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Emerging from darkness yet again for Overwatch 2, Reaper returns as a playable Damage character in the sequel to the Hero FPS created by Blizzard Entertainment. Along with fellow Talon members Widowmaker, Doomfist, and Sombra in Overwatch 2, Reaper retains many of the same abilities that made him a threat to be reckoned with in the previous installment. Perhaps one of the most striking designs in the history of Overwatch, Reaper is instantly recognizable to veterans of the game and an ever-popular choice for players who desire nothing more than to rack up eliminations through staggering damage output.

Most characters in Overwatch 2 have undergone several changes in their roles, which has more definition than before. Damage characters now have a speed and damage buff whenever they eliminate an enemy hero, up to 25% for 2.5 seconds. Continuous eliminations do not stack onto this buff, rather refreshing it back to its original timeframe. Although players are certainly eager for many fixes regarding Overwatch 2's Damage class, there's no denying that the improved mobility makes playing a Damage hero far more sustainable to team composition than before.

Related: Overwatch 2 Beta: Which Heroes Are Getting Reworks

The foundational tools in Reaper's toolbox are his Hellfire Shotguns and the passive ability that comes with them, The Reaping. When players damage an opponent as Reaper, the shotgun blasts also give Reaper health for minor self-healing. As one would imagine, Shotguns are best used up close on unsuspecting targets. The less aware a foe is of Reaper, the easier it is for a player to assassinate a member of the opposite team or deal a large damage amount for their team to take care of the rest. In addition, the lurking fear of a nearby Reaper could disrupt enemy group formations, as lack of attentiveness lets Reaper score eliminations rapidly.

Best Reaper Tips & Strategies To Use

Overwatch Reaper Thumb Across Throat Play of the Game Pose Looking At Camera on Hollywood Map

Reaper only received a slightly tweaked nerf to his Hellfire Shotguns, matching other changed hero designs going into Overwatch 2. The Shotgun damage has been reduced from 6 to 5.4 per pellet, while the spread of each shot has increased from 6 to 7. Although this may seem significant, the overall effectiveness of Reaper's Shotguns against enemy tanks has not diminished, still possessing incredible firepower when flanking the right enemies on Overwatch 2's far more open maps.

Reposition with Shadow Step and Wraith Form

Overwatch 2 Reaper Shadow Sneak Aftermath Smoke Leading to Wraith Form While Jumping on Seoul Map

The two primary abilities Reaper regains going into Overwatch 2 are his Shadow Step and Wraith Form. Shadow Step again proves to be an excellent repositioning tool, teleporting Reaper to the desired location the player directs to. Overwatch 2's new 5v5 gameplay gives Reaper an advantage, giving more opportunities to Shadow Step unseen by enemy heroes. Gaining the high ground against a clueless enemy team, sneaking into an unoccupied corridor behind enemy lines, or even making a desperate gamble to flee are all perfectly reasonable applications of Shadow Step. Even with a fairly long cooldown before regaining its use, Shadow Step's core intention makes it easy for players to get creative with Reaper's location.

The Wraith Form ability does what Shadow Sneak cannot: quickly get Reaper out of unfavorable situations. Once activated, Wraith Form turns Reaper into a cloud of smoke, unable to shoot but immune to damage for a short duration. Players can cancel this ability at any time before it runs out, turning the tables on poor circumstances or mistimed encounters. In conjunction with the aforementioned new class passive abilities in Overwatch 2, Reaper's mobility exponentially increases should players want to flee immediately from a fight through Wraith Form after scoring an elimination.

Death Blossom Wipes Out Teams

Overwatch Reaper Hellfire Shotgun Pointed at Camera in Death Blossom Play of the Game Pose in Deathmatch Mode

The infamous ultimate ability of Reaper, Death Blossom, practically stays untouched by any changes in Overwatch 2 besides those granted to the Damage class that would apply. A whirlwind of damage, Reaper inflicts damage to any enemy within range, while the passive ability The Reaping still heals him. With many stunning abilities from Overwatch removed here in the sequel, there are far fewer ways to stop Reaper from performing Death Blossom other than remaining far enough away to eliminate him. The forced limited mobility during Death Blossom may not put Reaper near the best characters in Overwatch 2, but players who time this ultimate right are bound to achieve success.

Reaper thrives at close-range, easily taking down enemy tank characters while rival teams struggle to engage him in battles of his choosing. Highly mobile heroes like Genji or characters with halting abilities, such as Ana's sleeping dart or Sombra's hack, are difficult for Reaper to deal with, either escaping before he can apply damage or halting his approach entirely. Players who desire to use Reaper should remember that patience mitigates risk when surprising enemy teams. Picking off more than Reaper can chew leads to no progress; players need to balance the strategies in Reaper's movement with the tricks tied to his health recovery throughout Overwatch 2's new free-to-play model if their goals involve seeing a deserved play of the game.

Next: Overwatch 2 Will Fully Replace The Original Game At Launch

Editor’s Note: A lawsuit has been filed against Activision Blizzard by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which alleges the company has engaged in abuse, discrimination, and retaliation against its female employees. Activision Blizzard has denied the allegations. The full details of the Activision Blizzard lawsuit (content warning: rape, suicide, abuse, harassment) are being updated as new information becomes available.

  • Overwatch 2 Kimiko Poster Promo
    Overwatch 2
    Developer:
    Blizzard Entertainment
    Franchise:
    Overwatch
    Genre:
    First-Person Shooter
    Platform:
    Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
    Publisher:
    Blizzard Entertainment
    ESRB:
    T
    Released:
    2022-10-04
    Multiplayer:
    Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
    Summary:
    Overwatch 2 is the sequel to the Blizzard team-based PVP shooter released in 2016. Overwatch 2 will completely supplant the original entry, shuttering the prior title in favor of 2. This sequel reduces team sizes to five instead of six. Players will choose from one of thirty playable heroes and pick from one of three classes: damage, support, and tanks. PVP remains the core focus; however, Overwatch 2 now has a stronger emphasis on cooperative play with the addition of PvE modes - four-player cooperative excursions where players will take on different tasks against AI opponents. Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play game and will offer a battle pass option like others of its genre instead of its prior loot box system, allowing players to earn cosmetics and more each season.
    How Long To Beat:
    80-100 hours
    Prequel:
    Overwatch