Runner Shells Tier List: Best Classes for Solo & Squad Play
Runner Shells Tier List — Season 1
Marathon's seven runner shells each offer a distinct playstyle, but their value shifts dramatically between solo and squad play. This tier list ranks every shell for both contexts based on early Season 1 performance data.
Context Matters
A shell's tier depends heavily on whether you're running solo or in a squad. Triage jumps from B-tier solo to S-tier in squads. Always consider your team composition.
Solo Play Tier List
S-Tier
Recon — The purest solo hunter archetype. Tracking and interrogation abilities provide an information advantage that no other shell can match. You always know where enemies are before they know where you are. The passive alert when enemies aim at you enables autonomous survival.
Assassin — The stalker. Invisibility and smoke screen provide unexpected flanking access and safe retreat options when fights turn bad. The best shell for choosing when and where to engage on your terms.
A-Tier
Vandal — High-tempo gameplay through double-jump and extended sliding. Extremely mobile for repositioning and aggressive vertical plays. Requires significant skill investment to master but devastating in the right hands.
Destroyer — Tankiest shell in the game with homing missiles, energy shields, and thrusters. Durable and forgiving for beginners. Lacks information-gathering tools compared to S-tier but compensates with raw survivability.
B-Tier
Thief — Loot specialist with X-ray vision and reconnaissance drones. Excellent at finding valuable loot through reconnaissance and third-party timing, but lacks direct fight-winning pressure in solo engagements.
Triage — The combat medic. Team support utilities provide minimal solo value without allies. Not recommended for solo play.
Rook — Free-loadout entry point with AI-disguise mechanics. Ideal for learning maps without inventory risk but limited by its stripped-down ability kit.
Squad Play Tier List
Tier Shifts in Squads
Squad play dramatically changes shell value. Triage and Destroyer rise to S-tier while Vandal drops to B-tier due to coordination requirements.
S-Tier
Triage — Transforms from B-tier solo to essential squad support. Remote resuscitation and healing drones keep the entire squad alive through extended firefights. Every competitive squad wants a Triage.
Recon — Intel-gathering becomes strategically decisive in team contexts. Revealing enemy positions for your whole squad turns every engagement into an informed fight.
Destroyer — The protector. Energy barricades cover vulnerable teammates during extractions, revives, and pushes. Homing missiles provide reliable damage in team fights.
A-Tier
Thief — Marks targets for teammates and excels at securing high-value loot for the team. The pickpocket drone and grappling hook enable creative plays.
Assassin — Creates flanking opportunities and sightline breaks for the squad. Smoke screen provides team-wide utility for repositioning.
B-Tier
Vandal — Consistency issues in coordinated play. Aggressive solo pushes work less well without squad synchronization. The double-jump and slide are fun but hard to build team strategies around.
Shell Overview Table
| Shell | Archetype | Health | Armor | Speed | Solo Tier | Squad Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destroyer | Combat | 85 | 80 | 40 | A | S |
| Assassin | Stealth | 55 | 40 | 90 | S | A |
| Recon | Intel | 65 | 55 | 65 | S | S |
| Vandal | Combat | 70 | 65 | 55 | A | B |
| Thief | Stealth | 60 | 45 | 80 | B | A |
| Triage | Support | 70 | 60 | 55 | B | S |
| Rook | Scavenger | 65 | 50 | 65 | B | N/A |
New Player Recommendation
Start with Destroyer for survivability or Rook for zero-risk map learning. Once you understand the maps, try Recon for the information advantage that makes every other skill easier.
Shell Quick-Pick Guide
- "I want to survive and learn" → Destroyer or Rook
- "I want to carry in solo" → Assassin or Recon
- "I want to support my squad" → Triage
- "I want the best loot runs" → Thief or Rook
- "I want maximum mobility" → Vandal or Assassin
- "I want intel advantage" → Recon
Shell effectiveness will shift as Bungie releases balance updates and new cores from Sekiguchi Genetics unlock additional builds. Check back for updated rankings.