diff --git a/resources/lang/en.json b/resources/lang/en.json
index f421e1011..b2a282a55 100644
--- a/resources/lang/en.json
+++ b/resources/lang/en.json
@@ -227,6 +227,8 @@
     "dark_mode_desc": "Toggle the site’s appearance between light and dark themes",
     "emojis_label": "😊 Emojis",
     "emojis_desc": "Toggle whether emojis are shown in game",
+    "special_effects_label": "💥 Special effects",
+    "special_effects_desc": "Toggle special effects. Deactivate to improve performances",
     "anonymous_names_label": "🥷 Hidden Names",
     "anonymous_names_desc": "Hide real player names with random ones on your screen.",
     "left_click_label": "🖱️ Left Click to Open Menu",
diff --git a/resources/lang/fr.json b/resources/lang/fr.json
index d84ecf305..ce2168395 100644
--- a/resources/lang/fr.json
+++ b/resources/lang/fr.json
@@ -213,6 +213,8 @@
     "dark_mode_desc": "Basculer l'apparence du site entre les thèmes clairs et sombres",
     "emojis_label": "😊 Émojis",
     "emojis_desc": "Afficher/Masquer les émoticônes dans le jeu",
+    "special_effects_label": "💥 Effets spéciaux",
+    "special_effects_desc": "Affiche les effets spéciaux - Désactivez pour améliorer les performances",
     "anonymous_names_label": "🥷 Noms masqués",
     "anonymous_names_desc": "Cacher le vrai nom des joueurs avec des noms aléatoires sur votre écran.",
     "left_click_label": "🖱️ Clic gauche pour ouvrir le menu",
diff --git a/resources/sprites/nukeExplosion.png b/resources/sprites/nukeExplosion.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f96f6e51e
Binary files /dev/null and b/resources/sprites/nukeExplosion.png differ
diff --git a/src/client/UserSettingModal.ts b/src/client/UserSettingModal.ts
index f94f0591a..cfd9d21c1 100644
--- a/src/client/UserSettingModal.ts
+++ b/src/client/UserSettingModal.ts
@@ -102,6 +102,15 @@ export class UserSettingModal extends LitElement {
     console.log("🤡 Emojis:", enabled ? "ON" : "OFF");
   }
 
+  private toggleFxLayer(e: CustomEvent<{ checked: boolean }>) {
+    const enabled = e.detail?.checked;
+    if (typeof enabled !== "boolean") return;
+
+    this.userSettings.set("settings.specialEffects", enabled);
+
+    console.log("💥 Special effects:", enabled ? "ON" : "OFF");
+  }
+
   private toggleAnonymousNames(e: CustomEvent<{ checked: boolean }>) {
     const enabled = e.detail?.checked;
     if (typeof enabled !== "boolean") return;
@@ -226,6 +235,15 @@ export class UserSettingModal extends LitElement {
         @change=${this.toggleEmojis}
       ></setting-toggle>
 
+      <!-- 💥 Special effects -->
+      <setting-toggle
+        label="${translateText("user_setting.special_effects_label")}"
+        description="${translateText("user_setting.special_effects_desc")}"
+        id="special-effect-toggle"
+        .checked=${this.userSettings.fxLayer()}
+        @change=${this.toggleFxLayer}
+      ></setting-toggle>
+
       <!-- 🖱️ Left Click Menu -->
       <setting-toggle
         label="${translateText("user_setting.left_click_label")}"
diff --git a/src/client/graphics/AnimatedSprite.ts b/src/client/graphics/AnimatedSprite.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f4dd6f039
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/graphics/AnimatedSprite.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+export class AnimatedSprite {
+  private frameHeight: number;
+  private currentFrame: number = 0;
+  private elapsedTime: number = 0;
+  private active: boolean = true;
+
+  constructor(
+    private image: CanvasImageSource,
+    private frameWidth: number,
+    private frameCount: number,
+    private frameDuration: number, // in milliseconds
+    private looping: boolean = true,
+    private originX: number,
+    private originY: number,
+  ) {
+    if ("height" in image) {
+      this.frameHeight = (image as HTMLImageElement | HTMLCanvasElement).height;
+    } else {
+      throw new Error("Image source must have a 'height' property.");
+    }
+  }
+
+  update(deltaTime: number) {
+    if (!this.active) return;
+    this.elapsedTime += deltaTime;
+    if (this.elapsedTime >= this.frameDuration) {
+      this.elapsedTime -= this.frameDuration;
+      this.currentFrame++;
+
+      if (this.currentFrame >= this.frameCount) {
+        if (this.looping) {
+          this.currentFrame = 0;
+        } else {
+          this.currentFrame = this.frameCount - 1;
+          this.active = false;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  isActive(): boolean {
+    return this.active;
+  }
+
+  draw(ctx: CanvasRenderingContext2D, x: number, y: number) {
+    const drawX = x - this.originX;
+    const drawY = y - this.originY;
+
+    ctx.drawImage(
+      this.image,
+      this.currentFrame * this.frameWidth,
+      0,
+      this.frameWidth,
+      this.frameHeight,
+      drawX,
+      drawY,
+      this.frameWidth,
+      this.frameHeight,
+    );
+  }
+
+  reset() {
+    this.currentFrame = 0;
+    this.elapsedTime = 0;
+  }
+
+  setOrigin(xRatio: number, yRatio: number) {
+    this.originX = xRatio;
+    this.originY = yRatio;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/client/graphics/AnimatedSpriteLoader.ts b/src/client/graphics/AnimatedSpriteLoader.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..63cb67ff6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/graphics/AnimatedSpriteLoader.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+import nuke from "../../../resources/sprites/nukeExplosion.png";
+import { AnimatedSprite } from "./AnimatedSprite";
+import { FxType } from "./fx/Fx";
+
+type AnimatedSpriteConfig = {
+  url: string;
+  frameWidth: number;
+  frameCount: number;
+  frameDuration: number; // ms per frame
+  looping?: boolean;
+  originX: number;
+  originY: number;
+};
+
+const ANIMATED_SPRITE_CONFIG: Partial<Record<FxType, AnimatedSpriteConfig>> = {
+  [FxType.Nuke]: {
+    url: nuke,
+    frameWidth: 60,
+    frameCount: 9,
+    frameDuration: 70,
+    looping: false,
+    originX: 30,
+    originY: 30,
+  },
+};
+
+const animatedSpriteImageMap: Map<FxType, CanvasImageSource> = new Map();
+
+export const loadAllAnimatedSpriteImages = async (): Promise<void> => {
+  const entries = Object.entries(ANIMATED_SPRITE_CONFIG);
+
+  await Promise.all(
+    entries.map(async ([fxType, config]) => {
+      const typedFxType = fxType as FxType;
+      if (!config?.url) return;
+
+      try {
+        const img = new Image();
+        img.crossOrigin = "anonymous";
+        img.src = config.url;
+
+        await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+          img.onload = () => resolve();
+          img.onerror = (e) => reject(e);
+        });
+
+        const canvas = document.createElement("canvas");
+        canvas.width = img.width;
+        canvas.height = img.height;
+        canvas.getContext("2d")!.drawImage(img, 0, 0);
+
+        animatedSpriteImageMap.set(typedFxType, canvas);
+      } catch (err) {
+        console.error(`Failed to load sprite for ${typedFxType}:`, err);
+      }
+    }),
+  );
+};
+
+export const createAnimatedSpriteForUnit = (
+  fxType: FxType,
+): AnimatedSprite | null => {
+  const config = ANIMATED_SPRITE_CONFIG[fxType];
+  const image = animatedSpriteImageMap.get(fxType);
+  if (!config || !image) return null;
+
+  return new AnimatedSprite(
+    image,
+    config.frameWidth,
+    config.frameCount,
+    config.frameDuration,
+    config.looping ?? true,
+    config.originX,
+    config.originY,
+  );
+};
diff --git a/src/client/graphics/GameRenderer.ts b/src/client/graphics/GameRenderer.ts
index 3f83a1c41..9cc5b8282 100644
--- a/src/client/graphics/GameRenderer.ts
+++ b/src/client/graphics/GameRenderer.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { ChatModal } from "./layers/ChatModal";
 import { ControlPanel } from "./layers/ControlPanel";
 import { EmojiTable } from "./layers/EmojiTable";
 import { EventsDisplay } from "./layers/EventsDisplay";
+import { FxLayer } from "./layers/FxLayer";
 import { Layer } from "./layers/Layer";
 import { Leaderboard } from "./layers/Leaderboard";
 import { MultiTabModal } from "./layers/MultiTabModal";
@@ -165,6 +166,7 @@ export function createRenderer(
     new TerritoryLayer(game, eventBus),
     new StructureLayer(game, eventBus),
     new UnitLayer(game, eventBus, clientID, transformHandler),
+    new FxLayer(game),
     new UILayer(game, eventBus, clientID, transformHandler),
     new NameLayer(game, transformHandler, clientID),
     eventsDisplay,
diff --git a/src/client/graphics/fx/Fx.ts b/src/client/graphics/fx/Fx.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8956c4ca4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/graphics/fx/Fx.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+export interface Fx {
+  renderTick(duration: number, ctx: CanvasRenderingContext2D): boolean;
+}
+
+export enum FxType {
+  Nuke = "Nuke",
+}
diff --git a/src/client/graphics/fx/NukeFx.ts b/src/client/graphics/fx/NukeFx.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..680d4d64d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/graphics/fx/NukeFx.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import { AnimatedSprite } from "../AnimatedSprite";
+import { createAnimatedSpriteForUnit } from "../AnimatedSpriteLoader";
+import { Fx, FxType } from "./Fx";
+
+/**
+ * Shockwave effect: draw a growing 1px white circle
+ */
+export class ShockwaveFx implements Fx {
+  private lifeTime: number = 0;
+  constructor(
+    private x: number,
+    private y: number,
+    private duration: number,
+    private maxRadius: number,
+  ) {}
+
+  renderTick(frameTime: number, ctx: CanvasRenderingContext2D): boolean {
+    this.lifeTime += frameTime;
+    if (this.lifeTime >= this.duration) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    const t = this.lifeTime / this.duration;
+    const radius = t * this.maxRadius;
+    ctx.beginPath();
+    ctx.arc(this.x, this.y, radius, 0, Math.PI * 2);
+    ctx.strokeStyle = "rgba(255, 255, 255, " + (1 - t) + ")";
+    ctx.lineWidth = 0.5;
+    ctx.stroke();
+    return true;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Explosion effect: sprite animation of an explosion
+ */
+export class NukeExplosionFx implements Fx {
+  private lifeTime: number = 0;
+  private nukeExplosionSprite: AnimatedSprite | null;
+  constructor(
+    private x: number,
+    private y: number,
+    private duration: number,
+  ) {
+    this.nukeExplosionSprite = createAnimatedSpriteForUnit(FxType.Nuke);
+  }
+
+  renderTick(frameTime: number, ctx: CanvasRenderingContext2D): boolean {
+    if (this.nukeExplosionSprite) {
+      this.lifeTime += frameTime;
+      if (this.lifeTime >= this.duration) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      if (this.nukeExplosionSprite.isActive()) {
+        this.nukeExplosionSprite.update(frameTime);
+        this.nukeExplosionSprite.draw(ctx, this.x, this.y);
+        return true;
+      }
+      return false;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/client/graphics/layers/FxLayer.ts b/src/client/graphics/layers/FxLayer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f19147b65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/graphics/layers/FxLayer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+import { UnitType } from "../../../core/game/Game";
+import { GameUpdateType } from "../../../core/game/GameUpdates";
+import { GameView, UnitView } from "../../../core/game/GameView";
+import { loadAllAnimatedSpriteImages } from "../AnimatedSpriteLoader";
+import { Fx } from "../fx/Fx";
+import { NukeExplosionFx, ShockwaveFx } from "../fx/NukeFx";
+import { Layer } from "./Layer";
+
+export class FxLayer implements Layer {
+  private canvas: HTMLCanvasElement;
+  private context: CanvasRenderingContext2D;
+
+  private lastRefresh: number = 0;
+  private refreshRate: number = 10;
+
+  private allFx: Fx[] = [];
+
+  constructor(private game: GameView) {}
+
+  shouldTransform(): boolean {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  tick() {
+    this.game
+      .updatesSinceLastTick()
+      ?.[GameUpdateType.Unit]?.map((unit) => this.game.unit(unit.id))
+      ?.forEach((unitView) => {
+        if (unitView === undefined) return;
+        this.onUnitEvent(unitView);
+      });
+  }
+
+  onUnitEvent(unit: UnitView) {
+    switch (unit.type()) {
+      case UnitType.AtomBomb:
+      case UnitType.MIRVWarhead:
+        this.handleNukeExplosion(unit, 70);
+        break;
+      case UnitType.HydrogenBomb:
+        this.handleNukeExplosion(unit, 250);
+        break;
+    }
+  }
+
+  handleNukeExplosion(unit: UnitView, shockwaveRadius: number) {
+    if (!unit.isActive()) {
+      const x = this.game.x(unit.lastTile());
+      const y = this.game.y(unit.lastTile());
+      const nuke = new NukeExplosionFx(x, y, 1000);
+      this.allFx.push(nuke as Fx);
+      const shockwave = new ShockwaveFx(x, y, 1500, shockwaveRadius);
+      this.allFx.push(shockwave as Fx);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async init() {
+    this.redraw();
+    try {
+      await loadAllAnimatedSpriteImages();
+      console.log("FX sprites loaded successfully");
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error("Failed to load FX sprites:", err);
+    }
+  }
+
+  redraw(): void {
+    this.canvas = document.createElement("canvas");
+    const context = this.canvas.getContext("2d");
+    if (context === null) throw new Error("2d context not supported");
+    this.context = context;
+    this.context.imageSmoothingEnabled = false;
+    this.canvas.width = this.game.width();
+    this.canvas.height = this.game.height();
+  }
+
+  renderLayer(context: CanvasRenderingContext2D) {
+    const now = Date.now();
+    if (this.game.config().userSettings()?.fxLayer()) {
+      if (now > this.lastRefresh + this.refreshRate) {
+        const delta = now - this.lastRefresh;
+        this.renderAllFx(context, delta);
+        this.lastRefresh = now;
+      }
+      context.drawImage(
+        this.canvas,
+        -this.game.width() / 2,
+        -this.game.height() / 2,
+        this.game.width(),
+        this.game.height(),
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  renderAllFx(context: CanvasRenderingContext2D, delta: number) {
+    if (this.allFx.length > 0) {
+      this.context.clearRect(0, 0, this.canvas.width, this.canvas.height);
+      this.renderContextFx(delta);
+    }
+  }
+
+  renderContextFx(duration: number) {
+    for (let i = this.allFx.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+      if (!this.allFx[i].renderTick(duration, this.context)) {
+        this.allFx.splice(i, 1);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/client/graphics/layers/OptionsMenu.ts b/src/client/graphics/layers/OptionsMenu.ts
index bd6248825..7e85e38f4 100644
--- a/src/client/graphics/layers/OptionsMenu.ts
+++ b/src/client/graphics/layers/OptionsMenu.ts
@@ -100,6 +100,11 @@ export class OptionsMenu extends LitElement implements Layer {
     this.requestUpdate();
   }
 
+  private onToggleSpecialEffectsButtonClick() {
+    this.userSettings.toggleFxLayer();
+    this.requestUpdate();
+  }
+
   private onToggleDarkModeButtonClick() {
     this.userSettings.toggleDarkMode();
     this.requestUpdate();
@@ -197,6 +202,11 @@ export class OptionsMenu extends LitElement implements Layer {
             title: "Toggle Emojis",
             children: "🙂: " + (this.userSettings.emojis() ? "On" : "Off"),
           })}
+          ${button({
+            onClick: this.onToggleSpecialEffectsButtonClick,
+            title: "Toggle Special effects",
+            children: "💥: " + (this.userSettings.fxLayer() ? "On" : "Off"),
+          })}
           ${button({
             onClick: this.onToggleDarkModeButtonClick,
             title: "Dark Mode",
diff --git a/src/core/game/UserSettings.ts b/src/core/game/UserSettings.ts
index f94dcdf26..c7005573c 100644
--- a/src/core/game/UserSettings.ts
+++ b/src/core/game/UserSettings.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ export class UserSettings {
     return this.get("settings.anonymousNames", false);
   }
 
+  fxLayer() {
+    return this.get("settings.specialEffects", true);
+  }
+
   darkMode() {
     return this.get("settings.darkMode", false);
   }
@@ -51,6 +55,10 @@ export class UserSettings {
     this.set("settings.anonymousNames", !this.anonymousNames());
   }
 
+  toggleFxLayer() {
+    this.set("settings.specialEffects", !this.fxLayer());
+  }
+
   toggleDarkMode() {
     this.set("settings.darkMode", !this.darkMode());
     if (this.darkMode()) {