Starcraft 2 Reaper Guide
Starcraft 2 Reaper - Introduction
Bright Hub’s complete Starcraft 2 Terran multiplayer guide continues with a look at the Terran speed merchant, the Reaper.
Not all Marines respond to the mental conditioning implemented to make them compliant soldiers, but rather than let these extreme cases go to waste, the Terran army took the opposite tack, pumped them full of psychosis-heightening drugs and strapped jet packs to their back. In this latest installment of our Terran guide, we’ll take a look at these high-speed raiders, with the usual comprehensive statistics, Upgrades and Abilities information, and a detailed discussion of strategies to make the most of the Reapers mobility, as well as some counters your enemies might deploy.
Starcraft 2 Terran Reaper Vital Statistics
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Production and Properties:
- Minerals: 50
- Gas: 50
- Supply: 1
- Build Time: 40 secs
- Produced By: Barracks
- Requires: Barracks Tech Lab
- Hotkey: E
- Max Energy: 0
Movement and Protection:
- Speed: 2.25
- Acceleration: 1,000
- Hit Points: 50
- Shields: 0
- Armor: 0
- Armor Type:Biological, Light
Weaponry:
P38 “Scythe” Gauss Pistol
- Ground Attack
- Attacks: 2
- Range: 4.5
- Damage: 4
- Bonuses: +5 vs Light
D-8 Charge
- Ground Attack
- Attacks: 1
- Range: 5
- Damage: 30
- Bonuses: Splash Damage 2
Starcraft 2 Terran Reaper Upgrades and Abilities
Upgrades:
Infantry Weapons 1-3 (Upgrade for all of the Terran infantry units)
- Level 1: (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 160 secs)
- Level 2: (Minerals: 175, Gas: 175, Time: 190 secs)
- Level 3: (Minerals: 250, Gas: 250, Time: 220 secs)
- Required: Armory
Infantry Armor 1-3 (Upgrade for all of the Terran infantry units)
- Level 1: (Minerals: 100, Gas: 100, Time: 160 secs)
- Level 2: (Minerals: 175, Gas: 175, Time: 190 secs)
- Level 3: (Minerals: 250, Gas: 250, Time: 220 secs)
- Required: Armory
Nitro Packs
- (Minerals: 50, Gas: 50, Time: 100 secs)
Abilities:
- Jet Pack: The Reaper unit can jump up and down cliff terrain features.
Starcraft 2 Reaper Strategy, Tips and Tricks
Strong Against:
Vulnerable To:
Terran vs Terran
Due to their fragile nature but extreme mobility, Reapers are always best employed as base and resource raiders. Use their Jet Packs to bypass inconvenient terrain, and then target your opponent’s SCVs, Mineral Fields and Gas Geysers for maximum disruption. Reapers are particularly vulnerable to Marauders due to the effect of the their Concussive Shells negating the Reapers speed advantage, while the Hellion’s Infernal Flamethrower can devastate a squad of Reapers in short order.
Terran vs Protoss
Against Protoss, the same basic tactics apply: get at the Probe workers and vulnerable building units, do as much damage as you can and avoid any stand-up fights. Stalkers and Photon Cannons make good defensive measures against any Reaper incursions, while the terrain jumping ability of the Reaper is countered by the Colossus’ ability to climb cliffs.
Terran vs Zerg
The speed and nimbleness of the Reaper makes it a great option for scouting out a Zerg opponent’s territory and then striking at the weakest point. Drones and Zerglings can generally be given short shrift, but watch out for any burrowed Roaches by Mineral Fields waiting to entrap your squad, while the Reaper’s lack of any anti-air defense makes patrolling Mutalisks a good counter.
Conclusion
Reapers are offered their freedom after two years service in the Terran ranks, but there’s a reason that offer has never been taken up - none of them live long enough. The Starcraft 2 Reaper is a highly fragile unit, but as long as you accept their short-lived nature, they can also be a highly effective one. A well-timed Reaper blitz on an enemy resource zone can set your opponent’s production well behind schedule, and give you a significant edge as a multiplayer match wears on.
