"Gain 5% critical chance. Critical strikes heal for 8 (+4 per stack) health." The +5% crit applies only on your first stack - more stacks add heal per crit only. Heal is multiplied by attack proc coefficient, so rapid low-coefficient hits heal less per strike. At 100% crit with multiple stacks, every hit becomes reliable sustain. Unlocked via the Prismatic Trial.
Crit Bonus
+5% (first stack only)
Extra Stacks
Heal only, no crit
Only the First Stack Gives Crit Chance
Harvester's Scythe grants +5% critical strike chance once - from your first copy. Every additional stack only increases the heal per critical strike (+4 HP each). To increase crit chance further, stack Lens-Maker's Glasses (10% each) alongside your Scythes.
How to Unlock Harvester's Scythe
Prismatically Aligned Challenge
1
Open the main menu and select Prismatic Trial from the challenge options.2
Complete the challenge run. You only need to reach the end of Stage 2 - surviving that far completes the Prismatically Aligned challenge and unlocks the Scythe.3
Prismatic Trials use a fixed seed and fixed item set. They refresh every 72 hours with new objectives. If the current trial is too difficult, wait for the next one.4
The challenge can be completed in multiplayer. Only the player who completes it earns the unlock.
Trial Too Hard? Wait 72 Hours
Prismatic Trials rotate every 3 days. Some seeds are significantly easier than others. If the current trial feels impossible, check back after the reset. The item is absolutely worth the effort.
Proc Coefficient and Average Heal
The heal is multiplied by the proc coefficient of the attack that landed the crit. A full proc coefficient (1.0) heals the full 8 HP. Lower coefficients reduce it proportionally - MUL-T's Nailgun at 0.25 coefficient heals only 2 HP per crit.
| Stacks |
Heal/Crit |
Crit % |
Avg Heal/Hit |
+ Rejuvenation Rack |
| 1 | 8 HP | 5% | 0.4 HP/hit avg | 0.8 HP/hit avg |
| 1 | 8 HP | 50% | 4.0 HP/hit avg | 8.0 HP/hit avg |
| 1 | 8 HP | 100% | 8.0 HP/hit avg | 16.0 HP/hit avg |
| 2 | 12 HP | 5% | 0.6 HP/hit avg | 1.2 HP/hit avg |
| 2 | 12 HP | 50% | 6.0 HP/hit avg | 12.0 HP/hit avg |
| 2 | 12 HP | 100% | 12.0 HP/hit avg | 24.0 HP/hit avg |
| 3 | 16 HP | 5% | 0.8 HP/hit avg | 1.6 HP/hit avg |
| 3 | 16 HP | 50% | 8.0 HP/hit avg | 16.0 HP/hit avg |
| 3 | 16 HP | 100% | 16.0 HP/hit avg | 32.0 HP/hit avg |
| 5 | 24 HP | 5% | 1.2 HP/hit avg | 2.4 HP/hit avg |
| 5 | 24 HP | 50% | 12.0 HP/hit avg | 24.0 HP/hit avg |
| 5 | 24 HP | 100% | 24.0 HP/hit avg | 48.0 HP/hit avg |
Best Survivors
HuntressS100% crit vs airborne
Every hit against airborne enemies is a guaranteed crit. With just 1 Scythe, Huntress heals 8 HP on every airborne enemy hit without needing any Lens-Maker's Glasses. The most natural Scythe carrier in the game.
RailgunnerS100% crit on weakpoints
Railgunner's M1 always crits on identified weakpoints. Every weakpoint hit heals the full Scythe value. Her naturally high single-hit damage also means fewer but larger heals.
BanditA100% crit from Backstab
Bandit crits on every attack from behind via the Backstab passive. In most combat scenarios Bandit maintains near-permanent crit. Scythe becomes reliable sustain on a survivor who frequently dashes behind enemies.
MercenaryAHigh crit with Glasses
Melee range means many hits land per second. With crit capped at 100%, every hit heals. Attack speed items amplify total healing per second significantly.
Best Item Pairings
Lens-Maker's Glasses
10% crit per stack. Stack 10 for 100% crit, then every hit procs full Scythe healing. The primary way to cap crit chance on most survivors. Warning: Lost Seer's Lenses corrupts all of these.
Predatory Instincts
Also grants +5% crit (first stack). On-crit attack speed buff stacks up to 36%. Combining Scythe and Predatory Instincts gives 10% base crit plus attack speed scaling - both reward high crit frequency.
Rejuvenation Rack
Doubles all healing. At 100% crit and 3 Scythes, base heal is 16 HP per hit. With 1 Rejuvenation Rack that becomes 32 HP per hit. Transforms Scythe from sustain into near-invulnerability on fast attackers.
Aegis
Healing past full HP creates a barrier for 50% of excess. With Scythe + Rejuvenation Rack overhealing is constant, stacking barrier on top of full health for a double defensive layer.
N'kuhana's Opinion
Stores 100% of healing as Soul Energy, releases as tracking skull missiles. Scythe heal feeds N'kuhana constantly at high crit - the skulls deal 250% of stored energy. Turns healing into offense.
57 Leaf Clover
Improves all random rolls including the crit roll itself. At sub-100% crit, Clover pushes effective crit rate higher. Once crit is capped, Clover's benefit here disappears but still improves all other proc items.
Lost Seer's Lenses Warning
Lost Seer's Lenses (void uncommon) corrupts ALL Lens-Maker's Glasses in your inventory. If you are relying on stacked Glasses to reach 100% crit for Scythe healing, picking up a Lost Seer's Lenses removes your entire crit source in one pickup. Avoid it in Scythe-focused builds unless you have another crit source.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Harvester's Scythe do in Risk of Rain 2?
Harvester's Scythe grants +5% critical strike chance (first stack only) and heals you for 8 HP (+4 per stack) on every critical strike. The heal is multiplied by the proc coefficient of the attack, so high proc coefficient hits heal the full amount while rapid low-coefficient multi-hits heal less per strike. Stacking beyond the first adds heal per crit but no additional crit chance.
How do you unlock Harvester's Scythe in Risk of Rain 2?
Harvester's Scythe is unlocked by completing the Prismatically Aligned challenge: complete a Prismatic Trial. Prismatic Trials are time-limited challenge runs with fixed item sets and specific objectives. You only need to survive to the end of Stage 2 to complete the challenge. Trials refresh every 72 hours with new objectives - if the current one is difficult, wait for the next.
Does stacking Harvester's Scythe give more crit chance?
No. The +5% critical strike chance is a one-time bonus from your first Harvester's Scythe. Additional stacks only increase the heal per crit (8 base, +4 per stack) and do not grant more crit chance. To increase crit chance further, stack Lens-Maker's Glasses (10% each) or use Predatory Instincts.
Is Harvester's Scythe good in Risk of Rain 2?
Yes, especially on survivors with naturally high crit chance or builds that cap crit at 100%. At 100% crit, every hit heals you for the full 8+ HP, turning it into reliable sustain. On survivors with low proc coefficient attacks the heal per hit is reduced proportionally, but it remains solid on almost any survivor since crit builds are universally strong.
What is the best build for Harvester's Scythe?
Stack Lens-Maker's Glasses to reach 100% critical strike chance (10 glasses), then Harvester's Scythes for increasing heal per crit, then Rejuvenation Rack to double all that healing. At 100% crit with 3 Scythes and 1 Rack you are healing 32 HP per hit. Add Aegis for a barrier layer on top of full health and N'kuhana's Opinion to convert that excess healing into skull missiles.
Which survivors benefit most from Harvester's Scythe?
Huntress benefits the most - she has 100% critical strike chance against airborne enemies by default, meaning every hit heals full Scythe value without needing Lens-Maker's Glasses. Railgunner gets guaranteed crits on weakpoints. Bandit crits on every Backstab hit from behind. Any survivor that can cap crit at 100% gets full value from every attack.
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