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For the delight of all looking to play as death incarnated while exploring the Lands Between, Elden Ring features a total of four distinct reapers — the Scythe, Grave Scythe, Halo Scythe, and Winged Scythe — each capable of impacting the battlefield in their own way. But how can you get each of them? And, more importantly, which reaper is the best for each build?
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How to Get the Scythe in Elden Ring
The most basic reaper in Elden Ring is the Scythe, which you can get by exploring Cliffbottom Catacombs. The dungeon is located on Liurnia of the Lakes and can be reached with ease by heading south from the Liurnia Highway North Site of Grace.
Once at the dungeon, just follow its regular path through the staircases to reach the room featuring the weapon. But be advised, as the area is the home of a wide array of both Imps and Omens, the latter of which can one-shot players in the early game with ease.
You will need to have 14 Strength and 14 Dexterity to wield the Scythe. The reaper will also have an initial scaling of E/C.
Grave Scythe Location and How to Farm
The Grave Scythe can be acquired as a rare drop by defeating Skeleton Mages. I found that the best way to farm the weapon is by defeating the two Mages located by the tombstones south of the Church of Vows Site of Grace. The area will also feature a Skeletal Glaiveman.
To farm efficiently, just repeatedly kill both Skeleton Mages before returning to the Site of Grace, resting, and starting again. You can check out the location of the Site of Grace below.
You will need to have 17 Strength and 13 Dexterity to wield the reaper. The Grave Scythe will have an initial scaling of D/D and won’t have a locked Weapon Skill.
Halo Scythe Location and How to Get
You can get the Halo Scythe in Elden Ring as a rare drop by defeating Lesser Cleanrot Knights wielding the weapon. When looking to farm the reaper, I recommend that you head to the Heart of Aeonia Site of Grace and then focus on killing the Knight posted within the area marked below.
You will need to have 13 Strength, 16 Dexterity, and 15 Faith to use the weapon efficiently. The Halo Scythe will have both an initial scaling of D/D/E and the unique Weapon Skill Miquella’s Ring of Light. When used, Miquella’s Ring of Light will allow you to send halos dealing Holy damage toward targets.
Winged Scythe Location and How To Get
You can get the Winged Scythe in Elden Ring by heading to a closed room featured at the end of Tombsward Cave. The area is located in the Weeping Peninsula. I was able to reach the area by heading southeast from the Fourth Church of Marika Site of Grace.
The Winged Scythe will require 16 Strength, 16 Dexterity, and 24 Faith to be fully wielded, have an initial scaling of E/D/D, and come with the exclusive Weapon Skill Angel’s Wings. Once performed, Angel’s Wings will allow the Tarnished to jump and then perform two slashes dealing Physical/Holy damage. After being hit, your target will be unable to use recovery items for a set time.
How To Use Reapers and Best Ashes of War
Given its relatively low damage, the regular Scythe performs best when part of dual-wielding builds, while the Winged, Halo, and Grave Scythe are just as capable of excelling when wielded alone as part of Skill-focused playstyles. The reason for that lies in the high damage and low FP cost of both the Angel’s Wings and the Miquella’s Ring of Light skills, as well as in how the Grave Scythe’s lack of a unique Weapon Skill adds a new layer of adaptability to it in the form of various Ashes of War.
Speaking of Ashes of War, you can’t go wrong with Bloodhound’s Step, as the Skill will allow you to both avoid damage when in a pitch and quickly close in on targets. For those going with a Faith/Dexterity build and want an alternative to the Halo or Winger Scythe, Black Flame Tornado is sure to deal a ton of damage.
If you are like me and prefer to rock with a build focused on physical damage, Spinning Slash and Sword Dance would be my main picks and are equally destructive.
What Is the Best Reaper in Elden Ring?
To be honest, it depends on your build. For example, the Halo and Winged Scythe are the best for those looking to invest in Faith, given their high damage and excellent Ashes of War. The Grave Scythe, on the other hand, is the undisputed best for those making use of any other builds, especially those related to Strength. The reason for that lies in the Scythe’s high physical damage and adaptability.
No matter your scythe build, I recommend that you always make use of at least one Talisman focused on increasing your damage per hit, such as the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, the Winged Sword Insignia, and Millicent’s Prosthesis.
You can play Elden Ring right now on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
