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Nightmare
Nightmare
Creature Type
(Subtype for creature/tribal cards)
Statistics
72 cards
{W} 2.8% {U} 15.3% {B} 47.2% {R} 6.9% {U/B} 5.6% {B/R} 4.2% {W/B} 2.8% {U/R} 1.4% {B/G} 4.2% {M} 9.7%
4 Nightmare creation cards
{B} 75% {U/B} 25%
as of Wilds of Eldraine
Scryfall Search
type:"Nightmare"

Nightmare is a creature type used for cards that depict terrifying monsters or evil spirits created by the unconscious mind. Nightmares are primarily black, although they occur in other colors.

The first Nightmare card was the equally named Nightmare in Alpha. This is a powerful, black flying horse that draws its power from the swamps.

Storyline[ | ]

Ashiok[ | ]

Ashiok is a planeswalker from an unknown plane who discovered not only a great skill at culling the nightmares from others but also the ability to make them manifest in reality (Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver). Ashiok enjoys watching those who see themselves as untouchable and superior reduced to screaming and blubbering. Because all sentient beings feel fear, Ashiok believes in its power as the great equalizer. Ashiok is known to have visited Theros, Ravnica and Eldraine. While Theros and Ravnica are known to have native nightmares, Eldraine's nightmares have emerged with the advent of the Wicked Slumber.

Capenna[ | ]

A certain hostile species of angel are also nightmares. Having awoken themselves from stasis, they have no desire to ease the pain of an ungrateful populace.[1]

Dominaria[ | ]

Dementia casters like Chainer, Dementia Master and other members of the Cabal on Otaria have the unique ability to summon horrors from their personal "dementia space", a place populated with the caster's greatest fears and all beings they have killed. These so-called Nightmare Horrors appear also in blue and red.

Eldraine[ | ]

Nightmares began manifesting on Eldraine as a consequence of Ashiok's involvement in the Wicked Slumber.[2] They take the form of their victims' deepest fears, made tangible by Ashiok and able to attack the bodies and minds of those afflicted by the Slumber. Due to the collective trauma experienced by the people of Eldraine during New Phyrexia's Invasion, many nightmares take the shape of those invaders, having multiple limbs and inhuman visages. Smoky purplish energy wafts from their forms, suggesting their connection to the Wicked Slumber.

Ikoria[ | ]

On Ikoria, nightmares are associated with Indatha and are one of the world's dominant clades.[3] They are physical manifestations of humanity's fears and negative thoughts. Many either have extra eyes and appendages or none.[4] They are considered the most dangerous clade, as they don't conform to the natural instincts or physiology of the plane's other creatures. The first White nightmares in the cards appeared on Ikoria.

Innistrad[ | ]

The nightmares of Innistrad are twofold. One variant has little in common with the equines encountered on other planes. Instead, they manifest as spirit-like entities that torment sleepers [5]. Others resemble classical nightmares and are closely tied to the demons of Ashmouth. [6]

New Phyrexia[ | ]

Ovika was born from the remains of Mirrodin after it had been ravaged for building material by the Phyrexian troops.[7] He built his immense body from the salvage, giving himself all the eyes and limbs he would need to oversee and investigate his plane.

Ravnica[ | ]

The Nightmares on Ravnica are aligned with the Rakdos. They resemble an eight-legged, two-headed horse with fleshless heads that are carnivorous. (Carnival Hellsteed) There are also a Nightmare Sphinx and a Nightmare Demon associated with the Dimir. Ashiok's presence during the War of the Spark also generated some different form of Nightmares [8].

Theros[ | ]

As a consequence of the actions of Ashiok, Nightmares manifested in reality on Theros.[9] Some native Nightmares reside in the Underworld.[10]

Nightmare horses[ | ]

Nightmare Horse

Many Nightmares are mares and therefore have the Horse subtype.

The original Nightmare was depicted as a literal mare. These horse with fiery manes arise from the swamps. As the poisoned land spreads, so too does the Nightmares' rage and terrifying strength.

These Nightmares can be found across the multiverse, notably on Dominaria, Ravnica, Innistrad and Theros.

Notable Nightmares[ | ]

Dominaria
Innistrad
Ikoria
New Phyrexia
Unknown

Nightmare mechanic[ | ]

The nightmare mechanic was designed by Richard Garfield for the Odyssey set but later moved to Torment.[12] Torment featured seven black Nightmare Horrors and two red Nightmare Beasts. Judgement featured three red "Gorger" Nightmares and six blue "Wormfang" Nightmares.

Whenever one of the Nightmare creatures, as featured in Torment, comes into play, another card (of a type specified in the Horror's rules text) in play or in hand is removed. When the creature leaves play, the card it "replaced" is returned to play. Some nightmares make an opponent gain and lose life respectively, instead.

Each of the blue Nightmares of Judgement requires the loss of a particular resource, usually permanents, excluding the rare ones, which take a turn on your hand, but return them on leaving the field. There are two vertical cycles in this category. —Wormfang Drake and Wormfang Newt in common, Wormfang Turtle and Wormfang Crab in uncommon and Wormfang Behemoth and Wormfang Manta in rare.

The Nightmare mechanic is currently moved to white and is reflavored into the imprisoning aesthetic.[13]

Gallery[ | ]

Trivia[ | ]

Tokens[ | ]

Token Name Color Type Line P/T Text Box Source Printings
Nightmare Black Creature — Nightmare 1/1 At the beginning of combat on your turn, if a card was put into exile this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.
Blue/​Black Creature — Nightmare 2/3 Whenever this creature attacks or blocks, each opponent exiles the top two cards of their library.
Nightmare Horror Black Creature — Nightmare Horror X/X

Non-creature Nightmares[ | ]

References[ | ]

Sources[ | ]

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