If you want to access the Marathon Cryo Archive endgame map then there's a strict door policy you need to adhere to, meeting the entry requirements to make sure you have the strength to deal with the endless UESC forces and decked out players also aboard the UESC Marathon. The usual rules of Marathon are flipped around for this raid-like activity, which means there are bespoke mechanics to master and a specific procedure to follow if you want to successfully exfil.
If you learn how to navigate Cryo Archive and understand its secrets then you'll have a shot at earning the best loot in the game, assuming you've also brought your best gear to the fight and are playing at the right time. To get started, here are all of the rules and requirements for playing on Cryo Archive in Marathon.
When is Cryo Archive playable in Marathon?
After a mighty puzzle-solving effort from the community to unlock the map, Cryo Archive is available for all players, provided you meet all the requirements laid out below. The Cryo Archive map is also only available around the weekends, starting every Thursday at 5PM UTC and ending every Sunday at 5PM UTC. So that you know what to expect before you've even begun assembling your loadout, I strongly recommend checking out our Marathon Cryo Archive guide for a rundown of the basics.
Marathon Cryo Archive requirements
To ensure you're prepared to face Cryo Archive in Marathon, you must meet the following requirements every time you want to play on the endgame map when it's available:
- You must be at least Season Level 25.
- You must have all Marathon factions unlocked. That just means you need to have completed their respective "Introducing…" liaison contract, such as Marathon Introducing Sekiguchi.
- Your current loadout must be worth at least 5,000 Credits. Your loadout's value is the total value of all your equipped gear and it's displayed in the Loadout menu. Certain weapons are worth a lot more than others, but high-rarity attachments can also boost a weapon's value quite a lot. Pack your best possible gear to meet this requirement and give yourself the best chance of surviving.
If you don't meet all three of the above requirements, you won't be able to play on Cryo Archive, with that 5K loadout value restriction likely being the deciding factor for many players. If you rinse out your vault after several unsuccessful runs in Cryo Archive, you'll have to complete runs on the other Marathon maps to build up your vault once again. To prevent this from happening, you definitely need to know how to extract from Cryo Archive!
While not a specific requirement, Cryo Archive is also designed for full crews of three in mind, but crew fill matchmaking means you can join random players and don't have to assemble a team yourself. That means that playing solo is not an option.
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