Nuclear weapons, sometimes known as “nukes,” are a vital part of our history, gaining prominence during and after World War II for good or evil purposes.
Because Hearts of Iron IV is set during World War II, nukes are present in the game. Yet, just like all other factors in great strategy games, learning how to employ nukes successfully in HOI4 is worth spending time on and learning.
The majority of gamers anticipate nukes to function the same as they do in real life, yet they are dissatisfied. The implications on population and soldiers are not as serious as one would assume, and they are more focused on the game’s mechanics.
But First, How Do I Get Nukes In HOI4?
You don’t really have to be an expert in physics or chemistry to get nukes! You must, though, do some research.
You’ll need special technology for the expertise, as well as some specific resources for the construction and planes to deliver them.
Nuclear Bombs, Nuclear Reactors, and Atomic Research are the technologies you will need. All of these technologies come from the Engineering group, and each is dependent on the one before it. To put it another way, nukes can only be constructed if you have access to reactors. In contrast, reactors will only be available to you if your nation has the necessary nuclear capabilities.
We never said this would be a quick process. The overall study time is nearly 1500 minutes. However, it may be sped up a bit. Simply recruit a theoretician that has the Nuclear Enthusiast or Nuclear Scientist characteristic.
Furthermore, each reactor can only produce one bomb each year. Mass devastation takes a great deal of patience… or cheating.
Nevertheless, you may use the nuke interface command to instantly make any number of nukes accessible.
Also Read: How to Use Paratroopers in HOI4?
I Have The Nukes Now. What Else is Required?
You must first verify that your connection with the other nation receiving the nukes is poor enough until you can deploy your nukes. That implies you must be opposed to the nation in charge of the area you would like to assault.
Furthermore, because the nukes will be dropped from the aircraft, you will be required to have at least 75% Air Superiority for that region and a Strategic Bomber jet close. Tactical Bombers are insufficient to deploy nuclear bombs. Hence this is the only type of aircraft that will do it.
If you’re having trouble meeting the Air Superiority criterion, remember that you may fly any jet you own into the target region. It makes no difference what sort of aircraft it is, how long it can fly, or what it is undertaking. This is because every aircraft in the area contributes to your air superiority.
I Have Met All Requirements, But How Can I Drop The Nukes?
Someone seems to be really interested in seeing the planet burn! Perhaps, at the very least, the earth as seen in a computer game. However, no worries, as we are here to help you and show you how to deploy nukes in HOI4.
The Default Map view is used to launch a nuke. If you’re in a different view, hit F1 to change to it.
Simply choose the region you wish to “explode” and afterward click the nuclear symbol that you will see at the bottom of the screen.
Hey, and there’s a catch: you will have to be patient for the nuke to explode. Remember how important perseverance is? You just gave the command to drop the bomb, but the nuke will require additional 12 hours (not actual hours but in-game ones) for this to finally go off.
We understand that it’s a bit of a letdown. However, keep in mind that Hearts of Iron IV is a strategy game. Thus all moves must be well-plotted instead of spontaneous.
Also Read: How To Launch a Naval Invasion in HOI4?
The Nukes Finally Exploded… But They Weren’t As Destructive As I Expected!
Do you recall how we stated that learning how to employ bombs in HOI4 might be disappointing for certain gamers? This is due to the fact that, yet again, Hearts of Iron IV is a strategy game. Despite the impressive graphics, the impact of a nuke bomb will not be as devastating as with an action game. Instead, they have an impact on how other people are affected.
Once you launch a nuke on a region, all of the structures in that region will be destroyed, and all units aimed towards that region will lose more than 20% of their organization and power. That makes them more maneuverable.
Additionally, any aircraft in that region’s airports or airfields may be damaged.
There are further consequences for the nation that controls the province. Structures on a national level, for example, will be harmed on both sides, while buildings on a provincial level can only be harmed if they have been deliberately targeted.
Furthermore, based on how seriously the country’s structures are hit by the nuke, war backing will be cut by approximately 20%. As a result, capitulation becomes more plausible.
It’s worth noting that if you bomb Japan two times, it will surrender.
How are Enemy Forces Still Present in The Province?
It’s important to remember that Hearts of Iron IV takes place during World War II. The subject of nukes and nuclear bombs was still in its development at the era, and the nukes had restricted potency. For example, Hiroshima’s “Little Boy” had a bomb output of 15 megatons, and the explosion region was around 3 kilometers from ground level.
It stands to reason that, though soldiers may be knocked out at the shot’s specific site, forces as close as a few kilometers away may not be immediately harmed. This is due to the fact that the title does not yet account for radioactivity and other side effects of nuclear bombs.
Also Read: Stellaris vs Heart of Iron 4 – Which One is Better?
Can I Make The Nuke Explosions Seem More Realistic?
Yes, of course, you can! Every Paradox Interactive game is highly popular because of the vast modders community, and the same is the case for Hearts of Iron IV.
The HOI4 workshop has a mod named “Realistic Nukes.” This mod tends to increase the destructiveness of nuclear weapons. We recommend you to learn about its current state if you’re curious about it since it’s a non-standard mod that may alter as the creator updates it.
Is there Anything More I Should be Aware of About the Usage of Nukes in HOI4?
You have undoubtedly found out by now that bombs in HOI4 aren’t a simple or fast way to resolve disagreements. They take quite some time to develop, and their impact isn’t as profound as players may expect. They are much more aggravating than any other weapon or technique in the game, especially in the early stages.
However, as you proceed in the game, nukes may make a significant impact. If you have enough units and can produce nukes rapidly enough, you could use them repeatedly to cripple even the most worthy enemy.
Just like everything else in HOI4, you can’t find any one-size-fits-all solution that will always work. Each player, as well as each game, has a unique narrative to tell.
