Welcome to my beginner's guide to Nex
Some questions you might have:
Q: How the balls do I get my ancient key? A: You have to kill monsters in the respective god's stronghold (e.g. Armadyl's Eyrie for the Armadyl key part, etc). This effectively makes the minimum requirements to fight Nex level 70 Strength, Constitution, Ranged, and Agility.
Q: How do I get into the Nex room? A: Normally you'd have to kill 40 Zaros followers in the Ancient Prison to get into the bank area, but all of the monsters are all aggressive and powerful so screw that mess.
You can bypass Zaros killcount and enter the bank area by wearing a full set of Ancient Ceremonial robes while trying to enter the door. The robes are purely cosmetic and don't provide life/defense bonuses and the Ancient Prison contains several aggressive monsters. Once you squeeze through the frozen doorway, you should Surge immediately then run and enter the bank area.
Sometimes, the Ancient Rangers will bind you with their attacks, which can slow you down on your way to the bank or waste time in a private instance. Be ready to use the Freedom ability to negate their binds!
Note: If you have completed the quest 'Fate of the Gods', always bring your Shard of Zaros as it will make the Zarosian minions passive in the Ancient Prison.
BE SURE TO BANK YOUR KEY. IF YOU DIE WITH YOUR KEY INSIDE THE NEX ROOM, YOU ARE SCREWED UP THE BUM. SERIOUSLY, BANK YOUR KEY BEFORE GOING IN.
Q: What gear should I use? A: Typically it's best to bring both Ranged and Mage gear since Nex can use both Deflect Magic and Deflect Range. A good thing is that you don't have to worry about having to change styles mid-kill. Each kill, Nex will occasionally use a Deflect curse (either Ranged or Mage), periodically activating and deactivating. She will only use that Deflect (and Deflect Melee, sometimes on Zaros phase) that whole kill. The next time that Nex spawns, the Deflect that she can use alternates.
e.g. If Nex deflected Ranged during the first kill of your trip, she will use Deflect Magic on the next kill, and back to Deflect Ranged the kill after that.
TIP: You can do Ranged-only trips using instances. As of now, Nex will use Deflect Magic by default when you first start an instance. When everyone leaves the instance and rejoins it, Nex will still use Deflect Magic instead of Deflect Ranged.
TIP: If you have completed 'Ritual of the Mahjarrat', you will benefit from the Stone of Jas's damage-boosting effect while fighting Nex in the main room and in an instance.
Here are a few typical setups:
Note: Some of these bars may use abilities you may not have access to. You don't have to copy the bars exactly as shown; this is just what I personally use. Also, I never use Revolution so Revolution users may want to revise these bars a to be more efficient.
Melee gear + bar:
For 2h users:
Replace Decimate (W) with Cleave and Destroy (D) with Hurricane.
Ranged gear + bar
For Dual wield users:
Replace Dazing Shot (W) with Needle Strike.
Mage setup + bar:
For Dual wield users:
Replace Sonic Wave (W) with Concentrated Blast.
NOTE: If you're using only Magic, bring a Ranged weapon and ammo! Nex's minions can't be harmed by Magic.
I also have a secondary bar displayed:
Also note that, as explained above, you will need more than one combat style if you're staying for more than one kill since Nex can deflect all styles. I highly recommend Ranged/Mage over Melee/Ranged, but setups for both are included.
Below are some suggested inventory setups:
Melee/Ranged:
Recommended auras: Sharpshooter, Reckless, Brawler, Berserk
Ranged/Mage:
Recommended auras: Sharpshooter or Runic Accuracy, Reckless or Maniacal
Tryhard stuff: "Sweaty Tryhard" Void tribrid setup + inventory:
Recommended auras: Invigorate, Dark Magic
Other viable auras (any style): Dark Magic, Invigorate, Inspiration, Vampyrism, Penance
Note that, obviously, these setups don't necessarily have the best gear in slot. These are just typical setups since not everyone can afford Level 90 weapons/equipment.
SMOKE PHASE
After being in Nex's room for a while eventually she will spawn in the center of the arena, along with her four minions, calling out their names (Fumus, Umbra, Cruor, and Glacies). When Nex calls out to Fumus, "Fill my soul with smoke!" the fight begins.
PRAY MAGE AT THE START OF THIS PHASE.
Typically, everyone will stand in these positions:
Key
These color codes will be used on other diagrams further down in the guide.
Red - Nex Orange - The tank Green - DPSers Purple - Minion spawns (F - Fumus / U - Umbra / C - Cruor / G - Glacies)
TIP: DPSers can start the fight with 57% adrenaline by using Adrenaline potions and shield abilities. Before Nex spawns/going into the boss room, equip any shield. You have to first target Fumus and spam abilities in the following order:
Escape > Preparation > Resonance > Anticipation
After that, take a sip of your Adrenaline potion and equip your offhand/2h weapon.
Ranged DPS should immediately use Snapshot (or Shadow Tendrils if you're feeling ballsy) as soon as you can attack Nex. Try to build up enough adrenaline for Rapid Fire, and use it ASAP.
Magic DPS should immediately use Wild Magic as soon as you can attack Nex. Try to build up enough adrenaline for Asphyxiate, and use it ASAP.
After this, the tank will usually run Nex west, close to where the DPSers start.
Tryhard stuff Melee DPS can use Barge, then run behind Nex to use Assault. If your tank keeps Nex at the center where she spawns and you finish Smoke phase quickly, you can corner Surge from the center to reach Fumus without having to run around (as well as gain 8% adrenaline!).
ATTACKS TO WATCH OUT FOR DURING THIS PHASE:
Random drag - Occasionally, Nex will target a random player (even if she's currently not focused on you!) and drag them towards her, stunning them and deactivating their prayer. Freedom will negate the stun and you have to quickly activate your protect/deflects. Anticipation prevents this from happening.
"Let the virus flow through you!" - Nex spreads out smoke clouds at her current target (usually the tank) which drains combat stats (including prayer!) while you're under its effect. Occasionally, characters under the smoke effect will say *cough*. The effect spreads to other people if you're too close to someone suffering the smoke effect. Staying 2 or 3 spaces away from someone will suffice. If any DPSers are under the smoke effect, call out "Spread" to your teammates until the effect wears off.
"There is..." "NO ESCAPE!" - If you see Nex call out "There is..." quickly use any damage over time abilities (Dismember, Slaughter, Combust, Corruption Shot/Blast) and get into the outer ring of Nex's room. Staying on the "bridges" will result in you taking heavy typeless damage and leave you stunned with your prayers deactivated.
When Nex reaches 160000HP, she will call out "Fumus, don't fail me!" and Fumus will finally be vulnerable to attack, but attacks will NOT deal any damage to Nex while Fumus is alive. Nex will still attack you and do her special attacks while minions are vulnerable (this applies to all phases!). When Fumus is dead, Nex will call out to Umbra, "Darken my shadow!"
SHADOW PHASE
AS SOON AS YOU SEE YOUR SCREEN DARKEN, PRAY RANGE.
Tryhard stuff As soon as Shadow phase starts, you can use Soul Split to recover HP while she's spawning shadow traps. Sometimes you'll have to turn on your Ranged prayer sooner whenever she spawns only one set of traps. As you become more experienced at fighting Nex, it will become second nature as to when you should put up your Ranged prayer.
Everyone should be in the same position as they were at the start of Smoke phase.
ATTACKS TO WATCH OUT FOR DURING THIS PHASE:
"Fear the shadow!" - Nex will spawn shadow traps below everyone within her attack range. RUN TO A SPACE THAT ISN'T OCCUPIED BY A TRAP. Failing to run away from a trap will result in you taking 1k-3k damage. Usually, Nex spawns two sets of shadow traps before she starts attacking, but sometimes she only spawns one set of traps. This can determined by her last action in Smoke phase (Either spreading a virus or "Escapes")
"Embrace darkness!" - Being in Nex's melee distance for too long will result in you taking 900-1k damage rapidly until you move away. Mage/Range DPSers don't need to worry about avoiding this attack, but melee DPSers not using a halberd-type only have enough time to use 2-3 abilities before they start taking damage.
This means that if you're using an Attuned crystal halberd or Noxious scythe, you don't have to worry about this damage as long as you are attacking from one square away.
When Nex reaches 120000HP, Nex will call out Umbra and your team must kill Umbra. After Umbra is killed, Nex will call out "Flood my lungs with blood!" and the next phase will begin.
Ranged and Mage should use Death's Swiftness or Sunshine at Umbra, close to where the tank lures Nex.
In a trio, use it immediately.
In a duo or solo, use it when Umbra is at around 5-6k HP. Use your Ranged bleed(s) immediately and finish off Umbra using basic abilities.
BLOOD PHASE
PRAY MAGE OR SOUL SPLIT* AND STOP USING DAMAGING ABILITIES ON NEX AT THE START OF THIS PHASE.
This means you can still build adrenaline by using non-damaging abilities, such as Storm Shards, Anticipation, Freedom, etc.
DO NOT USE DAMAGE OVER TIME ABILITIES (Dismember, Slaughter, Massacre, Combust, Corruption Shot/Blast) AS ALL DAMAGE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT TO NEX WILL HEAL HER DURING THIS PHASE.
*Soul Split can be used during Blood phase as long as you're standing on the opposite side of Nex. If you aren't, you'll take melee or mage hits whenever she attacks the tank.
The tank will usually have lured Nex in between Umbra's and Cruor's spawn (closer to Cruor), as shown in this diagram.
As a Ranged or Mage DPSer, you should have either Death's Swiftness or Sunshine active. Use your heavy-hitting thresholds such as Snapshot/Shadow Tendrils and Wild Magic, then Rapid Fire/Asphyxiate.
Tryhard stuff: In duos, you can melee Blood phase to ensure a One-Siphon kill. Use Berserk as soon as Blood phase starts and build up adrenaline using non-damaging or weak abilities (Storm Shards, Anticipation, Freedom, Punish), use an Adrenaline/Replenishment potion dose, and use Assault/Destroy. If you're behind Nex, you should definitely use Soul Split as the damage you deal while under the effects of Berserk will heal you a lot.
If you get screwed by RNG and you don't end the phase by the time Nex uses her blood sacrifice attack on you, use Escape and once the sacrifice attack is finished, use Barge then Destroy/Assault (whichever you didn't use).
ATTACKS TO WATCH OUT FOR DURING THIS PHASE:
"A siphon will solve this!"1 - Nex will spawn Blood reavers then start glowing. While she is glowing, any damage she would've taken will heal her. STOP ATTACKING HER UNTIL SHE STOPS GLOWING.
Experienced Ranged and Mage DPSers should time usage of Snipe and Detonate, respectively, to deal more damage during this phase.
"I demand a blood sacrifice!"2 - Nex will turn her sacrifice red and they must run away at least 7 spaces. If you're Ranged or Mage DPSing, you don't have to worry about running away if you're attacking from far away.. If you're melee DPSing and you get sacrificed, use the Escape ability and stay away from Nex until you get the message that you've escaped from her sacrifice.
When Nex reaches 80000HP, she will call out Cruor and the team must kill Cruor. IF YOU ARE PRAYING SOUL SPLIT, SWITCH TO DEFLECT MAGIC BEFORE ATTACKING CRUOR. When Nex calls out "Infuse me with the power of ice!" the next phase begins.
TIP: Make note of the last special attack Nex uses at the end of Blood phase, as it can be used to predict what attack she uses at the start of the Ice phase!
ICE PHASE
During Ice phase, your tank will usually stay close to where Cruor was, while the DPSers run between Glacies and Cruor as shown in this diagram:
ATTACKS TO WATCH OUT FOR DURING THIS PHASE:
"Die now, in a prison of ice!"1 - Nex will stun her target (usually the tank) and imprison them in a bunch of stalagmites. The tank must then use Freedom and use Barricade or Immortality (if the tank's HP is low enough). If you see that your tank didn't use either Barricade or Immortality and doesn't have a full adrenaline bar, ATTACK THE STALAGMITES AND FREE THEM. If a DPSer gets imprisoned, they must use Freedom and eat up to above 7k HP. Failing to free an imprisoned teammate will cause them to take around 7k damage, potentially killing them and ruining the trip, as well as pissing off said teammate.
Tryhard stuff: If you get a prison as a DPSer, you can try to use Resonance to heal off of one of Nex's attacks. After you've used Freedom to eat up to above 7k, equip your shield and use Resonance. Since usually your Protect/Deflect prayers get deactivated when you get prisoned, you can heal up to 2k with Resonance depending on the tier of your shield/your luck.
"Contain this!"2 - Nex will spawn ice stalagmites which will chase your teammates. Standing on a stalagmite will damage you moderately, stunning you and sometimes deactivating your prayer. You must run far enough away to avoid taking damage.
As a Ranged or Mage DPS, you should try to attack while running. Prioritize using Fragmentation Shot or Combust while Nex is moving to end the phase faster.
Because of contain attacks, melee DPS can be suicide since you have to run from this attack to avoid it.
TIP (MELEE DPS ONLY): If Berserk isn't on cooldown, it's a good idea to use it during a prison, take a sip of your adrenaline potion and build up to use your thresholds. A short Ice phase is a good Ice phase. Your whole team will save a lot of food during short Ice phases as there will be less prisons and contains!
1 If Nex siphons at the end of Blood phase, Nex will use her ice prison attack at the start of Ice phase. Killing Cruor during a siphon is ideal and makes kills much quicker since Nex doesn't attack anyone during an ice prison.
2 If Nex sacrifices one of your teammates at the end of Blood phase, Nex will use her contain attack at the start of Ice phase. Be prepared to run!
When Nex reaches 40000HP, Glacies must be killed. Once Glacies is killed, Nex will call out "NOW, THE TRUE POWER OF ZAROS!", recover about 30000HP and the final phase will begin.
Ranged and Mage should use Death's Swiftness or Sunshine at Glacies.
In a trio, use it immediately.
In a duo or solo, use it when Glacies is at around 5-6k HP. Use your Ranged bleed(s) immediately and finish off Glacies using basic abilities.
ZAROS PHASE
ZAROS PHASE IS BY FAR THE MOST DANGEROUS PHASE SINCE NEX HITS UP TO 2K DAMAGE WITH MAGIC THROUGH PRAYER, OR UP TO 4K WITHOUT PRAYER.
ALWAYS KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR HP AND PRAYER DURING THIS PHASE!
At the start of this phase, the DPSers should stand close to where Glacies was and the tank should bring Nex in between where Glacies and Cruor was, according to this diagram:
As a Ranged or Mage DPSer, you should have either Death's Swiftness or Sunshine active. When Zaros phase starts, take a sip of your adrenaline potion and spam your thresholds as much as possible.
TIP: Mage DPSers should use Dragon Breath as much as possible with a Sunshine active since it generates 10% adrenaline if it lands, instead of the usual 8%.
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR ON THIS PHASE:
Nex can either deflect Melee, Mage/Range (depending on the kill), or use Soul Split. SWITCH YOUR COMBAT STYLE/PRAYERS ACCORDINGLY. Failing to do so will result in you receiving the damage you would've dealt to Nex!
Sometimes Nex will use Melee in Zaros phase. Tryhards can Soul Split while Nex is meleeing as long as they are not directly 1-2 squares in front of her, as her Melee attacks affect everything in a cone in front of her (sort of like the Cleave and Dragon Breath abilities).
You can use the Debilitate or Devotion abilities to negate some of the Magic damage taken during this phase, greatly reducing the amount of food you eat. From here on out, DPSing is simple other than the fact that you have to watch Nex's prayers. When Nex dies, she will activate Wrath and everyone has to run away far enough to avoid taking damage from it.
You can turn off your Magic prayer and use Resonance to heal off of her strong Magic attacks, as you can recover up to around 4k HP from one hit but it can be a bit risky if you have a lot of ping.
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Some other stuff:
Pre-phasing:
To "phase" Nex (making her transition into the next phase after killing the minion), the next attack anyone lands (meaning the attack has to hit!) will make her transition to the next phase. The act of pre-phasing Nex is dealing damage on the same exact tick as the phase starts. You can pre-phase with any ability pretty much.
The best abilities to try pre-phasing with are Snapshot, Wild Magic, Fragmentation Shot, and Combust.
Note that pre-phasing Ice phase can be risky since sometimes you can draw aggro and get a prison.
Corner surging:
If you're at the center of the Nex room, you can Surge at the corners of the center square to get to a minion, without the need to run all the way around.
The spots you can surge from are shown below:
If you're facing the corner, like this...
...when you Surge, you'll end up at where the minion will be.
Corner surging helps if you're meleeing Nex at the center of the room on Smoke phase or during the transition from Shadow to Blood phase.
___________________________________________________________________
Hopefully this beginner's guide has been helpful to you. If you have any other questions regarding Nex, feel free to ask in CC.
Good luck and happy Nexing!
Q: How the balls do I get my ancient key? A: You have to kill monsters in the respective god's stronghold (e.g. Armadyl's Eyrie for the Armadyl key part, etc). This effectively makes the minimum requirements to fight Nex level 70 Strength, Constitution, Ranged, and Agility.
Q: How do I get into the Nex room? A: Normally you'd have to kill 40 Zaros followers in the Ancient Prison to get into the bank area, but all of the monsters are all aggressive and powerful so screw that mess.
You can bypass Zaros killcount and enter the bank area by wearing a full set of Ancient Ceremonial robes while trying to enter the door. The robes are purely cosmetic and don't provide life/defense bonuses and the Ancient Prison contains several aggressive monsters. Once you squeeze through the frozen doorway, you should Surge immediately then run and enter the bank area.
Sometimes, the Ancient Rangers will bind you with their attacks, which can slow you down on your way to the bank or waste time in a private instance. Be ready to use the Freedom ability to negate their binds!
Note: If you have completed the quest 'Fate of the Gods', always bring your Shard of Zaros as it will make the Zarosian minions passive in the Ancient Prison.
BE SURE TO BANK YOUR KEY. IF YOU DIE WITH YOUR KEY INSIDE THE NEX ROOM, YOU ARE SCREWED UP THE BUM. SERIOUSLY, BANK YOUR KEY BEFORE GOING IN.
Q: What gear should I use? A: Typically it's best to bring both Ranged and Mage gear since Nex can use both Deflect Magic and Deflect Range. A good thing is that you don't have to worry about having to change styles mid-kill. Each kill, Nex will occasionally use a Deflect curse (either Ranged or Mage), periodically activating and deactivating. She will only use that Deflect (and Deflect Melee, sometimes on Zaros phase) that whole kill. The next time that Nex spawns, the Deflect that she can use alternates.
e.g. If Nex deflected Ranged during the first kill of your trip, she will use Deflect Magic on the next kill, and back to Deflect Ranged the kill after that.
TIP: You can do Ranged-only trips using instances. As of now, Nex will use Deflect Magic by default when you first start an instance. When everyone leaves the instance and rejoins it, Nex will still use Deflect Magic instead of Deflect Ranged.
TIP: If you have completed 'Ritual of the Mahjarrat', you will benefit from the Stone of Jas's damage-boosting effect while fighting Nex in the main room and in an instance.
Here are a few typical setups:
Note: Some of these bars may use abilities you may not have access to. You don't have to copy the bars exactly as shown; this is just what I personally use. Also, I never use Revolution so Revolution users may want to revise these bars a to be more efficient.
Melee gear + bar:
For 2h users:
Replace Decimate (W) with Cleave and Destroy (D) with Hurricane.
Ranged gear + bar
For Dual wield users:
Replace Dazing Shot (W) with Needle Strike.
Mage setup + bar:
For Dual wield users:
Replace Sonic Wave (W) with Concentrated Blast.
NOTE: If you're using only Magic, bring a Ranged weapon and ammo! Nex's minions can't be harmed by Magic.
I also have a secondary bar displayed:
Also note that, as explained above, you will need more than one combat style if you're staying for more than one kill since Nex can deflect all styles. I highly recommend Ranged/Mage over Melee/Ranged, but setups for both are included.
Below are some suggested inventory setups:
Melee/Ranged:
Recommended auras: Sharpshooter, Reckless, Brawler, Berserk
Ranged/Mage:
Recommended auras: Sharpshooter or Runic Accuracy, Reckless or Maniacal
Tryhard stuff: "Sweaty Tryhard" Void tribrid setup + inventory:
Recommended auras: Invigorate, Dark Magic
Other viable auras (any style): Dark Magic, Invigorate, Inspiration, Vampyrism, Penance
Note that, obviously, these setups don't necessarily have the best gear in slot. These are just typical setups since not everyone can afford Level 90 weapons/equipment.
SMOKE PHASE
After being in Nex's room for a while eventually she will spawn in the center of the arena, along with her four minions, calling out their names (Fumus, Umbra, Cruor, and Glacies). When Nex calls out to Fumus, "Fill my soul with smoke!" the fight begins.
PRAY MAGE AT THE START OF THIS PHASE.
Typically, everyone will stand in these positions:
Key
These color codes will be used on other diagrams further down in the guide.
Red - Nex Orange - The tank Green - DPSers Purple - Minion spawns (F - Fumus / U - Umbra / C - Cruor / G - Glacies)
TIP: DPSers can start the fight with 57% adrenaline by using Adrenaline potions and shield abilities. Before Nex spawns/going into the boss room, equip any shield. You have to first target Fumus and spam abilities in the following order:
Escape > Preparation > Resonance > Anticipation
After that, take a sip of your Adrenaline potion and equip your offhand/2h weapon.
Ranged DPS should immediately use Snapshot (or Shadow Tendrils if you're feeling ballsy) as soon as you can attack Nex. Try to build up enough adrenaline for Rapid Fire, and use it ASAP.
Magic DPS should immediately use Wild Magic as soon as you can attack Nex. Try to build up enough adrenaline for Asphyxiate, and use it ASAP.
After this, the tank will usually run Nex west, close to where the DPSers start.
Tryhard stuff Melee DPS can use Barge, then run behind Nex to use Assault. If your tank keeps Nex at the center where she spawns and you finish Smoke phase quickly, you can corner Surge from the center to reach Fumus without having to run around (as well as gain 8% adrenaline!).
ATTACKS TO WATCH OUT FOR DURING THIS PHASE:
Random drag - Occasionally, Nex will target a random player (even if she's currently not focused on you!) and drag them towards her, stunning them and deactivating their prayer. Freedom will negate the stun and you have to quickly activate your protect/deflects. Anticipation prevents this from happening.
"Let the virus flow through you!" - Nex spreads out smoke clouds at her current target (usually the tank) which drains combat stats (including prayer!) while you're under its effect. Occasionally, characters under the smoke effect will say *cough*. The effect spreads to other people if you're too close to someone suffering the smoke effect. Staying 2 or 3 spaces away from someone will suffice. If any DPSers are under the smoke effect, call out "Spread" to your teammates until the effect wears off.
"There is..." "NO ESCAPE!" - If you see Nex call out "There is..." quickly use any damage over time abilities (Dismember, Slaughter, Combust, Corruption Shot/Blast) and get into the outer ring of Nex's room. Staying on the "bridges" will result in you taking heavy typeless damage and leave you stunned with your prayers deactivated.
When Nex reaches 160000HP, she will call out "Fumus, don't fail me!" and Fumus will finally be vulnerable to attack, but attacks will NOT deal any damage to Nex while Fumus is alive. Nex will still attack you and do her special attacks while minions are vulnerable (this applies to all phases!). When Fumus is dead, Nex will call out to Umbra, "Darken my shadow!"
SHADOW PHASE
AS SOON AS YOU SEE YOUR SCREEN DARKEN, PRAY RANGE.
Tryhard stuff As soon as Shadow phase starts, you can use Soul Split to recover HP while she's spawning shadow traps. Sometimes you'll have to turn on your Ranged prayer sooner whenever she spawns only one set of traps. As you become more experienced at fighting Nex, it will become second nature as to when you should put up your Ranged prayer.
Everyone should be in the same position as they were at the start of Smoke phase.
ATTACKS TO WATCH OUT FOR DURING THIS PHASE:
"Fear the shadow!" - Nex will spawn shadow traps below everyone within her attack range. RUN TO A SPACE THAT ISN'T OCCUPIED BY A TRAP. Failing to run away from a trap will result in you taking 1k-3k damage. Usually, Nex spawns two sets of shadow traps before she starts attacking, but sometimes she only spawns one set of traps. This can determined by her last action in Smoke phase (Either spreading a virus or "Escapes")
"Embrace darkness!" - Being in Nex's melee distance for too long will result in you taking 900-1k damage rapidly until you move away. Mage/Range DPSers don't need to worry about avoiding this attack, but melee DPSers not using a halberd-type only have enough time to use 2-3 abilities before they start taking damage.
This means that if you're using an Attuned crystal halberd or Noxious scythe, you don't have to worry about this damage as long as you are attacking from one square away.
When Nex reaches 120000HP, Nex will call out Umbra and your team must kill Umbra. After Umbra is killed, Nex will call out "Flood my lungs with blood!" and the next phase will begin.
Ranged and Mage should use Death's Swiftness or Sunshine at Umbra, close to where the tank lures Nex.
In a trio, use it immediately.
In a duo or solo, use it when Umbra is at around 5-6k HP. Use your Ranged bleed(s) immediately and finish off Umbra using basic abilities.
BLOOD PHASE
PRAY MAGE OR SOUL SPLIT* AND STOP USING DAMAGING ABILITIES ON NEX AT THE START OF THIS PHASE.
This means you can still build adrenaline by using non-damaging abilities, such as Storm Shards, Anticipation, Freedom, etc.
DO NOT USE DAMAGE OVER TIME ABILITIES (Dismember, Slaughter, Massacre, Combust, Corruption Shot/Blast) AS ALL DAMAGE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT TO NEX WILL HEAL HER DURING THIS PHASE.
*Soul Split can be used during Blood phase as long as you're standing on the opposite side of Nex. If you aren't, you'll take melee or mage hits whenever she attacks the tank.
The tank will usually have lured Nex in between Umbra's and Cruor's spawn (closer to Cruor), as shown in this diagram.
As a Ranged or Mage DPSer, you should have either Death's Swiftness or Sunshine active. Use your heavy-hitting thresholds such as Snapshot/Shadow Tendrils and Wild Magic, then Rapid Fire/Asphyxiate.
Tryhard stuff: In duos, you can melee Blood phase to ensure a One-Siphon kill. Use Berserk as soon as Blood phase starts and build up adrenaline using non-damaging or weak abilities (Storm Shards, Anticipation, Freedom, Punish), use an Adrenaline/Replenishment potion dose, and use Assault/Destroy. If you're behind Nex, you should definitely use Soul Split as the damage you deal while under the effects of Berserk will heal you a lot.
If you get screwed by RNG and you don't end the phase by the time Nex uses her blood sacrifice attack on you, use Escape and once the sacrifice attack is finished, use Barge then Destroy/Assault (whichever you didn't use).
ATTACKS TO WATCH OUT FOR DURING THIS PHASE:
"A siphon will solve this!"1 - Nex will spawn Blood reavers then start glowing. While she is glowing, any damage she would've taken will heal her. STOP ATTACKING HER UNTIL SHE STOPS GLOWING.
Experienced Ranged and Mage DPSers should time usage of Snipe and Detonate, respectively, to deal more damage during this phase.
"I demand a blood sacrifice!"2 - Nex will turn her sacrifice red and they must run away at least 7 spaces. If you're Ranged or Mage DPSing, you don't have to worry about running away if you're attacking from far away.. If you're melee DPSing and you get sacrificed, use the Escape ability and stay away from Nex until you get the message that you've escaped from her sacrifice.
When Nex reaches 80000HP, she will call out Cruor and the team must kill Cruor. IF YOU ARE PRAYING SOUL SPLIT, SWITCH TO DEFLECT MAGIC BEFORE ATTACKING CRUOR. When Nex calls out "Infuse me with the power of ice!" the next phase begins.
TIP: Make note of the last special attack Nex uses at the end of Blood phase, as it can be used to predict what attack she uses at the start of the Ice phase!
ICE PHASE
During Ice phase, your tank will usually stay close to where Cruor was, while the DPSers run between Glacies and Cruor as shown in this diagram:
ATTACKS TO WATCH OUT FOR DURING THIS PHASE:
"Die now, in a prison of ice!"1 - Nex will stun her target (usually the tank) and imprison them in a bunch of stalagmites. The tank must then use Freedom and use Barricade or Immortality (if the tank's HP is low enough). If you see that your tank didn't use either Barricade or Immortality and doesn't have a full adrenaline bar, ATTACK THE STALAGMITES AND FREE THEM. If a DPSer gets imprisoned, they must use Freedom and eat up to above 7k HP. Failing to free an imprisoned teammate will cause them to take around 7k damage, potentially killing them and ruining the trip, as well as pissing off said teammate.
Tryhard stuff: If you get a prison as a DPSer, you can try to use Resonance to heal off of one of Nex's attacks. After you've used Freedom to eat up to above 7k, equip your shield and use Resonance. Since usually your Protect/Deflect prayers get deactivated when you get prisoned, you can heal up to 2k with Resonance depending on the tier of your shield/your luck.
"Contain this!"2 - Nex will spawn ice stalagmites which will chase your teammates. Standing on a stalagmite will damage you moderately, stunning you and sometimes deactivating your prayer. You must run far enough away to avoid taking damage.
As a Ranged or Mage DPS, you should try to attack while running. Prioritize using Fragmentation Shot or Combust while Nex is moving to end the phase faster.
Because of contain attacks, melee DPS can be suicide since you have to run from this attack to avoid it.
TIP (MELEE DPS ONLY): If Berserk isn't on cooldown, it's a good idea to use it during a prison, take a sip of your adrenaline potion and build up to use your thresholds. A short Ice phase is a good Ice phase. Your whole team will save a lot of food during short Ice phases as there will be less prisons and contains!
1 If Nex siphons at the end of Blood phase, Nex will use her ice prison attack at the start of Ice phase. Killing Cruor during a siphon is ideal and makes kills much quicker since Nex doesn't attack anyone during an ice prison.
2 If Nex sacrifices one of your teammates at the end of Blood phase, Nex will use her contain attack at the start of Ice phase. Be prepared to run!
When Nex reaches 40000HP, Glacies must be killed. Once Glacies is killed, Nex will call out "NOW, THE TRUE POWER OF ZAROS!", recover about 30000HP and the final phase will begin.
Ranged and Mage should use Death's Swiftness or Sunshine at Glacies.
In a trio, use it immediately.
In a duo or solo, use it when Glacies is at around 5-6k HP. Use your Ranged bleed(s) immediately and finish off Glacies using basic abilities.
ZAROS PHASE
ZAROS PHASE IS BY FAR THE MOST DANGEROUS PHASE SINCE NEX HITS UP TO 2K DAMAGE WITH MAGIC THROUGH PRAYER, OR UP TO 4K WITHOUT PRAYER.
ALWAYS KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR HP AND PRAYER DURING THIS PHASE!
At the start of this phase, the DPSers should stand close to where Glacies was and the tank should bring Nex in between where Glacies and Cruor was, according to this diagram:
As a Ranged or Mage DPSer, you should have either Death's Swiftness or Sunshine active. When Zaros phase starts, take a sip of your adrenaline potion and spam your thresholds as much as possible.
TIP: Mage DPSers should use Dragon Breath as much as possible with a Sunshine active since it generates 10% adrenaline if it lands, instead of the usual 8%.
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR ON THIS PHASE:
Nex can either deflect Melee, Mage/Range (depending on the kill), or use Soul Split. SWITCH YOUR COMBAT STYLE/PRAYERS ACCORDINGLY. Failing to do so will result in you receiving the damage you would've dealt to Nex!
Sometimes Nex will use Melee in Zaros phase. Tryhards can Soul Split while Nex is meleeing as long as they are not directly 1-2 squares in front of her, as her Melee attacks affect everything in a cone in front of her (sort of like the Cleave and Dragon Breath abilities).
You can use the Debilitate or Devotion abilities to negate some of the Magic damage taken during this phase, greatly reducing the amount of food you eat. From here on out, DPSing is simple other than the fact that you have to watch Nex's prayers. When Nex dies, she will activate Wrath and everyone has to run away far enough to avoid taking damage from it.
You can turn off your Magic prayer and use Resonance to heal off of her strong Magic attacks, as you can recover up to around 4k HP from one hit but it can be a bit risky if you have a lot of ping.
Some other stuff:
Pre-phasing:
To "phase" Nex (making her transition into the next phase after killing the minion), the next attack anyone lands (meaning the attack has to hit!) will make her transition to the next phase. The act of pre-phasing Nex is dealing damage on the same exact tick as the phase starts. You can pre-phase with any ability pretty much.
The best abilities to try pre-phasing with are Snapshot, Wild Magic, Fragmentation Shot, and Combust.
Note that pre-phasing Ice phase can be risky since sometimes you can draw aggro and get a prison.
Corner surging:
If you're at the center of the Nex room, you can Surge at the corners of the center square to get to a minion, without the need to run all the way around.
The spots you can surge from are shown below:
If you're facing the corner, like this...
...when you Surge, you'll end up at where the minion will be.
Corner surging helps if you're meleeing Nex at the center of the room on Smoke phase or during the transition from Shadow to Blood phase.
Hopefully this beginner's guide has been helpful to you. If you have any other questions regarding Nex, feel free to ask in CC.
Good luck and happy Nexing!