Key things
- Scythes feature prominently in video games, transforming from tools to formidable weapons through the rule of cool.
- Mastery of movement is necessary; wielders can effortlessly destroy multiple enemies with the right finesse.
- In games like The Outer Worlds, Final Fantasy 14, and Dante's Inferno, scythes offer unique abilities in combat.
In real life, “scythe technology” has not evolved enough to justify its continuation on the farm field, never mind the battlefield. However, in video games, the scythe, through the rule of cool, has forever been a staple of mob killing, and there are plenty of examples of how the humble harvesting tool has been transformed into a formidable weapon.
From RPGs to action games, its ominous design evokes a touch of mortality, making its wielder a bearer of souls (and in many cases, literally). Using the scythe requires some mastery of movement, but those with the right amount of finesse can effortlessly take down multiple enemies at once. With the scythe as a viable weapon, the harvest becomes its own reward.
Outer worlds
Cutting right through the bureaucracy
While a medieval weapon may seem out of place in a game about spaceships and a sterile system-wide super-capitalism ravaging all hope for the future, the touch of feudalism coupled with searing plasma technology is perfectly in keeping with the times Outer worlds.
Most of these two-handed flesh rippers are called Inferno Scythes (a manufactured product and trademark of Aramid Ballistics) and are perfect for ripping through meaty enemies, but not as effective against mechs or heavy armor. Premium “Inferno Scythe Gold” can also be purchased (or found) by higher level players.
Final Fantasy 14
Exclusive to Soul-Shrouded Reaper
A class of mowers was introduced with Final Fantasy 14“Endwalker” expansion. These void-carrying avengers use what were once their humble farming implements to harvest the souls of their enemies in the most vicious way possible and become the living. memento mori for the grim fate of every mortal. However, hints of their botanical roots are still sown through the chopper's skills.
Reaper is naturally an expert at dishing out high levels of damage near all enemies in range, at least once Whirl of Death is unlocked. The only downside to this class is that there is a basic level 70 requirement to play them, meaning players must sow their experience before being allowed to reap the rewards of channeling their inner grimdark edgelord.
Dante's Inferno
Winning sinners from saints
After facing eternal damnation and then somehow defeating Death himself in a one-on-one duel, Dante struggles for control of the scythe and soon after vows to redeem himself for the sake of his loved ones. However, upon returning home, the souls of his father and wife are ripped out. Dante naturally invades Hell to wage war on Lucifer and his armies.
Dante's InfernoThe scythe slashes in wide arcs and comes down hard as it hits the poor, rotten souls of the underworld. Flawless strikes build up a combo meter that unlocks deadly finishing moves. As Dante continues to explore the circles of hell, he can gain new abilities to complement his scythe attacks.
A gloomy dawn
A decent weapon to kill the endless stream of trash
For a game with the word “grim” in the title, it's probably no surprise that a two-handed scythe is available as a melee weapon. A gloomy dawn. With its mix-and-match class system (aka “mastery system”), almost any build can potentially benefit from its use. For example, a Necromancer is perfectly paired with a Soldier or a Shaman.
Grim Dawn is a game about mowing down hundreds of thousands of squished, blood-drenched enemies, and there's no greater feeling when you defeat those undead hordes than with this weapon that can be found as a random drop. High-end scythes can be found at the end of the game, but thanks to the Illusionist NPC, any two-hander can be turned into a scythe skin.
Guild Wars: Nightfall
A whirling, wind-walking dervish
With the ability to hit three nearby targets at once with high damage output, Guild WarsA scythe weapon should meet the sweep damage requirements that any scythe enthusiast would expect. Scythe Mastery is one of the dervish skills, but if taken as a secondary class, almost any profession in Guild Wars can use it if they have the means to reach the Elon map.
This melee mystic is exclusive to Darkness campaign, but can be carried over to other games. Although Guild Wars is a multiplayer game, playing solo is completely viable. Thanks in part to the wide range of skills, scythes are the most powerful offensive weapon in the game.
Darksiders 2
The only thing better than one scythe is two
Few scythe-friendly games feature the farmer as a class or protagonist, instead using the old grim scythe-inspired archetype. Darksiders 2The protagonist is the bona fide bone rider himself, Death. In the first Darksidershis brother in the dark, War, occasionally borrowed his scythe in battle.
To make matters worse, they are controlled by Death dual. His most valuable weapon is “The Harvester”, which he can summon with thought. The Harvester can transform into any form its master needs, including jagged blades of sinewy shadow or a wide arc of energy. Death also has the ability to shift into his “grim reaper” form to make faster work of his corpse crops.
