Nucleonics

You reach past the chemical scale and into the heart of matter, manipulating the nuclear forces that bind atoms together. This is the most dangerous--and least subtle--of the kinetic powers.

Rank 1: Atomic Instability

You can destabilize individual nuclei in a small area, causing tiny but cumulative explosions (heavy radiant damage, line/burst area). You can also strip neutrons from matter, leaving objects mildly radioactive (creatures in the affected area suffer ongoing radiation damage and disadvantage on Con saves until they receive Wholeness of Body treatment).

Rank 2: Material Hardness & Disintegration

You can dramatically harden or soften matter by manipulating its nuclear binding energy: turn iron to soft clay, or wood to a substance harder than steel. You can disintegrate objects outright (Sturdiness save). You can also increase the viscosity of space itself through gluon manipulation, slowing or even halting all movement in a small area (Str save partial).

Rank 3+: TBD

Higher-rank effects might include controlled fusion, sustained matter-to-energy conversion, or temporary nullification of the strong force itself. Specifics TBD.