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The Grim Reaper has struck fear across the world for thousands of years. When this mythical creature shows up, someone is about to die. This skeletal monster is said to carry a sharp scythe that slices a soul away from its body. The reaper cannot be bribed, tricked or fought. It always leaves with the souls for which it came.

Bone Boy: Though the Grim Reaper was never a human being, its body resembles that of a skeleton. The reaper's face is a skull, and its dark, flowering cloak covers a frame of bare white bones.

The End: Most stories tell of the Reaper carrying an hourglass, accompanied by a crow or raven. The birds are universal symbols for the coming of death, and the hourglass shows a victim that his or her time is up.

Deadly Harvest[]

Grim Reaper Back Image

The Grim Reaper represents the arrival of death.

The Grim Reaper has one job-to collect souls. According to legend, the Reaper doesn't kill people; it just shows up when someone's time on Earth has come to an end. The figure stands silently in front of the victim while holding a giant scythe. Like a farmer who harvests his crops, the Reaper uses its scythe to sever the spirit from a human body, which it then carries to the afterlife. One swing of its weapon can harvest thousands of souls from around the world.

The Warning: Some legends tell of the Grim Reaper showing itself to evildoers, not to take them away, but to warn them to act better. The Reaper appears and taps its hourglass, showing that time is ticking, and there still might be enough time left to save their souls.

Go Gently: Many people fear death, so they try to escape the Reaper's scythe. The Grim Reaper can't be cheated. Trying to fight can lead a person's soul to torture in the afterlife, so stories suggest that a person should accept fate, and quietly take the Reaper by the hand.

Grim Tales[]

The Grim Reaper first appeared in stories around the 1500s, but the figure of "death" holding a scythe dates back to Ancient Greek Mythology. Chronos, who was the master of time, swallowed his own children to show that all life comes to an end. When the reaper came along, it was given a large, dark cloak. The cloak originally looked like the robes of the priests or monks who performed the last rites for people who were dying.

Trading Card[]

Trivia[]

  • The trading card has the Platinum Attack Power trait.
  • The Grim Reaper is mentioned on several other cards:
    • The bottom left illustration on the back of the card is also used on the back of the Skeletal Warriors card. On the skeletal warriors' card, however, it's purple.
    • Anubis's knowledge card compares stories of the deity appearing before dying people to the Grim Reaper.
    • The Grim Reaper is mentioned on the back of the Wraiths knowledge card.
  • The Grim Reaper is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
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