update · April 17, 2026

Marathon Update Nerfs WSTR Two-Shot Potential Against Blue Shields

Bungie is rebalancing Marathon's WSTR on Tuesday, April 21 at 8 AM PT. The update removes the weapon's ability to down players with blue shields or higher in two shots at short range.

Game Director Joe Ziegler announced an upcoming balance update for Marathon targeting the WSTR. The weapon currently dominates short-range engagements and overshadows other loadout choices.

Weapon Balancing

The WSTR will no longer eliminate targets equipped with blue shields or higher using only two direct shots at short range. Players using the weapon against blue-shielded enemies will now need to secure a reload during the fight, creating openings for counterplay.

Unchanged Interactions

The WSTR retains its two-shot elimination capability against targets with green shields at short range. The adjustment specifically targets higher shield tiers to curb the weapon's dominance.

Why this patch matters

This adjustment directly targets the WSTR's dominance in close-quarters combat, forcing players to rely on follow-up shots or alternative weapons against higher-tier shields.