Implants are one of the main ways to set up a build in Marathon. They work across Runner Shells and act as the broader stat-and-perk layer of your setup, which makes them different from Cores. Instead of changing one shell’s abilities in a direct way, implants help tune things like movement, survivability, tracking, recovery, and utility across your whole build.
Marathon has four implant types: Head, Torso, Legs, and Shield. Implants add stat changes and perks, and higher-tier implants can carry stronger effects that make a real difference during a run. For example: Ping+ V4, a head implant that increases Ping Duration, Hardware, and Loot Speed, while adding a perk that removes pings on you when you enter smoke.
There are also a few clear progression paths tied to implants. Implants can be found in Bioprinters on maps like Perimeter, Dire Marsh, and Outpost, and official event rewards have included Standard, Enhanced, and Deluxe implants. Faction progression also opens more reliable access through the Armory, with upgrades tied to factions like MIDA, Sekiguchi, and NuCaloric.