Solo Nex
Introduction
Nex is the Zarosian general in the God Wars dungeon.
When Nex spawns for the first time in a custom instance it will be praying Deflect Magic 
for the majority of the kill, this is why Ranged-only kills are the meta for fast consistent kills. After every kill you will teleport out of the instance and re-enter in order to force Nex to always be praying Deflect Mage
Note: It is strongly advised to complete the Ritual of the Mahjarrat quest in order to get access to the Jas boost which gives a 5% damage boost in GWD1 (including Nex). This can be done via Fairy ring code D.K.Q.
Presets and Relics
Banking Preset
⬥ The most important thing is to have a Frozen key + Ancient Ceremonial set for use with your boss portal.
• You can speak to Ashuelot Reis in the Nex bank and pay a one time cost of the Frozen key + Ancient Ceremonial along with 10M GP to be able to access Nex bank without these items.
⬥ An Enhanced Luck Potion 
works and can be used here.
⬥ A T70+ Defender is required for Ancient Emblem 
drops
• This is used to make the T80 Defenders (
/ 
/ 
)
Preset
⬥ Throw your Vulnerability Bomb 
at start and on Blood phase.
⬥ Akrisae body has Clear Headed 4 
, and is used to build with Escape 
at the start.
⬥ This method relies on Ruby bolt 
procs on Nex. However, around Ice phase, Ruby bolt procs start to hit less than the ability they are replacing, so it’s optimal to bring a bolt switch. It is generally preferred to camp Ruby until Ice phase, then switch to Dragonstone bolts 
.
⬥ 
Reckless is the only aura recommended to all players, the hitchance increase will make the fight much smoother.
• For reference, compare your setup with the !hitchance command with and without the aura.
Mechanics
Nex overview
⬥ Nex is a 1x1 NPC and has very strict softcaps, which means that any damage over a certain amount is reduced by X% depending on the phase.
• During the first four phases, Nex has a soft cap that reduces excess damage above 5,000 by 50%.
⬩ For example, a 6,000 damage hit would be reduced to 5,500 damage.
• On the Zaros phase, the soft cap is changed to reduce excess damage above 2,000 by 75%.
⬩ This means a 6,000-damage hit would be reduced to 3,000.
Mages overview
⬥ Mages have a soft cap that reduces excess damage above 1,000 by a random amount between approximately 80% and 100%.
⬥ Each mage has 10,000 health and possesses a max hit of around 850. The mages are static and can only be attacked whenever Nex calls their name.
Nex has 5 phases; Smoke, Shadow, Blood, Ice, and Zaros. Each phase has 2 special attacks, with the exception of Zaros
Special Attacks
Rotations with Ascension Crossbows + a 2H 
Note: Make sure to use Jas Boost
Pre-Fight
Target Fumus ASAP and start building adrenaline with defensives. Freedom 
should be first, and Anticipate 
should be last. Spam click the minion as sometimes when you Escape , you won't get adrenaline from Anticipate if you don't keep clicking the minion before Escape .
+ as Nex says "Fill my soul with smoke!" (~10s)
Smoke Phase
Auto → 
→ 
(Walk backwards) → (DW) 
→ 
→ 
Shadow Phase
Tag with walk under her → 
→ Spam click Nex to get a lossless auto → (DW) → → 
→ → Improvise
Blood Phase
→ (pre-phase) → (DW) → → → 
(Surge 
from Red) → (if Nex isn't phased yet) → 
/ / Thresh
Ice Phase
⬥ Contain First
Auto → → (Run from Contain) → → (tag minion ASAP)
⬥ Prison First
Run to max attack distance and phase with Dazing Shot → during the phase and eat a lot of jellies and grests to get to full HP → → → prison → → /
Zaros Phase
→ → 
→ 
→ → → → → → 5 tick Auto → →
Video Guide
This rotation was entirely adapted from the fantastic video version made by @Unknown user.
Rotations with Dual Wield + Greater Ricochet 
Note: Make sure to use Jas Boost
Notes
⬥ Use the same preset listed above for dual wield.
⬥ 
will likely be used after Blood phase/Cruor, but should be improvised depending on adrenaline needs.
⬥ These rotations involve specific positioning to achieve fast kill times (1:40s - 1:50s).
• Be sure to check out the videos section to see how to position, especially in Shadow and Ice Phase.
⬥ Stay in combat in-between runs by using / 
/ defensives. This will help ensure that you can trigger crackling in Smoke phase.
+ as Nex says "Fill my soul with smoke!" (~9s). Turn on your Godbook 
right as the timer starts or before it.
Smoke Phase
→ 
→ Fast basics as needed. This assumes one of Ruby/Crackling/Book procs, which happen often. You should be ready to improvise i.e. will hit for ~13k, so if Nex is at 176k after rapid fire, use before .
Fumus
Tag with → + Run / towards Fumus → Position at corner + . Finish with basics if needed.
Example Smoke → Shadow transition.
Note: There is a step towards Nex and then away from Nex when is cast. This ensures walked damage. Otherwise, the first few hits will be un-walked while Nex does her speech to transition
Shadow Phase
Tag with → towards Cruor off GCD → for adrenaline → Spam click Nex to get a lossless auto → → → → / / Fast Basics if needed.
Example Shadow phase kiting
Note: Soul Split can be freely used at the start of Shadow phase. Nex will not attack you until she does “Embrace Darkness!” Running back and forth here allows you to delay the Nex autos.
Umbra
Tag with → Position at corner + . Finish with basics if needed.
Blood Phase
→ 
/ 
for adren → (pre-phase) → → + Surge to Cruor → Finish with basics if needed.
Cruor
Tag with → Position at corner + . Finish with basics if needed.
Example Blood → Ice transition
Ice Phase
Tag with → for adrenaline + towards Glacies → (will trigger Auto) → (Run from Contain) + place mines at Glacies if you have them → → basics as needed → (tag minion ASAP). You might want to do before if she’s >55k HP.
Watch the video for positioning and keep your HP high for ice prison. When in prison, you can target-cycle to Glacies to finish the minion.
Glacies
Tag with → + basics if needed/no mines.
Zaros Phase
Tag with + walk → → → → → Repeat and finish.
Rotation with a Noxious Longbow and Greater Ricochet 
Note: Make sure to use Jas Boost
What to Expect
This method can achieve around ~1:45 kills optimally (27 kph). Even with scuffed kills you can average 2:00-2:20. Nex has an attack range of 8 spaces, while Nox Bow has a range of 9, so you can always force Nex to walk frags and delay attacks depending on where you stand.
Review the position indicators at the bottom of this guide to see where to stand while phasing.
Preset
⬥ Use a Blood reaver familiar 
over a shadow nihil for this method.
⬥ Adrenaline renewal 
can be used at Cruor / before Ice phase, but improvise as needed.
⬥ Bring two Dominion Mines 
to mine Glacies in Ice phase for smoother phasing.
⬥ You will need to apply 8-15 Black Stone Arrow 
stacks to get to 100% hitchance on Nex, depending on weapon tier, prayer variant (Anguish 
/ Desolation 
), and Reaper 
stacks. You can check the Hit Chance calculator to get the number for your exact setup.
Pre-Fight
+ as Nex says "Fill my soul with smoke!" (~10s). Turn on your scripture 
when you enter the instance or as the timer starts.
Smoke Phase
Auto → → → → Basics if needed
Fumus
→ →
Shadow Phase
Tag with → → Auto + → → → Basics if needed
Umbra
→ →
Blood Phase
Switch to 
→ (if needed) → (pre-phase) / fast basic → → → + Surge to Cruor → Finish with basics if needed
Cruor
→ →
Ice Phase
Tag with → towards Glacies. Auto → → (Run from Contain) → → → (tag minion ASAP)
Glacies
→ →
Zaros Phase
→ + walk → → → → / / repeat basics → Finish the kill
Positioning
Note: The white square represents the player, the red dot represents Nex and the yellow dot represents minions. The arrow points in the general direction of movement for the phase
Smoke Phase
Stand on the west side, once she’s phased click on Fumus and after you Corruption Shot , Surge into Fumus and make your way over to the north-western safespot, by the time she’s able to attack you Fumus should be low HP or dead depending on if you got any procs. Try and run her if she’s close to surging through the middle.
Shadow Phase
During shadow make your way over to the north-eastern safespot, one method is to phase her on the northern side then once she is phased make your way to the north-eastern safe spot whilst you're killing Umbra so you're not stuck taking shadow bleed damage at the safe spot for long.
Once phased, try to stay MD/ 2 squares away from Nex so she can reach you instantly and begin siphoning.
Blood Phase
During her siphon, make your way over to the eastern safe spot whilst staying at an even number of squares so that if she does run to you, she won’t run underneath you which could delay her attacks which could mean she won’t sacrifice if everything lines up poorly. At the eastern safespot you can click Cruor during your Rapid Fire and it won’t switch unless your ability ends or Nex phases.
After she is phased, make your way over to the south-eastern safespot so she will follow you, allowing no tick loss during the transition from Blood to Ice as you’ll want to be MD to Glacies during the beginning of Ice.
Ice Phase:
Once Cruor is dead, Surge to Glacies and stand MD to her.
Zaros Phase
Try not to run Nex too much whilst your book is off cooldown.
Phase Notes
Smoke Phase Notes
⬥ Throw your bomb right before the kill is about to start.
⬥ Make sure to Rapid Fire with Ascensions so that there's a chance to proc the Ruby bolt effect.
⬥ If the boss doesn't phase, follow up with → → , and run the boss while you do so.
⬥ Both bleeds then good basics on the minion.
Shadow Phase Notes
⬥ If you proc a Ruby bolt during Rapid Fire , Needle Strike into Snap Shot without Snipe .
⬥ Reprisal isn't necessary , but makes it easier when you don't get a Ruby bolt proc.
⬥ Both bleeds and good basics on the minion.
Blood Phase Notes
⬥ Be sure to let her Sacrifice so you get a contain first on Ice phase
⬥ In rare cases it is possible to have to your Adrenaline Potion in order to use Rapid Fire . In this case you will need to improvise your Zaros rotation.
⬥ Both bleeds and good basics on Cruor.
• If Nex is going into MD you, it's worth it to run her to stall autos, but don't worry too much if she does another Siphon before you can phase.
⬥ Practice your Snipe timing so that it hits right when Nex is attackable, rather than healing her. You can snipe when her Wings go up a 3rd time.
Ice Phase Notes
⬥ If you get prisoned before targeting Glacies you can Target Cycle to attack him.
Zaros Phase Notes
⬥ Disruption shield 
may be used if you are low on food.
⬥ You can run Nex if low on food, but don't need to (and will end up walking book procs). It's optimal to do so if you notice her SS is active.