Reaper's are frigging annoying.

[Maul]

I've never had a problem vs a reaper rush. Once I scout the early tech lab I just build two marines and bata boom bata bing it's defended. But I do find it idiotic how the unit's only use is for early rushes. I don't think there's any other unit in the game that you wouldn't go back to in the late game except for the reaper. The speed upgrade isn't enough

[Wankey]

They need to replace the reaper. It's a one strategy unit. That's just pathetic. At least the Hellion is not such a one strategy guy.

[Maul]

Terran have lost some really cool units for some not so cool replacemnets. Hellion for vulture, viking for goliath. I don't want SC2 to be BW3D but they have taken a bit away from the "cool factor" from Terran and Zerg I believe.

[Quirel]

Terran have lost some really cool units for some not so cool replacemnets. Hellion for vulture, viking for goliath. I don't want SC2 to be BW3D but they have taken a bit away from the "cool factor" from Terran and Zerg I believe.

I'm starting to love the Vikings, I just wish they were more responsive.

But let me say this: I really hope they don't take out the Reaper. I'm curious as to what could be done to the unit to make it useful in late-game. Perhaps it's a unit like the Valkyrie, and it's niche has yet to be discovered. Or, maybe they need to give it the mine as an upgrade...

What if they got Spider Mines?

Yeah, that's the thing. What are the tell-tale signs of a terran who's opting for a reaper rush? Early refinery?

edit: nvm, I'll try google.

Early refinery and two barracks with tech labs going up is a dead giveaway.

Well, I got Reaped several games ago, and something clicked. In the next two games, I switched my build order from getting M^3s up (Marine, Marauder, Medivac) to Reaping the enemy, and I must say...

It works.

First guy got absolutely devastated, but managed to chase me off with Mutalisks. I won anyways, after chasing his expansions all over the map.

Second guy played Protoss. I got a Ghost and a flight of Reapers going and rushed him. Took out all his base, while he Warp Ray Rushed me. Result: His stalkers and zealot died, along with the rest of my base. I managed to evac my SCVs and fend off the four rays with eight Marines and a Ghost I'd built because I had the resources.

So, what to do when you find yourself Reaped? If you're scouting, Marauders will cut them down, and I've even used Hellions against them once (Don't ask)
And once you've got Siege Tanks, it's all over for Reapers.

[Ghost_828]

An interesting spin-off of the Reaper rush is using them as decoys. Due to their ability to slaughter workers, people tend to focus a lot of attention on eliminating them, even if it's only two or three.

What I've tried with reasonable success is to lure the enemy's forces away from their choke, and then, while they're fighting my Reapers, kicking the front door in with eight Marines and some (Hellions/ Marauders/ Ghosts) who can then really deliver a heavy blow.

[Flatus]

I was starting to wonder what are you guys thinking, it's strategy game, not RPG with only attack and defend buttons. Ghost said it right. Use them as an distraction tool. Even in late game, as long as you can keep them alive(away from enemy forces), they do wonders to your opponent's focus.

Even if your opponent has defenses allready on the mineral line, you can still start destroying something in their base, and in that point they do their trick, your opponent will get distracted.

[Maul]

Most players aren't going to send their whole army to fend off a handful of reapers in their base. A better distraction would be a small drop of useful units or viking/banshee harass. Reapers are just too weak

[MajinX]

If you are doing cheese Reaper rush with a bunker, you will have barely 1-3 Marines when First Reaper comes out...

any cheese is hard to get rid off.. its a gamble, hit or miss

and while i agree the reaper uses seem limited, they arent completely useless after 5 mins, they own buildings after all and are good defensive units actually (yes the are!) as you base is usually on high ground so they are amazing for flanking, even if they do little damage they can hold the attacking force at bay if they are trying to retreat and they absolutely own early rushes, like ling or lot rushes. or bunker/canon rushes as well.

[Todie]

one thing i use nthem for apst the rush is spottin on highground for the main army; if thee nemy is fiering on me from his highground as i assault him, and i dont want to bunch up at his choke, i can move close to the cliff and have my reaper(s) jump up it to spot so the rest can fire up.

[Lopan91]

ghost is right honestly someone hit my front door and my units were killing them then they also hit my mineral line with reapers at the same time and i was like what do i do save my workers or save my army/production buildings