One-Shot Nuke
One shot, one kill, one clean escape
The One-Shot Nuke build is the opposite of spraying the screen with volume fire. You deliberately limit projectile count, maximize per-hit damage, and stack modifiers that apply only when you commit a full attack — emptying a clip, landing a charged shot, or triggering Final Shot on the last bullet. When the numbers align, bosses that normally drain five minutes of sustained fire collapse in a single rotation. When they do not align, you feel fragile. That high-risk profile is the point.
Review Build Basics if you are unsure how affixes and relic slots interact. Nuke builds punish unfocused looting more than almost any other route on the island.
Core concept: damage per trigger, not per second
Most beginner loadouts optimize damage per second with fire rate and extra trajectories. One-Shot Nuke ignores that metric. You want the largest possible number in one damage event — one charge release, one final bullet, one fully stacked melee follow-up. Every relic that adds “per hit” value matters only if it applies to that one hit. Flat damage bonuses, Growth stacks, crit multipliers, and boss-specific amplifiers are your currency.
This is why the build pairs poorly with Fireworks Master on the same primary weapon. Splitting affix investment between Fragment trajectories and Final Shot burst leaves you mediocre at both. Run nuke on primary, fireworks on secondary only if you accept a weaker secondary identity.
Keystone affixes
Final Shot is the namesake affix. It triggers enhanced effects on the last round of a magazine or the terminal frame of a charge attack — bonus damage, extra crit chance, or spawned explosions depending on the roll. Stack multiple Final Shot sources carefully; some versions overwrite instead of multiply, so test on elites before committing a relic slot.
Growth scales damage over time or per stack — perfect for charge weapons where you spend seconds winding up anyway. Growth plus Final Shot creates the classic nuke loop: build stacks during safe windows, release everything on the final trigger pull.
Shatter adds burst when you break armor or shatter frozen targets. In co-op, ask a frost teammate to set up Shatter moments; solo, consider a minimal frost secondary or a Disruption relic that enables break states.
Embarkation can grant opening-room buffs that persist into your first boss encounter — useful when you know the next room is a elite gate. Less critical than Final Shot but worth taking over random stat bumps.
Skip Fragment on your primary unless you use it solely on a secondary clear gun. Full affix reference: affixes guide.
Weapon and part priorities
Heavy rifles, railguns, charge bows, and single-slug shotguns are natural nuke platforms. Look for weapons with high base damage, slow fire rate, and innate crit or armor pierce. From weapons and parts, prioritize parts that increase charge damage, magazine-last-bullet effects, and crit chance — not split barrels or extra forks.
Your secondary slot should handle trash mobs so you are not wasting Final Shot procs on bats. A cheap auto weapon or a teammate’s Fireworks Master screen clear keeps you from burning boss rotation on adds.
Relic selection
Ten relic slots fill fast when every piece must amplify single-hit damage. Early slots: survivability and charge speed — dead hunters deal zero nuke damage. Mid slots: Growth stacks, crit, boss damage, and any relic that converts status effects into burst. Late slots: capstone pieces that multiply instead of add — these define whether you one-shot or three-shot.
Cross-reference relics for tagged “burst” and “Final Shot” entries. Avoid on-hit volume relics that assume six projectiles per trigger; they look impressive in the tooltip but underperform in practice.
Boss rotation
Open with Embarkation or pre-fight Growth stacking if the arena allows safe setup. Apply break or freeze if your build uses Shatter. Empty the clip into the boss on Final Shot — do not tap-fire. Reload behind cover, rebuild Growth if needed, repeat. Missing the Final Shot window is the most common failure mode; reload speed relics help you recover faster after a whiff.
Tarot picks
Favor tarot that boosts elite damage, crit, or charge speed. Avoid tarot that rewards constant weak hits or penalizes slow fire rates. Details in tarot cards.
Dual Element hybrid (advanced)
Some players run fire charge plus frost finisher by borrowing ideas from Dual Element — not for dual procs every shot, but to apply burn during Growth stack phase and Shatter on release. This demands precise part selection and is not recommended until you have cleared a standard nuke run at least once.
When not to run nuke
Runs with bad weapon drops early — no charge weapon, no Final Shot affix by floor three — should pivot to a flexible mid-tier build rather than forcing nuke. The island does not reroll your affixes. Recognize a dead route and swap to trajectory or dual-element while your slots are still replaceable.
One-Shot Nuke is the build you pick when you know the boss patterns and want the satisfaction of deleting a health bar in one frame. It is unforgiving, math-heavy, and deeply satisfying when the island finally respects your investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
What is the key affix for One-Shot Nuke?
Final Shot is the cornerstone — it enhances your last bullet or charge release. Stack it with Growth for scaling damage and Shatter if you can set up armor break or freeze.
Can I run this build with a shotgun?
Yes, if the shotgun fires a single high-damage slug and supports Final Shot on the last shell. Spread-shot shotguns dilute per-pellet scaling and usually underperform for nuke routes.
How do I handle trash mobs without wasting Final Shot?
Use your secondary weapon for add clear, or rely on co-op teammates running volume builds like Fireworks Master. Never empty a Final Shot magazine into bats.
Is One-Shot Nuke viable solo?
Yes, but you need a reliable secondary clear tool and strong pattern knowledge on bosses. Solo runs punish missed Final Shot windows harder because add control is entirely on you.
Why avoid Fragment on this build?
Fragment multiplies projectiles, which splits your damage across many small hits instead of one large burst. That directly conflicts with Final Shot and Growth stacking on a single trigger.
When should I abandon a nuke run?
If you reach the mid-game without a charge or heavy weapon and no Final Shot affix, pivot to another route. Forcing nuke with wrong drops wastes relic slots you cannot get back.