The NuX Metal Core is a Nux distortion pedal, currently around $68.99. Close alternatives include the NuX Lacerate and the NuX Fireman. It pairs well with the Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head and the Vox MV50-CE Rock.
NuX Metal Core
Nux · pedal
The NUX Metal Core is a high-gain metal distortion pedal from NUX Effects delivering thick, saturated modern distortion for metal and heavy rock in a compact enclosure at an accessible price. The Metal Core provides heavy gain and aggressive high-end presence suited for modern metal applications.
- metal
- high gain
- distortion
- modern
- thick
- heavy rock
- gain
- saturation
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the NuX Metal Core is commonly used in
- Metal
- Hard Rock
- Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Djent
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Death Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the NuX Metal Core
Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head
amplifier
20% matchMarshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Vox MV50-CE Rock
Vox
20% matchVox MV50-CE Rock pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Fusion 210 pushes a high gain tone toward mid-forward
Traynor BB115
Traynor
tonal matchTraynor BB115 pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 410 takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Egnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo
Egnater
tonal matchStack Egnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger MB210-II
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchStack Gallien-Krueger MB210-II on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Pedals that stack with the NuX Metal Core
Shin's Music Dumbloid
Shins Music
18% matchFeed a high gain signal into Shin's Music Dumbloid and it comes out closer to tight
Xotic EP Booster
Xotic
16% matchXotic EP Booster takes that high gain character and pushes it toward clean boost
Ibanez CS Mini Compressor/Sustainer
Ibanez
16% matchPut Ibanez CS Mini Compressor/Sustainer after NuX Metal Core in the signal chain, clear of NuX Metal Core's own gain stage
MXR CSP202 Custom Comp
MXR
14% matchWhat MXR CSP202 Custom Comp brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2
Hungry Robot
12% matchPut Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2 after NuX Metal Core in the signal chain, clear of NuX Metal Core's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Walrus Audio Fathom
Walrus Audio
12% matchWalrus Audio Fathom's ambient voice goes after NuX Metal Core in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with NuX Metal Core's own high gain character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Wampler Cory Wong
Wampler
tonal matchWampler Cory Wong takes that high gain character and pushes it toward clean boost
Spaceman Effects Atlas IV
Spaceman
tonal matchSpaceman Effects Atlas IV pushes a high gain tone toward clean boost
Cheaper alternatives
Mooer Rage Machine
Mooer
71% similarityShared character: countless_rock_and_metal_players, high_gain_settings, hard_rock
Donner Extreme Driver
Donner
97% similaritysimilar tone character
NuX HG-6 High Gain
Nux
97% similaritysimilar tone character
NUX NFB-2 Lacerate FET Boost
Nux
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Menatone None More Black
Menatone
75% similarityShared character: hard_rock, high_end, thickness
J. Rockett 10 Ton Hammer Overdrive
J Rockett
68% similarityShared character: countless_rock_and_metal_players, hard_rock, thickness
Matthews Effects The Harbinger Distortion
Matthews Effects
67% similarityShared character: hard_rock, aggressive_playing, high_gain_settings
Lovepedal MK12 Super High Gain Dirt Box
Lovepedal
98% similaritysimilar tone character
Crazy Tube Circuits Motherload
Crazy Tube Circuits
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Carl Martin Heavy Drive
Carl Martin
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
NuX Lacerate
Nux
77% similarityShared character: hard_rock, compact, presence
NuX Fireman
Nux
77% similarityShared character: countless_rock_and_metal_players, compact, aggressive_playing
SONICAKE Black Hammer
Sonicake
70% similarityShared character: hard_rock, compact, aggressive_playing
Joyo British metal
Joyo
68% similarityShared character: hard_rock, presence, high_gain_settings
Mooer Ultra Drive MK II
Mooer
68% similarityShared character: hard_rock, thickness, high_gain_settings
ENO EX-Inferno
Eno
97% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the NuX Metal Core (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the NuX Metal Core?+
The closest matches in character are the NuX Lacerate, the NuX Fireman, the SONICAKE Black Hammer. Budget picks: Mooer Rage Machine, Donner Extreme Driver, NuX HG-6 High Gain. Boutique upgrades: Menatone None More Black, J. Rockett 10 Ton Hammer Overdrive, Matthews Effects The Harbinger Distortion.
What pairs well with the NuX Metal Core?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head, Vox MV50-CE Rock, Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210 — Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head pushes a high gain tone toward tight.
How much does the NuX Metal Core cost?+
Around $68.99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).