Emerging from Talon's shadows in 2025, Reaper remains Overwatch 2's premier close-range nightmare. This edgy Damage hero still makes tanks sweat with those iconic Hellfire Shotguns, proving that old nightmares never truly fade. While Damage class mechanics evolved with elimination-triggered speed boosts, Reaper's core identity stays gloriously intact – a flanking specter who turns poor positioning into instant regret. Forget subtlety; when you hear those shotgun blasts echoing through new OW2 maps, someone's about to have a really bad day.

🔥 Hellfire Shotguns: Sustain Through Carnage

Reaper's bread-and-butter got tweaked but still slaps hard:

• Pellet damage dropped from 6 → 5.4

• Spread increased from 6 → 7 degrees

The secret sauce? The Reaping passive heals him for damage dealt. Translation: miss your shots and you're toast; land them and become unkillable. This ain't no sniper duel – we're talking \u0022hug-your-enemy\u0022 range where every pellet counts. Against 2025's beefy tanks? Absolute chef's kiss.

Pro Tip: Bait enemies into tight spaces like:

• Busan Sanctuary's side corridors

• New Queen Street's collapsed buildings

• Circuit Royale's garage tunnels

💨 Repositioning: Shadow Step \u0026 Wraith Form

Reaper's mobility tools got HUGE buffs from OW2's 5v5 chaos. Fewer eyes = more teleport shenanigans!

Shadow Step Breakdown

Use Case	Risk Level	Map Examples
Flanking high ground	⚠️ Medium	Rialto bridge, Numbani payload
Backline ambush	⚠️⚠️ High	Lijiang Night Market, Esperança
Panic escape	❌ Not recommended	Only when absolutely desperate

Wraith Form is your \u0022NOPE\u0022 button. Pro moves:

• Cancel early to surprise chasing enemies

• Combine with Damage passive speed boost after elims

• Dodge ultimates like a boss (looking at you, D.Va bomb)

💀 Death Blossom: Teamwipe Ballet

Reaper's ult remains unchanged because why fix perfection? With fewer stuns in 2025's meta, timing is EVERYTHING:

DO:

• Drop from high ground like a murderous piñata

• Activate after baiting cooldowns (Sleep Dart, Hook)

• Target clustered supports

DON'T:

• Blossom in open fields (you're not a sunflower)

• Forget tracking Zarya bubbles

• Try it against airborne heroes (Pharah laughs)

🎯 2025 Meta Counters & Playstyle

Reaper's kryptonite hasn't changed much:

• Genji 🗡️ - Too slippery, just switch lol

• Sombra 💻 - Hack ruins your rhythm

• Pharah/Echo ✈️ - Just... look away

Golden rules for 2025:

1. Patience > aggression (wait for tanks to engage)

2. Track support cooldowns (no nade = free feast)

3. Abuse verticality (new maps have SO many ledges)

At the end of the day, Reaper's still that OG anti-tank terror. Whether you're shredding through frontlines or pulling off that perfect blossom, one thing's clear: in the right hands, death does walk among us – and it's wearing a trench coat.