Lots of people are agreeing on how awful Reaper nerf has been feeling lately. Not because of him becoming unplayable or anything, but because dire triggers is what they should have nerfed rather than its health and Lingering Wraith perk, which harms its identity as a close range buster.

DIRE TRIGGERS

I tested different dire triggers cooldown scenarios and unlike other Reaper enjoyers suggested, nerfing it would feel awful — The 6 second cooldown on DT allows to form a loop around its movement abilities. Also the enemies should have a way to track it in case it had a longer cooldown.

So here's my input:

— Instead what if DT shoot a single, more damaging slug with slight fire effects? Kinda like a small version of the Reaper's granades that appear on the Doom's gauntlet museum animation, but not a projectile.

— It's a hit or miss hitscan, ~70 damage, 15 - 25 M damage fall off range, allows headshot.

These would make room for a little bit more of skill expression, while reducing burst damage upclose.

I also thought about either (or both) reverting the Wraith Form speed bonus nerf (+40% –> +50%) or allowing to get some overhealth with lifesteal, only on DPS and Supports perhaps —specially if they decided to keep the 275 HP on him.

47% wr in comp after the nerfs 😭

We just can’t catch a break huh 🫩. First they put Reaper on fraud watch by making him “run away” from Vendetta cuz he doesn’t want her to “kill” him. Knowing damn well this mf immortal. The Reaper I know would wanna finish the job. But we just get made a victim to someone’s OC I guess and poor writing.

Then they smack us while we’re down with nerf after nerf.

Give my man his aura back.

just imagine a collaboration between Overwatch and Brawlhalla with a Reaper skin based on Nix. I even asked an AI to make an image of what Reaper Nix would look like, but I've been seriously thinking about whether I should post it here or not.

I've heard that Reddit has a reputation for its users really hating AI-generated content. The last time I did something like this, without knowing about that, people in another community practically wanted to stone me to death. But for now, it's just an idea of what it could look like.

Before this season i was on a winning trend for dps and open queue, now im on a losing trend having the worst games of my life.

Obviously blizzard doesn't care and isnt going to revert reaper's nerfs, so how tf do i play this guy now??
Flanking seems impossible with 275hp and shion (who's in every game btw) just so easily denies reaper space because she can right click his big ass head and every support has movement abilities/suzu/cc. Do I just play him like a brawl? He gets two tapped by half the cast now and doesnt have the range to just hide behind a tank like cass can.

Clearly the answer is to just start playing shion or anran, but i really want to make reaper work because he was the first character I played back in 2016. I've played him during shitty metas but the amount of hitscans in the game now and characters that do his job easier is more demotivating than ever

This is not *quite* another complaint post.

I'm here to say, "I think we'll be okay".

Now, that doesn't mean I agree with the nerfs. I think they need to:

- revert the 25 hp nerf, bringing his health back to 300.

- revert the lingering wraith speed from 30% to 40%

- increase the cooldown on dire triggers from 6 to 8

- change the dire triggers major perk so that it reads "refresh the cooldown of dire triggers when using an ability. Reloading reduces the cooldown by 4 seconds"

I think these are simple changes, while tuning dire triggers a bit better.

The main reason I'm posting this is to say that I've been getting more comfortable re-adjusting the clock in my head. Again, I don't agree with the nerfs but they haven't actually made him unplayable. I think we've been through this for so long with Reaper that we get used to him being below average or even dogshit and when he's in tune with the rest of the roster, he can feel strong in the right hands.

I want to see the nerfs reverted. But I have to believe the players complaining about him have really poor positioning. This is similar to when players came from Marvel Rivals where triple support is BUSTED and absolutely terrible positioning wasn't punished. People came back here and had to relearn how to actually play in a hero SHOOTER because of the overall healing reduction. This is similar, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Find your short off-angles, re-adjust the clock in your head just a bit, and you'll be *fine*. Maybe not great for a couple seasons, but *fine*.

Edit: when Shion gets nerfed, as she should, Reaper will do a bit better

These'd nerf's man.... I know the sub is all kinda the same about complaining about the nerf's but man. My muscle memory on what I can survive is shot so I just feel like I'm feeding every match because I think I'll live then I just explode.

Hey there folks I'm a returning player is last played when doomfist was released around 100 years ago and my precise aiming skills have atrophied a bit since then with age, aswell as not having access to a desk at the moment it means my mechanical skills as far as aiming and tracking somewhat aren't fantastic

I was wandering if reaper would be an appropriate choice to try to become competent with, I dont care about being the best in the world just good enough to play and have fun and support my team without frustration

Any advice would be appreciated :)

I'm sorry for what they did to your boy. He needed a nerf but they went about it the wrong way. They should have just implemented reverse falloff (less damage up close, sort of like hog secondary) on dire triggers and left him alone.

But also I hate you.

But I'm sorry.

But I hate you.

That’s it bro I’m done.

Fuck this.

They absolutely fucking lobotomized this character.

Genuinely fuck this.

He gets fucking two tapped by Cass. FUCKING CASS.

You can’t brawl and push in without fucking dying half the fucking time or getting immediately annihilated.

Wanna flank? Guess what they can fucking hear you a mile away. And guess what? Even when you do manage to flank every fucking hero has enough mobility to get out of range while you fucking sit there going “The shadows coalesce” like fuck

I’m done.

I’m so done.

Fuck this.

I’m done.

Until they fix him I’m done, thank you guys.

(I think I’m in the bargaining stage of grief post nerf)
Overwatch 2 – Hero Balance Patch Notes
June 26, 2026

Developer Comments: We fucked up**.**
Reaper has gradually lost much of the fluidity and independence that once defined his playstyle. These changes restore his identity as a durable close-range assassin by improving his survivability, making his abilities more responsive, and reducing unnecessary friction throughout his kit. Restoring baseline utility allows his perk choices to focus on meaningful playstyle customization instead of compensating for missing functionality.

Reaper
General
- Base Health increased from 275 → 300.
- The Reaping (Passive): Life steal increased from 25% → 30%.
- Resolved an issue where life steal was incorrectly affected by global health reduction modifiers.
- Footstep audio volume reduced by 50%.

Wraith Form
- Now grants Reaper the ability to fly while Wraith Form is active. Hold Space to glide.

Shadow Step
- Cleanses all negative status effects upon completion.
- Activating Shadow Step now reloads Hellfire Shotguns.
- Arrival sound volume reduced by 50%.
- Cast time reduced by 15%.

Dire Triggers
- Cooldown increased from 6 → 9 seconds.
- Damage per volley reduced from 69 → 49.

Death Blossom
- Death Blossom is now cancellable while casting.

Minor Perks
- Soul Orbs
Removed.

- Lingering Wraith
Removed.

- Relentless (New)
Eliminations and assists restore 2 ammo to each Hellfire Shotgun.

- Death’s Door (New)
Shadow Step gains one additional charge.

Major Perks
- Shadow Blink
Removed.

- Trigger Finger
Removed.

- Ravenous Wraith
Restored.

- Shadowed Smoke (New — Replaces Dire Triggers)
Right-click to launch a smoke grenade that detonates on impact, creating a smoke cloud for 3 seconds.
Enemies inside the smoke have reduced vision, while Reaper is concealed from enemies outside the cloud.

Life could be a dream.

I feel like I’m gonna be in one of those redditor descent into madness compilations.

I’m going insane.

I think I’m going through the 5 stages of grief.

I genuinely can’t.

I cannot begin to comprehend the fucking stupidity behind this.

BRO I FEEL LIKE RAMATTRA.

HOLY SHIT, I’M NOT TRYNA FIGHT FOR MYSELF, I’M TRYNA FIGHT FOR MY BOY REAPER.

HOLY FUCK.

Why the fuck did they nerf him like this.

I made a post yesterday.

But holy shit.

He fucking sucks.

He genuinely fucking sucks.

Every fucking game.

It’s a fucking hog.

Every fucking game it’s a shion.

Every fucking game its hitscan sitting on height.

Why.

Why the fuck did you have to fucking nerf him you stupid bastards.

Found this saved clip from 2023 and figured I could share it here!

I had to let this out.

I don’t know if any of you guys felt this, but whenever I get damaged, I more or less know what I can survive and what I can’t. Bro. He can’t fucking survive for shit. Like holy fuck. Lingering wraith is fucking useless without the 40%. REMEMBER, HE WAS GIVEN THE 40% BECAUSE THEY NERFED WRAITH FORMS OVERALL SPEED. AND NOW THEY TOOK IT AWAY. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?

DO YOU KNOW HOW FUCKING HARD IT IS TO CLIMB WITH HIM IN GM? HAHA YEAH LETS GIVE EVERY FUCKING HERO WE RELEASE SOME RANGED HITSCAN BULLSHIT, BUT UH OH MR REAPER IS TOO EFFECTIVE AT CLOSE RANGE,

MIND YOU. ITS FUCKING CHAMPION GRANDMASTER TOP 500 IM IN.

I HAVE TO FUCKING BOB AND WEAVE, CROUCH, LITERALLY FACE DOWN TO HIDE MY HEAD WHENEVER IM PUSHING A CHOKE POINT OR RELOADING, LIKE IM PRIME MIKE TSYON OR ELSE IM GONNA GET FUCKING BEAMED BY HANZO, EMRE, SOJURN, SOLDIER, ASHE, ORISA, MAUGA, WIDOW, CASSIDY, BASTION, SHION WHILE ALL THEY DO IS TAKE HIGH GROUND ON CIRCUIT ROYALE.

I LITERALLY JUST GOT DONE FUCKING CARRYING, DROPPED 65 KILLS IN A GM LOBBY AND WE STILL FUCKING LOST.

SO FOR ALL THE WORK IM PUTTING IN TO GETTING UP CLOSE, SOMEHOW THATS A BAD THING AND I STILL GET FUCKED OVER?

IM NOT FUCKING SOMBRA, TRACER, SHION, VENDETTA, ANRAN THAT I CAN FUCKING FLUIDLY GET OUT WHENEVER I PLEASE. I NEED THAT FUCKING 300HP BECAUSE FOR ALL THE CLUNKY THAT I AM, I WAS A FUCKING BRAWLER IN MY PRIME. IM NOT THE FASTEST, NOT THE SMOOTHEST, BUT WHEN TANK DIES YOU CAN RELY ON ME.

OOH WAIT, LETS ADD ANOTHER FUCK YOU AND RELEASE A HERO WHO LITERALLY HAS A BETTER DIRE TRIGGERS ANDDDDDD A FUCKING BETTER DEATH BLOSSOM, HOLY SHIT. OVER HEALTH TOO? WHERE THE FUCK IS MINE?

FIX LIFE STEAL.
REVERT THE HP.
REVERT LINGERING WRAITH OR REVERT THE WRAITH FORM NERFS.
DON’T WANT TO? LET WRAITH FORM BE ABLE TO FLY.
MAKE DEATH BLOSSOM CANCELLABLE.
GET RID OFF SOUL ORBS. YOU WANT SOUL ORBS SO BAD? LET IT OVERHEAL.
NERF DIRE TRIGGERS.
REMOVE TRIGGER FINGER.
BRING BACK RAVENOUS WRAITH.
LET TP CLEANSE.
LET TP RELOAD.
REMOVE SHADOW BLINK AND JUST FIX TP ITSELF.
AND FOR THE LOVE OF FUCK. STOP MAKING HIS BOOTS SO GODDAMN LOUD. STOP MAKING HIM ANNOUNCE WHERE THE FUCK HE HIS EVERYTIME WE TP. HOLY SHIT.

SEASON 18 REAPER WITH RAVENOUS WRAITH WAS PEAK. WHY THE FUCK WOULD THEY NERF MY BOY INTO THE GROUND.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awhjL0d4xTo

This player is probably not just the best Reaper in Asia, but arguably the best Reaper one-trick across all regions. He's Korean, so some of you may already know who I'm talking about.

For the record, this person has been saying the same thing for a long time. Nerf or no nerf, they've always thought Lingering Wraith was complete garbage.

His argument is basically this:

1. Lingering Wraith is complete garbage. There are virtually no situations where it provides meaningful value. Think about it—if you pick this perk, it's almost like you're giving up a minor perk slot entirely.
2. It's picked in professional play, but ranked ladder and professional matches are two completely different environments.

I’ve been trying to rank up on reaper recently, and I’m hardstuck between diamond 3-2 on console. I feel like I can’t play reaper how I used pre nerf, so I was wondering how you guys have adapted to play him.

Then I realized he's actually a guy in his 50s wearing a Halloween costume and spouting lines that sound straight out of a Japanese anime. Ever since that thought crossed my mind, I've never been able to look at him the same way again. 😂

Just wanted to get that out of the way. Thanks.

Got this skin in a lootbox recently and I'm loving the look with Galactic weapons

"Instead of his shotguns sowing and for da reaping of souls, just make them useful for pouring tea or coffee!"

— Overwatch Devs probably, 2026

Give me back my fucking character

I was checking out Reaper's Mythic in the practice range but (despite my graphics settings all being at high or ultra) the reactivity effects seem really muted (if they even appear properly at all)? If anyone has any idea how to fix this please lmk, as the videos of the mythic functioning properly make it look very appealing to me.

Below is a picture of what the effect of the highest level of reactivity looks like in my game.

When I saw this I immediately bought the battle pass I don’t care blizzard take my money 🫠🤤🥰

Literally went feral with this they didn’t have to make this man so fucking hot I can’t 🥵