Nekros vs Nova
Same Support / Healer fantasy — which support kit fits your squad and mission rota?
TL;DR — Quick Pick
Pick Nekros if…
- You want the squad gap filled by Nekros's vibe — There is a reaper whose name is Nekros.
- This slot should feel like Soul Punch, Terrify, and Shadows Of The Dead, not a reskin of Nova's Null Star, Antimatter Drop, and Molecular Prime.
- You're buying into Nekros's passive — restore some Health with every enemy death within a radius.
Pick Nova if…
- You're sold on Nova's fantasy (Harness antimatter) more than another Support / Healer option.
- You'd rather build around Wormhole than live in Nekros's Desecrate loop.
- You value Nova's orb-efficiency passive for longer ability spam on dense holds.
Verdict
Both fill the Support / Healer lane. Lean Nekros for Desecrate and Desecrate; lean Nova for orb economy and Wormhole. Mission Usefulness is where they split: Steel Path (Strong vs Excellent — edge Nova).
At a Glance
Nekros
Stat
Nova
Support / Healer
Role
Support / Healer
None
Aura
NaramonMatch the priority to your main ability
Mod Priority
Match the priority to your main ability
Soul Punch
Kit Opener
Null Star
Mission Usefulness
Mission
Nekros
Nova
Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption
Winner
Mobile Defense / Excavation
Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs
Spy / Rescue / Nightmare
Open World / Bounties
Long-Range Gunplay / Eidolon-Style Content
When Each Shines
Nekros
- Desecrate carries mid-mission casts; Shadows Of The Dead is the density payoff.
- Mod focus stays on match the priority to your main ability so the cast loop doesn't fall over mid-rota.
- Missions that reward committing to Nekros's full ability loop instead of dabbling.
Nova
- Wormhole carries mid-mission casts; Molecular Prime is the density payoff.
- Long holds where energy comfort matters — Nova's loop stays online without babysitting orbs.
- Nova shines on tile clears where ability damage — not just weapons — carries the pack.
Mod Scaling Focus
Nekros
Match the priority to your main ability — Strength or Duration first for most kits, then Efficiency, then Range.
- STR
- Raises damage and effect potency across Nekros’s Strength-scaling abilities.
- DUR
- Extends channeled / timed effects — often comfort on Nekros if the kit leans on buffs or zones.
- RNG
- Helps radius / targeting tools. Dump it if Nekros is mostly self-buff or exalted weapons.
- EFF
- Keeps ability uptime comfortable, especially on longer Steel Path missions.
Nova
Match the priority to your main ability — Strength or Duration first for most kits, then Efficiency, then Range.
- STR
- Raises damage and effect potency across Nova’s Strength-scaling abilities.
- DUR
- Extends channeled / timed effects — often comfort on Nova if the kit leans on buffs or zones.
- RNG
- Helps radius / targeting tools. Dump it if Nova is mostly self-buff or exalted weapons.
- EFF
- Keeps ability uptime comfortable, especially on longer Steel Path missions.
Who Should You Pull?
- Desecrate into Shadows Of The Dead is the cast story you want to master — not a random subsume mashup.
- Squad comps where someone has to own tile clear alone — Nekros is the frame you trust for that job.
- Nova can stay on the shelf; Nekros is the one you'll actually Forma twice.
- Even after Helminth, Terrify and later abilities are still the reason Nekros earned potato.
- Your endgame loadout screen should show Nekros before it shows another same-role experiment.
- Energy / health orb rooms are common in your rota and Nova gets more mileage out of every pickup.
- Squad comps where someone has to own tile clear alone — Nova is the frame you trust for that job.
- Nekros can stay on the shelf; Nova is the one you'll actually Forma twice.
- Nova rates higher on Steel Path holds (Excellent vs Strong) — that rota is where you actually play.
- Your endgame loadout screen should show Nova before it shows another same-role experiment.