Reaper - Mass Effect

Overview

• The Reapers are a highly-advanced race of synthetic-organic starships.
• They hibernate in dark space, returning to the galaxy every 50,000 years.
• Their purpose is to harvest organic life to bring "order to chaos."
• Constructed the Citadel and mass relay network to guide technological development.

Design

• Resemble cuttlefish or squid with numerous tentacle-like legs.
• Sizes range from 160 meters to over 2 kilometers.
• Core design based on harvested species' image.

Subtypes

• Harbinger: First and largest Reaper, unique subtype.
• Capital Ship: 2-km long, main weapon: magnetohydrodynamic cannon.
• Troop Transport & Processor: Used for transporting husks and DNA harvesting.
• Destroyer: Smaller, powerful weapons, escorts capital ships.

Indoctrination

• Reapers can mentally manipulate organics into believing and serving them.
• Often permanent, driving subjects mad or making them loyal slaves.

Technology

• Possess powerful weapons and defenses, including immense shields.
• Capable of faster-than-light travel beyond current civilizations' capabilities.
• Use computer viruses and nanotechnology for control and transformation of organics.

History

• Reapers have existed for over a billion years.
• Created by the Intelligence to prevent conflicts between organics and synthetics.
• Prothean Counterattack: Altered Citadel signal to delay Reaper invasion.

The Vanguard

• Sovereign: First Reaper seen post-Protheans, intended to initiate another harvest.
• Failed due to altered signals, destroyed by Commander Shepard.

The Reapers and the Collectors

• Collectors, former Protheans, abduct humans to create a human-modeled Reaper.
• Harbinger controls Collectors, efforts thwarted by Shepard.

Return to the Galaxy

• Reapers return in 2186 CE, begin harvesting galactic civilizations.
• Invasion starts in batarian space, quickly spreads.

Leviathan

• Some Leviathans survived, contribute knowledge and aid to fight Reapers.

Crucible and Catalyst

• The Crucible, a weapon to destroy Reapers, requires the Citadel as a Catalyst.
• Shepard must choose between destroying, controlling, or synthesizing life with Reapers.

Culture

• Cycle of Extinction: Patterns of civilization evolution lead to inevitable extinction cycles.
• Harvesting: Reapers process organics into genetic "paste" for new Reapers.

Notable Reapers

• Harbinger, Sovereign, Leviathan of Dis, notable Reapers with significant roles.

Trivia

• Reapers are inspired by Lovecraftian horror and similar in nature to the Star Trek Borg.

Cut Content

• Individual Reapers initially intended to reflect species they were harvested from.

References

• Includes various references from Mass Effect games and developer insights.