Nuker

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A nuker is a build that specializes in dealing ranged area of effect (AoE) damage. The role is similar to a spiker; the key difference being that nukers hit several foes at once. Nukers are useful in most areas of PvE. They're rarely used in PvP, since human foes avoid standing close to each other, but can be used to capture shrines in Fort Aspenwood, Jade Quarry and Alliance Battles. In PvE, nukers are usually combined with some form of crowd control, such as pulling, tanking, corner blocking, or snaring, to ensure that as many foes as possible are within the area of effect.

The term was originally associated with elementalists, but many other professions can fulfill the same role:

The term can also be applied to melee-ranged attackers:

Weaknesses[edit]

Potent AoE-spells are balanced by high energy costs, overcast, and/or long activation times. While energy management and Glyph of Sacrifice can mitigate these issues, few nuking builds are capable of delivering sustained damage without pause.

Nukers are generally less efficient when fighting smaller groups. This is especially true for builds centered on Mark of Pain or Splinter Weapon, since these skills are incapable of damaging single foes.

Primary spells[edit]

IconNameDescriptionEnergyActivation timeRecharge timeProf.AttributeCampaign
Breath of Fire.jpg Breath of Fire Spell. Deals 10...34...40 fire damage each second (5 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to target's initial location. 10 Tango-overcast.png 055 Tango-energy.png 02.002 Tango-activation-darker.png 01010 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Factions
Churning Earth.jpg Churning Earth Spell. Deals 10...34...40 earth damage each second (5 seconds). Hits foes near target's initial location. Causes knock-down to foes moving faster than normal. 0 1515 Tango-energy.png 02.002 Tango-activation-darker.png 03030 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistEarth MagicZ Factions
Double Dragon.jpg Double Dragon Elite Enchantment Spell. (8 seconds.) Enchants you and target ally. Adjacent foes take 5...25...30 fire damage each second. Skills that target a foe also inflict Burning (0...2...3 second[s]). 0 1010 Tango-energy.png 01.001 Tango-activation-darker.png 02020 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Factions
Fire Storm.jpg Fire Storm Spell. Deals 5...29...35 fire damage each second (10 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to target's initial location. 0 1010 Tango-energy.png 02.002 Tango-activation-darker.png 02020 Tango-recharge-darker.png Tango-quest-icon.pngelementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Core
Fireball.jpg Fireball Spell. Projectile: deals 7...91...112 fire damage to target and adjacent foes. 0 1010 Tango-energy.png 01.5001.5Tango-activation-darker.png 0077 Tango-recharge-darker.png Tango-quest-icon.pngelementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Core
Flame Burst.jpg Flame Burst Spell. Deals 15...99...120 fire damage to all foes near you. 0 1515 Tango-energy.png 00.750.75¾ Tango-activation-darker.png 0055 Tango-recharge-darker.png Tango-quest-icon.pngelementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Prophecies
Inferno.jpg Inferno Spell. Deals 30...114...135 fire damage to foes adjacent to you. 0 1010 Tango-energy.png 00.750.75¾ Tango-activation-darker.png 01010 Tango-recharge-darker.png Tango-quest-icon.pngelementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Core
Liquid Flame.jpg Liquid Flame Spell. Deals 7...91...112 fire damage. Deals 7...91...112 fire damage to nearby foes if target was attacking or casting. 0 1010 Tango-energy.png 01.001 Tango-activation-darker.png 01515 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Nightfall
Meteor Shower.jpg Meteor Shower Spell. Deals 7...91...112 fire damage and causes knock-down every 3 seconds (9 seconds). Hits foes adjacent to target's initial location. 10 Tango-overcast.png 2525 Tango-energy.png 055 Tango-activation-darker.png 06060 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Prophecies
Mind Burn.jpg Mind Burn Elite Spell. Deals 15...51...60 fire damage. If you have more energy than target foe, deals 15...51...60 more fire damage and inflicts Burning (1...8...10 second[s]). Also hits adjacent foes. 5 Tango-overcast.png 055 Tango-energy.png 01.001 Tango-activation-darker.png 0055 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Core
Phoenix.jpg Phoenix Spell. Projectile: deals 10...50...60 fire damage to target and nearby foes. Heals allies for 20...68...80 if you are Overcast. 0 1010 Tango-energy.png 01.5001.5Tango-activation-darker.png 0077 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Prophecies
Rodgort's Invocation.jpg Rodgort's Invocation Spell. Deals 15...99...120 fire damage. Also affects foes near your target. Inflicts Burning condition (1...3...3 second[s]). 0 2525 Tango-energy.png 02.002 Tango-activation-darker.png 0088 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Prophecies
Sandstorm.jpg Sandstorm Elite Spell. Deals 10...26...30 earth damage each second (10 seconds). Hits foes near target foe's initial location. Hits attacking foes for 10...26...30 more earth damage each second. 0 1515 Tango-energy.png 02.002 Tango-activation-darker.png 02525 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistEarth MagicZ Nightfall
Savannah Heat.jpg Savannah Heat Elite Spell. Deals 5...17...20 fire damage for each second since casting this spell (5 seconds). Hits foes near target's initial location. 0 055 Tango-energy.png 02.002 Tango-activation-darker.png 02525 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Nightfall
Searing Flames.jpg Searing Flames Elite Spell. Hits foes near your target. Deals 10...82...100 fire damage to foes already Burning. Inflicts Burning condition (1...6...7 seconds) to foes not Burning. 0 1515 Tango-energy.png 01.001 Tango-activation-darker.png 0022 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Nightfall
Searing Heat.jpg Searing Heat Spell. Deals 10...34...40 fire damage each second (5 seconds). Hits foes near target's initial location. End effect: inflicts Burning condition (3 seconds). 0 1515 Tango-energy.png 02.002 Tango-activation-darker.png 02525 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Prophecies
Star Burst.jpg Star Burst Elite Touch Spell. Deals 7...91...112 fire damage. Inflicts Burning (1...3...4 seconds). [sic] Gain 2 Energy for each foe struck. Also hits foes in the area. 0 055 Tango-energy.png 00.750.75¾ Tango-activation-darker.png 0077 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistFire MagicZ Factions
Unsteady Ground.jpg Unsteady Ground Elite Spell. Deals 10...34...40 earth damage each second (5 seconds) and causes knock-down to attacking foes. Hits foes near target's initial location. 0 1010 Tango-energy.png 02.002 Tango-activation-darker.png 01515 Tango-recharge-darker.png elementalistaElementalistEarth MagicZ Factions

See also[edit]



Team roles (edit)
Type General team roles Specific team roles Hero team roles
Damage SpikerNuker BomberDagger spammerTouch rangerStarbursterTrapper
Pressure Lineback BarragerBeast masterCripshot RangerPressure Ranger
Support HealerProtection BatteryBonderFlag runnerHybrid monkImbagonInfuserOrders
Control ShutdownTank Minion masterPermaSpirit spammer Mesmer Midline
Utility CallerToolbox Gimmick