Reaper Overview and Strengths
The Reaper is Backpack Battles' sustained damage specialist, built around poison stacking, lifesteal, and the Demonic Flask. Rated B Tier. Rather than raw burst damage, the Reaper excels at relentlessly chipping away at opponents over time. When fully assembled, the build achieves remarkable win consistency — but mastering its mechanics and decision-making makes this an advanced-level class.
Class Rating
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tier | B Tier |
| Difficulty | ★★☆ (Intermediate to Advanced) |
| Playstyle | Poison stacking, lifesteal, Demonic Flask consumption |
| Core Strength | High survivability through the combination of sustained damage and healing |
Class-Exclusive Mechanics
- Poison: A stacking damage type that drains enemy HP every turn. Built up through Death Scythe and other poison items
- Lifesteal: Converts a portion of damage dealt into HP recovery. Extremely powerful in prolonged fights
- Demonic Flask: A consumable item that enhances HP, attack power, and poison damage. The core of the Witch build
Starting Bag Selection
| Bag | Features | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Relic Case | Amplifies synergies for Tarot Cards and curse-type items; optimal for Witch builds | ★★★ |
| Storage Coffin | High capacity; suited for power-style builds that pack many items | ★★★ |
| Demonic Flask | Selecting the Flask itself as a starting bag; the entry point for Potion builds | ★★★ |
Recommendation: If you're new to Reaper, the Storage Coffin is the safest choice for maximum item flexibility.
5 Subclasses Explained
1. Alchemist
Rating: A | Difficulty: ★★☆
A build centered on Demonic Flasks and potion-type items. Efficiently consume and replenish Flasks to continuously escalate your combat power.
Unlock Condition: Acquire multiple Demonic Flasks
Strengths: Combat power increases with every Flask use; gets stronger as the game progresses Weaknesses: Flask depletion causes a sudden drop in power
2. Deathbringer
Rating: A | Difficulty: ★★☆
An attack-focused subclass that aims to equip two or more Death Scythes for a Double Death Scythe build. Rapidly stacks poison to defeat opponents in a short window.
Unlock Condition: Acquire 2 Death Scythes
Strengths: Easy-to-understand poison stacking from early game; aggressive and straightforward Weaknesses: Tends to leave defense thin; less effective against opponents with poison cleanse
3. Hexblade
Rating: B | Difficulty: ★★★
An advanced poison-focused build that combines Tarot Cards with curse-type items to layer debuffs and amplify poison damage.
Unlock Condition: Acquire multiple Tarot Cards
Strengths: Debuff + poison combination is advantageous against many builds Weaknesses: High item dependency; fragile if the build isn't assembled correctly
4. Snake Charmer
Rating: B | Difficulty: ★★☆
A hybrid evasion + poison build built around Snake items. Each Snake activation applies poison while evasion reduces incoming damage.
Unlock Condition: Acquire Snake-type items
Strengths: Chip damage while surviving through evasion Weaknesses: Durability drops if evasion fails to trigger
5. Vampire
Rating: A | Difficulty: ★☆☆
A build that maximizes lifesteal, recovering HP with every attack. The longer the fight lasts, the more advantage the Vampire builds. The most intuitive and accessible Reaper subclass.
Unlock Condition: Acquire multiple lifesteal items
Strengths: Straightforward and stable; dominant in long fights Weaknesses: Vulnerable to burst damage (Pyromancer, high-crit builds)
Build Guides
Build 1: Alchemist Potion Build (Flask-Focused)
Concept: Progressively amplify combat power by consuming Demonic Flasks. A scaling build that gets stronger as the game progresses.
Key Items
| Item | Role |
|---|---|
| Demonic Flask | Core of the build; each use boosts attack, HP, and poison damage |
| Potion Belt | Manages stamina and multiple potions simultaneously |
| Curse Potion | Flask-type item that applies additional poison |
| Tarot Card (Death) | Applies a powerful debuff to enemies at round start |
| Armor Vest | Provides durability until Flask effects kick in |
| Skeletal Shield | Combines defense with counterattack |
Early Game Plan
- Secure Demonic Flask as top priority (aim for multiple copies)
- Use Potion Belt to stabilize Flask management
- Stack early poison with Death Scythes to ensure survival
- Plan Flask consumption strategically in mid-game to escalate power step by step
Build 2: Double Death Scythe Build
Concept: Rapidly accumulate poison stacks with two Death Scythes. A simple yet powerful offensive build.
Key Items
| Item | Role |
|---|---|
| Death Scythe × 2 | Main weapons that apply poison stacks with every hit |
| Poison Goober | Support item that amplifies poison damage |
| Snake | Supplements HP/Luck and poison duration |
| Tarot (Moon) | Applies confusion debuff to enemies, disrupting their activations |
| Life Staff | HP recovery on activation + cleanses 2 debuffs |
| Armor items | Compensates for the defensive weakness of this offensive build |
Early Game Plan
- Make acquiring 2 Death Scythes the single highest priority from game start
- Once both Scythes are secured, add Poison Goober to amplify damage
- Acquire Snake to strengthen HP/Luck and extend poison duration
- Defense is thin, so always reserve 1–2 slots for armor
Layout Example
[ Death Scythe ][ Death Scythe ][ Poison Goober ]
[ Snake ][ Tarot (Moon) ][ Life Staff ]
[ Armor Vest ][ Skeletal Shield ][ Potion Belt ]
Build 3: Hexblade Poison Build (Poison Specialized)
Concept: Break down enemy defenses with Tarot Card debuffs while stacking poison damage. An advanced build for experienced players.
Key Items
| Item | Role |
|---|---|
| Various Tarot Cards | Apply debuffs to enemies (Death, Moon, Tower, etc.) |
| Poison Blade | Applies high-stack poison with every attack |
| Poison Goober | Multiplies poison damage |
| Curse Ring | Amplifies poison damage further under cursed status |
| Dark Potion | Key item that applies both poison and curse simultaneously |
| Skeletal Shield | Combines defense with poison counterattack |
Strategy Notes
- Think through Tarot Card combinations before purchasing them
- Simultaneous poison and curse stacking creates multiplicative damage spikes
- Early game damage is low — stack defense and focus on surviving to mid-game
Build 4: Snake Poison Tank Build (Evasion + Poison)
Concept: Dodge enemy attacks with Snake items while accumulating poison. A defensive attrition build.
Key Items
| Item | Role |
|---|---|
| Snake (Cobra, etc.) | Main items that apply evasion + poison |
| Poison Goober | Poison damage amplification |
| Armor Vest | Insurance for when evasion fails |
| Life Staff | Sustains long fights with HP recovery + debuff cleanse |
| Skeletal Shield | Counterattack against physical attacks |
| Tarot (Star) | Further increases evasion rate |
Strategy Notes
- Treat evasion as a supplement, not a foundation. Ensure sufficient armor so you can absorb hits when evasion fails
- Don't rush poison stacks. Prioritize Life Staff HP management first
- Tarot (Star) raises evasion rate, making it a strong pairing with other Tarot cards
Build 5: Vampiress Lifesteal Build
Concept: Push lifesteal to its maximum so healing output exceeds all incoming damage. The most straightforward and stable Reaper build.
Key Items
| Item | Role |
|---|---|
| Bloodscythe | Reaper-exclusive high-lifesteal weapon |
| Vampire Cloak or Ring | Significantly boosts lifesteal rate |
| Life Staff | HP recovery on activation + cleanses 2 debuffs |
| Heal Potion | Grants adjacent weapons the lifesteal effect |
| Armor Vest | Defensive base; combined with lifesteal, effectively doubles endurance |
| Potion Belt | Sustains stamina to maintain high activation speed |
Early Game Plan
- Secure Bloodscythe or Vampire Ring as top priority
- Acquire Life Staff for combined HP recovery and debuff cleansing
- Place Heal Potion adjacent to weapons to propagate the lifesteal effect
- Reserve 1–2 armor slots to prevent one-shot deaths
Build 6: Witch Demonic Build (Demonic Flask Specialized)
Concept: Acquire multiple Demonic Flasks and consume them every round for explosive, escalating combat power. A high-damage build for advanced players.
Key Items
| Item | Role |
|---|---|
| Demonic Flask × 2–3 | Multiple copies create a consume-and-replenish cycle each round |
| Witch Hat | Amplifies effects when Flasks are consumed |
| Tarot Card (Judgement) | Special Tarot that assists with Flask replenishment |
| Death Scythe | Used in parallel as a poison stack source |
| Poison Goober | Poison damage amplification |
| Skeletal Shield | Combines defense and counterattack |
Strategy Notes
- The Demonic Flask's lifecycle of "consume → replenish → consume" is the build's foundation
- Two or more Flasks allow alternating consumption to maintain a continuously enhanced state
- Tarot (Judgement) stabilizes Flask replenishment — always pair them together
Key Items Reference
| Item | Acquisition | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Death Scythe | Shop | ★★★ |
| Demonic Flask | Shop | ★★★ |
| Various Tarot Cards | Shop | ★★★ |
| Toad | Shop | ★★☆ |
| Snake | Shop | ★★☆ |
| Poison Goober | Shop | ★★★ |
| Life Staff | Shop | ★★★ |
| Skeletal Shield | Shop | ★★☆ |
| Bloodscythe | Shop | ★★★ |
| Witch Hat | Shop | ★★☆ |
Gameplay Tips
Early Game (Rounds 1–5)
- Secure Death Scythes first: The Reaper's basic weapon. Stack poison from round one to chip down opponents
- Decide subclass direction: Flask-heavy shop → Alchemist; multiple Snakes → Snake Charmer; lifesteal items → Vampire
- Always keep at least one armor slot: Reaper builds tend to be offensive, but one armor piece is mandatory
- Buy Tarot Cards opportunistically: They pair well with all Reaper builds
Shop Priority by Round
| Rounds | Top Priorities |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | Death Scythes (×2), Tarot Cards |
| 4–7 | Subclass core (Demonic Flask or Snake) |
| 8–12 | Poison Goober, Life Staff |
| 13+ | Witch Hat, Skeletal Shield, defense upgrades |
Backpack Placement Tips
- Death Scythes placed side by side: Two adjacent Scythes trigger synergy, improving poison stack efficiency
- Tarot Cards next to weapons: Aligning activation timing makes combo debuffs easier to land
- Flasks accessible for activation: Be mindful of activation order when placing them at round start
- Snakes adjacent to evasion items: Chain evasion effects together
Reaper Weaknesses and Counters
Weakness 1: Low Early Game Damage
- Problem: Poison takes time to stack, making early rounds difficult to win
- Counter: Get 2 Death Scythes to accelerate poison stacking. Add Poison Goober to amplify poison damage from the start
Weakness 2: Pyromancer One-Shot Potential
- Problem: Reaper's sustained-damage style struggles to handle Pyromancer's high-Heat burst attacks
- Counter: Stack extra armor to reduce per-hit damage. Use Life Staff's continuous healing to endure the fight
Weakness 3: Ranger Lifebinder Counters Poison
- Problem: Lifebinder builds cleanse poison debuffs, neutralizing Reaper's main damage type
- Counter: Maximize poison stack volume to outpace the cleanse rate. Prioritize Double Scythe + Poison Goober to stack as fast as possible
Weakness 4: Backpack Space Pressure
- Problem: Demonic Flasks, Tarot Cards, and Death Scythes all compete for the same limited slots
- Counter: Choose Storage Coffin as your starting bag. Sell items aggressively once their role is fulfilled to free up space
Summary
The Reaper is a challenging class that rewards mastery with exceptional stability.
- Most stable build: Vampiress Lifesteal Build (lifesteal + healing)
- For aggressive offense: Double Death Scythe Build
- For late-game explosive power: Witch Demonic Build (multiple Flasks)
- For advanced challenge: Hexblade Poison Build
Start with the Double Death Scythe build to understand how poison stacking and lifesteal work together. Once you're comfortable with those mechanics, advance to Flask-integrated complex builds for a deeper Reaper experience.