How to complete the Anomalous Matter event in Marathon

The Anomalous Matter event is one of the most dangerous in all of Marathon. Here's how to complete it.

When you’re playing on Dire Marsh in Marathon, occasionally an in-run event called Anomalous Matter will occur, potentially pulling some or all of the lobby to it. The event is one of the most dangerous in the game, but if you’re looking for even more PvP, there are few better ways to attract it.

Check out our MARATHON INTERACTIVE MAPS.

How to complete the Anomalous Matter event on Dire Marsh in Marathon

The Anomalous Matter event can occur during a Dire Marsh run at a random time near the middle or end of the match. When it does, the announcer, well, announces it, and an icon will appear on the map showing where to find the stuff. The icon is visible to all runners still active on the map.

When you approach the Anomalous Matter, provided you don’t get instantly shot, you can interact with the large glowing orb in the energy field. Doing so coalesces the matter into a solid form that you can pick up. It’s a 2x2 item, so make sure you bring enough backpack space.

Putting the Anomalous Matter in your backpack as the Anomalous Energy Conduit, which has two effects:

• Your position will be marked on the map until you reach the stabilization device
• Anomalous energy orbs will follow you and attempt to explode on your face

Your location is updated on other runners’ maps every few seconds, so it’s basically real-time. Dropping the matter unmarks you, but keeps the matter itself active on the map.

After you pick up the Matter, you need to take it to a stabilization device, which will immediately be marked on your map and your HUD. The device has multiple spawns on Dire Marsh, some of them more heavily protected than others. Mine was in the Tunnels under AI uplink, for instance, but I’ve also seen it in one of the side rooms in Maintenance.

Deposit the Anomalous Sample in the stabilization device when you reach it, then get ready to defend your position. The Sample takes a little under two minutes to stabilize, and remains on the map for that period.

Blessedly, the map marker disappears when the Matter is fully stabilized, and you can pick it up. It’s still a 2x2 item, and you need to extract with it to earn the reward (a hefty sum of Credits). Beware that, as a lootable item, if you die with the Anomalous Sample in your inventory, you’re giving your enemy even more of the benefits of your hard work.

For much more on Bungie’s sci-fi extraction shooter, check out our Marathon strategy guide.

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