The gauss reaper is a Necron gauss weapon carried by Necron Warriors. It gives up range for more shots and more strength, making it the close-quarters option next to the longer-ranged gauss flayer.
What the gauss reaper actually is
It’s a two-handed gauss weapon built for Necron Warriors, and it sits in the same family as the gauss flayer, gauss blaster, and gauss cannon. Where the flayer reaches out across the battlefield, the reaper is designed to hit harder at short distance.
In game terms, the reaper fires more shots than the flayer and does it at higher strength, but you have to get close to use it. That trade is the whole point of the weapon.
How it plays on the table
The reaper works best on Necron Warriors who are pushing forward, contesting objectives, or dropping in from reserve. A large block of twenty Warriors with reapers can put out a serious volume of Strength 5 shots once they’re inside that short range band.
The flayer is the opposite: it’s for squads holding back, camping objectives, and plinking away from a distance. Neither is strictly better. They just want different jobs.
- Reaper: shorter range, more shots, higher strength, aggressive play.
- Flayer: longer range, fewer shots, lower strength, defensive play.
- A single Warrior squad can mix both weapons, so you don’t have to pick one for the whole unit.
Dynasty codes and synergies
Necron dynasty codes can tilt the choice. Mephrit adds range to your guns, which helps the reaper control the middle of the board, especially on a full-sized squad. Sautekh boosts Rapid Fire weapons, so it leans toward the flayer, though named characters like Nemesor Zahndrekh can still support reaper-armed units.
If you’re building a custom dynasty, Pitiless Hunters is another option that rewards Rapid Fire, which again favours the flayer. The reaper tends to benefit more from mobility and delivery tools than from range buffs.
Getting the reaper into range
Because the reaper wants to be close, anything that moves Warriors up the board quickly is your friend. Deployment from a Night Scythe or teleporting via the Veil of Darkness relic can put a squad right into that sweet spot where the reaper does its best work.
That’s the core idea: the flayer is a gun you park, and the reaper is a gun you deliver. Build around whichever one matches how you like to play.
Key facts
- The gauss reaper is a Necron gauss weapon carried by Necron Warriors.
- It trades range for more shots and higher strength compared to the gauss flayer.
- It’s a two-handed weapon in the same family as the gauss flayer and gauss blaster.
- It suits aggressive, close-range play and units delivered by Night Scythe or the Veil of Darkness.
- A Warrior squad can mix gauss reapers and gauss flayers in the same unit.
FAQ
Is the gauss reaper better than the gauss flayer?
Not strictly. The reaper has more shots and higher strength at short range, while the flayer reaches further. Which one is better depends on whether your Warriors are attacking or holding back.
Can Necron Warriors take both weapons in one squad?
Yes. A unit can mix gauss flayers and gauss reapers, so you can have some models reaching out and others ready for close work.
Which dynasties suit the gauss reaper?
Mephrit’s extra range helps reaper squads control the midfield. Sautekh and Pitiless Hunters lean toward Rapid Fire, so they favour the flayer more, though characters like Nemesor Zahndrekh can still support reapers.