update · April 7, 2026
Marathon Update 1.0.5.3 Adjusts Melee Combat and Shield Stats
Patch 1.0.5.3 cuts maximum melee damage bonuses against Runners in half, shortens CombatKnife reach, and rebalances Bubble Shield rarity and durability.
Developer Bungie deployed Marathon Update 1.0.5.3 on April 7, 2026, targeting close-quarters balance, gear durability, and several recurring menu bugs.
Combat Knife and Melee Nerfs
The CombatKnife sees its maximum lunge distance reduced by roughly 10 percent alongside a 20 percent tighter targeting angle. Meanwhile, the Melee Damage stat caps out at a 50 percent bonus against enemy Runners, down from 100 percent. Damage outputs against non-Runner targets remain unchanged. The team noted that quick melee kills were triggering too early in the progression path without requiring heavy stat investment, prompting changes to ensure knife play demands deliberate build choices.
Bubble Shield Rarity and Health Changes
The Bubble Shield shifts from Deluxe blue rarity to Superior purple. Total health falls by 33 percent, and the shield is no longer weak to Volt Weapon damage. To balance the durability loss, resistance to UESC damage increases by 17 percent.
Misc Fixes and Economy Adjustments
Thief players lose access to supplementary Grapple-related slide cancel movement tricks. Vault and Armory screens will no longer display as empty or fail to refresh daily free items consistently. Cryo Archive exfil countdowns will also stay active if the initial crew member steps out of the circle while teammates remain inside. Lastly, the Traxus Return On Investment 4/5 contract drops its "in a single run" requirement.
Why this patch matters
Update 1.0.5.3 raises the buildcrafting bar for close-quarters combat while recalibrating high-utility defensive equipment.