How to Romance Luke Nukem in Date Everything (Dateable 37)
If you’re looking to heat up your love life in Date Everything, look no further than Luke Nukem – the militaristic microwave with a heart of gold (and radiation)! This comprehensive guide will walk you through every aspect of romancing Dateable 37, from finding him in your kitchen to achieving all three possible endings and collecting every item along the way.
Date Everything: Luke Nukem Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Dateable Number | 37 |
| Location | Kitchen (Microwave) |
| Voice Actor | Travis Willingham |
| Personality | Military space ranger |
| Stat Boost | Poise (+5 SPECS) |
| Total Interactions | 4 |
| Collectibles | Magnetron Blueprint, Magnetron |
| Key Tip | Never mention “tendies” |
Luke Nukem is one of the most entertaining dateables in the game, channeling classic action hero energy with a dash of microwave-specific humor. Whether you’re aiming for the love ending, just want to be friends, or plan to antagonize this hot-headed appliance, I’ve got you covered with every dialogue choice and strategy you’ll need.
Where to Find Luke Nukem in Date Everything?
Luke Nukem awaits you in the most logical place for a microwave – your kitchen! Here’s exactly how to locate and awaken this military-minded appliance:
- Navigate to the Kitchen: From the main living area, head into the kitchen area
- Locate the Microwave: Look to the left of the stove on the counter
- Equip Your Dateviators: Put on your magical dating glasses
- Interact with the Microwave: Use your interaction button (RT on console) while aiming at the microwave
- Meet Luke Nukem: He’ll immediately appear, guns blazing in true action hero fashion
Unlike some of the more elusive dateables like Airyn who requires specific conditions, Luke is available from Day 1 with no special requirements. This makes him perfect for players just starting their Date Everything journey or those looking to quickly boost their Poise stat.
First Encounter Tips
When you first meet Luke, he’ll approach you with military intensity. Don’t be intimidated by his aggressive introduction – this is just his way of saying hello! The key to success with Luke is to play along with his military roleplay while showing genuine interest in his mission.
Luke Nukem’s Character Profile
Personality Traits
Luke Nukem embodies the classic action hero archetype with a unique microwave twist. His personality combines:
- Military Discipline: Constantly speaks in military jargon and follows strict protocols
- Social Awkwardness: Admits his social skills have deteriorated from guarding his “outpost”
- Hidden Vulnerability: Beneath the tough exterior lies insecurity about his true purpose
- Loyalty: Once you earn his trust, he’s completely devoted
- Humor: Unintentionally funny through his over-the-top military dedication
Voice Acting Performance
Travis Willingham brings Luke to life with a performance that perfectly captures the character’s bombastic nature. Known for his work in critical gaming and animation roles, Willingham delivers every line with the perfect blend of intensity and underlying vulnerability that makes Luke more than just a one-note parody.
Visual Design
Luke’s character design brilliantly merges microwave aesthetics with military imagery:
- Muscular humanoid form with a microwave cavity for a chest
- Military fatigues adapted to his appliance nature
- Glowing elements suggesting radiation/heating power
- Expressions that shift from stern military focus to bashful romance
Date Everything: Complete Love Ending Walkthrough
Achieving Luke’s love ending requires careful navigation through four interactions. I’ll provide the exact dialogue choices needed, along with explanations for why each choice works.
Interaction #1: The Military Introduction
Your first meeting sets the tone for your entire relationship. Luke will test your ability to play along with his military fantasy.
Optimal Dialogue Path:
- “Thank the Immortals. Love those guys.” – Shows you’re willing to engage with his worldview
- “Very nice to meet you, Luke.” – Polite introduction without mocking his name
- “What kind of solutions?” – Express interest in his problems
- “Can you… elaborate?” – Dig deeper into his mission
- “Oh they did. But I’m very resilient.” – Play along with the danger scenario
- “Oh definitely dead.” – Commit to the roleplay about your fallen comrades
- “May the Immortals provide the fallen safe transport to the underrealm, and solace in their everlasting night.” – Match his dramatic energy
- “Exciting! Tell me more you hulky, microwave person.” – Flirtatious while acknowledging his nature
- “Absolutely, but I’d love to hear you retell it. You have such a strong, sensual voice.” – Direct flirtation
Collectible Alert! When Luke offers to explain his plan, asking him to retell it unlocks the Magnetron Blueprintcollectible.
- “Whoa.” – React appropriately to his dramatic explanation
- “Ok cool.” – Stay calm and collected
- “Yes, Sir!” – Show military respect
Critical Warning: The Tendies Trap
Throughout all interactions with Luke, you must NEVER mention chicken tenders, nuggets, or “tendies.” This is an instant relationship killer that will lock you out of both the love and friend endings. The game tempts you with these options multiple times, but resist!
Interaction #2: The Security Check
Luke has asked you to return at “0700 hours” (morning). This interaction tests your commitment and ability to maintain the military illusion.
Timing Tip: Make visiting Luke your first action of the day to show punctuality – a trait he respects.
Optimal Dialogue Path:
- “But I only have my driver’s license!” – Humorous response to his ID demand
- “I’ve got the same issue. No sweat.” – Build rapport through shared experience
- “I’m [NAME], I’m [NAME]!!” – Frantically confirm your identity
- “You really think they’re pretty?” – Respond to his compliment about your limbs
- “Sounds terrifying!” – React to his security breach story
- “26 hours seems like a lot.” – Question his excessive vigilance
- “That’s nuts.” – Sympathize with his situation
- “Would you let me in there?” – Show trust and interest
- “I’d like that.” – Romantic response to sharing quarters
- “Yes, Sir!” – Maintain military respect
- “Yes.” – Confirm your understanding
- “Yes, Sir!” – Double down on respect
- “Yes, but I’m not going to share it right now.” – Create mystery about the password
- “What’s the signal?” – Stay engaged with the mission
This interaction deepens your bond while maintaining the delicate balance between playing along with his fantasy and showing genuine romantic interest.
Interaction #3: The Mission
This pivotal interaction involves helping Luke with his “mission” – retrieving the magnetron from his chest cavity.
Optimal Dialogue Path:
- “Ok.” – Simple agreement
- “Yep!” – Enthusiastic confirmation
- “Ok.” – Continue agreeing
- “Oh I’d love that…” – Romantic response to working together
- “Sorry, I turned you on!” – Flirty acknowledgment of double meaning
- “We’ll talk about this later… soldier.” – Maintain romantic tension
- “Ok… I’ve got it! Wait this doesn’t seem right…” – Begin to question the device
Collectible Alert! Agreeing to reach inside his chassis and arm the device unlocks the Magnetron collectible.
- “The label says it’s for warming up… food? I thought it was a bomb?” – Reveal the truth
- “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” – Apologize for shattering his illusion
- “Hold on… I think you’re great!” – Prevent him from spiraling
The Truth Revealed
During this interaction, you’ll discover that Luke’s “magnetron bomb” is actually just a standard microwave component for heating food. This revelation devastates him, as his entire identity has been built around being a military weapons system. Your responses here are crucial for reaching the love ending.
Interaction #4: The Moment of Truth
The final interaction determines your ending. Luke needs encouragement and validation to move past his identity crisis.
Optimal Love Ending Path:
- “I needed to see you.” – Show it was your choice to return
- “But I wanted to see you!” – Emphasize your feelings
- “Figured what out? Rub what in your face?” – Feign ignorance about his crisis
- “Yeah I kinda figured that. But continue.” – Gentle acknowledgment
- “Actually, I kinda do.” – Show you understand his situation
Critical Choice: This is where paths diverge!
- “You still can, Luke!” – Encourage him (leads to love/friend endings)
- “How can you say that? What about your magnetron?” – Reference his unique qualities
- “You’ve got literal radiation coursing through you! How cool is that?!” – Reframe his nature positively
- “Hell yeah!” – Enthusiastic agreement
- “Exactly!” – Confirm his value
- “That’s okay with me, Luke Nukem.” – Accept him fully
Final Choice for Love: 12. “Aye aye!” – Military affirmation seals the romance
Choosing this final option leads to Luke confessing his feelings and beginning a passionate relationship. The military roleplay continues, but now with romantic undertones!
Friend Ending Guide
Want to keep things platonic with your microwave? The friend ending lets you maintain a close bond without the romance.
How to Achieve Friendship
Follow the exact same path as the love ending through all interactions until the very final choice in Interaction #4. Instead of selecting “Aye aye!” choose:
“Luke, I’m all about it. Just the ‘naked’ part seemed to come out of nowhere”
This response shows you care about Luke but aren’t interested in romance. He’ll understand and appreciate your honesty, leading to a strong friendship where you support each other without romantic complications.
Benefits of Friendship
- Still gain +5 Poise SPECS points
- Maintain Luke as an ally without romantic obligations
- Can pursue other dateables without guilt
- Get most collectibles (except romance-specific ones if any)
Hate Ending Guide
Sometimes you just want to watch the world burn – or in this case, watch a microwave have a meltdown. Here’s how to achieve the hate ending with Luke.
Method 1: The Tendies Disaster
The fastest way to Luke’s hate ending is mentioning “tendies” at any point. During your first interaction, when he asks what you want, selecting any variation of:
- “Can you make me some tendies?”
- “I want chicken nuggets”
- “How about some dino nuggies?”
This immediately triggers his rage. He’ll throw a plate of half-cooked dinosaur nuggets at you and ban you from his presence forever.
Method 2: The Therapeutic Rejection
In Interaction #4, when Luke is vulnerable and seeking validation:
- Follow the path until he expresses his doubts
- Choose “Yeah I guess it was just a fantasy” (instead of encouraging him)
- Follow up with “I’m not your therapist, dude”
This cold rejection during his moment of need creates lasting resentment.
Consequences of Hate
- Still receive +5 Poise SPECS points
- Luke becomes permanently hostile
- Locked out of any future interactions
- May impact relationships with other kitchen appliances
- No access to certain collectibles
All Collectibles and Rewards
Luke Nukem offers two main collectibles that you can obtain during his storyline:
Magnetron Blueprint
- How to Obtain: During Interaction #1, when Luke mentions his plan, ask him to retell it
- Description: Technical drawings of Luke’s “weapon”
- Value: Reveals Luke’s misunderstanding of his own components
Magnetron
- How to Obtain: During Interaction #3, agree to reach into his chassis and arm the device
- Description: The actual microwave component
- Value: Physical proof of Luke’s true nature
SPECS Points Reward
- Amount: +5 Poise
- When Received: Upon achieving any ending (Love, Friend, or Hate)
- Benefit: Poise affects dialogue options and interactions with other dateables
Advanced Strategies and Tips
Optimizing Your Luke Nukem Experience
- Save Before Each Interaction: Use Date Everything’s save system to create backups before each Luke encounter. This lets you experience all endings without full replays.
- Morning Routine: Since Luke asks you to meet at 0700 hours, establish a routine of visiting him first each day. This shows respect for his military precision.
- Combine with Other Kitchen Dates: While pursuing Luke, you can efficiently date other kitchen appliances like Miranda the toaster or Dishy the dishwasher.
- Stat Building: Luke’s +5 Poise boost is substantial. Complete his storyline early if you need Poise for other dateables’ special dialogue options.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- The Tendies Temptation: No matter how funny it seems, never mention chicken-related foods
- Skipping Days: Missing the 0700 hours meeting disappoints Luke but doesn’t ruin the romance
- Breaking Character: Consistently maintain the military illusion for best results
- Rushing Through: Take time to enjoy Travis Willingham’s excellent voice acting
- Ignoring Collectibles: Both items are missable if you choose wrong dialogue options
Character Interactions and Connections
Luke’s storyline connects with several other dateables:
- Phoenicia (Phone): May comment on your military-style scheduling with Luke
- Other Kitchen Appliances: Some express concern about Luke’s intensity
- Wallace (Wall): Another character dealing with identity issues
- Dorian (Door): Appreciates Luke’s security consciousness
The Deeper Meaning: Luke’s Story Analysis
Beyond the humor of a military microwave, Luke’s narrative explores themes of:
Identity Crisis
Luke’s discovery that he’s “just” a kitchen appliance rather than a weapon system mirrors real-world identity crises. His journey from denial to acceptance (with your help) provides surprising emotional depth.
Purpose and Value
The game asks: Does knowing your “true” purpose diminish your value? Luke believes he’s worthless once he learns he heats food rather than destroys enemies, but you help him see that bringing warmth and nourishment has its own importance.
Masculinity and Vulnerability
Luke’s hyper-masculine military persona masks deep insecurity. The love path requires helping him embrace vulnerability while maintaining his core identity – a nuanced take on modern masculinity.
The Power of Belief
Even after learning the truth, you can help Luke maintain his military identity in a healthier way, showing that self-concept matters more than objective reality.
Speedrun Strategies
For players attempting to speedrun Luke’s romance:
- Day 1 Setup: Complete Interaction #1 immediately upon starting
- Day 2 Morning: Hit Interaction #2 as first daily action
- Day 2 Afternoon: Complete Interaction #3
- Day 3: Finish with Interaction #4
- Total Time: Approximately 15-20 minutes of actual gameplay
Speedrun Tips
- Memorize dialogue choices to click through quickly
- Skip optional collectibles if only going for ending
- Use kitchen as base of operations for efficiency
- Combine with other kitchen dateable routes
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I romance Luke if I accidentally mentioned tendies?
Unfortunately, no. Mentioning tendies permanently locks you into the hate ending. You’ll need to start a new save or reload an earlier one.
Does Luke appear at specific times?
After the first meeting, Luke asks you to meet at 0700 hours (morning), but he’s actually available any time of day after that initial request.
Can I get both collectibles in one playthrough?
Yes! Both the Magnetron Blueprint and Magnetron can be obtained while pursuing any ending, as long as you make the correct dialogue choices during their respective interactions.
Does Luke’s ending affect other kitchen dateables?
There’s no direct impact on other relationships, though some kitchen appliances may comment on your relationship with Luke in their own dialogues.
What’s the best ending for Luke?
This depends on your goals:
- Love: Best for story completion and emotional satisfaction
- Friend: Good for players pursuing other romances
- Hate: Only recommended for completionist achievements
Can I change Luke’s ending after completing it?
No, endings are permanent once achieved. You’ll need to use an earlier save or start a new game to experience different endings.
Is Luke’s Poise boost worth prioritizing him early?
Absolutely! +5 Poise is one of the larger stat boosts in the game, and Poise unlocks special dialogue options with multiple other dateables.
How does Luke compare to other military-themed dateables?
Luke is unique in his combination of military themes with kitchen appliance identity. While other dateables may have authority or discipline themes, none match Luke’s specific brand of action-hero parody.
Conclusion
Luke Nukem stands out as one of Date Everything’s most memorable dateables, combining laugh-out-loud humor with surprisingly touching moments of vulnerability. Whether you’re drawn to his military bravado, touched by his identity crisis, or simply want to experience Travis Willingham’s stellar voice acting, Luke’s storyline offers something for everyone.
The key to success with Luke is commitment – commit to his military fantasy, commit to avoiding the dreaded tendies, and most importantly, commit to seeing past his magnetron obsession to the warm-hearted appliance beneath. With this guide, you’re fully equipped to navigate every aspect of Luke’s storyline and achieve your desired ending.
Remember, in the world of Date Everything, even the most unlikely appliances can steal your heart. Luke Nukem proves that sometimes the best romances are the ones that start with a bang and end with a perfectly heated meal for two.