In the twilight of the Lands Between, where legends are etched in blood and grace, a class of weapon whispers of forgotten harvests. The Reapers, or as the Tarnished might call them, scythes, are weapons of elegant lethality and subtle defiance. They are the underdogs, the dark horses of the arsenal, often overlooked in favor of grander swords or mightier hammers. Yet, to wield one is to understand a different kind of poetry in motion—a dance where every swing ignores a shield's defiance and carries the silent promise of a Bleed's crimson bloom. From the base game's quartet to the lone DLC envoy, these five instruments of reaping offer a path less traveled, a build that whispers rather than roars.

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✨ 5. Winged Scythe: The Divine Denier

That's right, folks; the base game offers just four Reapers, and half of them sing hymns to the Erdtree. The the-reaper-s-harvest-ranking-elden-ring-s-scythes-in-2026-image-1 Winged Scythe is the heavyweight champion in terms of raw AR (Attack Rating), but here's the catch: a big chunk of that is Holy damage. In the late game, when many bosses give you the cold shoulder against Holy, that damage can seriously fall off. Its true genius, however, lies in its Weapon Skill, Angel's Wings. This heavenly leap-and-slash not only hits like a truck but also has a uniquely cruel party trick: it prevents enemies from using their Crimson and Cerulean Tears. In PvP, this is an absolute game-changer—shutting down heals and, more importantly, starving those pesky spell-spammers of their precious FP. You can snag this divine tool from a chest in the Tombsward Ruins on the Weeping Peninsula. No boss fight, just watch out for some surprisingly vicious Rats and Pages.

Pros Cons
Highest base AR among Reapers Holy damage is resisted by many late-game foes
Angel's Wings skill prevents healing & FP flask use Requires Faith investment (16)
Excellent for PvP duels Skill scales with Faith, unlike its physical attacks

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🔪 4. Scythe: The Dexterity Virtuoso

Don't let the simple name fool you; the standard the-reaper-s-harvest-ranking-elden-ring-s-scythes-in-2026-image-3 Scythe is a weapon of refined potential. It boasts the longest reach in its class (by a hair's breadth) and a secret in its moveset: its charged heavy attacks are swift, elegant double-strikes. Its greatest strength is its flexibility. As one of only two Reapers that can be freely customized with Ashes of War, it can morph to fit any playstyle. While it often loses in a straight damage comparison, give it a Keen Affinity, and it rewards a pure Dexterity build with glorious A-scaling. It's the blank canvas of Reapers. Find it in the Cliffbottom Catacombs in Liurnia, but be ready to face some early, tough Omens.

⭕ 3. Halo Scythe: The Deceptive Discus

Ah, the the-reaper-s-harvest-ranking-elden-ring-s-scythes-in-2026-image-4 Halo Scythe. A "Faith" weapon that's mostly a Dexterity weapon in holy disguise. Its physical damage and scaling lean heavily into Dex, making you think you should just meet the minimum Faith requirement. But then you use its Weapon Skill, Miquella's Ring of Light. This is the whole ball game. It fires a large, fast-traveling ring of light for a mere 11 FP and can be spammed. It scales purely with Faith and is strictly better than the standard Sacred Rings of Light skill. So, do you build for the blade or the skill? That's the question. If you want to be a discus-throwing reaper, pump Faith. Getting it is a grind, though, as it drops from Cleanrot Knights, best farmed in the Swamp of Aeonia.

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🩸 2. Obsidian Lamina: The Shadow's Dance

The sole Reaper from the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, the the-reaper-s-harvest-ranking-elden-ring-s-scythes-in-2026-image-6 Obsidian Lamina brings a new flavor to the harvest. It carries the classic innate Bleed but introduces native Arcane scaling to boost that hemorrhage buildup—a first for the class. Its raw attack rating is on the lower side, but it compensates with Dynastic Sickleplay, a Weapon Skill that's all about flashy, acrobatic mobility. There's a big catch: you get it very late, as a reward for completing Ansbach's questline in a specific way and defeating the DLC's final boss. It's a trophy for a journey completed, not a companion for the road.

  • Unique Trait: Innate Arcane scaling for faster Bleed.

  • Playstyle: Agile, mobility-focused, Bleed-centric.

  • Acquisition: Complex NPC quest reward (DLC).

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👑 1. Grave Scythe: The King of Customization

And here we are, at the pinnacle. The Grave Scythe is, without a doubt, the most versatile and consistently powerful Reaper in the Lands Between. It shares the Scythe's blessing of accepting any Ash of War, but it generally out-damages its simpler cousin on most Affinities. It has no Holy damage to be resisted, making it the go-to choice against late-game bosses where the Winged and Halo Scythes falter. Want a monstrous Strength build? Slap a Heavy Affinity on it, and it will out-damage a Keen Scythe. Fancy Cold, Poison, or a unique skill? The Grave Scythe says, "No problem." It is the workhorse, the reliable foundation upon which countless brutal builds are made. Farm it from Skeletal Mages, with an early spot in the graveyard by the Lake-Facing Cliffs in Liurnia.

In 2026, the meta may shift, but the essence of the Reaper remains. They are not the easiest weapons to master, but for the Tarnished who values precision, style, and a touch of cruel utility, picking up a scythe is less about choosing a weapon and more about embracing an art form. The harvest awaits.