How to upgrade Rook in Marathon
Rook doesn't start runs with much, but you can upgrade their starting equipment with enough effort. Here's how.
by John Schutt · ShacknewsRook is an interesting case of character progression in Marathon. Almost every improvement you make to their kit happens during a run rather than before it at the Vault. There are, however, several things you can do to make your Rook deadlier ahead of time.
Check out our MARATHON INTERACTIVE MAPS.
How to upgrade Rook’s kit in Marathon
Upgrading Rook is expensive and time-consuming, but well worth the effort. To do it, you need to purchase enough Faction Capstone upgrades to automatically add new weapons, items, and equipment to your Rook’s starting loadout.
Here’s the full list of all the Faction Capstones that improve your Rook:
| Rook Upgrades | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capstone Name | Faction | Upgrade Benefits for Rook |
| Stipend (Capstone IV) | CyberAcme | Rook will now start runs with a small amount of credits in addition to their basic gear. |
| Carrier (Capstone VI) | CyberAcme | Rook will now start runs with a Deluxe (blue) backpack in addition to their basic gear. |
| Resilient (Capstone I) | NuCaloric | Rook will now start runs with a Patch Kit and a Shield Charge. |
| Proficient (Capstone I) | Traxus | Rook will now start runs with an Enhanced (green) weapon. |
| Castling (Capstone I) | MIDA | Rook will now start runs with a stack of Claymores. |
| Boosted (Capstone I) | Arachne | Rook will now start runs with Implants. |
| Boomstick (Capstone IV) | Arachne | Rook will now start runs with a WSTR Combat Shotgun and MIPS Rounds. |
| Specialized (Capstone I) | Sekiguchi Genetics | Rook will now start runs with Runnner Cores. |
| Quiet_Exit.exe (Capstone V) | Sekiguchi Genetics | Rook gains the effects of Signal Mask after activating an exfil |
Of these, I’d recommend going for the NuCaloric Resilient (Capstone I) first, as it immediately and permanently improves your Rook’s survivability. Getting the Traxus Proficient (Capstone I) should be a close second, as it immediately and permanently improves your Rook’s lethality.
From there, I’d say Arachne should be your third priority, as the Boosted (Capstone I) makes your Rook start runs with Implants installed. The real prize for Arachne is the Boomstick (Capstone IV). That shotgun is nasty in any situation. And now you get it for free.
You can unlock the remaining Rook upgrades as you play, though SekGen’s Specialized Capstone I is a nice bonus as well. The only problem is that you need to play Outpost to unlock it, and that map can be a meat grinder.
For more on Bungie’s sci-fi extraction shooter, check out our Marathon strategy guide.
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