Nightmare Cycle

The Nightmare Cycle is a state of magical flux found only in Ruins. There are four distinct stages of the cycle; Calm, Warning, Nigntmare, and Dawn. In total the cycle lasts 600 seconds (10 minutes).

Calm Phase (lasts 285-345 seconds)
"All is well."

- Wilson, upon inspecting the Thulecite Medallion

During the Calm Phase, there is no ambient sound and illuminated areas have bluish tint. In this state, Nightmare Lights remain closed.

Warning Phase (lasts 60-90 seconds)
"Getting pretty magical around here."

- Thulecite Medallion

During the Warning Phase, visible areas turn into a gray tone instead of blue and a quiet ambient sound starts to play. Ancient Statues begin to glow and Nightmare Lights open up slightly, illuminating a small area around them.

Nightmare Phase (lasts 150-210 seconds)
"I think it's becoming more concentrated!"

- Thulecite Medallion (Waxing)

During the Nightmare Phase, Nightmare Lights are fully open, glowing stronger and spawning hostile Shadow Creatures, regardless of the player's Sanity level. Ambient noise becomes louder and illuminated Runic Turf begins to glow red. The rest of the map also becomes vibrantly colored.

"It seems to be staying steady."

- Thulecite Medallion (Steady)

Statues are distorted with expressions of horror, and Nightmare Fuel begins seeping from their eyes and mouth. If statues are mined during this stage, there is a chance of Shadow Creature spawning from them. Splumonkeys turn into hostile Shadow Splumonkeys and Earthquakes occur most frequently during this state.

"Feels like it's receding."

- Thulecite Medallion (Waning)

Dawn Phase (lasts 15-45 seconds)
"The nightmare is almost gone!"

- Thulecite Medallion

Dawn is very similar to the Warning Phase. Runic turf returns to normal. Ancient Statues are no longer distorted, but still emit light. The difference between the Dawn Phase and the Warning Phase is that Nightmare Lights are still fully open allowing Shadow Creatures to spawn. In addition, Splumonkeys remain hostile Shadow Creatures.

Nightmare Cycle in Caves
Sometimes a fissure will appear in the Caves, glowing bright red (similar to the Nightmare Lights found in the Ruins). It will spawn Shadow Creatures that can attack even when the player is Sane. These fissures disappear after a certain amount of time.

Tips

 * A Bush Hat or Snurtle Shell Armor can be used just before the Nightmare Phase starts, in order to avoid the Shadow Creatures that spawn.

Trivia

 * The Nightmare Cycle closely resembles the Day-Night Cycle, but the devs have expressed that this may change.

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