Nightmare

"The Nightmares appear to be extracted from our very psyche—violent manifestations that wreak havoc, tormenting us with our past trauma. They tease us with a life we once knew, prying into our minds and attacking our most vulnerable points. This assault on our emotions is aimed to weaken us and our sense of purpose."

- Eris Morn.

Nightmares are apparitions created by the Pyramids using the power of the Darkness, manifesting as past figures and enemies to exploit the worst fears of Guardians and other beings. First appearing following the discovery of the Pyramid on Luna, the Nightmares include phantoms of some of The Guardian's deadliest foes, including Crota, Fikrul and Ghaul.

Overview
Nightmares are drawn from the psyche of Guardians and other beings, appearing as fallen foes or allies associated with painful or traumatic memories. They resemble their living counterparts flawlessly and share all of their abilities, but are shrouded in a miasma of red-black Darkness that extrudes tendrils radiating away from the Nightmare at its core. Eris explains that the purpose of the Nightmares as a tool to manipulate and exploit the Guardians at their weakest; enough to turn to the Pyramids and their promises of power.

Though found across the Solar System, the Nightmares can be encountered primarily near and in the Scarlet Keep citadel. Beyond the Moon, they roost in Lost Sectors taking the forms of its previous enemy tenants.

Before the events of the Shadowkeep campaign, the Hive of the Hidden Swarm had experimented with various ways to harness the phantasmal essence of the Luna Pyramid and created a means to immunize themselves from its trauma-influenced abilities. Under the command of the Daughters of Crota, they even attempted to recreate Oryx, the Taken King as a Nightmare or even as a true version of himself; a necessary violation of the Sword Logic, since the Taken King was never succeeded by his killers. Unable to conjure Nightmares themselves, however, the Swarm opted instead to make use of the Nightmares conjured by Eris and the Guardians

Initially thought to be limited to targeting traumas related to Guardians, a week after containment efforts began, a Nightmare of significance was sighted in the Anchor of Light, intriguingly titled after Mithrax, the Forsaken as a fear. It is stated that the creation of Nightmares can reach across the Galaxy.

Gameplay
Nightmares are Major and Ultra enemies that debuted in Shadowkeep and are primarily encountered in Lost Sectors and during endgame activities like Nightmare Hunts and Altars of Sorrow on the Moon. They 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 there are no current Nightmare enemies standing then.

Ultra-tier Nightmares, especially the ones found in Nightmare Hunts, have an additional mechanic that renders them intangible in a reddish-black miasma form after they spawn mobs; forcing players to clear them first to initiate the next damage phase.

Nightmares have an chance of dropping Phantasmal Fragments and even rarer Phantasmal Cores as a resource to craft weapons and Dreambane Armor at the Lectern of Enchantment, which are unlocked from Nightmare Essence quests (which can drop from bosses during Nightmare Hunts). Even certain armor mods equipped to Dreambane armor are effective in both warding and boosting damage against Nightmare enemies.

Fallen

 * Nightmare Shank
 * Nightmare Dreg
 * Nightmare Wretch

Hive

 * Nightmare Thrall
 * Nightmare Acolyte
 * Nightmare Wizard
 * Nightmare Ogre
 * Swordbearer Nightmare
 * Tormented Servant Nightmare

Cabal

 * Nightmare War Beast
 * Nightmare Legionary

Scorn

 * Nightmare Stalker

Vex

 * Nightmare Goblin
 * Nightmare Harpy

Major Nightmares

 * Nightmare of Crota, Son of Oryx - Aspect of Despair
 * Nightmare of Dominus Ghaul - Aspect of Rage
 * Nightmare of Fikrul, the Fanatic - Aspect of Insanity
 * Nightmare of Omnigul, Will of Crota - Aspect of Anguish
 * Nightmare of Phogoth, the Untamed - Aspect of Fear
 * Nightmare of Skolas, Kell of Kells - Aspect of Pride
 * Nightmare of Taniks, the Scarred - Aspect of Isolation
 * Nightmare of Zydron, Gate Lord - Aspect of Servitude

Minor Nightmares

 * Nightmare of Arguth, the Tormented
 * Nightmare of Gothrax, Swarm Protector
 * Nightmare of Horkis, Fear of Mithrax
 * Nightmare of Jaxx, Claw of Xivu Arath
 * Nightmare of Kelnix Reborn
 * Nightmare of Lambiks-4
 * Nightmare of Loronvis, Council Hand
 * Nightmare Reaver Vandal
 * Nightmare of Reyiks, Actuator
 * Nightmare of Rizaahn, the Lost
 * Nightmare of Rovikis, Council Hand
 * Nightmare of Seresis, Council Hand
 * Nightmare Servant of Ir Yût
 * Nightmare of Talgoth, Soul Smasher
 * Nightmare of Val Sinu, Hellbringer
 * Nightmare of Volniks, Deathkeeper
 * Nightmare of Xortal, Sworn of Crota

List of Appearances

 * Destiny 2
 * Shadowkeep

Trivia

 * In a few bounties when the Haunted Forest was created, it is implied that the Vex are capable of creating Nightmares of their very own that prey on our greatest fears, Ikora even asked if they would create shades of ourselves.