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"Hell, cowboy, we gotta train more of these guys, they're seriously bad ass!"

- Chief Engineer Rory Swann(src)

Reaper SC2 Art2

A reaper

The reaper is a terran jet-pack equipped infantry unit introduced in StarCraft II.[1]

Overview

"Fear the Reaper man."

- A reaper(src)

Reaper SC2 Art1

A reaper escapes from a swarm of zerglings

Operating in squads,[2] reapers specialize in hit-and-run, close-quarters combat.[3] Classified as foundational units for terran forces,[4] they are more mobile than marines as their jet packs allow them to surmount obstacles independently.[3] Originally these jet packs (alternatively referred to as "jump packs") were capable of full flight. Crashes and fatalities were common among new "recruits" as the unwieldy booster proved difficult to control. The hardware was also known to randomly explode due to poor distribution of fuel lines and air intakes, leading to a complete overhaul. Prototypes of a flightless, twin-turbine jump pack surfaced soon after—which gave reapers enough mobility to carry out their missions and return to base in one piece.[2] However by 2511 Dominion reapers were once again given fully flight capable jetpacks, as more advanced suit designs and better training routines prevented many of these crashes.[5]

Reapers are clad in self-contained body suits[3] and wear polarized plasteel flight goggles.[2] They are armed with either dual P-38,[1] P-45 pistols,[2] or P-55 pistols.[6] Many reapers also use Deuterium-eight demolition charges despite the Dominion Armed Forces' efforts to curtail their usage. Combat drugs can be administered to reapers within the field.[2]

Dominion Reapers

"If marines were the best of the best, reapers were the worst of the worst."
Main article: Dominion Reaper Corps
Reaper SC2 Cncpt1

A group of reapers

Dominion reapers consisted of individuals that are resistant to neural resocialization—pirates, petty crooks, murderers, the occasional political dissident,[7] and marine recruits that remain unmanageable after being subjected to resoc. These resistant recruits tended to be among the most hardened of criminals, and were sent instead to the "Icehouse" in the Torus system to be inducted into the Dominion Reaper Corps. Reaper recruits were chemically altered to make them even more aggressive before being subjected to brutal training in close-quarters combat and the use of their jet packs.[3]

Reapers were obligated to serve two years before being discharged. In the first five years the Reaper Corps failed to have a single recruit complete more than six months of service.[3][8] However, some reapers were allowed to leave the program for reasons such as injury.[8]

2

A Dominion Special Forces reaper

Upon coming to the throne, Valerian Mengsk re-organized the Reaper Corps, giving its members better, more humane training.[5] He did away with the requirement to use dangerous stimulants, and focused recruiting on finding candidates who were naturally unpredictable. Reapers could also be found among private militias within the Dominion, such as the Knights of Tyrador.[9]

Other Reapers

Reaper SC2-LotV Art1

A mercenary reaper

Other terran factions that utilize Reapers include Raynor's Raiders,[10] Tosh's Goons,[11] Moebius Corps,[12] the Defenders of Man,[13] Mira's Marauders,[14] the Umojan Protectorate (which have their own Reaper Corps)[9] and renegade units.[3] Mira's Marauders make use of a particularly large number of reapers, who modify their armor with scrap metals, and are particularly famous for their armor's distinctive metal mohawks.[9]

Game Unit

Reapers can leap up and down ledges (only one tier, however) without the need of a spotter or medivac dropship. This ability makes them ideal for scouting and hit-and-run attacks. They cannot leap over obstacles or Force Fields, however.

The reaper's low damage attack ignores the specially hardened shields of the protoss immortal and cannot hit air units.

It does bonus damage against light units. It is strong against zealots, zerglings, and workers with a little maneuvering,.[15]

Reapers may enter bunkers.

Dustin Browder believed the reaper was over-nerfed in the development of Wings of Liberty and intended to correct that in Heart of the Swarm.[16] Blizzard believed the reaper was only strong in a short period of gameplay.[17]

In early game raids, reapers work well in trios. A trio of shots can take out a drone in a single round of firing for instance.[18]

The reaper is not quite as fast as the hellion, but can often get to certain areas faster due to its cliff-jumping capability. Reapers do more targeted damage to light-armored units such as workers but hellions can injure several simultaneously and with the Infernal Pre-Igniter upgrade are capable of dealing greater amounts of damage. However, reapers attack more than twice as fast as hellions do. They have different armor qualities as well, which can factor into the decision as to which raider to use.[19]

Versus

In Legacy of the Void, reapers gained a grenade ability. Here, the reaper launches a grenade that deals damage and knockback.[20]

Upgrades and Abilities

CombatDrugs SC2-HotS Icon
Combat Drugs

Reapers heal for 2.8 HP every second if the Reaper is not attacked for 7 seconds.

ve
  • +1 damage for marines
  • +1 base damage and +1 bonus damage for marauders and ghosts
  • +1 pistol damage for reapers
Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 114seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 136seconds
Required Armory
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 157seconds
Required Armory
ve
Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 114seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 136seconds
Required Armory
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 157seconds
Required Armory
ve

Explodes after a short delay, dealing 5 damage and knocking back nearby units.

Usage
Hotkey D
Cooldown 14 seconds
ve
JetPack SC2 Icon1
Jet Pack

Reapers can jump up and down cliffs.

ve

Wings of Liberty

Reapers are unlocked by playing the mission "The Devil's Playground," available after Gabriel Tosh gave some of them to Raynor's Raiders.[11]

Upgrades and Abilities

U-238Rounds SC2 Icon1
U-238 Rounds

Reapers gain +1 range and deal an extra +3 damage vs light units.

U-238 Rounds are made from depleted uranium. These rounds are extremely dense (1.67 times the density of lead), so they have increased range and hit lightly armored units much harder.[21]

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion armory for $60,000
ve

Attack upgrades improve attack cooldown of affected units by 5% per level.

These self-replicating ultra capacitors reduce the reload time of weapons and systems. Now each of the weapon upgrades at the armory and engineering bay increases attack speed by 5% in addition to increasing damage.

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion laboratory for 5 protoss research points
ve
SC2 Lab VanPlating Icon
Vanadium Plating

Armor upgrades increase health of affected units by 5% per level.[22]

We have created a new lightweight alloy called vanadium. Vanadium diffuses weapon impacts much more efficiently than traditional armor plating, and it better preserves the life of our units. Now each of the armor upgrades in the armory and engineering bay increases unit life by 5% in addition to increasing armor.

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion laboratory for 5 protoss research points
ve
JetPack SC2 Icon1
Jet Pack

Reapers can jump up and down cliffs.

ve

Reapers can hurl G-4 cluster bombs. G-4 cluster bombs deal 155 splash damage to all units and structures in a radius of 3.

This anti-personnel charge detonates shortly after being thrown. The initial blast ejects a cluster of smaller charges that deal additional damage in a large radius.

Please note that Enlightened Dynamics assumes no liability for deaths due to friendly fire.

Usage
Hotkey G
Cooldown 60 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion armory for $75,000
ve

Co-op Missions

Reapers can be built by Mira Han in Co-op Missions. They can be upgraded to engage air units by flying upwards with their jetpacks.[14] Ability aside, the passive of Jet Pack Overdrive is still important because it allows them to split up and move out of enemy AoE faster if the fight turns sour, aiding their survivability. As Reapers attack twice, getting the +1 weapon upgrades at the Armory is particularly important for this commander and represents a significant increase in damage.

Tychus has access to Crooked Sam, an outlaw hero reaper with high single target damage.

Upgrades and Abilities

JetPack SC2 Icon1
Jet Pack

Reapers can jump up and down cliffs.

ve
CombatDrugs SC2-HotS Icon
Combat Drugs

Reapers heal 2 HP every second when out of combat for 10 seconds.

ve

Explodes after a short delay, dealing 10 damage with a radius 1 and knocking back nearby units. Can be set to autocast.

Usage
Hotkey D
Cooldown 20 seconds
ve

Reduces the cooldown of Reapers KD8 Charge by 10. When Reapers are killed, they throw 8 grenades at the killing unit, deals 5 damage per each grenade.

Stronger Death Chance Mastery: When Reapers are killed, they throw 15 grenades at the killing unit, deals 5 damage per each grenade with a 2% chance per mastery point.

Chaotic Power Couple: Increases the damage dealt by grenades from slain Reapers from 5 to 10.

Usage
Passive
Range 6.5
Notes

Mastery: +2% chance per Stronger Death Chance mastery point. Up to a maximum 60% chance

Slain Reaper throws grenades at the killing unit in the following sequence: 1 below the enemy, 7 around him, and 7 more along a wide radius circle (it throws last 7 grenades, if the Stronger Death Effect Chance is triggered). Each grenade deals damage within a radius 1.5.

Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey B
Basic
Cost 50 Minerals 50 Vespene gas 60seconds
With Impatience
Cost 50 Minerals 50 Vespene gas 42seconds
ve
JetPackOverride Game1
Jet Pack Overdrive

Increases the movement speed of Reapers, and grants them the ability to fly for 10 seconds. Reapers are able to attack air units while flying.

Usage
Hotkey F
Duration 10 seconds
Cooldown 20 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Reach Han and Horner Level 4
Acquisition
Purchased from Engineering bay
Hotkey F
Basic
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 90seconds
With Impatience
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 63seconds
ve
Impatience Coop Game1
Impatience

Mira's unit production and research times are reduced by 30%.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Han and Horner Level 6
ve
SignifigantOthers Coop Game1
My Significant Other

Increases the hit points of Horner's units by 0.5% and gain +0.5% attack speed per supply of Horner's units.

Usage
Notes

Horner's units Hit Points
Mastery: +0.005% hit points per Significant Others Bonuses mastery point. Up to a maximum +0.65% hit points
Attack Speed:
*+1% per Theia raven/Strike fighter platform
*+1.5% per Assault galleon without Drone Hangar bay
*+2% per Asteria wraith/Deimos viking
*+5% per Sovereign battlecruiser
Mastery: +0.1%/0.15%/0.2%/0.5% per Significant Others Bonuses mastery point. Up to a maximum:
*+1.3% per Theia raven/Strike fighter platform
*+1.95% per Assault Galleon without Drone Hangar bay
*+2.6% per Asteria wraith/Deimos viking
*+6.5% per Sovereign battlecruiser

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Han and Horner Level 15.
ve
TheHornersWeapon
Terran Weapons

Increases the attack damage of all terran units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Weapon 1 Damage: 5
Weapon 2 Damage: 22
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Effect Weapon 1 Damage: 6
Weapon 2 Damage: 24
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Effect Weapon 1 Damage: 7
Weapon 2 Damage: 26
ve
TheHornersArmor
Terran Armor

Increases the armor of all terran units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey V
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Armor: 1
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Effect Armor: 2
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Effect Armor: 3
ve

Nova Covert Ops

In Nova Covert Ops, reapers can equip one of various provided upgrades and abilities for each mission.

Upgrades and Abilities

LaserTargetSystem SC2-NCO Icon1
Laser Targeting System

Increases unit's vision by 2 and attack range by 1.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Complete "Sudden Strike."
ve
SuperStimpack SC2-NCO Icon1
Super Stimpack

Increases unit's attack and movement speeds by 50% for 15 seconds and heals unit for 30 HP. Can be set to autocast.

Usage
Hotkey T
Duration 15 seconds
Cooldown 18 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Save north-western outpost in "Sudden Strike."
ve
SpiderMinesReaper SC2-NCO Icon1
Deploy Spider Mine

The reaper can deploy a spider mine at target location. Reapers can carry up to three mines.

Usage
Hotkey E
Range 2
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Complete "The Escape"
ve
SC2BansheeCloak
Advanced Cloaking Field

Permanently cloaks reapers

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Complete "Enemy Intelligence"
ve
SpecialOrdiance SC2NCO1
Special Ordnance

Equips reapers with D8 charges, increasing the damage they deal when attacking structures.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Obtain the special weaponry in "In the Enemy's Shadow."
ve

Development

Main article: Reaper/Development

Quotations

See: StarCraft II Reaper Quotations

Known Reapers

Reaper SC2 Head2

A reaper

Washouts

Reaper SC2 Cncpt3

A reaper

These reapers "washed out" during training:

Specialists

Trivia

ReaperShirt Real1

"Little Reapers" T-shirt design

  • The term "reaper" likely refers to the Grim Reaper, a personification of death in various cultures. On top of occasionally being called "reaper men," individual reapers have referred to themselves as "the Grim Reaper."
  • Reaper is a playable hero in Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch setting. Like reapers, he dual-wields firearms, wears a mask, and is highly mobile but fragile.
  • An official "Little Reapers" t-shirt (a play on the pizza business Little Caesars") was created by Jinx.com.[23]

Images

Skins
Portraits

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard) (in English). July 27, 2010.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2014-08-24, Reaper Science. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2014-09-10.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Reaper. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2014-08-29.
  4. 2014-09-25, The Science Corner –The Threat Continues. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2014-09-27.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Zahn, Timothy (November 8, 2016). StarCraft: Evolution. Del Rey Books. ISBN 0425284735.
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II. (Activision Blizzard) Map: Left 2 Die (in English). 2011.
  7. O'Reilly, Michael and Brooks, Robert. "Icehouse." (March 14, 2013). Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft Lore: Icehouse Accessed 2013-03-14.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Gerrold, David (w), Ruben de Vela (p), Dan Borgonos (i). "Fear the Reaper." In StarCraft: Frontline: Volume 4 (paperback binding), pp. 28-71. Tokyopop, October 1, 2009. ISBN 978-1427-81698-6.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. October 17, 2016. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Collections" defined multiple times with different content
  10. 2014-08-28, Fight for Your Freedom, Fight for Your Future. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2014-08-29.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: The Devil's Playground (in English). 2010-07-27.
  12. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard) (in English). November 10, 2015.
  13. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: The Escape (in English). 2016-03-29.
  14. 14.0 14.1 2017-11-03, Co-op Commander Preview: Han and Horner. YouTube, accessed on 2017-11-05.
  15. Reapers are actually one of the best units against any light units in the game. They kill Zerglings, workers, and even Zealots pretty well with a little maneuvering. Their mines also decimate stationary defenses, as well as tech buildings. They are no doubt one of the best raiders in the game right now.

    Marauders on the other hand are probably better mixed, unless you are going up against an all armored ground force. Marauders work well against both Protoss and Zerg. Early game, as mentioned above, they are great for slowing Zealots while Marines do the damage. Against Zerg, they are better suited against those pesky armored Roaches with the fast regen.
    Karune. 2008-10-21. Reapers and Marauders. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2008-10-21.
  16. Dustin Browder, Owen Hill. 2011-03-04. Browder hints at Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm updates. Emphasises importance of e-sports. PC Gamer. Accessed 2011-03-05.
  17. David Kim. 2011-12-15. Q & A With David Kim. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2012-01-26.
  18. 2012-06-09, StarCraft II - Heart of the Swarm Alpha - Battle Report 2 - Terran vs Zerg. YouTube, accessed on 2012-06-21.
  19. The Hellion is faster than the Reaper side by side, but the cliff traversing talent often gets the Reaper to the place you want to go faster.

    In raiding, it really depends. Hellions will be able to hit several workers at the same time, but Reapers have much more direct damage. Choosing what to use may also depend on what you are up against. Hellions are armored, whereas Reapers are light armor. Both are very useful for raiding and used in conjunction effectively could easily mean GG quite early, bleeding the enemy economy and tech.
    Karune. 2008-09-26. Karune, Is Hellion Faster than the Reaper? Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2008-09-26.
  20. 2015-04-27, Legacy of the Void Beta: Balance Update Preview - April 27. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-04-28.
  21. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Armory upgrades (in English). 2010.
  22. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Protoss research (in English). 2010.
  23. 2019-08-06, StarCraft 2 Little Reapers. Jinx.com, accessed on 2019-08-06.
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