Reaper

"Death Walks Among You."
Real Name	Gabriel Reyes
Age	Unknown
Occupation	Mercenary
Affiliation	United States military (formerly) Overwatch (formerly) Various, including Talon (mercenary status)
Role	Offense
Health	250
Abilities	The Reaping Hellfire Shotguns Wraith Form Shadow Step Death Blossom See This Hero On OverPwn

Summary[edit | edit source]

Reaper is a deadly assassin that can move like a ghost through the battlefield, dispatching enemies and draining the life from their corpses, disappearing before their allies can catch him. Reaper is most effective at close quarters, and uses his movement abilities to get close to vulnerable targets. He is at his best when ambushing and swiftly silencing targets before slipping back into the shadows.^[1] With hisDeath Blossom turning him into a deadly whirlwind, Reaper can be devastating in confined spaces, turning an enemy charge into a rout.

Official tips[edit | edit source]

• Reaper is a powerful, short range ambusher with a pair of shotguns.
• Use Wraith Form's invulnerability to move in for a kill or to escape afterward.
• Ambush the enemy team with Death Blossom to turn the tide of battle.

Abilities[edit | edit source]

Ability	Icon	Description
The Reaping (Passive ability)		Collect Soul Globes to restore health.
Hellfire Shotguns		Reaper tears enemies apart with twin shotguns.
Wraith Form		Reaper becomes a shadow for a short period of time. While in this form, he takes no damage and is able to pass through enemies, but cannot fire his weapons or use other abilities.
Shadow Step		After marking a destination, Reaper disappears and reappears at that location.
Death Blossom (Ultimate ability)		In a blur of motion, Reaper empties both hellfire shotguns at breakneck speed, dealing massive damage to all nearby enemies.

Ability Breakdown[edit | edit source]

Ability	Ammo	Fire Rate	Damage	Headshot	Healing	Duration	Reload/Cooldown
The Reaping	-	-	-	-	50 hp	-	-
Hellfire Shotguns	8	2 rps	2 - 7 per pellet (20 pellets per shot)	✓	-	-	1.5s
Wraith Form	-	-	-	-	-	3s	8s
Shadow Step	-	-	-	-	-	2s casting	10s
Death Blossom	-	-	600	-	-	3s	-

Strategy[edit | edit source]

Reaper is a short-ranged flanker and one of the deadliest heroes in the game up close, with even Tanks like Reinhardt and Roadhog melting under the power of his Hellfire Shotguns. Reaper's relative simplicity makes him a good hero for new players, while still remaining deadly in experienced hands. Despite his power, he's not without his weaknesses, with his lack of in-combat mobility and medium or long-range damage options being the most noticeable.

Weapons & Abilities[edit | edit source]

• The Reaping (Passive): Whenever Reaper eliminates an enemy, they spawn a red Soul Globe near their body, which Reaper can walk on top of to restore 50 Health.
  • This provides Reaper with a steady stream of healing, so long as he's successfully killing his opponents. This can help him to survive for long periods of time in areas without many Health Packs.
  • This can provide Reaper with valuable in-combat healing. If up against multiple opponents, aim to kill the targets with the lowest Health first to maintain your own Health.

• Hellfire Shotguns: Reaper's primary weapon. The primary fire will cause Reaper to alternate shooting his two shotguns. These shotguns have a wide spread and deal high damage at short range, but have high damage falloff past that range.
  • Hellfire Shotguns deal extremely high damage at short range, allowing Reaper to quickly kill targets that he gets the jump on.
  • As the shotguns have high damage falloff, aim to get up close to your enemies so that you can deal the most damage possible.

• Wraith Form: When activated, Reaper assumes a gaseous purple form for a short period of time. While in this form, he is invincible and untargetable by any enemy weapons or abilities and ignores enemy collision. He also moves faster for the duration. However, he cannot attack or use any abilities during this time.
  • This is Reaper's main method of escape. If you suddenly find yourself surrounded by enemies, activate Wraith Form and make a break for the safest location you can find.
  • When timed properly, Reaper can avoid potentially deadly attacks with this ability, such as Roadhog's Chain Hook or McCree's Flashbang. Try to anticipate your enemy's attacks and use Wraith Form before they hit.
  • Using Wraith Form will remove Zenyatta's Orb Of Discord, as well as, Tracer's ultimate.

• Shadow Step: When activated, Reaper will switch to a targeting mode, allowing him to select a point within his line of sight to Shadow Step to. Once he finds a suitable point, he can press the primary fire button to teleport to the target location after a short delay.
  • This is Reaper's main method of flanking. Use Shadow Step to get to higher ground or behind enemy lines without having to directly travel there.
  • Note that Reaper is immobile and cannot use weapons or abilities while using Shadow Step. Try to only Shadow Step from a safe position, as you otherwise make an easy target.

• Death Blossom (Ultimate): Reaper's Ultimate ability. When activated, Reaper begins to fire his shotguns in a large AoE around himself, dealing significant damage to all nearby enemies that are within his line of sight for a short period of time. His movement speed is slowed for the duration, and he cannot use normal attacks or abilities. This is achanneled ability, and stuns will immediately end Death Blossom's effect.
  • One of the deadliest Ultimates in the game against a stacked enemy team. Look for opportunities where your opponents are clumped together and where you can silently approach to unleash Death Blossom.
  • Death Blossom's damage is treated in much the same way as Hellfire Shotguns, meaning that it will be blocked by barriers and solid surfaces. Try to make sure that your opponents don't have a corner they can duck behind when you activate Death Blossom, or you may end up wasting your Ultimate.
  • Remember that heroes like McCree and Roadhog can interrupt your Ultimate. Be cautious about using Death Blossom around them if their stuns are still available.

General Strategies[edit | edit source]

• Reaper's high damage output makes him a great counter to durable characters like Winston or Roadhog. Consider using Reaper if up against multiple Tanks.

• Reaper is usually not effective as a straightforward Assault hero like Pharah or Soldier: 76. Instead, use a combination of Shadow Step and side routes to carefully maneuver behind your opponents so that you can ambush them with your Hellfire Shotguns. Having good knowledge of each map and learning where Reaper can use Shadow Step effectively greatly increases his usefulness. Don't be afraid to spend time in a Custom Game on each of the maps finding out where Shadow Step can take you.

• Try to focus your gameplay around Wraith Form's cooldown. When Wraith Form is off cooldown, you can afford to play more aggressively, since you have it available to escape if needed. When Wraith Form is on cooldown, play more defensively and don't take unnecessary risks.

• Reaper can still pick up Health Packs while using Wraith Form. Keep in mind where the Health Packs on each map are so that you can plan your escape with Wraith Form if you start losing a fight.

• When flanking, look to pick off lone targets rather than charging straight into a group (unless Death Blossom is available). While Reaper is more durable than other flankers, his lack of in-combat mobility means that he relies solely on Wraith Form to escape, and its short duration means that enemy heroes can follow and kill you easily if you're too far away from your own team.

• When ambushing with Death Blossom, look for ledges or other raised areas that you can leap off of to get into the middle of the enemy team before activating your Ultimate. Always use the element of surprise in your favor.

Good Counters to Reaper[edit | edit source]

• Roadhog: While Reaper can usually Wraith Form to avoid his main Chain Hook combo, a good Roadhog can follow and kill Reaper after, or at least force him to play conservatively. A single good meatshot from Scrap Gun's primary fire is enough to instantly kill Reaper, and Take A Breather lets him tank through a full round of Hellfire Shotgun blasts. Chain Hook can also interrupt Death Blossom.
• McCree: Wraith Form might let Reaper survive a standard Flashbang combo, but McCree can easily chase Reaper down and either finish him with a second round at close range or fight him at medium range where Hellfire Shotguns are largely ineffective. Much like Roadhog, Flashbang can be used to interrupt Death Blossom.
• Mei: Her ability to become invulnerable usually frustrates Reaper's attempts to kill her, and Reaper's lack of in-combat mobility makes him highly vulnerable toEndothermic Blaster in an extended fight.
• Zarya: As Reaper relies on chaining kills to keep his health up with The Reaping, Projected Barrier can stop a Reaper's killing spree dead in its tracks. Her own Particle Barrier gives her impressive durability when facing Reaper one-on-one.

Story[edit | edit source]

"Death Walks Among You."

Reaper's cells simultaniously decay and regenerate at a hyper-accelerated rate.^[2] Even after the complete destruction of his body, Reaper has observed to retain some kind of form as a black mist, apparently able to regain physical form at a later point.^[3]

Overwatch[edit | edit source]

Reyes during the Omnic Crisis

The man who would later be known as Reaper was originally known as Gabriel Reyes. He was born in Los Angeles. Prior to the Omnic Crisis, he joined the United States military, where he achieved a senior officer position. He achieved veteran status, and was highly respected. At some point he metJohn Morrison, a fellow soldier, and the two became friends. Subsequently, in the midst of the Omnic Crisis, they joined Overwatch together—a small, elite taskforce created by the United Nations to deal with the omnic threat. Reyes was given leadership of the group.

Overwatch succeeded in defeating the omnics. Morrison, who had played a key role in shaping the group, was given the position of strike commander, acting as the first, official commanding officer of Overwatch. Reyes was passed over in the process, which created a rift between the two men.^[4]

At some point, Reyes was part of Overwatch's Blackwatch unit.^[5]

As time went on, the tension between Reyes and Morrison worsened. Overwatch met its end through a combination of accusations that tainted the organization's reputation, and Reyes himself. Officially, Reyes and Morrison were killed in the blast that destroyed Overwatch's Swiss headquarters, an event the UN ruled as an accident. In reality, Overwatch had become split down the middle, with Reyes leading a rebellion against Morrison's leadership. As a battle was waged within the base, their fighting triggered an explosion that destroyed the facility, and apparently took Reyes and Morrison into the inferno with it. To this day, Reyes's true agenda remains unknown.^[4]

Reaper[edit | edit source]

"Some speak of a black-robed terrorist known only as the Reaper. His identity and motives are a mystery. What is known is that where he appears, death follows."

Reyes, now known as "Reaper"

Reyes resurfaced as a voltatile mercenary known as "Reaper." His identity and motives remained unknown. Now a ruthless and remorseless killer, he was responsible for terrorist attacks throughout the world. He fought in many armed conflicts over the decades, showing no loyalty to any cause or organization. Survivors described him as a black shadow ghosting unscathed through the most hellish battlefields. The few bodies recovered of his victims were pale, empty husks drained of life, their cells showing signs of intense degradation. It was speculated that Reaper was a byproduct of failed genetic alteration which forced his cells to simultaneously decay and regenerate at a hyper-accelerated rate.

Those attempting to track his movements began to see a pattern in his appearances. They believed that Reaper was hunting former Overwatch agents and systematically eliminating them.^[2]

Watchpoint: Gibraltar[edit | edit source]

"I'll be sure to send them your regards, monkey."

Alongside Talon operatives, Reaper entered Watchpoint: Gibraltar in an effort to gain a list of Overwatch agents. The Talon soldiers kept Winston occupied long enough for Reaper to begin downloading the agent database, but soon found themselves overpowered, forcing Reaper to enter the fray. He quickly incapacitated Winston, and mocked the ape that he'd send his fellow agents his regards. Winston stunned Reaper by activating a shield device that detonated, and then used his tesla cannon on Reaper, incinerating him. Yet despite this, a cloud of black mist was seen leaving the base awhile later.^[3]

Doomfist's Gauntlet[edit | edit source]

"Die."

Reaper advances on Winston

Apparently having regained physical form, Reaper teamed up with Widowmaker in order to steal Doomfist's gauntlet, but was hampered by former Overwatch agents Tracer and Winston. While he initially held the advantage, breaking Winston's glasses was enough to send the ape into a berserk fury, and Reaper and Widowmaker were forced to retreat without the device, their foes hot on their heels.^[6]