Nuke



The Nuke spell is a useful offensive pickup in Catacomb 3D. It is extremely handy against multiple opponents and larger foes at close range. The pickup resembles a glass sphere filled with crackling red energy.

It is called the Xterminator spell in the Catacomb Adventure Series, but it has similar functionality. In these games it resembles a crystal orb with a cluster of four lights inside.

In Catacomb 3D
This spell fires off 8 Fireballs - one in every direction around the player. Each does 3 points of damage. At close range, it's possible for a single target to be hit more than once, allowing it to do more damage. Nukes are best used to clear out enemies crowding the player; bigger targets, like Trolls and Demons, are esepcially vulnerable to being hit more than once. Spamming nukes is by far the easiest way to clear out Nemesis' boss room, as well.

The hotkey for Nukes in Catacomb 3D is N. While you can carry up to 99 Nukes, only 10 will be shown in your status screen.

While Nukes are slightly more common than Bolts in Catacomb 3D, they're still uncommon, and should be saved for emergencies. They're often found as treasure hidden in secret areas early on, with caches of them hidden away throughout the labyrinth. It is recommended that you either hoard them for the fight against Nemesis or save them for when you're in danger of being mobbed by a large pack of enemies.

In the Catacomb Adventure Series


Now known as the Xterminator spell, the version in the Catacomb Adventure Series is both better and worse all at once. The spell no longer produces Fireballs, instead creating Magick Missile projectiles. In return, the number of projectiles fired is increased from eight to twelve, allowing it to score more hits and hit a target multiple times easier. While the loss of damage is a downgrade, Xterminators are also substantially easier to come by in the Adventure Series, as they can be both found in levels and in Treasure Chests. On the downside, destructible treasure means that the player also must be more careful in their use!

The hotkey for Xterminators in the Catacomb Trilogy is X. You can carry up to 99 Xterminators.

The glass spheres that contain the Exterminator's energy are rather fragile in these games, and, like other treasure in the trilogy, will be destroyed if shot. Be careful.