The Ares Railgun: Is it worth the risk?

The Ares PR-1: Power at a Price

The Ares Railgun (PR-1) is the white whale of the Marathon extraction zone. It is the only weapon capable of a "One-Shot Core-Break" against heavy-shielded opponents. But as any veteran Runner will tell you, raw power often comes with fatal flaws.

Visualizing the Damage Gap

The Ares deals a massive 136 base damage. Against an unshielded target, it is an instant elimination regardless of where you hit them. Against a Heavy Shielded target (200 Total EHP), a single headshot (2.5x multiplier) deals 340 damage, comfortably clearing the kill threshold. No other weapon in the game offers this level of absolute stopping power.

The Liabilities: RPM and Weight

The trade-offs are severe. With a fire rate of only 30 RPM, if you miss your first shot, you are vulnerable for a full two seconds before the next round is chambered. Furthermore, carrying the Ares applies a "Heavy Loadout" penalty, reducing your stamina regeneration by 15%. If you choose the Ares, you are committing to a slow, methodical playstyle where positioning is your only defense.

Verdict: The Sniper's Choice

The Ares is not a general-purpose weapon. It is a specialized tool for squads looking to lock down extraction points from distance. Use our Comparison Tool to see how the Ares stacks up against the V00 Zeus—the Ares wins on raw damage, but the Zeus offers significantly better follow-up potential.