diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/OpenRA.Mods.Common.csproj b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/OpenRA.Mods.Common.csproj
index 46d96e8281..167eb26aa1 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/OpenRA.Mods.Common.csproj
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/OpenRA.Mods.Common.csproj
@@ -443,6 +443,8 @@
     <Compile Include="Traits\Render\WithHarvestOverlay.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Traits\Render\WithIdleOverlay.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Traits\Render\WithMuzzleOverlay.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Traits\Render\WithNukeLaunchAnimation.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Traits\Render\WithNukeLaunchOverlay.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Traits\Render\WithParachute.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Traits\Render\WithRangeCircle.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Traits\Render\WithRearmAnimation.cs" />
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Render/WithNukeLaunchAnimation.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Render/WithNukeLaunchAnimation.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..853681ffbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Render/WithNukeLaunchAnimation.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+#region Copyright & License Information
+/*
+ * Copyright 2007-2017 The OpenRA Developers (see AUTHORS)
+ * This file is part of OpenRA, which is free software. It is made
+ * available to you under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of
+ * the License, or (at your option) any later version. For more
+ * information, see COPYING.
+ */
+#endregion
+
+using OpenRA.Traits;
+
+namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Traits.Render
+{
+	[Desc("Replaces the building animation when `NukePower` is triggered.")]
+	public class WithNukeLaunchAnimationInfo : ConditionalTraitInfo, Requires<WithSpriteBodyInfo>
+	{
+		[Desc("Sequence name to use")]
+		[SequenceReference] public readonly string Sequence = "active";
+
+		public override object Create(ActorInitializer init) { return new WithNukeLaunchAnimation(init.Self, this); }
+	}
+
+	public class WithNukeLaunchAnimation : ConditionalTrait<WithNukeLaunchAnimationInfo>, INotifyNuke, INotifyBuildComplete, INotifySold
+	{
+		readonly WithSpriteBody spriteBody;
+		bool buildComplete;
+
+		public WithNukeLaunchAnimation(Actor self, WithNukeLaunchAnimationInfo info)
+			: base(info)
+		{
+			spriteBody = self.TraitOrDefault<WithSpriteBody>();
+		}
+
+		void INotifyNuke.Launching(Actor self)
+		{
+			if (buildComplete && spriteBody != null && !IsTraitDisabled)
+				spriteBody.PlayCustomAnimation(self, Info.Sequence, () => spriteBody.CancelCustomAnimation(self));
+		}
+
+		void INotifyBuildComplete.BuildingComplete(Actor self)
+		{
+			buildComplete = true;
+		}
+
+		void INotifySold.Selling(Actor self)
+		{
+			buildComplete = false;
+		}
+
+		void INotifySold.Sold(Actor self) { }
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Render/WithNukeLaunchOverlay.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Render/WithNukeLaunchOverlay.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ef5c8d86c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Render/WithNukeLaunchOverlay.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+#region Copyright & License Information
+/*
+ * Copyright 2007-2017 The OpenRA Developers (see AUTHORS)
+ * This file is part of OpenRA, which is free software. It is made
+ * available to you under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of
+ * the License, or (at your option) any later version. For more
+ * information, see COPYING.
+ */
+#endregion
+
+using OpenRA.Effects;
+using OpenRA.Graphics;
+using OpenRA.Traits;
+
+namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Traits.Render
+{
+	[Desc("Displays an overlay when `NukePower` is triggered.")]
+	public class WithNukeLaunchOverlayInfo : ConditionalTraitInfo, Requires<RenderSpritesInfo>, Requires<BodyOrientationInfo>
+	{
+		[Desc("Sequence name to use")]
+		[SequenceReference] public readonly string Sequence = "active";
+
+		[Desc("Position relative to body")]
+		public readonly WVec Offset = WVec.Zero;
+
+		[Desc("Custom palette name")]
+		[PaletteReference("IsPlayerPalette")] public readonly string Palette = null;
+
+		[Desc("Custom palette is a player palette BaseName")]
+		public readonly bool IsPlayerPalette = false;
+
+		public override object Create(ActorInitializer init) { return new WithNukeLaunchOverlay(init.Self, this); }
+	}
+
+	public class WithNukeLaunchOverlay : ConditionalTrait<WithNukeLaunchOverlayInfo>, INotifyBuildComplete, INotifySold, INotifyNuke
+	{
+		readonly Animation overlay;
+		bool buildComplete;
+		bool visible;
+
+		public WithNukeLaunchOverlay(Actor self, WithNukeLaunchOverlayInfo info)
+			: base(info)
+		{
+			var rs = self.Trait<RenderSprites>();
+			var body = self.Trait<BodyOrientation>();
+
+			buildComplete = !self.Info.HasTraitInfo<BuildingInfo>(); // always render instantly for units
+			overlay = new Animation(self.World, rs.GetImage(self));
+			overlay.PlayThen(info.Sequence, () => visible = false);
+
+			var anim = new AnimationWithOffset(overlay,
+				() => body.LocalToWorld(info.Offset.Rotate(body.QuantizeOrientation(self, self.Orientation))),
+				() => IsTraitDisabled || !visible || !buildComplete,
+				p => RenderUtils.ZOffsetFromCenter(self, p, 1));
+
+			rs.Add(anim, info.Palette, info.IsPlayerPalette);
+		}
+
+		void INotifyBuildComplete.BuildingComplete(Actor self)
+		{
+			buildComplete = true;
+		}
+
+		void INotifySold.Sold(Actor self) { }
+		void INotifySold.Selling(Actor self)
+		{
+			buildComplete = false;
+		}
+
+		void INotifyNuke.Launching(Actor self)
+		{
+			visible = true;
+			overlay.PlayThen(overlay.CurrentSequence.Name, () => visible = false);
+		}
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/SupportPowers/NukePower.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/SupportPowers/NukePower.cs
index 44dd936059..05c13c01fb 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/SupportPowers/NukePower.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/SupportPowers/NukePower.cs
@@ -72,10 +72,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Traits
 		[Desc("Corresponds to `Type` from `FlashPaletteEffect` on the world actor.")]
 		public readonly string FlashType = null;
 
-		[SequenceReference]
-		[Desc("Sequence the launching actor should play when activating this power.")]
-		public readonly string ActivationSequence = "active";
-
 		public WeaponInfo WeaponInfo { get; private set; }
 
 		public override object Create(ActorInitializer init) { return new NukePower(init.Self, this); }
@@ -103,11 +99,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Traits
 			base.Activate(self, order, manager);
 			PlayLaunchSounds();
 
-			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(info.ActivationSequence))
-			{
-				var wsb = self.Trait<WithSpriteBody>();
-				wsb.PlayCustomAnimation(self, info.ActivationSequence);
-			}
+			foreach (var launchpad in self.TraitsImplementing<INotifyNuke>())
+				launchpad.Launching(self);
 
 			var targetPosition = self.World.Map.CenterOfCell(order.TargetLocation);
 			var palette = info.IsPlayerPalette ? info.MissilePalette + self.Owner.InternalName : info.MissilePalette;
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/TraitsInterfaces.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/TraitsInterfaces.cs
index 0445f590db..4decc747c7 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/TraitsInterfaces.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/TraitsInterfaces.cs
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Traits
 
 	public interface INotifyBuildingPlaced { void BuildingPlaced(Actor self); }
 	public interface INotifyRepair { void Repairing(Actor self, Actor target); }
+	public interface INotifyNuke { void Launching(Actor self); }
 	public interface INotifyBurstComplete { void FiredBurst(Actor self, Target target, Armament a); }
 	public interface INotifyChat { bool OnChat(string from, string message); }
 	public interface INotifyProduction { void UnitProduced(Actor self, Actor other, CPos exit); }
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/UtilityCommands/UpgradeRules.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/UtilityCommands/UpgradeRules.cs
index c98a1cbb6d..64ec434114 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/UtilityCommands/UpgradeRules.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/UtilityCommands/UpgradeRules.cs
@@ -974,6 +974,16 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.UtilityCommands
 					}
 				}
 
+				// nuke launch animation is now it's own trait
+				if (engineVersion < 20170820)
+				{
+					if (depth == 1 && node.Key.StartsWith("NukePower"))
+					{
+						node.Value.Nodes.RemoveAll(n => n.Key == "ActivationSequence");
+						addNodes.Add(new MiniYamlNode("WithNukeLaunchAnimation", new MiniYaml("")));
+					}
+				}
+
 				UpgradeActorRules(modData, engineVersion, ref node.Value.Nodes, node, depth + 1);
 			}
 
diff --git a/mods/cnc/rules/structures.yaml b/mods/cnc/rules/structures.yaml
index 59c5f5e805..1dda026f5f 100644
--- a/mods/cnc/rules/structures.yaml
+++ b/mods/cnc/rules/structures.yaml
@@ -724,6 +724,7 @@ TMPL:
 		ArrowSequence: arrow
 		ClockSequence: clock
 		CircleSequence: circles
+	WithNukeLaunchAnimation:
 	SupportPowerChargeBar:
 	Power:
 		Amount: -150
diff --git a/mods/d2k/rules/structures.yaml b/mods/d2k/rules/structures.yaml
index 44e80cbbed..de0d817b34 100644
--- a/mods/d2k/rules/structures.yaml
+++ b/mods/d2k/rules/structures.yaml
@@ -1072,9 +1072,13 @@ palace:
 		DisplayBeacon: True
 		DisplayRadarPing: True
 		CameraRange: 10c0
-		ActivationSequence:
 		ArrowSequence: arrow
 		CircleSequence: circles
+	WithNukeLaunchOverlay:
+		RequiresCondition: !launchpad-damaged
+	GrantConditionOnDamageState@LAUNCHPADDAMAGED:
+		Condition: launchpad-damaged
+		ValidDamageState: Medium, Heavy, Critical
 	ProduceActorPower@fremen:
 		Description: Recruit Fremen
 		LongDesc: Elite infantry unit armed with assault rifles and rockets\n  Strong vs Infantry, Vehicles\n  Weak vs Artillery\n  Special Ability: Invisibility
diff --git a/mods/d2k/sequences/structures.yaml b/mods/d2k/sequences/structures.yaml
index c7dc3b5941..fd1c05cd0a 100644
--- a/mods/d2k/sequences/structures.yaml
+++ b/mods/d2k/sequences/structures.yaml
@@ -566,6 +566,9 @@ palace.atreides:
 	idle: DATA.R8
 		Start: 2924
 		Offset: -48,48
+	active: DATA.R8
+		Start: 2924
+		Offset: -48,48
 	make: DATA.R8
 		Start: 4677
 		Length: 11
@@ -980,10 +983,10 @@ palace.harkonnen:
 	damaged-idle: DATA.R8
 		Start: 3085
 		Offset: -48,48
-#	active: DATA.R8 # TODO: overlay
-#		Start:  5084
-#		Length: 20
-#		Offset: -48,64
+	active: DATA.R8
+		Start:  5084
+		Length: 20
+		Offset: -48,64
 	damaged-active: DATA.R8
 		Start: 5084
 		Length: 20
@@ -1371,6 +1374,9 @@ palace.ordos:
 	idle: DATA.R8
 		Start: 3244
 		Offset: -48,48
+	active: DATA.R8
+		Start: 3244
+		Offset: -48,48
 	make: DATA.R8
 		Start: 4677
 		Length: 11
@@ -1485,6 +1491,9 @@ palace.corrino:
 	idle: DATA.R8
 		Start: 3252
 		Offset: -48,48
+	active: DATA.R8
+		Start: 3252
+		Offset: -48,48
 	damaged-idle: DATA.R8
 		Start: 3253
 		Offset: -48,48
diff --git a/mods/ra/rules/structures.yaml b/mods/ra/rules/structures.yaml
index fc1608bffd..586837b55e 100644
--- a/mods/ra/rules/structures.yaml
+++ b/mods/ra/rules/structures.yaml
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ MSLO:
 		Amount: -150
 	MustBeDestroyed:
 		RequiredForShortGame: false
+	WithNukeLaunchAnimation:
 
 GAP:
 	Inherits: ^ScienceBuilding
diff --git a/mods/ts/rules/nod-support.yaml b/mods/ts/rules/nod-support.yaml
index 295f4b2a03..c517fccdc0 100644
--- a/mods/ts/rules/nod-support.yaml
+++ b/mods/ts/rules/nod-support.yaml
@@ -378,6 +378,7 @@ NAMISL:
 		DisplayRadarPing: True
 		BeaconPoster:
 		CameraRange: 10c0
+	WithNukeLaunchOverlay:
 	SelectionDecorations:
 		VisualBounds: 75,48
 
diff --git a/mods/ts/sequences/structures.yaml b/mods/ts/sequences/structures.yaml
index b96c8a2d0f..59c472fa8e 100644
--- a/mods/ts/sequences/structures.yaml
+++ b/mods/ts/sequences/structures.yaml
@@ -1871,10 +1871,10 @@ namisl:
 	make: ntmislmk
 		Length: 18
 		ShadowStart: 18
-	active: ntmisl_a # TODO: This is an overlay, but currently used as animation
+	active: ntmisl_a
 		Length: 10
 		Tick: 80
-	damaged-active: ntmisl_a # TODO: This is an overlay, but currently used as animation
+	damaged-active: ntmisl_a
 		Start: 10
 		Length: 10
 		Tick: 80