- Primary Subject: Marathon
- Key Update: Finishers instantly eliminate downed enemy Runners and restore part of your shield
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: March 11, 2026
- Quick Answer: In Marathon, a finisher is a contextual action performed on a downed enemy Runner that instantly eliminates them and restores part of your shield.
In Marathon, players take part in tactical extraction-style matches where completing Contracts, gathering loot, and surviving encounters with other Runners are all part of the experience.
Although many players focus on fighting AI enemies during PvE objectives, certain Contracts and challenges require direct encounters with other players.
During these encounters, one key mechanic is the finisher, a special action that eliminates downed enemies while granting useful combat benefits.
Finishers are not a separate item or ability that you unlock through progression. Instead, it is a contextual action that becomes available after an enemy Runner has been knocked down.
This means players must participate in PvP fights against other Runners during raids in order to perform finishers.
What Are Finishers in Marathon?
Finishers can only be used on enemy Runners who are already downed, which means you must first inflict enough damage to leave them vulnerable.
Once a Runner is downed, they can still potentially be revived by teammates, so performing a finisher quickly is one of the fastest ways to confirm the elimination.
To perform a finisher, approach the downed enemy closely. When you are near them, the game will display an on-screen prompt that allows you to interact with the target.
Holding the interact button activates a finisher animation that immediately eliminates the downed Runner and takes them out of the fight.
It’s also worth noting that you do not necessarily need to be the one who knocks the player down.
If a teammate or another enemy has already downed a Runner, you can still perform the finisher as long as you reach them before they are revived.
How Do You Perform a Finisher in Marathon?
To perform a finisher, you must first knock down an enemy Runner in combat using any weapon in the game.
Once the opponent enters the downed state, move toward their position until the finisher prompt appears. When the prompt shows up, hold the interact key to activate the execution animation.
After the animation ends, the downed enemy is eliminated immediately. Since the move requires getting close, players may need to expose themselves to danger to finish the enemy before they are revived or killed by another player.
What Are the Benefits of Using Finishers?
Finishers do more than quickly eliminate enemies, as successfully performing one restores part of your shield, which can be very useful during intense fights.
This shield recovery can give you a small advantage if another enemy appears shortly after the execution. Another reason finishers are important is because certain Contracts and Codex challenges require them.
Some objectives specifically ask players to eliminate downed Runners using finishers. If you are trying to complete these tasks, you will need to seek out PvP encounters and secure eliminations using this mechanic.
As a result, finishers act as both a useful combat strategy and a necessary step for advancing certain in-game tasks.
Finishers are most effective during close-range engagements when an enemy has already been knocked down and you have a brief opportunity to secure the elimination.
Using them strategically can help you conserve ammunition, quickly remove enemies from the fight, and gain a small shield boost that may keep you alive during the next encounter.
They are also essential for completing certain Contracts and Codex challenges, meaning players will likely need to perform them multiple times while playing Marathon.
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