Best way to deal with reapers

[Sasparillafizz]

Still kinda earlyish in game? Have a cyclops, no upgrades, trying to explore some of the deeper areas as I think I've found the majority of the stuff to be found in the 200 meter deep zones.

But the friggin Leviathans man.

How exactly does one avoid them? That deep its kinda down to luck whether one will show up at an inopportune moment, not enough sight to see too far or deep away. Decoy missles seem hit or miss whether it will lure it away while I escape. I've gone silent and still while they are at edge of my vision, but they still identify and attack me so not sure what the noise factor the AI first mate warns me about affects.

Any suggestions? As it is its a somewhat time consuming process heading back to build another damn seamoth when it decides to chew on it, and limp away to repair my cyclops yet again.

[Zemecon]

Here is a tip: Don't use your Seamoth unless you absolutely have to. Reapers are particularly attracted to the Seamoth so you are better off using your Seaglide around them.

Also stay close to cliff walls because they have trouble trying to grab you when you are against a flat vertical surface. Especially now that they no longer seem to be able to clip through terrain anymore.

[axelfirekirby]

Try to find a stasis rifle if you can as well

[Lack of Stuff]

Originally posted by Salinité:

Here is a tip: Don't use your Seamoth unless you absolutely have to. Reapers are particularly attracted to the Seamoth so you are better off using your Seaglide around them.

Also stay close to cliff walls because they have trouble trying to grab you when you are against a flat vertical surface. Especially now that they no longer seem to be able to clip through terrain anymore.

Depends on the wall. Believe me they still do the phase boogie in some places.

[or0b0ur0s]

If there were a good strategy other than "know where they live ahead of time, then avoid going there EVER", they wouldn't have the rep they do, nor make the impression they do on new players (who can't know where they will be encountered ahead of time).

That said, it depends on what you want to do. Exploration is easy with either a PRAWN or Seamoth equipped with the Perimeter Defense module. One punch or zap and they break their leash and go live elsewhere like any other critter. Being dragged down into the void through the map in a PRAWN is a risk, though, since you can't make them let go early even if the suit does weather the damage better than the sub.

There shouldn't be any reason to take a Cyclops into Reaper territory. They're still messing with balancing agro on the thing so it would not surprise me to find out that (like the Crabsquids), leviathans might see through silent running and even the engine being off and attack it anyway. I think ImHelping reported that his parked 'clops in the Lava Zone was attracting Sea Dragons even while depowered. Definitely needs work, but you don't really need a Cyclops anywhere there are Reapers, at least.

The poster who advised not using a Seamoth was right, though, if you DON'T have the Perimeter Defense upgrade. Then you're just driving Reaper Candy around... Don't leave it unattended for long in their territory either, unless you're 100% certain you've driven the nearest one away already. They'll attack it while it's empty and parked. Even if it survives, they might move it 100m or more away from you... then come back for a snack.

[Team Vladof]

You can complete the game (Ghost Update) without having to go into reaper leviathan territory. I know where they spawn (which helps), and all the places I went to accomplish goals... I avoided them all.

There were probably 2 times this last play-through that I had a reaper leviathan right on my rear. And I didn't look back; I just booked it out of there. If it was coming after me, it was because I got into it's turf (and there wasn't anything really worth while in it's turf to be there for).

The biggest issue is the pop-up in the game now. You can be going along, and suddenly your seamoth is stuck in a ship wreck that insta-spawns around you.

Had the same thing happen with a ghost leviathan in kelp area... just minding my own business when suddenly this thing pops up right on me and bashes me.

Reapers are easy enough to avoid, b/c you can simply avoid their areas. If you hear one sounding off, then you're in a place you really don't have to go to anyways. (not mission critical).

Ghost leviathans and dragon leviathans are a different story.

You can mostly use the seamoth and prawn to evade ghost leviathans in lost river and places. Those areas are large enough you just move to opposite side of caverns. In deep grand reef, the freakin warpers and crabsquid are more of an issue (either disabling your seamoth / prawn or warping you outside it).

The dragon leviathan in lava areas is hit or miss. I got lucky and was able to sneak past it to lava castle. The one down by main containment, though.. spotted me right off.. and all I could do was make a rush for the entrance to the place .. which I guess I got lucky and made it.

In all cases... I only had armor upgrade for my seamoth and prawn. And my character always had still suit equipped.

I much prefer avoidance to confrontation, and you don't want to confront leviathans.

I did go toe-to-toe with a ghost leviathan... I used the prawn grapple to snag it and drill arm to keep nailing it. I did that for a solid 5 minutes. It was twitching, but still making sounds, but not moving or swimming away.. so I don't know if I killed it or not.

What gets me about some folks is they want to take the cyclops in like a war ship and go toe-to-toe with dragon leviathan in lava zone or something.

The cyclops used to be invulnerable. But, now it's not.

The cyclops is just a mobile base.. and should be taken through hostile waters unitl you can park it at a safe spot to use as a base of operations.

Folks wanting to take it through lava zones, whcih is nothing but enemies right and left.. that's not what it's made for. That's when you head out in the prawn.

So, really, it's about using the right tool for the job.

But, for leviathans, avoidance is the best policy.

[🦊 Hermit]

Originally posted by axel the temmie fan:

Try to find a stasis rifle if you can as well

This. Stasis rifle is invaluable vs leviathans.

[OverwatchJunky]

Patience is truly the key.

This is how I deal with them.

Tip: If you use the command console to increase the FOV you can easily keep an eye on the radar to your right!!! 70 FOV seems to work quite nicely.

When you are about enter Reaper territory, stop the Cyclops, repair any damage if you need to, change out your power cells if you are low on energy, turn off the exterior and interior lights (except for the camera lights), then get back to the helm and switch to slow speed.

Try and keep the Reaper in your sight from the helm. If the Reaper starts to move toward you, just stop moving to reduce the Cyclops noise output. Also, watch the radar to your right especially if you cant see him.

If they get WAY too close and the icon turns red, turn OFF the engine until they move away. When you feel like they have moved far enough away, turn ON the engine, slam the silent running button and try to scurry past them as quickly as you can. You can either drive through the area quickly to get past them, dive deeper under their patrol area or get to the surface. I would definitely opt for the surface in case you get hit and need to repair.

Make sure you have decoys ready in case they attack during any of those times. Release the decoy, crank the Cyclops into flank speed, and ONLY if they are still following you hit the silent running, then either dive deeper under the Reapers patrol area or head for the surface.


As long as you are cautious you wont ever have to deal with a Reaper attack.

[Fenfen]

It is hard knowing where they are no matter how well you think you know it. I've zipped around the dunes and not once come across a Reaper and I know they spawn there but I have come across a 'boogie' reaper in the sparse reef and every mushroom forest seems to have a 50/50 chance of having a reaper stalking around. Like the others have said use the passive sonar and watch it like a hawk. The Seamoth... if you want to test how strong your heart is then zip around in one in the deep places, otherwise use a seaglide or Prawn.

[SeniLiX]

The electric defense for the Seamoth is great against the Leviathans.

If they grab you, just activate the system for a brief moment. Even the smallest blast will force it to let go. They will only do minor damage to your Seamoth.

[mas]

I wanna go to the grand reef to get rubys for the P.R.A.W.N but I'm too scared. Any tips for the ghost laviathon?

[Star Lite]

Originally posted by Hermit:

Originally posted by axel the temmie fan:

Try to find a stasis rifle if you can as well

This. Stasis rifle is invaluable vs leviathans.

it work to all animal/moster (include bird) excep warper, they can warp in static.
bring statis rifle if you want to scan dangerous animal (leviathan, crabsquid, warper, crabfish, gosh levi, juvilian, emperor, etc)

[DVN]

Originally posted by Muscles:

I wanna go to the grand reef to get rubys for the P.R.A.W.N but I'm too scared. Any tips for the ghost laviathon?

I'm still tempting fate by saying that, but I've never met the ghost leviathan in the grand reefs. But I usually hug the cliff separating the sparse reef and the grand reef.

[Cougarific]

Yeh you shouldn't encounter one util you get down into the Lost River - biggest threats in the Deep Grand Reef are Warpers and Crabsquids.

[Lack of Stuff]

Originally posted by Cougarific:

Yeh you shouldn't encounter one util you get down into the Lost River - biggest threats in the Deep Grand Reef are Warpers and Crabsquids.

I got attacked by one in the canyon entrance to the last Degasi base, but it didn't hang around that area. Not sure if it roams or if it's a random spawn.

[Enorats]

To be honest, the best (and only) way to deal with them is to run. If one attacks, just hightail it out of there.

I've had one eat my seamoth before, and I've had one bite one and escaped by shocking it.

My last play through last weekend had a reaper, ghost leviathan, and both dragons attack my cyclops. It hardly mattered, as the first time I just sped away. The other times I had the shield to pop up, and then sped away.

Running is the only "real" option. Stay away from open water to avoid being noticed, keep near the bottom. If seen, flee. That simple really.