Master FFXIV’s Reaper class with complete unlock guide, combat strategies, and advanced optimization techniques
Reaper Unlock Requirements and Starting Guide
Embark on your journey as Final Fantasy XIV’s newest melee specialist by understanding the straightforward unlock process for the Reaper job. This scythe-wielding combatant brings devastating close-quarters damage and exceptional mobility to Endwalker’s roster.
To begin your Reaper training, locate the Flustered Attendant NPC in Ul’dah’s Steps of Nald at coordinates (13, 9). Ensure you own the Endwalker expansion before attempting this initiation.
The Reaper introduction quest immediately positions you at level 70 with a complete basic toolkit. This accelerated start allows experienced players to dive directly into high-level content while providing newcomers with substantial abilities to learn.
Before tackling difficult encounters, invest time in Duty Roulettes and Palace of the Dead to familiarize yourself with the job’s rhythm and mechanics. The transition from other melee DPS roles requires adjustment to Reaper’s unique gauge interactions.
Combat Mechanics and Core Rotation Strategy
Reaper’s combat philosophy revolves around efficient gauge management and positional awareness. As a melee DPS, you’ll need to master movement while maximizing damage through proper ability sequencing.
Your primary damage foundation builds through two essential combos: the single-target sequence starting with Slice progressing to Waxing Slice and culminating with Infernal Slice, or the area-of-effect chain beginning with Spinning Scythe into Nightmare Scythe for grouped enemies.
Once your Soul Gauge reaches 50 points, activate either Blood Stalk against single targets or Grim Swathe for multiple foes. This critical transition grants access to the empowered Soul Reaver state, unlocking your positional abilities.
During Soul Reaver, utilize Gibbet from flank positions and Gallows from the rear for maximum potency. Your mobility tools Hell’s Ingress and Egress become essential for quickly achieving these positional requirements while maintaining uptime.
Advanced play involves managing your Shroud Gauge accumulated through Soul Reaver abilities. At 50 Shroud, activate Enshroud to enter your most powerful state, accessing Void Reaping, Cross Reaping, and ultimately the devastating Communio finisher.
Expert Reapers coordinate their Enshroud windows with party buffs and know when to utilize Regress for tactical repositioning. Always return to your basic combos once your enhanced states expire, weaving in oGCD abilities for optimal damage.
Complete Ability and Trait Reference
Examine the comprehensive list of Reaper capabilities below, organized by acquisition level and functional purpose.
Slice
Level: 1
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 300. Increases Soul Gauge by 10.
Waxing Slice
Level: 5
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Combo Move: After Slice
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. Increases Soul Gauge by 10.
Shadow of Death
Level: 10
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 300.
Harpe
Level: 15
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Effect: Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 300.
Hell’s Ingress
Level: 20
Cooldown: 20 Seconds (Shared with Hell’s Egress).
Effect: Quickly dash 15 yalms forward.
Hell’s Egress
Level: 20
Cooldown: 20 Seconds (Shared with Hell’s Ingress).
Effect: Quickly dash 15 yalms backward.
Spinning Scythe
Level: 25
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 140 to all nearby enemies. Increases Soul Gauge by 10.
Infernal Slice
Level: 30
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Combo Move: After Waxing Slice
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. Increases Soul Gauge by 10.
Whorl of Death
Level: 35
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all nearby enemies.
Arcane Crest
Level: 40
Cooldown: 30 Seconds
Effect: Grants Arcane Crest to self, creating a barrier that nullifies damage totaling up to 10% of maximum HP.
Nightmare Scythe
Level: 45
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Combo Move: After Spinning Slice
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 120 to all nearby enemies. Increases Soul Gauge by 10.
Blood Stalk
Level: 50
Cooldown: 1 Second
Effect: Summon your avatar to deliver an attack with a potency of 400.
Soul Gauge Cost: 50
Grim Swathe
Level: 55
Cooldown: 1 Second
Effect: Summon your avatar to deliver an attack with a potency of 140 to all enemies in a cone before you.
Soul Gauge Cost: 50
Soul Slice
Level: 60
Cooldown: 30 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 460. Increases Soul Gauge by 50.
Soul Scythe
Level: 65
Cooldown: 30 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 180 to all nearby enemies. Increases Soul Gauge by 50.
Gibbet
Level: 70
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 400. 460 when executed from a target’s flank. Increases Shroud Gauge by 10
Gallows
Level: 70
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 400. 460 when executed from a target’s rear. Increases Shroud Gauge by 10
Guillotine
Level: 70
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 200 to all enemies in a cone before you. Increases Shroud Gauge by 10
Unveiled Gibbet
Level: 70
Cooldown: 1 Second
Effect: Summon your avatar to deliver an attack with a potency of 400.
Soul Gauge Cost: 50
Unveiled Gallows
Level: 70
Cooldown: 1 Second
Effect: Summon your avatar to deliver an attack with a potency of 400.
Soul Gauge Cost: 50
Arcane Circle
Level: 72
Cooldown: 120 Seconds
Effect: Increases damage dealt by self and nearby party members by 3%.
Regress
Level: 74
Cooldown: 10 Seconds
Effect: Move instantly to the Hellsgate left behind by you.
Gluttony
Level: 76
Cooldown: 60 Seconds
Effect: Summon your avatar to deal unaspected damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 500 for the first enemy, and 25% less for all remaining enemies.
Soul Gauge Cost: 50
Enshroud
Level: 80, obtained at the end of the Job quest “The Killing Art”.
Cooldown: 15 Seconds
Effect: Offer your flesh as a vessel to your avatar, gaining maximum stacks of Lemure Shroud.
Shroud Gauge Cost: 50
Void Reaping
Level: 80
Cooldown: 1.5 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 460.
Lemure Shroud Cost: 1
Cross Reaping
Level: 80
Cooldown: 1.5 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 460.
Lemure Shroud Cost: 1
Grim Reaping
Level: 80
Cooldown: 1.5 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 200 to all enemies in a cone before you.
Lemure Shroud Cost: 1
Soulsow
Level: 82
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Effect: Grants Soulsow to self, changing the action to Harvest Moon.
Harvest Moon
Level: 82
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Effect: Deals unaspected damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 600 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies.
Lemure’s Slice
Level: 86
Cooldown: 1 Second
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 200.
Void Shroud Cost: 2
Lemure’s Scythe
Level: 86
Cooldown: 1 Second
Effect: Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all enemies in a cone before you.
Void Shroud Cost: 2
Plentiful Harvest
Level: 88
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Effect: Delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 520 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies.
Communio
Level: 90
Cooldown: 2.5 Seconds
Effect: Deals unaspected damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 1,000 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies.
Examine the transformative traits that enhance your Reaper capabilities as you level.
Soul Gauge
Level: 50
Effect: Allows for Soul Gauge accumulation upon the landing of certain actions, or defeating enemies under the effect of Death’s Design.
Death Scythe Mastery
Level: 60
Effect:
Enhanced Avatar
Level: 70
Effect: Grants the effect of Soul Reaver upon successfully landing Blood Stalk or Grim Swathe.
Hellsgate
Level: 74
Effect: Upon executing Hell’s Ingress or Hell’s Egress, leave behind a Hellsgate and grant Threshold to self.
Tempered Soul
Level: 78
Effect: Allows the accumulation of charges for consecutive uses of Soul Slice and Soul Scythe.
Shroud Gauge
Level: 80
Effect: Allows for Shroud Gauge accumulation upon the landing of Gibbet, Gallows, or Guillotine.
Enhanced Arcane Crest
Level: 84
Effect: Grants Crest of Time Returned to self and nearby party members, gradually restoring HP over time. This effect is only granted when the Crest of Time Borrowed barrier is completely absorbed.
Enhanced Shroud
Level: 86
Effect: Grants Void Shroud upon landing Void Reaping, Cross Reaping, or Grim Reaping.
Enhanced Arcane Circle
Level: 88
Effect:
Advanced Playstyle and Optimization
Elevate your Reaper performance by mastering these advanced techniques and avoiding common pitfalls that hinder many players.
Optimal Reaper play requires precise timing of your Enshroud windows. Coordinate this powerful state with party buffs like Trick Attack or Chain Stratagem for maximum impact. Your Communio should ideally be used as the final action before Enshroud expires.
Common mistakes include overcapping Soul Gauge resources, misusing mobility tools, and poor positional execution. Always monitor your gauges to avoid wasting potential and practice using Hell’s Ingress/Egress specifically for positional requirements rather than general movement.
Your party utility extends beyond raw damage. Arcane Circle provides a valuable 3% damage boost to the entire party, while Arcane Crest offers survivability during heavy damage phases. Time these support abilities strategically rather than using them on cooldown.
Advanced rotation involves weaving oGCD abilities like Gluttony and Soulsow between your global cooldowns without clipping. Master the timing to maintain seamless damage output while managing your complex resource system.
Remember that Harvest Moon from Soulsow provides exceptional burst damage when you have downtime from melee range. Utilize this during phase transitions or when mechanics force disengagement.
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