Nightmare: Difference between revisions

{{Faction infobox

|domain(s)= [[Moon]]<br>[[Leviathan (ship)|The Leviathan]]

|functions =Psychologically torment [[Guardian]]s<br>Serve [[Emperor Calus]]

|ally=[[The Witness]] <br> [[Hidden Swarm]] {{C|partially}} <br> [[Sol Divisive]] {{C|partially}} <br> [[Loyalists]] {{C|partially}} <br> [[Scorn]] <br> [[House of Dusk]] {{C|partially}}

|notable-member= [[Nightmare of Crota, Son of Oryx]] <br> [[Nightmare of Dominus Ghaul]] <br> [[Nightmare of Fikrul, the Fanatic]] <br> [[Nightmare of Omnigul, Will of Crota]] <br> [[Nightmare of Skolas, Kell of Kells]] <br> [[Nightmare of Taniks, the Scarred]] <br> [[Nightmare of Phogoth, the Untamed]] <br> [[Nightmare of Zydron, Gate Lord]] <br> [[Nightmare of Caiatl, Princess-Imperial]]

'''Nightmares''' are apparitions of [[Darkness]] used for psychological warfare and as a security system for the [[Black Fleet]]; manifested as past figures and enemies to exploit the trauma and worst fears of [[Guardian]]s and other victims. First appearing following Eris Morn's discovery of the [[Pyramid (Luna)|Pyramid]] beneath the [[Moon]], the Nightmares include phantoms of some of [[Guardian]]s' deadliest foes, including [[Crota]], [[Fikrul]], [[Ghaul]] and [[Uldren Sov]].  

According to [[Hashladûn, Daughter of Crota|Hashladûn]], Nightmares are malleable creations of the Lunar Pyramid, not truly alive but made of "chaos, negation, and the raw things found existing in spaces between thought and fear."<ref name="Heretic">'''Bungie (2019/10/29)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Shadowkeep]], [[Heretic#Lore|Heretic]]''</ref> They are extracted from the psyche of targets, wreaking havoc by provoking grief and trauma as well as presenting a physical threat.<ref name="Regarding">'''Bungie (2019/10/1)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Shadowkeep]], [[Lore:Letters from Eris|Letters from Eris]] - [[Lore:Letters from Eris#Regarding Nightmares|Regarding Nightmares]]''</ref>

Eris initially surmised that the true purpose of the Nightmares was a tool made to manipulate and exploit mortals at their weakest, tempting them towards the side of the [[The Witness|Witness]] with [[Stasis|promises of power]] and the meeting of those they lost once again.<ref name="Regarding"/> This would be recanted later, when she exposed her deduction that the Nightmares were in fact a defense mechanism to drive away those who would tamper with the Lunar Pyramid.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/05/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Haunted]], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUL5Vd5rleI Bound in Sorrow | Formulating a Plan]''</ref> This defense mechanism would also be utilized by the [[The Europan Pyramid|Europan Pyramid]] when [[Elisabeth Bray]] entered it in her attempt to relearn [[Stasis]].<ref name="Bitter"/>

It is believed that [[Nezarec, Final God of Pain]] co-opted the Nightmares in the past and wove them into his Pyramid as a security system<ref name="Visitation">'''Bungie (2023/06/04)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[The Visitation]]''</ref>, which was then expanded to other Pyramids<ref name="Bitter">'''Bungie (2023/2/28)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Lightfall]], [[Bitter]] - [[Bitter#Elsie felt the nightmare manifest long before she saw it.|Entry 7]]''</ref>. Currently, Eris Morn and [[Micah-10]] believe that Nightmares are a yet-untapped power of the Darkness, explaining how they persist even after the "death" of Nezarec.<ref name="Visitation"/>

Nightmares are enemies that debut in ''[[Shadowkeep]]'' and are primarily encountered in [[Lost Sector]]s and during endgame activities like [[Nightmare Hunts]] and [[Altars of Sorrow]] on the [[Moon]]. They can vary in difficulty; such as [[Elite]], [[Major]], and [[Ultra]], and drop phantasmal orbs upon death that grants players an ''"Unstable Essence"'' damage buff on all other Nightmare enemies for ten seconds. Nightmare bosses are often accompanied by two Major mob enemies that can respawn if destroyed, most often when boss health reaches halfway and if no current Nightmare enemies are standing then.

*In an effort to create a puppet champion, the Daughters of Crota constantly resurrect the shattered [[Zulmak, Instrument of Torment]] by combining the phantasmal essence of the Nightmares with Zulmak's husk, creating the first hybrid of a Hive and a Nightmare.<ref name="Heretic"/>

*According to [[Toland]], the [[Pyramid (Luna)|Pyramid]] cannot conjure Nightmares from [[Hive]] minds. They require a [[human]] psyche: anguished, burdened, [[Risen|Lightbearing]] vessels.{{Citation needed}} However, this seems to be contradicted by the existence of the [[Nightmare of Horkis, Fear of Mithrax]], unless Horkis had previously encountered the Guardians before manifesting as a Nightmare.

*Several Nightmares are effigies of individuals who are not deceased. For example, Toland exists beyond his physical form, Omar Agah's essence was transferred into an insect-like creature that now powers a weapon and Fikrul is capable of repeatedly resurrecting himself. This indicates the purely psychological intent of the Lunar Pyramid's conjuration of the Nightmares, and not its ability to pull the spirits of the dead into being.

==List of appearances==

*''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Shadowkeep]]'' {{1st}}

**''[[Season of the Undying]]'' {{Mo}}

**''[[Season of the Hunt]]'' {{Mo}}

*''[[Kuang Xuan's Logbook]]'' {{Fm}}

*''[[Bitter]]'' {{Mo}}