The Grim Reaper

The Grim Reaper lives up to its ominous name with a solid 50% Deadly Strike that doubles damage on half your hits. This makes it punch above its weight class for late Normal and early Nightmare difficulty, though it comes with a noticeable life penalty.

Deadly Strike Mechanics

Deadly Strike is one of the most reliable damage multipliers in Diablo 2, and 50% chance means consistent double-damage hits. Combined with Prevent Monster Heal, The Grim Reaper effectively stops regenerating enemies like vampires and unique monsters from recovering health. The 5% Mana Stolen Per Hit helps sustain skill usage.

Life Penalty Trade-off

The -20 to Life is noticeable but manageable with other gear. At level 29+, most characters have enough vitality and +life from other items to absorb this penalty. The high stat requirements (80 strength and dexterity) mean you're investing heavily to use this weapon.

Use The Grim Reaper from levels 29-40 on physical builds or Act 2 mercenaries. Replace it once you acquire Insight runeword or exceptional unique polearms for better overall performance.