Marathon: How to Tag Marked Locations in Protect/Destroy 3

Protect/Destroy 3 is easy to misread because the objective text makes it sound like you should simply walk up to three obvious markers and interact with them. That is not how this Marathon contract works. The reliable route is a two-step chain: first get and install the UV Protocol in the southwest of Intersection, then head to Maintenance and tag three locations there. Recent community coverage still points to that same install-then-tag flow, so despite small differences in how guides describe the visuals, the core method has stayed consistent.

If you only need the quick answer for marathon tag locations, use Maintenance. It is the best-documented area, the shortest route from Intersection, and the only zone where all three tag spots are commonly mapped in one compact section. Complex and AI Uplink can count, but they are much less practical if you are trying to finish the contract cleanly in a live match.

What the objective is actually asking you to do

The confusing part of this marathon protect destroy objective is that “tag marked locations” does not mean the game paints giant, visible targets across the whole map. The tag spots usually reveal themselves only when you are close enough, and some players describe them as blank walls while others report yellow or green indicators on the wall or HUD. That difference is likely down to patch presentation, video capture, or simple wording, not a different route. In practice, you should expect subtle prompts rather than billboard-sized markers.

The other mechanic that trips people up is the scan itself. Tagging is not instant. Once you start the interaction, you need to stay still until the scan completes. If you shuffle, strafe, or panic-move because you hear gunfire nearby, you can cancel the progress and think the spot is bugged. Treat every tag like a short commitment window: clear immediate threats first, start the interaction, then do not move until the game finishes it.

Step 1: Get the UV Protocol in southwest Intersection

Before you can tag anything, you need the UV Protocol. Go to the locked blue building in the southwest section of Intersection. To open the path forward, shoot four power boxes tied to that building. Current route breakdowns agree on the layout: three of those boxes are outside, and the fourth is inside above the doorway. Once the power boxes are dealt with, go upstairs and take the UV Protocol from the cabinet.

• Head to the blue building in southwest Intersection.
• Shoot the three exterior power boxes first so you do not backtrack.
• Find the interior box above the doorway and destroy it.
• Go upstairs and collect the UV Protocol from the cabinet.
• Install the protocol in the secure room in southwest Intersection before leaving for your tag route.

This setup phase matters because the contract does not count the tag step by itself. A lot of failed runs happen because players find the correct walls later, get no valid interaction, and assume the route is outdated. Usually the issue is simpler: they skipped the installation step, or they looted the protocol and ran off before properly advancing the chain.

Step 2: Use the Maintenance route for all three tags

Once the UV Protocol is installed, go to Maintenance. While Complex and AI Uplink are mentioned as valid completion zones, Maintenance is the route most players should use because it compresses the objective into one manageable area. That means less travel time, fewer chances to get third-partied, and fewer opportunities to lose a run to the contract’s apparent one-life structure. If you die after starting the chain, current guidance suggests you need to restart the contract from the beginning in a new match, so path efficiency is not just convenient; it is the safest way to preserve progress.

The three known Maintenance tag spots

• The northeastern roof wall overlooking the cargo area.
• The wall by the red staircase near the north entrance.
• The ledge on the central pillar in the south hangar.

Those descriptions are more useful than waiting for a perfect on-screen marker, because the game often does not give you a strong visual from a distance. Move through Maintenance with those landmark names in mind. When you reach the right section, slow down and check flat surfaces, ledges, and walls that look slightly “empty” compared with the rest of the space. If a HUD marker appears, great. If it does not, you may simply need to get closer and angle your view over the correct surface.

The order is flexible, but a practical route is to enter Maintenance, grab the north-side wall by the red staircase if that is your nearest approach, then move toward the northeastern roof wall over cargo, and finish at the central pillar ledge in the south hangar. The exact order matters less than keeping your movement tight and not doubling back across open sightlines once enemy players know the area is active.

How tagging works when you are standing at the right spot

At the correct location, you will get the on-screen interaction to tag it. Start the prompt and hold position until the scan completes. Do not step off a ledge, do not sidestep to peek, and do not assume the first half-second means it has already registered. If you are in an exposed position, clear the room or at least listen for nearby movement before committing. The tagging window is short, but it is long enough to fail if you treat it like a tap-and-go objective.

If the interaction is not appearing, one of four things is usually wrong: you have not installed the UV Protocol yet, you are at the correct landmark but the wrong surface, you are too far away for the marker to resolve, or you are using a less-documented zone and relying on vague location calls. For most players, the fix is not experimentation in Complex or AI Uplink. The fix is going back to Maintenance and checking the three known spots carefully.

Protect vs Destroy: finishing the chain without throwing the run

Even if the contract name suggests two separate mindsets, the smart way to think about it is as one uninterrupted mission. The “protect” side is the secure setup around Intersection and the installation of the UV Protocol. The “destroy” side is effectively the fieldwork phase where you apply that setup by tagging the required locations. The mistake is treating the first half like a warm-up and then playing loose on the second half. Because current community consensus is that death resets the chain, you should gear, heal, and route-plan before installing rather than after.

• Do your ammo and healing check before leaving Intersection.
• Do not detour for side loot once the contract is active unless you absolutely need supplies.
• Avoid unnecessary PvP if your path to Maintenance is open.
• After each successful tag, immediately rotate to the next known spot instead of lingering to confirm visually.
• Once the third tag completes, play extraction-minded rather than kill-minded.

Common mistakes that waste the most time

• Skipping the install step. Looting the UV Protocol is not the same as advancing the contract. Install it first.
• Expecting big objective beacons. The tag spots are proximity-based and often subtle.
• Moving during the scan. Starting the interaction and drifting sideways is enough to blow the tag.
• Using Complex or AI Uplink without a reason. They may work, but the route detail is weaker and the risk is higher.
• Dying after the chain starts. Current guidance suggests this sends you back to the start in a fresh match.

That last mistake is the one to respect most. If you are undergeared, already low on meds, or hearing heavy player traffic around Intersection, it can be smarter to reset your plan early than to force the install and lose the entire chain halfway through Maintenance. This is one of those objectives where disciplined routing is more valuable than raw fighting skill.