| Nightmare | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Creature Type | |
| (Subtype for creature/tribal cards) | |
| Statistics |
31 cards  29%  45.2%  16.1%  3.2%  3.2%  3.2% |
| 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 occur in black, red and blue.
The first card to bear the creature type was Nightmare in Alpha. This is a powerful, black flying horse that draws its power from the swamps.
Storyline
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 he or she has killed. These so called Nightmare Horrors appear also in white, blue, red and green.
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 (Persistent Nightmare). Others resemble classical nightmares and are closely tied to the demons of Ashmouth. (Stallion of Ashmouth)
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. During the War of the Spark, Ashiok created their own brand of nightmare.
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.
Theros
As a consequence of the actions of Ashiok, Nightmares manifested in reality on Theros (Wrap in Flames (Theros: Beyond Death))
Nightmare horses
Many Nightmares are mares and therefore have the Horse subtype.
The original Nightmare was depicted as a mare. These horse with fiery manes arise from the swamps. As the poisoned land spreads, so does the Nightmares' rage and terrifying strength.
These Nightmares can be found across the multiverse, noticeably on Dominaria, Ravnica, Innistrad and Theros.
Notable Nightmares
Nightmare mechanic
The nightmare mechanic was designed by Richard Garfield for the Odyssey set but later moved to Torment.[1] 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 a 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 lose and gain 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 or 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.[2]
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
- Nightmare Lash is an artifact.
- Recurring Nightmare is an enchantment.
- Startled Awake is a sorcery that transforms into the Nightmare creature Persistent Nightmare.
- The Ultimate Nightmare of Wizards of the Coast® Customer Service defies all logic.
- Waking Nightmare, Nightmare Void, Nightmare Unmaking and Nightmare Incursion are sorceries.
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 07, 2002). "A Nightmare To Remember". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 18, 2018). "The “Nightmare”mechanic, where does it rate on the Storm Scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
