- A notification that someone or something is about to be nuked(src)
A nuclear blast
The nuclear missile, or nuke, is a terran weapon of mass destruction, fired from a structure, vehicle, or starship. The modern version must be guided to its destination by a ghost.[1]
History
A nuclear strike made against zerg hatcheries
Nuclear weapons were first developed by humans during the 20th century on Earth. Following the Long Sleep, the Koprulu Sector colonials redeveloped these weapons. They were deployed during the Guild Wars.[2]
In 2491,[3] the Terran Confederacy bombarded Korhal IV with one thousand Apocalypse-class nuclear missiles to suppress the rebellion of Korhal. Life on the world was devastated and millions killed.[1] However Arcturus Mengsk, the rebel leader, was off world at the time and proceeded to rebuild the movement.[4]
Bomby weather with a chance of mushroom clouds
As a political consequence, the destruction of Korhal forced the Confederates to limit themselves to tactical weapons. Battlefield targeting was provided by ghosts to prevent outside tampering to the missile guidance systems.[1] The scenario used to train ghosts to direct nukes is the extremely lifelike holo-projection simulation, Scenario A11-X93, more commonly known as Nukes Away.[5]
The cataclysm removed the inhibitions the remaining Korhalians had on using their own arsenal.[6]
By 2501, Dominion ghosts were directing much smaller Apocalypse-class nuclear missiles as tactical weapons.[7]
Game Ability
StarCraft
The nuclear blast effect (StarCraft: Remastered)
In StarCraft, nukes are built within a nuclear silo, an add-on to the command center. Each Nuclear missile takes up 8 supply.
A nuclear silo may build and store one missile each.
A ghost launches and "aims" the nuclear missile at a targeted location. The missile arrives 14 seconds after. The ghost must aim for the entire duration; if the ghost takes any other action, or the ghost is killed, or the missile is cancelled, the launch is aborted and the missile is wasted.
The launch is broadcast to all players with the audio and visual message "Nuclear Launch Detected." The targeted location is visible to all players as a small flashing red dot.
The missile deals 500 damage or removes two-thirds of total hit points (whichever is greater) to all units within a wide blast radius. One nuke kill most units, and critically damage most buildings. Two nukes will destroy nearly anything. Without Ocular Implants, the ghost's targeting distance is within the blast radius.
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The dot indicating the point on which the nuclear missile is about to fall can be hidden by various methods. The easiest way is to place an air unit over the point so that the dot is effectively hidden. When fighting against the zerg, targeting a missile on a bleeding zerg structure will also disguise the dot as some of the blood from the structure, and it will be impossible to distinguish the dot. Another easy alternative is to use firebats, whose flames can actually hide the dot as long as both the missile and the firebat are targeting the same structure. In certain cases, targeting a mineral field may also allow for making the dot difficult to see.
StarCraft: Ghost
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This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost, which has been declared non-canon. Elements may be taken as 'flavor lore' however.
The content may be significantly out of date. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details. |
In StarCraft: Ghost, nuclear strikes could be called down by Nova.[8] Tactical nuke launchers also existed in the game.[9]
StarCraft II
Versus
The nuclear missile in StarCraft II
In StarCraft II, nuclear missiles are once again directed by ghosts. Unlike in the original starcraft nuclear missiles don't take up supply.
- Abilities
Arms the silo with a tactical nuke.
Nukes take 20 seconds to land, but they deal up to 300 (+200 vs. structures) damage in a large radius.
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Ghosts and spectres can call down nuclear strikes, dealing 300 damage + 200 vs buildings.
The launching player sees a large red symbol on the target area while the opponent only sees a red dot. When the ghost is aiming the nuke, it will be "frozen", but it can still be given the order to "move away", which it will do the moment it is unfrozen.
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Wings of Liberty
In the Wings of Liberty single-player campaign they may also be called down by spectres. They are built in and launched from the ghost academy, and require a factory. Though the nuke's target is still shown as a small red dot to enemies, to the player and allies a large red target with cross hairs shows the nuke's target, with the cross hairs growing closer together as the targeting of the nuke completes. The size of the target approximates the area of effect of the nuke, giving the player and allies a clear area to evacuate from.
The nukes launched by Gabriel Tosh during "Breakout", and Nova during "Ghost of a Chance", deal 700 base damage and an additional 500 against structures, and land faster than nukes launched by ghosts or spectres.[10][11] During "Engine of Destruction", the Odin carries a nuke,[12] but this ability is not available when the Odin is controlled in "Media Blitz".[13]
- Abilities
Nova can drop a nuke which deals 700 damage + 500 vs structures. This requires a nuclear silo that she has hacked.
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Nova Covert Ops
In Nova Covert Ops, nukes are automatically built by the ghost academy without any cost and can be used by Nova.[14]
Co-op Missions
Nuclear missiles appear in the "Missile Command" mutator in Co-op Missions as a 100 health unit that will be launched toward the player's base.[15]
Nukes launched by Nova in Co-op Missions will do 600 damage and will not hurt friendlies.
- Abilities
Calls down a nuclear strike to target area after 5 seconds, dealing 600 damage to all enemies within a radius 8.
Infiltration Specialist: Increases the Tac Nuke Strike splash radius from 8 to 12 and reduces cooldown by 50%.
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Space Station deals 500 damage to Heroic targets it contacts, everything else is instantly destroyed within a radius of 3.8. Launch 12 Assault drones which will attack nearby targets. Lasts 10 seconds.
Have a Blast: On death, the station explodes with a nuclear blast, dealing 300 damage (+200 vs structures) within a radius of 8.
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Calls down a Nuclear Strike at a target location. Nukes take 3 seconds to land, but they deal up to 1000 damage in a large area. Replaces Barrage.
Dutiful Dogwalker: Big Red Button is unavailable.
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Achievements
 Nuclear Launch Detected
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10 |
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Kill 15 enemy units with a single Nuke in an Unranked or Ranked game. |
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If the player uses the same ghost to drop more nukes he can earn the "Unbreakable!" achievement. | |
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Heroes of the Storm
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The following section contains information from Heroes of the Storm and is not canon to StarCraft continuity
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Nuclear missiles are collected by players in the Warhead Junction map of Heroes of the Storm. They can be launched at the enemy team's fortifications.[16]
Nova possessed a nuclear strike ability in Heroes of the Storm.[17] The Odin, as piloted by Tychus Findlay in the game, now possesses this ability.[18]
Notes
The dot marks the spot
- The blast effect of the missile in StarCraft consists of only four colors.[19]
- There is a humorous message that reads "Take it!" on the side of the nuclear missile in StarCraft II.[20]
- A nuclear missile's mushroom cloud is available as a trophy top for trophies earned in season 2 of StarCraft II's automated tournaments.
References
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