Best way to kill a Reaper before it self-destructs?

[ColtPiecemaker]

Hello! I am a relatively new player who plays solo and I need some help. I’ve successfully spawned and killed 3 Reapers, but received no weapons (experimental or otherwise) and I am a bit frustrated. I have read that they tend to drop better loot if you kill them before they self-destruct. Unfortunately, the only experimental weapons I have are the Kpist and Shotgun, and while they work fine for the first 90%, I just can’t seem to get that last damage in before it blows itself up.

So, my question is, given the resources that I have, how can I get that last bit off before it goes kaboom? All the other suggestions say to use the experimental sniper and LMG, neither of which I have. I have gold of most of the other weapons, though. Any suggestions are appreciated!

[DrBullwinkle]

Coincidentally, I just killed a Reaper (before he could self-destruct) this afternoon. Solo; Guerilla mode. But you won't like how I did it:

Shot off his weapons, then kept hammering him until he was weak. While emptying a clip from my Experimental KVM-59 into his face, he started an incendiary attack. I continued firing until empty, then (without pausing to reload) switched to Experimental PVG and emptied THAT clip into his face.

(He did drop a couple of experimental weapons that I already had).

How did I get the weapons that I used to kill him? By killing Level 4 Rivals.

In my experience, the L4 Rivals drop better loot than Reapers. I got most of my experimental weapons on Himfjall, where most Rivals are Apocalypse class.

The advice that "Reapers drop the best loot" appears to be incorrect, as far as I can tell. They DO drop GOOD loot, but no better than L4 Rivals in my experience.

Of course, even when killing Rivals, the best drops happen maybe one time in ten. So you have to kill a lot of them before you get the good weapons.

[reynraptor76]

I've gotten great ammo from Reapers (1000 7.62 AP or 50 HEDP) but very few 6* weapons. In my game, fighting the Reaper from a house or barn with stable and firing kvm during final blast charge-up at it's legs will do it. As long as you're not in line of sight of it's middle, it won't hit you.

[Insane Chainsaw]

Idea #1: For the bulk of the fight (the first 90%), expose the easy-to-shoot weakpoints (the face x4) but do not destroy them, focus on harder spots and the weapons. Removing weapons will significantly lower its health without "using up" a weakspot.

In the last 10%, take your highest dps weapon (fmj kpist? large mag fmj ak47?) and go all out on the easy weakspots.

Idea #2: lower difficulty to adventure just for the reaper fight.

Idea #3: in skirmish difficulty 13 propane tanks remove 10% of a reaper's health, so if you could get one to walk on a mine+propane trap, you could blast it off before it even tries to harakiri, or at least get a significant headstart. The part I never figured out is how to be sure the reaper walks on the trap and not one of the dog spawns.


Not sure if it's a bug, but that's how I got my first "full loot" reaper: on my end the thermobaric attack sometimes misfires: I hear the gas "pffffff" but no boom. (Destroyed) shield generators have red lightning, but the body is not red, and you CAN damage it there.
IIRC it only happen when the reaper is badly damaged.

[284]

Originally posted by 284:

REAPER loot can be great, often it ain't
Getting stuff you already own is worthless.

I want to complete the clothing schematics
You don't always get them.
And when i do, I probably already got it.

Some of the random drops are so rare.
You probably spend over a 1000+ hour's before you get everything.



DESTROYING THE REAPER before it self destructs.

Get the most powerful weapons in the game!
The experimental KVM 59 & experimental PVG 90.
Keep shooting it constantly when the red gass comes out.

If that doesn't work set the game on a easier level.
And/or get other players to join you.
If possible get the Reaper between you this way when facing one player.
The other player can shoot it in the back.

How to get the experimental KVM 59 & experimental PVG 90?
Kill rivals or ask other players to give you them.
It's possible without these weapons.
But that's also harder !!!

[The Lone Ranger]

How about a Grg M49? The Swedish Recoiless Rifle. With HE rounds it should be a help?

[Crios1887]

Take out the shields first, obviously. Work on the guns next. If you have the tech view on the binoculars, it will help immensely. The self destruct kicks in after it drops below 10% health. At 10%, you can slam a full clip of .50cal into its face and beat the detonation. You know it's the final blast from the red vapor it emits before the bang. XP weapons are not a requirement. It can be beaten with gold weapons. I don't know about the lower tiers as I have never tried. I have gone down as far as 8% before the self destruct, but 10% is your safe spot. I have never had one kill itself at 10%, even using the thermobarics.

[reynraptor76]

Originally posted by The Lone Ranger:

How about a Grg M49? The Swedish Recoiless Rifle. With HE rounds it should be a help?

The GrG is good for damaging the armor but poor for overall direct damage. I've used over 100 HEDP in one fight and it barely took off 20% health. That's on Guerrilla mode though. I prefer the 6* kvm and PVG. The PVG is perfect for destroying shields and components.

However, the emp round can help delay the self-destruct.

[ColtPiecemaker]

Thanks guys! I'm gonna farm some rivals in the hopes of getting a bit more firepower, but I'll try some of your suggestions.

[🐾Weredragon🐲]

Получил экспериментальное AG 4 оружие просто убив одного соперника (охотника). Уровень охотника был 3 или около того. Никаких специальных действий при этом не выполнял. Может быть вы не скачали DLC с экспериментальным оружием? - Играли с другом. Локация рядом со стартовой. Зачем так мучатся?

[reynraptor76]

Originally posted by ColtPiecemaker:

Thanks guys! I'm gonna farm some rivals in the hopes of getting a bit more firepower, but I'll try some of your suggestions.

If you don't want to go through the effort of farming for the 6* PVG and/or KVM I can help you with that. But if you really want to find them yourself, FNIX and Apocalypse Tank Rivals have good experimental drop rate. The KVM I believe has to be found on either Apoc hunter or harvester Rivals. I was given my first one, found 2 more. Just know the 6* KVM59 is probably the rarest drop in the game. If you have the 5* AI-76 w/ attachments, it has the same dps as KVM59, just fewer rounds per magazine. I believe it also has a slight increase in rate of fire.

Another Reaper tip: it will follow you anywhere as long as it has a clear path to you. If it's out in the middle of a field, you can make it come to a safehouse or other structure to give you a fighting edge. Safehouse is better since you can rearm there. But if you die (as on respawn) it will return to it's original position.