Reaper Rounds are a new item introduced in XCOM: Enemy Within.
In-Game Description[]
| “ | Experimental ballistics have led to this specialized conventional weapon load. It can cause substantial extra damage to affected targets, but the additional casing elements make it less accurate at long range. The rounds will not work with pistols, though. | ” |
–Engineering description, XCOM: Enemy Within | ||
Production Specifications[]
Prerequisites: Experimental Warfare (Research)
Production Time: Immediate
Production Cost:
- §30
- 6 Engineers
Tactical Info[]
- Affects conventional weapons only
- Adds 20% to critical chance against organic targets
- Doubles the weapon's range penalty
Range Penalties[]
Reaper Rounds double a weapon's Aim penalty incurred due to range. For example in case of shotgun, if an enemy standing 13 tiles away normally results in a -16 Aim penalty, with Reaper Rounds it is increased to -32 Aim.
Pistols
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Do not incur range penalties and cannot use Reaper Rounds. No effect on Pistol Aim. |
LMGs / Rifles  
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Do not incur range penalties. No effect on LMG or Assault Rifle Aim. |
Shotguns
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Incur an Aim penalty beyond 10 tiles (-4 Aim at 11 tiles, -28 Aim at 15 tiles, -44 Aim at 18 tiles, etc.) Reaper Rounds double a Shotgun's Aim penalty. |
Sniper Rifles
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Incur an Aim penalty at less than 10 tiles (-24 Aim at 1 tile, -19 Aim at 4 tiles, -10 Aim at 6 tiles, etc.) Reaper Rounds double a Sniper Rifle's Aim penalty. |
For further information, see Weapon Range Bonuses and Penalties.
Notes[]
- Reaper Rounds are an effective way to increase the potency of conventional weapons before beam weapons are researched and manufactured. The technological and research options added in XCOM: Enemy Within can delay a player's progression up the weapon research tree significantly, especially on Classic or Impossible difficulty.
- They are particularly useful for classes such as shotgun Assaults, Heavies and Snipers, as their weapons must be researched separately (requiring additional time and credits), compared to upgrading the base Assault Rifle quickly.
- Reaper Rounds shine when given to shotgun Assaults and Snipers, given that their weaponry specialization largely negates the range penalty, and increases critical rates that such troops are often reliant on to clear an enemy. Heavies benefit less from Reaper Rounds, since their lower base Aim reduces the number of hits (and thus critical hits) and their weapon has no base critical chance, though if a player adopts a strategy of Heavies closing with enemies more this deficiency can be compensated for. Supports tend to shoot very little and their item slot is typically occupied by a Medikit, so they're not a very good option to carry this item.
- Reaper Rounds are especially useful if the Damage Roulette Second Wave option is enabled, as criticals are particularly devastating and regular damage is inconsistent.