One of the standout aspects of The Sims 4‘s latest Life & Death expansion is the Reaper career, which operates quite differently than standard jobs in the game. This unique role allows players to create spiritual guides, helping souls transition to the afterlife. However, pursuing this career involves various tasks, making it a multifaceted journey.
It’s important to clarify that a Sim who takes on the Reaper role does not become the Grim Reaper from The Sims 4. Instead, they assist the primary soul collector, stepping in as sidekick Reapers until they earn a promotion. The Reaper career is an active employment option, meaning you can either let a Sim handle it independently or accompany them as they navigate their tasks.
How to Enter the Reaper Career
No Need for a Fatality
Becoming a Reaper is simpler than you might think—you just need to select the profession from the "Find a Job" menu alongside other career choices. There are no specific traits required, but it’s worth noting that Reapers are often in close proximity to death. Consequently, certain skill sets might make some Sims more adept for this role.
Sims characterized by the Macabre trait are particularly well-suited for the roles of Undertakers or Reapers within the Life & Death expansion of The Sims 4. Key skills that enhance a Sim’s potential for the Reaper job include:
- Thanatology
- Charisma
- Fitness
- Writing
Sims with ideal traits may find themselves approached by the Grim Reaper, who might invite them to consider this death-related career.
You can kick off your Reaper career as a "Grimtern" within the Netherworld Department of Death (NDD), which hires you for this position. During this time, you will learn about the daily responsibilities of a Reaper, which may include tasks you’ve never encountered before.
Reaper Tasks and How to Handle Them
Locate Souls and Aid Their Transition
From the NDD headquarters, you’ll need to get accustomed to the soul-reaping process through assignments indicated by the Scry Bowl in the afterlife. This instrument will inform you of recently deceased individuals. Your role as a Reaper is to identify a target, successfully reap them, and then extract their soul to ensure it moves on.
Reapers don’t deal with rebirth, only the passing of Sims. A typical workday might involve tasks like:
| Sample Task | How To Complete |
|---|---|
| Practice Reaping | Interact with a mannequin at NDD HQ to practice soul collection. |
| Research Assignment | Use an NDD bookshelf to learn about the deceased for easier soul extraction. |
| Perform Scythe Maintenance | Check your scythe’s performance by clicking on your Reaper Sim. |
| Scry For Travel | Click on the Scry Bowl to find a target for reaping. |
| Emotional Reaping | Assess a tragic death and listen to other Sims’ pleas to decide a soul’s fate. |
| Submit A Death Certificate | Record the soul’s disposal using a computer after delivering it to the Netherworld Portal. |
| Socialize With Co-Workers | Engage with other NPC Sims at the NDD HQ. |
| Analyzing Death Trends | Use a computer at NDD to forecast the next reaping opportunity. |
| Close Netherworld Fissure | Capture escaped souls represented by blue orbs in the world to meet your Soul Quota. |
| Harvest Grimbrosia | Find Grimbrosia plants and gather them using your scythe. |
You may also encounter afterlife emergencies, from fixing the Scry Bowl to closing additional Netherworld Fissures. Occasionally, you might even need to recalibrate Grim’s Slablet, procure office supplies, or manage mischievous ghosts.
Most reaping tasks will involve interacting with either an urn housing the deceased or the body of a passed Sim.
The crucial part of a Reaper’s duty is to accumulate enough souls to satisfy your Soul Quota within a designated timeframe. Like all careers in The Sims 4, achieving specific goals is essential, even for the unconventional Reapers. If you meet your Soul Quota—easily checked from any NDD computer—you may receive rewards from the Grim Reaper’s Box-o-Fun(eral).
Boosting Your Afterlife Earnings
The Reaper career has ten promotion levels, and a Sim is only officially recognized as a Reaper upon achieving the final promotion. Each position within the NDD has unique work hours and pay, influencing how you navigate the career as you progress. You’ll need to fulfill various requirements for promotions, with some levels taking longer to achieve than others.
Certain jobs offer alternate career paths, but the Reaper career has a singular route that must be followed.
Here are the promotion levels for the Reaper career in The Sims 4, complete with work hours and respective salaries:
| Reaper Level | Promotion Requirements | Hours | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – Grimtern | N/A | (M T W T F) 9am-5pm | $25/hr |
| 2 – Restceptionist | Thanatology Skill Level 2 | (M T W T F) 9am-5pm | $31/hr |
| 3 – Dust-to-Dust Buster | Thanatology Skill Level 3, Release 3 Souls | (M T W T F) 10am-6pm | $39/hr |
| 4 – Collections Agent | Fitness Skill Level 2, Charisma Skill Level 3 | (T W T F Sat) 2pm-10pm | $54/hr |
| 5 – Soul Slayer | Thanatology Skill Level 4, Release 4 Souls | (T W T F Sat) 2pm-10pm | $77/hr |
| 6 – Spirit Expert | Charisma Skill 4, Write Reaping Manual | (Sun M T T F) 11am-7pm | $110/hr |
| 7 – Nether-Tether | Thanatology Skill Level 5 | (Sun W T F Sat) 5pm-1am | $158/hr |
| 8 – D.N.R. | Fitness Skill Level 4, Charisma Skill Level 5 | (Sun T W T Sat) 2pm-10pm | $223/hr |
| 9 – Graveling | Release 10 Souls | (Sun M W T F) 10am-5pm | $299/hr |
| 10 – Reaper | Complete Daily Tasks Until Promoted | (M W F S) 9am-4pm | $421/hr |
Reaper Career Rewards
Ensure you hit your quota to maximize your rewards.
Rewards associated with the Reaper career revolve around achieving a Soul Quota of 25 souls weekly. Successfully meeting this target, either solo or with the help of fellow Reapers at NDD, earns you extra incentives. In contrast, failing to meet your quota can negatively affect your Sim’s performance and block rewards for that week.
The Grim Reaper sets the weekly quota, and if you struggle to achieve it, keep an eye out for Lost Souls in your jobs, available for purchase from the Mysterious Merchant NPC.
You can be rewarded for your performance, getting assigned to bronze, silver, or gold tiers, much like other occupations in The Sims 4. Promotions yield appealing cosmetics as well. These include:
- Dust-to-Dust Buster: Basic Reaper Uniform
- Death’s Negotiation Reporter (D.N.R.): Timeless Hourglass (Household Inventory)
- Reaper: Grand Reaper Uniform, Grim’s Right Hand Reward Trait
If you stay focused, you’ll consistently meet your quota, gaining plenty of rewards from your Sim’s endeavors. While the Reaper career in The Sims 4 may be demanding, the benefits from this soul-draining job in the Life & Death expansion certainly justify the effort.