Marathon Night Marsh Guide: Complex, UESC Certs & Best Loadouts

Night Marsh is the first-ever map modifier introduced in Marathon, transforming Dire Marsh into something far more dangerous and intimidating. If you already considered Dire Marsh a difficult environment, Night Marsh takes every challenge and amplifies it. Visibility is reduced to almost nothing, environmental audio becomes a major gameplay mechanic, and firefights feel significantly more intense. In this Marathon Night Marsh map guide, I'll explain everything you need to know to survive, loot efficiently, and dominate the map.

Marathon Night Marsh Map Guide Quick Summary:

• Night Marsh transforms Dire Marsh into a much darker and more methodical experience where sound awareness, lighting equipment, and disciplined movement become essential.
• UESC Certs are the most valuable resource on the map because they are required for extractions, Complex access, network towers, and several profitable loot routes.
• The Complex serves as the primary objective on the map, but reaching its rewards requires planning, collecting Certs, obtaining an Observation Labs key, and defeating a Frost Warden.
• Close-range weaponry, suppressed firearms, Sentinel, Recon, Thief, and Assassin are all excellent choices thanks to the map's limited visibility and close-quarters combat.

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Night Marsh Overview

Night Marsh arrives as the flagship map modifier for Season 2 and dramatically increases the overall difficulty of Dire Marsh. The original version of Dire Marsh already challenged players with heavy fog and restricted sightlines due to its swamp-like environment. Night Marsh pushes those limitations much further by adding darkness on top of the existing visibility issues.

Because vision is no longer your most reliable source of information, you'll constantly depend on sound cues, environmental awareness, and utility items to survive. Every footstep, reload, and nearby gunshot becomes significantly more important than on other maps.

Unlike many standard raids, Night Marsh also removes the idea of safe extractions. Every exfil requires commitment, preparation, and often a significant amount of risk. The Night Marsh modifier remains active throughout the first week of Season 2. Once that introductory period ends, the map will alternate between standard Dire Marsh and Night Marsh on a 90-minute rotation.

Here are the major gameplay features introduced by Night Marsh:

• Extremely Limited Visibility: Traveling without a light source becomes difficult. Even when using illumination, visibility remains poor, while your own position becomes easier for enemies to spot.
• Greater Focus on Audio and Utility: Sound becomes one of your strongest survival tools. Lighting equipment such as Vector rounds, grenades, and flares can completely change the outcome of engagements.
• Dangerous Extractions: Similar to Outpost and Cryo, extraction is no longer a simple process. Players must either fight through threats or spend valuable UESC Certs to secure their escape.

Night Marsh captures the horror-like tension that many extraction shooters strive for. The genre is often compared to survival horror experiences, and Night Marsh embraces that comparison more than any other map currently available. Every raid feels tense, unpredictable, and genuinely threatening.

To unlock Night Marsh, you'll need to reach Runner Level 3 and successfully extract from Dire Marsh at least one time. Once those requirements are complete, you'll gain access to the modifier and can begin exploring its unique challenges.

How to Play on Night Marsh

Unlike many other Marathon maps, Night Marsh heavily discourages aggressive run-and-gun gameplay. Movement is slower, encounters are more deliberate, and rushing blindly often results in a quick death. Surprisingly, despite this slower pace, the map remains extremely engaging because every decision carries more weight.

Some players may call Night Marsh a paradise for campers, but there are several tools available that help counter defensive playstyles and force enemies out of hiding.

Flashlight

The flashlight is the most accessible lighting tool available. However, it is also one of the riskiest. While it helps illuminate nearby terrain, it simultaneously broadcasts your location to everyone nearby. Avoid using it outdoors unless absolutely necessary.

Vector Rounds and Grenades

These are arguably the strongest utility items on the entire map. Vector rounds create bright light pools when they strike enemies, while Vector grenades illuminate an area after detonation. Beyond visibility, they also create pressure by forcing enemies to relocate or risk being exposed.

Darksight Scopes

Darksight optics are incredibly useful on Night Marsh. Although many players initially expected thermal imaging, the scope functions more like a LiDAR-based detection system. It allows you to identify targets without relying on a flashlight, making it particularly effective during outdoor engagements.

Flares

Flares work exactly as most FPS players would expect. Throw one into an area and it will illuminate the surroundings, revealing movement and making enemy positioning easier to identify. While less powerful than Vector equipment, they remain highly cost-effective.

Whenever possible, try to enter engagements with one of these lighting tools available. Vector equipment is generally the strongest option, but Darksight scopes and flares can provide excellent alternatives when supplies are limited. Reserve flashlight use for emergencies.

Here are some important Night Marsh tips and common mistakes to avoid:

• Minimize Noise: Before entering any POI, stop and listen. Audio information often reveals nearby players before visual contact ever occurs.
• Avoid Sprinting Everywhere: Running creates unnecessary noise and increases your chances of triggering environmental hazards.
• Prioritize UESC Cert Farming: UESC Certs are the foundation of progression on this map. Extractions, network towers, and Complex access all depend on them. Farming along the outer areas of the map is usually the safest strategy.
• Push Complex When Properly Equipped: The night version places additional requirements on Complex access, making preparation essential. The rewards are worth the effort if you're ready.
• Always Use Lighting Utilities: Entering dark rooms without illumination often leads to instant death. Use flares or Vector tools before committing to indoor fights.

One mistake that catches many players is failing to monitor their UESC Cert count before extraction. Reaching an extraction point only to discover you lack enough Certs is one of the most frustrating situations possible, so keep track of your inventory throughout the raid.

Next, let's cover how to access the Complex and claim some of the highest-value loot available on Night Marsh.

Night Marsh Complex Room Guide

The Complex is the centerpiece of Night Marsh and the location most players ultimately want to reach. Much like Outpost, the entire raid often revolves around gathering resources quickly and then racing toward the objective before other squads get there first.

Because of this, expect intense PvP encounters around the Complex area every match.

Below is a complete Night Marsh Complex room guide:

1. Collect 3 UESC Certs. These can be obtained from enemies that drop loot boxes. Once you have three Certs, locate a network tower. Every major POI contains one.
2. Spend the 3 Certs to activate the network tower. Doing so causes a special cache to spawn somewhere on the map. Your goal is to find an Observation Labs priority item inside that cache.
3. An alternative method involves interacting with red chests during the Warden event. These containers can occasionally contain an Observation Labs key. However, because the Warden event often begins late in the raid, this method carries the risk of running out of time or arriving after another team has already cleared the Complex.
4. After obtaining the Observation Labs item, travel to the upper levels of the Complex. Before attempting entry, collect at least 7 UESC Certs because each Complex garage door requires them.
5. Enter the area, fight through the defending enemies, and ride the elevator upward. Continue through the facility until you discover the Door Controls terminal.
6. Activating the controls unlocks special security boxes marked with upward-pointing arrows. These function similarly to the destructible boxes found at Dire Marsh's West Gate.
7. Destroy the correct boxes to unlock their corresponding doors. Continue progressing until you reach the central room, where you'll encounter a large control panel requiring the Observation Labs key.
8. Use the key to begin the main event. This spawns numerous UESC enemies and introduces a Frost Warden encounter.
9. During the event, pay close attention to the central structure. Whenever it turns red, search the room for security boxes and destroy them. The wall displays will indicate how many boxes must be destroyed before the encounter can continue.
10. After completing the encounter and defeating the Frost Warden, proceed to the room directly opposite the boss arena. This room contains the prestige loot cache.

The prestige room consistently provides some of the most valuable rewards available on Night Marsh. High-tier gear, rare resources, and premium loot frequently appear there, making the Complex one of the most profitable objectives in Marathon.

Best Runner Shells for Night Marsh

Every Runner Shell can function on Night Marsh, but certain options naturally perform better due to the map's focus on information gathering, indoor combat, and stealth.

Season 2 introduces Sentinel, a defensive specialist whose abilities fit the Night Marsh environment almost perfectly. Thanks to his utility and survivability, Sentinel currently stands out as the strongest Shell choice for this map.

Here are the best Runner Shells for Night Marsh:

• Sentinel: His ability to intercept grenades with his Prime ability and reveal enemy positions through Trait 1 makes him exceptionally strong in indoor encounters. Easily the top recommendation.
• Recon: Following her recent rework, Recon offers excellent information gathering. Her abilities help overcome many of the visibility limitations that define Night Marsh.
• Thief: Drone scouting becomes significantly stronger thanks to the darkness. Players are far less likely to notice surveillance activity, allowing Thief to gather information safely.
• Assassin: Stealth is already powerful on Night Marsh, and Assassin amplifies it even further. If a fight goes poorly, activating invisibility creates immediate opportunities for repositioning.

Destroyer and Triage remain perfectly viable choices, but they do not provide the same level of specialized utility. Vandal, on the other hand, struggles significantly. Her mobility-focused toolkit loses much of its value on a map where aggressive movement is often punished.

Best Weapons for Night Marsh

Most weapon categories remain usable on Night Marsh, but the environment naturally favors close-range engagements due to limited sightlines and frequent indoor combat.

Season 2 introduces two new weapons that fit the map particularly well:

• KKV-9SD: A suppressed SMG designed for stealthy engagements.
• D54 Battle Pistol: A three-round burst sidearm capable of delivering surprisingly high damage.

Of the two, the D54 Battle Pistol immediately stands out. Its burst damage is extremely impressive and can quickly eliminate opponents wearing blue shields with only a few well-placed bursts.

Rather than focusing on specific weapon models, it's more useful to think about weapon categories and their ideal roles:

• Suppressed Weapons: Essential for quietly eliminating UESC enemies without attracting unwanted attention. If possible, use melee kills to stay even quieter.
• SMGs and Pistols: These are the strongest weapon classes on Night Marsh. Their effectiveness in tight corridors and interior spaces makes them reliable throughout the raid.
• Assault Rifles, LMGs, and Sniper Rifles: These weapons struggle in most situations due to limited visibility. Their performance improves considerably when paired with thermal or advanced optics during outdoor engagements.
• Shotguns: Highly situational. They can dominate when you know exactly where an enemy is positioned, but missing a shot in complete darkness often leads to immediate punishment.

As for railguns and other exotic weapons, I generally recommend saving them for maps such as Cryo where their strengths can be fully utilized. While a Railgun can certainly help during the Frost Warden encounter inside the Complex, the investment often outweighs the benefit.

For your first several Night Marsh raids, prioritize bringing at least one weapon that you feel completely comfortable using under pressure. Panic fights happen constantly on this map, and familiarity with your weapon can easily make the difference between extraction and losing everything.

F.A.Q.

What is Night Marsh in Marathon?

Night Marsh is a nighttime version of Dire Marsh that introduces significantly darker conditions and changes how players approach raids. Visibility is heavily reduced, making audio awareness and utility tools much more important. The map also introduces UESC Certs, a unique resource used to access key objectives and extraction mechanics.

How do you unlock Night Marsh?

You can gain access to Night Marsh after reaching Runner Level 3 and successfully completing at least one extraction on Dire Marsh. Once both requirements are met, the night variant becomes available in the map rotation.

What are UESC Certs used for?

UESC Certs act as a specialized currency throughout Night Marsh. They are commonly obtained from UESC enemies and are required for several important activities, including calling extractions, activating network towers, unlocking Complex access points, and progressing through high-value loot routes.

How do you open the Complex room on Night Marsh?

Opening the Complex requires multiple steps. Players must first collect enough UESC Certs, activate a network tower, obtain an Observation Labs key item, enter the Complex, complete its event sequence, defeat the Frost Warden encounter, and finally access the prestige loot chamber.

What are the best Runner Shells for Night Marsh?

Sentinel is generally considered the strongest option due to its defensive tools and ability to gather information during close-range engagements. Recon, Thief, and Assassin are also highly effective thanks to their scouting capabilities, stealth advantages, and ability to perform well in low-visibility combat situations.

What are the best weapons for Night Marsh?

Weapons designed for close-range engagements perform best on Night Marsh. Suppressed firearms, SMGs, and pistols are particularly effective because they allow quiet eliminations and excel inside buildings. Longer-range weapons such as assault rifles, LMGs, and sniper rifles become much more practical when paired with advanced optics for outdoor engagements.