A 3D app, no matter how good it is, needs plugin to expand its features and performances. From this perspective, Lightwave is particularly well-endowed See Link. The Lightwave plugin database is homongous. There are many free plugins, and many plugins you must buy.

Among all the Lightwave plugins, there is one that is truly jaw-dropping. It's called Turbulence FD (FD for Fluid Dynamics). It's a plugin to simulate Fluids and particles. It produces broadcast quality results. It's a bit expensive, but compared to similar plugins for Maya or 3DS Max, it is a bargain. See Link.