Character class - Reaper | Resistance factions XCOM 2: War of the Chosen Game Guide
Last update: 11 September 2017
The Reaper is the first new class of the three (the other being Skirmisher and Templar) introduced in the War of the Chosen add-on. As with every other class in the game, Reapers have access to unique skills and pieces of equipment - they use a special, Reaper-only sniper rifle and Claymore explosives.
General information and hints
The Reaper is a class perfectly suited for reconnaissance and is best used as a scout. This function is made available thanks to their special ability, Shadow Mode. Shadow Mode increases their mobility by 50% (allowing them to travel 50% longer distances) and makes them almost completely invisible to enemies - foes can only detect them by standing right next to them. Thanks to that, a Reaper can be used to move between enemy groups without the risk of detection. What's more, those soldiers can perform attacks in the Shadow Mode and can still remain undetected - after the first shot enemies have 50% chance to detect them and 80% if it's the second attack in the row. If they are detected, they can re-enter Shadow Mode with the help of one of their abilities, but only once during a single mission.
When using this class you should remember about certain things, such as:
- Once the team is revealed, the Reaper remains concealed - as long as it wasn't the Reaper that was seen by the enemy.
- Try to keep the soldier concealed in Shadow Mode for as long as possible - thanks to that the soldier will keep his/her +50% mobility bonus.
- The Reaper can activate the Shadow ability once a mission. This allows the soldier to re-enter Shadow Mode. Keep in mind that the ability can only be activated if the Reaper is not in the vision range of any enemy.
- Throwing Claymore explosives won't reveal the Reaper.
- This unit is extremely effective when used as a scout - the enemies must be standing right next to the Reaper to reveal him/her. Thanks to that you can use the unit to reveal enemy groups patrolling the area to know when you can order your soldiers to dash longer distances and when to better use Overwatch mode.
- It's worth to invest in two weapon mods for the Reaper - Scope and Extended Magazine (especially of the Superior rank). Thanks to that the soldier will gain 15% additional hit chance and will have twice (6 instead of 3) the size of the magazine. A PCS increasing AIM is also a good idea.
- Remember that the Reaper won't out-damage the Sharpshooter - his/her main task is to scout.
- Reapers can't use any additional items - grenades, medkits or any other enhancers. Additionally, they are limited to Reaper-only armor that has the same stats as the armor of regular soldiers.
Abilities and development
Like every other class introduced with the War of the Chosen add-on, Reapers have access to three different skill threes. The following table presents all of the available abilities of this class.
Note - remember that those abilities are unlocked with AP and that there's no "one level - one ability" limit here. You can learn more about AP in the "Character development" chapter of this guide.
Rank | Stealth | Saboteur | Marksman |
Squaddie | Shadow - allows the soldier to enter Shadow Mode. The ability can be used once during a single mission. The ability is unlocked from the start. | Claymore - allows the Reaper to use the Claymore explosive. The ability is unlocked from the start. | - |
Corporal | - | Remote Start - it allows the Reaper to detonate an environmental explosive (such as cars or propane tanks) dealing double damage in twice the normal radius. This ability does not break concealment and Shadow Mode. | Blood Trail - shots deal +1 damage if the enemy was injured by another soldier during the same round. |
Sergeant | Target Definition - any unit seen by the Reaper remains permanently visible. | Shrapnel - Claymore explosives deal +3 damage and have +1 radius. | - |
Lieutentant | Silent Killer - Kills with Vektor Rifle don't increase the Reaper's chance of breaking out of Shadow Mode. | Distraction - killing enemy with a Claymore explosive causes the Reaper to enter Shadow Mode. | Needle - shots taken in Shadow Mode have +2 armor piercing. |
Captain | Sting - allows the Reaper to take a shot in Shadow Mode. The Reaper doesn't leave Shadow Mode after the shot is performed. The ability can be used once during the entire mission. | - | Soul Harvest - Killing an enemy increases the critical chance of the Reaper by 5 points. The bonus can be stacked 4 times, up to 20 bonus points. |
Major | - | Highlands - the Reaper can carry an additional Claymore on a mission. | Banish - the Reaper fires at a target until he/she runs out of ammo or the target dies. The ability can be used once during the entire mission. |
Colonel | - | Homing Mine - the Reaper can attack the Claymore explosive to an enemy without alerting them. The mine will explode once the enemy takes any form of damage. | Annihilate - if the enemy is killed by the Banish ability, the Reaper continues firing at the next available target (until out of ammo). |
Note - remember that Reapers have access to a number of abilities of the rest of the XCOM soldiers (mainly from the Sharpshooter class). More info on that topic can be found in the "Unlocking skills using AP" chapter of this guide.
Ability selection
Some tips that might be helpful when selecting abilities:
- Remember that you can use XCOM AP to unlock additional abilities of this class.
- The Silent Killer ability is one of the most important for this class. Thanks to it the Reaper will be able to finish off enemies without any risk of breaking concealment. It allows the player to place the Reaper whenever he/she pleases, even in the open field, as long as the attack kills the target.
- The Remote Start ability is a perfect method of eliminating entire groups of enemies. Exploding objects deal an enormous 12 points of damage - they are capable of taking out most regular enemies. Remember that using this ability won't break Reapers' or team's concealment.
- Both the Shrapnel and the Homing Mine abilities supplement each other. The former increases the damage of the explosive, whereas the latter allows the Reaper to stick the Claymore to an enemy. Note that you can order the soldier to stick the explosive to an enemy and take a shot at it during the same round - if the enemy dies in the process, the Reaper won't be revealed (thanks to the Silent Killer ability). You should also invest in the Highlands ability - it will increase the amount of Claymore explosives a Reaper can carry to 2.
- The Banish ability allows the soldier to deal the highest damage in the entire game - by equipping the soldier with the largest weapon magazine, it will allow the Reaper to take 7 shots in a row. After unlocking some additional abilities this attack will be capable of taking out any enemy - be it a Sectoid or any of the Chosen.