First run route

Merge a Nuke Beginner Route

Use this first 30-minute route to redeem rewards, keep the board open, build income, delay bad raids, and lock your base before leaving value exposed.

Follow the timeline Check codes first

Before you start

Treat the clock as pacing, not a speedrun timer.

Move to the next phase when the board is clean enough to keep merging. If a reward fails, the board fills, or you are about to leave, pause the route and fix that first.

Use current codes

Open the codes page first so stale rewards do not slow the start.

Check codes

Keep one action ahead

Before spending, know whether the next action is merge, buy, raid, or lock.

Stop clean

A shorter clean run is better than leaving a clogged board and unlocked base.

30-minute route

Start with stability, then decide if a raid is worth it.

Use the time windows as pacing. If your board clogs or a reward fails, fix that before moving to the next phase.

0

0-3 minutes: Load in and read the board

Wait for the base UI to finish loading before you start spending. Look for the Store button, the merge grid, your cash display, and any obvious duplicate pieces.

  • Do not rush purchases yet.
  • Note where Store opens.
  • Check for duplicate pieces.

Continue when

You can see the Store, board, cash display, and base lock area without waiting on loading prompts.

Fix first if

The UI is still loading, the board has not appeared, or you cannot tell where spending and locking happen.

1

3-7 minutes: Redeem codes and confirm rewards

Open Store, scroll to the code box, and redeem one code at a time. Confirm cash or nukes were added before you enter the next code.

Use the current codes page for the latest list, then redeem one code at a time. If a code fails twice after rejoining once, continue the route with the rewards you already have.

Continue when

Your rewards appeared and the board still has enough space to merge without panic buying.

Fix first if

A code failed, rewards did not appear, or extra pieces crowded the board before your first merge pass.

2

7-15 minutes: Clean the grid before buying more

Merge obvious duplicate pieces first. Extra reward nukes are helpful only if they turn into stronger pieces instead of filling every slot.

Board state Do this Avoid
You see duplicate pieces Merge them before buying anything else. Letting weaker pieces clog the grid.
The board is nearly full Pause purchases and scan for missed pairs. Buying into a blocked board.
The board has room Buy or claim pieces slowly, then merge again. Spending all cash without checking pairs.

Continue when

Most obvious pairs are merged and you have room to accept or buy another piece without blocking the grid.

Fix first if

You are looking at multiple low pieces, missed pairs, or a nearly full board with no clear next merge.

3

15-22 minutes: Spend toward income, not panic raids

Your goal is to make the next few minutes easier. Spend cash where it improves board flow and income before you start treating raids as the main plan.

Buy if

The board has open space and the next piece can create or support another merge.

Hold cash if

A purchase would fill the final slots or leave you unable to make the next useful spend.

Repeat loop

Merge first, make one useful spend, check the board, then repeat instead of emptying all cash at once.

Continue when

Your board can keep producing pieces and a small cash loss would not freeze the next spend.

Fix first if

You are buying because you feel stuck, not because the board is ready for the next piece.

4

22-27 minutes: Use the raid gate

A raid is worth considering only if your board is stable and losing cash would not stop your next useful spend.

Question If yes If no
Is the board moving without constant waiting? You can consider a small raid. Keep merging and spending first.
Would losing cash block your next useful spend? Delay the raid. A raid is less punishing.
Are you about to leave? Do not start a raid chain. Raid only after one more merge pass.

Continue when

You can explain why the raid helps more than another merge cycle, and you can recover if it goes badly.

Fix first if

Your base is exposed, your board is crowded, or the next upgrade depends on the cash you might lose.

5

27-30 minutes: Lock and leave clean

Before you step away, do a final merge scan, spend obvious cash, and lock your base so the next session starts from a safer place.

  • Merge every obvious pair.
  • Spend easy cash before leaving.
  • Lock your base last.

Clean stop checklist

  • Board has no obvious pair you are ignoring.
  • Cash is not sitting unspent on an easy improvement.
  • You are not in the middle of a risky raid chain.
  • Base lock is the final action before stepping away.

First-run log

Track what changed before you spend again.

Use this as a quick play-along log. You do not need perfect timing; you need to know whether the next action improves the board or just makes it busier.

Moment Log this Good sign Adjustment
After loading Store visible, board visible, cash visible, lock area found. You can point to every button before spending. Wait, rotate camera if needed, then restart the route from the top.
After codes Which rewards appeared and whether extra pieces crowded the board. Reward added, board still has open space. If the board is crowded, merge before buying or raiding.
Before first raid Current board space, next spend, and whether cash loss would hurt. You can recover with normal merging if the raid goes badly. Delay the raid and do one more merge-spend-check loop.
Before leaving Last merge pass, easy cash spend, base lock status. You can leave without returning to a messy board. Skip more raids and finish with the clean stop checklist.

Checkpoint table

Use these checks before moving to the next phase.

Checkpoint You are ready if... Fix first if... Next step
After codes Rewards appeared and the board has space. A code failed or the board filled too fast. Merge duplicates before spending cash.
Before first raid Income feels steady and losing cash would not stop progress. You still need every bit of cash for the next board spend. Raid once, then reassess.
Before leaving You merged obvious pairs and spent simple cash. Your board is clogged or base is unlocked. Lock the base and stop clean.

Board recovery

If the board clogs, recover before buying.

A crowded board is the most common way a beginner route loses momentum. The fix is slower play for one cycle, not another blind purchase.

Step 1

Stop spending for one scan

Look across the board for obvious pairs before you touch Store or raid buttons again.

Step 2

Merge from weakest clutter first

Clear the weakest duplicates so the next reward or purchase has room to land.

Step 3

Buy once, then scan again

One clean purchase is safer than draining cash into a board that still has no room.

Do not raid as a panic button

If the board is already blocked, a raid adds risk without fixing the merge problem that stopped the route.

Common mistakes

Avoid the habits that slow the first run.

Buying into a full board

If the board is crowded, buying more pieces usually makes the next merge harder.

Raiding before income is stable

A raid can help, but it should not replace the early merge and cash loop.

Leaving value exposed

A good run can still feel bad if you leave without locking your base.

Retrying failed codes too long

Try a fresh server once, then continue with the route instead of losing momentum.

Next steps

Use the right page for the next problem.

Rewards

Check current codes

Use the latest code list before starting a new run or after joining a fresh server.

 Fix

Recover a clogged board

Stop spending, scan for pairs, clear weak clutter, then buy once and recheck.

 Spend

Choose the next upgrade

Compare board flow, cash growth, raid value, and cost before spending the next reward burst.

FAQ

Beginner route questions.

What should I do first in Merge a Nuke?

Load in, redeem current codes, merge duplicate pieces, and spend early cash on board momentum before taking risky raids.

Should I raid in the first few minutes?

Only raid after your board is producing steadily and losing cash would not block your next useful spend.

What if my board fills up?

Stop buying, scan for duplicate pairs, merge what you can, then continue slowly instead of filling every slot again.

When should I lock my base?

Lock before stepping away, especially after redeeming codes, merging into stronger nukes, or earning cash from a raid.