplay Loop Works

Every Vault Breaker deployment begins with your current version of the Sponsored Kit and makes you go through enemies to get more resources to upgrade your setup. The main gameplay loop follows this structure:

1. Enter Cryo Archive.

2. Fight through UESC resistance.

3. Locate and complete a Vault.

4. Collect Vault Data and useful supplies.

5. Continue toward another Vault or head for extraction.

6. Successfully exfil with the collected Vault Data.

7. Spend that currency in the Vault Breaker Armory.

8. Upgrade the Sponsored Kit or purchase other rewards.

9. Return with an improved event loadout.

Vault difficulty increases as you progress through the mode. Sponsored Kit upgrades are therefore part of the core progression. Continuing deeper provides access to better currency but also puts everything currently carried at risk. 

What Can Be Extracted from Vault Breaker?

Regular weapons, equipment, and other gear found during a Vault Breaker deployment cannot be extracted. The items that leave Cryo Archive are:

• Vault Data

• Event currencies

• Event rewards

Everything else found during the run should be used to improve your immediate chances of reaching the next Vault or extraction point. That means that the Vault Data deserves priority when managing backpack space. Carry enough ammunition, consumables, and survival equipment to finish the deployment, but don’t get your inventory slots flooded with unused gear that cannot leave the mode. I saw players voicing criticism about the mode not letting you get the items out of this mode, but that would ruin the whole point of you doing PvP to get rare loot. I think that the direction of PvE should be aimed purely at complementing the PvP experience with cosmetics and maybe some very limited equipment, but not more than that.

Marathon Vault Data Explained

Vault Data is the unique event currency. It is used to improve the Sponsored Kit and purchase rewards from the Vault Breaker Armory. There are two Vault Data tiers total.

Once the event ends, all data will be gone from your inventory, so don’t miss out. I’d say the downside of the system is obvious - you’re almost inevitably going to have runs where you don’t get anything out of them by getting some poor RNG or just unlucky deaths.

Vault Breaker Sponsored Kits

Youк Vault Breaks begin with you using the free Sponsored Kit in its weakest configuration. Its starting loadout contains:

• One standard weapon

• A small amount of weak secondary equipment

• Limited consumables

Naturally, Vault Data opens different upgrade paths as you complete runs. You can get stuff like:

• Higher weapon quality

• Increased survivability

• Better implants

• A broader selection of cores

These upgrades affect future Vault Breaker runs. The rules are the same as in the regular Marathon - investing in weapon quality increases the kit’s offensive potential, while survivability upgrades provide more room for easier consecutive clears. I think it’s worth noting that the Implant and cores are available in this mode, too, and they allow for more specialized builds, just like in the regular extraction Marathon.

Vault Breaker Armory Rewards

The Vault Breaker Armory appears under the Armory’s Event section. It handles both Sponsored Kit progression and event reward purchases usable in the extraction mode. There’s a bunch of stuff to get:

• Daily rotating Deluxe weapons

• Cryo Key Templates

• Prestige weapons

• Prestige gear

• Sponsored Kit upgrades

• Weapons and items for extraction

Armory stock is divided between weekly and limited offers, with only the kit upgrades altering your Vault Breaker loadout. Some pinnacle rewards maintain the same fixed stock throughout the entire Vault Breaker period:

I think the system could use some type of infinite rewards system besides these limited rewards. Once you run out of limited armory stock, what could possibly make you want to play the mode?

Vault Breaker Codex Challenges and Rewards

Vault Breaker includes four unique Codex challenges. Each challenge awards a completely unique event cosmetic.

These cosmetics commemorate participation in Vault Breaker and are tied directly to its Codex objectives.

Best Vault Breaker Progression Tips

The mode’s currency and extraction rules establish several clear priorities for you to follow:

1. Leave Space for Vault Data

Ordinary gear cannot be removed from Vault Breaker, while successfully extracted Vault Data advances your event progression. Backpack space should primarily support survival and currency collection.

2. Target UESC Commanders

A UESC Commander grants Tier 1 Vault Data even if the deployment ends without a successful extraction. Commander kills therefore provide the only confirmed form of Vault Data that survives a failed run.

3. Decide Between Kit Progress and Permanent Gear

Vault Data serves two purposes. It strengthens the event-specific Sponsored Kit and purchases rewards usable in standard Marathon activities. 

Early kit upgrades improve your ability to complete harder and consecutive Vaults. Armory purchases provide permanent equipment outside the event. Spending should account for both parts of the reward system.

4. Check Weekly and Event-Wide Purchase Limits

Tier 1 and Tier 2 offers have weekly stock limits, while Prestige items are limited across the full event. Checking the Armory rotation prevents currency from being saved for an item whose available stock has already been purchased.

5. Plan Consecutive Vault Routes Before Chasing Tier 2 Data

Tier 2 currency requires multiple Vault completions followed by a successful exfil. The route must leave enough time and supplies for the final extraction. 

Check out other helpful Marathon guides:

Best Builds
Weapon Tier List
Best Settings