Mutations change how individual nukes behave in Merge a Nuke, adjusting their Cash earnings, Damage, Health, and launch Cooldown. Each mutation pairs at least one buff with at least one debuff, so every mutated nuke is a trade-off rather than a straight upgrade. There are 16 mutations in total, spread across Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, and Admiral rarities.
Quick answer: Complete Rebirth 3 to turn mutations on. After that, nukes can spawn with a mutation at random, and merging two nukes can pass a mutation to the result.
Rebirth requirements to unlock mutations
The system is gated behind Rebirths, and higher rarities open up as you reset more times. You cannot see or roll any mutation until you clear Rebirth 3, and the two strongest tiers stay locked until much later.
| Rebirths completed | What it unlocks |
|---|---|
| 3 | The mutation system, including Common, Rare, and Epic rolls |
| 5 | Legendary mutations |
| 10 | Admiral mutation (the highest rarity) and a second mutation slot |
Reaching 10 Rebirths matters for two reasons. It grants access to the Admiral tier, and it opens a second mutation slot so a single nuke can carry two mutations at once.
How mutations spawn and stack
Once Rebirth 3 is done, there are two ways a nuke picks up a mutation. Newly spawned nukes have a random chance to appear already mutated, and merging two nukes gives the resulting nuke a chance to inherit a mutation.
To put two mutations on one nuke, merge a mutated nuke with another mutated nuke. When the two carry different mutations, the merged nuke has a chance to keep both. This only works after the second slot is unlocked at 10 Rebirths.
Tip: Legendary mutations have a 10% chance to roll as Stabilized. A Stabilized mutation keeps the buffs but applies no debuff, making it the cleanest possible result.
Every mutation and its effects
Fifteen mutations show up in the Index and can be obtained through normal play. A sixteenth, Magma, is tied to a limited event and is covered separately below. Some entries are still being cataloged and do not yet have confirmed names or values.
| Mutation | Rarity | Buffs and debuffs |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerated Fuel | Common | 35% shorter launch cooldown; deals 25% less damage |
| Dense Core | Common | Earns 25% more Cash; 25% more Health; 40% longer cooldown |
| Enriched Core | Common | Earns 40% more Cash; 25% less Health |
| Reinforced Plating | Common | 50% more Health; earns 25% less Cash |
| [TBA] | Common | Not yet confirmed |
| Critical Mass | Rare | Deals 50% more damage below half Health; earns 25% less Cash |
| Leeching Warhead | Rare | Restores 25% Health after a successful hit; 25% longer cooldown |
| Regenerative Alloy | Rare | Slowly heals after avoiding damage; earns 20% less Cash |
| [TBA] | Epic | Not yet confirmed |
| [TBA] | Epic | Not yet confirmed |
| [TBA] | Epic | Not yet confirmed |
| Siege Core | Epic | Deals 75% more damage; 50% longer cooldown |
| Fissioned | Legendary | Creates a bonus lower-tier nuke when merged; earns 30% less Cash; 20% less Health |
| Overclocked Reactor | Legendary | Earns 2x Cash; deals 75% more damage; 40% less Health; 35% longer cooldown |
| [TBA] | Admiral | Not yet confirmed |
Reading the trade-offs helps you decide what to keep. Enriched Core and Overclocked Reactor push Cash and Damage hard at the cost of survivability, while Reinforced Plating and Dense Core sacrifice income to keep a nuke alive longer during raids.
How to get the Magma mutation
Magma is the one mutation that never appears in the Index, and it applies buffs and debuffs in the same style as the standard set. It only comes from the Volcano Event, which spawns during the Merge a Nuke Admin Abuse Event.
Magma gives nukes 50% more Cash and extra damage, and the area where those nukes fall catches fire. The fire is cosmetic and does not add any damage of its own.
For most players, the priority order is clear. Push to Rebirth 3 first to switch the system on, aim for Rebirth 5 if you want a shot at Stabilized Legendary rolls, and reach Rebirth 10 to run two mutations on the same nuke. The remaining unnamed Common, Epic, and Admiral entries will fill in as they are confirmed in the Index.
