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]

HistoryEdit

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]

As a political consequence, the destruction of Korhal forced the Confederates to limit themselves to tactical weapons. Battlefield targeting was provided by ghosts.^[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 AbilityEdit

StarCraftEdit

In StarCraft, nukes are built within a nuclear silo, an add-on to the command center.

Nuclear Strike
Acquisition Researched at Nuclear silo	Usage Minerals 200 Gas 200 Range 8 or 10 (1 less than ghost's sight range) Hotkey N
Notes
Deploys a nuclear missile at a given nuclear silo; each silo can only hold one nuke. The costs include 8 supply. To launch the loaded missile, the ghost must direct it; standing uncontrollable and "frozen" for 10-15 seconds until the missile reaches the target. Nuclear launches are announced to all players with the audio and visual message "Nuclear Launch Detected" and the target location is visible to all players by a small flashing red dot. If the ghost is interrupted or the missile is canceled before the process finishes, the nuclear missile is wasted. Without Ocular Implants, the ghost's targeting distance is within the blast radius. The missile itself has a large blast radius and will usually kill any units and critically damage buildings in one shot. It deals 500 damage or removes two thirds of the victim's total hit points, whichever is greater; thus, two nukes will destroy almost any unit or building, if the building was the one targeted point.

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.

StarCraft: GhostEdit

	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 IIEdit

In StarCraft II, nuclear missiles are once again directed by ghosts.

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]

AcquisitionEdit

Arm Silo with Nuke
Acquisition Minerals 100 Gas 100 Research time 60 Requires Factory	Usage Hotkey N
Notes
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.
Edit

UseEdit

Nuclear Strike
Acquisition Research time 60 seconds (to arm a silo) Requires Factory	Usage Minerals 100 Gas 100 Activation/ Build Time 20 second drop time Hotkey N
Notes
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.
Edit

AchievementsEdit

Nuclear Launch Detected
Points	10
Criteria	Kill 15 enemy units with a single Nuke in a League game.

NotesEdit

There is a humorous message that reads "Take it!" on the side of the nuclear missile itself.^[14]

References Edit