Nightmare Cycle
The Nightmare Cycle is a state of magical flux associated with the Ruins and a few parts of the Caves. This cycle has slightly random durations for each phase and is entirely independent from the surface day/night cycle, lunar cycle, and seasons.
There are four phases of the Nightmare Cycle:
- Calm: 6 to 7.5 minutes (
: 4.75 to 5.75 min.)
- Warning: 1.5 to 3 minutes (
: 1 to 1.5 min.)
- Nightmare: 2.5 to 4 minutes (
: 2.5 to 3.5 min.)
- Dawn: 1 to 2.5 minutes (
: 15 to 45 seconds)
The entire cycle lasts 11-17 minutes (: 7.5-11.5 min).
Upon activating the Ancient Gateway by inserting the Ancient Key, the Cycle will be locked at its peak nightmare phase until the Gateway is deactivated when the key is removed or the Ancient Fuelweaver defeated.
The Thulecite Medallion changes color to indicate the current phase of the Nightmare Cycle. The character quotes change when it is examined in each phase (within the phase for the Nightmare phase). It is particularly helpful for timing a foray past the Splumonkeys into the ruins, or out again. Also for exploring Stalagmite Terrain or the Lichen fields where Nightmare Fissures may be found.
Calm Phase
![Wilson Portrait.png](/images/thumb/4/44/Wilson_Portrait.png/20px-Wilson_Portrait.png)
–Wilson, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Willow Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/fb/Willow_Portrait.png/20px-Willow_Portrait.png)
–Willow, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Wolfgang Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/90/Wolfgang_Portrait.png/20px-Wolfgang_Portrait.png)
–Wolfgang, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Wendy Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/fd/Wendy_Portrait.png/20px-Wendy_Portrait.png)
–Wendy, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![WX-78 Portrait.png](/images/thumb/5/5a/WX-78_Portrait.png/20px-WX-78_Portrait.png)
–WX-78, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Wickerbottom Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/f8/Wickerbottom_Portrait.png/20px-Wickerbottom_Portrait.png)
–Wickerbottom, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Woodie Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/98/Woodie_Portrait.png/20px-Woodie_Portrait.png)
–Woodie, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Waxwell Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/9f/Waxwell_Portrait.png/20px-Waxwell_Portrait.png)
–Maxwell, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Wagstaff Portrait.png](/images/thumb/5/53/Wagstaff_Portrait.png/20px-Wagstaff_Portrait.png)
–Wagstaff, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Wigfrid Portrait.png](/images/thumb/8/86/Wigfrid_Portrait.png/20px-Wigfrid_Portrait.png)
–Wigfrid, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Webber Portrait.png](/images/thumb/d/d4/Webber_Portrait.png/20px-Webber_Portrait.png)
–Webber, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Walani Portrait.png](/images/thumb/0/03/Walani_Portrait.png/20px-Walani_Portrait.png)
–Walani, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Warly Portrait.png](/images/thumb/3/3b/Warly_Portrait.png/20px-Warly_Portrait.png)
–Warly, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Woodlegs Portrait.png](/images/thumb/b/bf/Woodlegs_Portrait.png/20px-Woodlegs_Portrait.png)
–Woodlegs, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Wilba Portrait.png](/images/thumb/c/ce/Wilba_Portrait.png/20px-Wilba_Portrait.png)
–Wilba, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Wormwood Portrait.png](/images/thumb/0/00/Wormwood_Portrait.png/20px-Wormwood_Portrait.png)
–Wormwood, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Wheeler Portrait.png](/images/thumb/3/34/Wheeler_Portrait.png/20px-Wheeler_Portrait.png)
–Wheeler, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Winona Portrait.png](/images/thumb/2/25/Winona_Portrait.png/20px-Winona_Portrait.png)
–Winona, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Wortox Portrait.png](/images/thumb/6/60/Wortox_Portrait.png/20px-Wortox_Portrait.png)
–Wortox, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Wurt Portrait.png](/images/thumb/1/1b/Wurt_Portrait.png/20px-Wurt_Portrait.png)
–Wurt, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Walter Portrait.png](/images/thumb/a/ae/Walter_Portrait.png/20px-Walter_Portrait.png)
–Walter, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
![Wanda Portrait.png](/images/thumb/1/17/Wanda_Portrait.png/20px-Wanda_Portrait.png)
–Wanda, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.
- Nightmare Lights and Fissures are closed/inactive
- Runic Turf is blue
- No ambient sound can be heard in the background
Warning Phase
![Wilson Portrait.png](/images/thumb/4/44/Wilson_Portrait.png/20px-Wilson_Portrait.png)
–Wilson, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Willow Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/fb/Willow_Portrait.png/20px-Willow_Portrait.png)
–Willow, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Wolfgang Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/90/Wolfgang_Portrait.png/20px-Wolfgang_Portrait.png)
–Wolfgang, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Wendy Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/fd/Wendy_Portrait.png/20px-Wendy_Portrait.png)
–Wendy, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![WX-78 Portrait.png](/images/thumb/5/5a/WX-78_Portrait.png/20px-WX-78_Portrait.png)
–WX-78, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Wickerbottom Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/f8/Wickerbottom_Portrait.png/20px-Wickerbottom_Portrait.png)
–Wickerbottom, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Woodie Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/98/Woodie_Portrait.png/20px-Woodie_Portrait.png)
–Woodie, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Waxwell Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/9f/Waxwell_Portrait.png/20px-Waxwell_Portrait.png)
–Maxwell, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Wagstaff Portrait.png](/images/thumb/5/53/Wagstaff_Portrait.png/20px-Wagstaff_Portrait.png)
–Wagstaff, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Wigfrid Portrait.png](/images/thumb/8/86/Wigfrid_Portrait.png/20px-Wigfrid_Portrait.png)
–Wigfrid, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Webber Portrait.png](/images/thumb/d/d4/Webber_Portrait.png/20px-Webber_Portrait.png)
–Webber, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Walani Portrait.png](/images/thumb/0/03/Walani_Portrait.png/20px-Walani_Portrait.png)
–Walani, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Warly Portrait.png](/images/thumb/3/3b/Warly_Portrait.png/20px-Warly_Portrait.png)
–Warly, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Woodlegs Portrait.png](/images/thumb/b/bf/Woodlegs_Portrait.png/20px-Woodlegs_Portrait.png)
–Woodlegs, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Wilba Portrait.png](/images/thumb/c/ce/Wilba_Portrait.png/20px-Wilba_Portrait.png)
–Wilba, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Wormwood Portrait.png](/images/thumb/0/00/Wormwood_Portrait.png/20px-Wormwood_Portrait.png)
–Wormwood, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Wheeler Portrait.png](/images/thumb/3/34/Wheeler_Portrait.png/20px-Wheeler_Portrait.png)
–Wheeler, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Winona Portrait.png](/images/thumb/2/25/Winona_Portrait.png/20px-Winona_Portrait.png)
–Winona, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Wortox Portrait.png](/images/thumb/6/60/Wortox_Portrait.png/20px-Wortox_Portrait.png)
–Wortox, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Wurt Portrait.png](/images/thumb/1/1b/Wurt_Portrait.png/20px-Wurt_Portrait.png)
–Wurt, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Walter Portrait.png](/images/thumb/a/ae/Walter_Portrait.png/20px-Walter_Portrait.png)
–Walter, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
![Wanda Portrait.png](/images/thumb/1/17/Wanda_Portrait.png/20px-Wanda_Portrait.png)
–Wanda, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.
- Nightmare Lights and Fissures open up slightly (Shadow Creatures do not spawn)
- Runic Turf is gray
- A quiet ambient sound can be heard in the background
- Ancient Statues begin to glow
Nightmare Phase
![Wilson Portrait.png](/images/thumb/4/44/Wilson_Portrait.png/20px-Wilson_Portrait.png)
–Wilson, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Willow Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/fb/Willow_Portrait.png/20px-Willow_Portrait.png)
–Willow, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Wolfgang Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/90/Wolfgang_Portrait.png/20px-Wolfgang_Portrait.png)
–Wolfgang, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Wendy Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/fd/Wendy_Portrait.png/20px-Wendy_Portrait.png)
–Wendy, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![WX-78 Portrait.png](/images/thumb/5/5a/WX-78_Portrait.png/20px-WX-78_Portrait.png)
–WX-78, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Wickerbottom Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/f8/Wickerbottom_Portrait.png/20px-Wickerbottom_Portrait.png)
–Wickerbottom, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Woodie Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/98/Woodie_Portrait.png/20px-Woodie_Portrait.png)
–Woodie, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Waxwell Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/9f/Waxwell_Portrait.png/20px-Waxwell_Portrait.png)
–Maxwell, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Wagstaff Portrait.png](/images/thumb/5/53/Wagstaff_Portrait.png/20px-Wagstaff_Portrait.png)
–Wagstaff, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Wigfrid Portrait.png](/images/thumb/8/86/Wigfrid_Portrait.png/20px-Wigfrid_Portrait.png)
–Wigfrid, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Webber Portrait.png](/images/thumb/d/d4/Webber_Portrait.png/20px-Webber_Portrait.png)
–Webber, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Walani Portrait.png](/images/thumb/0/03/Walani_Portrait.png/20px-Walani_Portrait.png)
–Walani, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Warly Portrait.png](/images/thumb/3/3b/Warly_Portrait.png/20px-Warly_Portrait.png)
–Warly, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Woodlegs Portrait.png](/images/thumb/b/bf/Woodlegs_Portrait.png/20px-Woodlegs_Portrait.png)
–Woodlegs, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Wilba Portrait.png](/images/thumb/c/ce/Wilba_Portrait.png/20px-Wilba_Portrait.png)
–Wilba, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Wormwood Portrait.png](/images/thumb/0/00/Wormwood_Portrait.png/20px-Wormwood_Portrait.png)
–Wormwood, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Wheeler Portrait.png](/images/thumb/3/34/Wheeler_Portrait.png/20px-Wheeler_Portrait.png)
–Wheeler, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Winona Portrait.png](/images/thumb/2/25/Winona_Portrait.png/20px-Winona_Portrait.png)
–Winona, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Wortox Portrait.png](/images/thumb/6/60/Wortox_Portrait.png/20px-Wortox_Portrait.png)
–Wortox, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Wurt Portrait.png](/images/thumb/1/1b/Wurt_Portrait.png/20px-Wurt_Portrait.png)
–Wurt, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Walter Portrait.png](/images/thumb/a/ae/Walter_Portrait.png/20px-Walter_Portrait.png)
–Walter, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Wanda Portrait.png](/images/thumb/1/17/Wanda_Portrait.png/20px-Wanda_Portrait.png)
–Wanda, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.
![Wilson Portrait.png](/images/thumb/4/44/Wilson_Portrait.png/20px-Wilson_Portrait.png)
–Wilson, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Willow Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/fb/Willow_Portrait.png/20px-Willow_Portrait.png)
–Willow, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Wolfgang Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/90/Wolfgang_Portrait.png/20px-Wolfgang_Portrait.png)
–Wolfgang, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Wendy Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/fd/Wendy_Portrait.png/20px-Wendy_Portrait.png)
–Wendy, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![WX-78 Portrait.png](/images/thumb/5/5a/WX-78_Portrait.png/20px-WX-78_Portrait.png)
–WX-78, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Wickerbottom Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/f8/Wickerbottom_Portrait.png/20px-Wickerbottom_Portrait.png)
–Wickerbottom, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Woodie Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/98/Woodie_Portrait.png/20px-Woodie_Portrait.png)
–Woodie, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Waxwell Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/9f/Waxwell_Portrait.png/20px-Waxwell_Portrait.png)
–Maxwell, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Wagstaff Portrait.png](/images/thumb/5/53/Wagstaff_Portrait.png/20px-Wagstaff_Portrait.png)
–Wagstaff, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Wigfrid Portrait.png](/images/thumb/8/86/Wigfrid_Portrait.png/20px-Wigfrid_Portrait.png)
–Wigfrid, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Webber Portrait.png](/images/thumb/d/d4/Webber_Portrait.png/20px-Webber_Portrait.png)
–Webber, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Walani Portrait.png](/images/thumb/0/03/Walani_Portrait.png/20px-Walani_Portrait.png)
–Walani, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Warly Portrait.png](/images/thumb/3/3b/Warly_Portrait.png/20px-Warly_Portrait.png)
–Warly, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Woodlegs Portrait.png](/images/thumb/b/bf/Woodlegs_Portrait.png/20px-Woodlegs_Portrait.png)
–Woodlegs, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Wilba Portrait.png](/images/thumb/c/ce/Wilba_Portrait.png/20px-Wilba_Portrait.png)
–Wilba, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Wormwood Portrait.png](/images/thumb/0/00/Wormwood_Portrait.png/20px-Wormwood_Portrait.png)
–Wormwood, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Wheeler Portrait.png](/images/thumb/3/34/Wheeler_Portrait.png/20px-Wheeler_Portrait.png)
–Wheeler, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Winona Portrait.png](/images/thumb/2/25/Winona_Portrait.png/20px-Winona_Portrait.png)
–Winona, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Wortox Portrait.png](/images/thumb/6/60/Wortox_Portrait.png/20px-Wortox_Portrait.png)
–Wortox, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Wurt Portrait.png](/images/thumb/1/1b/Wurt_Portrait.png/20px-Wurt_Portrait.png)
–Wurt, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Walter Portrait.png](/images/thumb/a/ae/Walter_Portrait.png/20px-Walter_Portrait.png)
–Walter, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Wanda Portrait.png](/images/thumb/1/17/Wanda_Portrait.png/20px-Wanda_Portrait.png)
–Wanda, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.
![Wilson Portrait.png](/images/thumb/4/44/Wilson_Portrait.png/20px-Wilson_Portrait.png)
–Wilson, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Willow Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/fb/Willow_Portrait.png/20px-Willow_Portrait.png)
–Willow, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Wolfgang Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/90/Wolfgang_Portrait.png/20px-Wolfgang_Portrait.png)
–Wolfgang, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Wendy Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/fd/Wendy_Portrait.png/20px-Wendy_Portrait.png)
–Wendy, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![WX-78 Portrait.png](/images/thumb/5/5a/WX-78_Portrait.png/20px-WX-78_Portrait.png)
–WX-78, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Wickerbottom Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/f8/Wickerbottom_Portrait.png/20px-Wickerbottom_Portrait.png)
–Wickerbottom, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Woodie Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/98/Woodie_Portrait.png/20px-Woodie_Portrait.png)
–Woodie, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Waxwell Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/9f/Waxwell_Portrait.png/20px-Waxwell_Portrait.png)
–Maxwell, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Wagstaff Portrait.png](/images/thumb/5/53/Wagstaff_Portrait.png/20px-Wagstaff_Portrait.png)
–Wagstaff, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Wigfrid Portrait.png](/images/thumb/8/86/Wigfrid_Portrait.png/20px-Wigfrid_Portrait.png)
–Wigfrid, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Webber Portrait.png](/images/thumb/d/d4/Webber_Portrait.png/20px-Webber_Portrait.png)
–Webber, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Walani Portrait.png](/images/thumb/0/03/Walani_Portrait.png/20px-Walani_Portrait.png)
–Walani, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Warly Portrait.png](/images/thumb/3/3b/Warly_Portrait.png/20px-Warly_Portrait.png)
–Warly, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Woodlegs Portrait.png](/images/thumb/b/bf/Woodlegs_Portrait.png/20px-Woodlegs_Portrait.png)
–Woodlegs, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Wilba Portrait.png](/images/thumb/c/ce/Wilba_Portrait.png/20px-Wilba_Portrait.png)
–Wilba, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Wormwood Portrait.png](/images/thumb/0/00/Wormwood_Portrait.png/20px-Wormwood_Portrait.png)
–Wormwood, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Wheeler Portrait.png](/images/thumb/3/34/Wheeler_Portrait.png/20px-Wheeler_Portrait.png)
–Wheeler, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Winona Portrait.png](/images/thumb/2/25/Winona_Portrait.png/20px-Winona_Portrait.png)
–Winona, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Wortox Portrait.png](/images/thumb/6/60/Wortox_Portrait.png/20px-Wortox_Portrait.png)
–Wortox, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Wurt Portrait.png](/images/thumb/1/1b/Wurt_Portrait.png/20px-Wurt_Portrait.png)
–Wurt, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Walter Portrait.png](/images/thumb/a/ae/Walter_Portrait.png/20px-Walter_Portrait.png)
–Walter, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
![Wanda Portrait.png](/images/thumb/1/17/Wanda_Portrait.png/20px-Wanda_Portrait.png)
–Wanda, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.
- Nightmare Lights and Fissures open up completely and spawn Nightmare Creatures.
- Runic Turf cracks glow red.
- A loud ambient sound can be heard in the background.
- Earthquakes occur most frequently during this state. [Verification Needed]
- Ancient Statues are distorted, glowing brightly, with Nightmare Fuel seeping from their eyes and mouths. Mining them yields a chance of spawning a Shadow Creature (instead of nightmare fuel) from them.
- Splumonkeys transform into hostile Shadow Splumonkeys.
During this phase, Nightmare Lights in the Ruins and Nightmare Fissures on Stalagmite Terrain open completely, spawning hostile Shadow Creatures regardless of the player's Sanity. At this time, Splumonkeys also turn into their Shadow counterparts. Shadow Creatures spawned from lights/fissures randomly despawn during the Dawn Phase and the Splumonkeys turn back into their regular selves when Dawn turns to Calm.
Shadow Creatures from Nightmare Lights and Fissures, plus the Shadow Splumonkeys, make the ruins and parts of the caves extremely dangerous during the Nightmare Phase. None of these mobs can de-aggro. Instead, they chase the survivor ceaselessly until they despawn at a random point toward the end of the dawn phase, making this the one of the most dangerous non-boss mob threats in the game. They can be outrun if the player does not starve, freeze, or get killed by darkness before they despawn/transform.
Dawn Phase
![Wilson Portrait.png](/images/thumb/4/44/Wilson_Portrait.png/20px-Wilson_Portrait.png)
–Wilson, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Willow Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/fb/Willow_Portrait.png/20px-Willow_Portrait.png)
–Willow, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Wolfgang Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/90/Wolfgang_Portrait.png/20px-Wolfgang_Portrait.png)
–Wolfgang, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Wendy Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/fd/Wendy_Portrait.png/20px-Wendy_Portrait.png)
–Wendy, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![WX-78 Portrait.png](/images/thumb/5/5a/WX-78_Portrait.png/20px-WX-78_Portrait.png)
–WX-78, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Wickerbottom Portrait.png](/images/thumb/f/f8/Wickerbottom_Portrait.png/20px-Wickerbottom_Portrait.png)
–Wickerbottom, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Woodie Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/98/Woodie_Portrait.png/20px-Woodie_Portrait.png)
–Woodie, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Waxwell Portrait.png](/images/thumb/9/9f/Waxwell_Portrait.png/20px-Waxwell_Portrait.png)
–Maxwell, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Wagstaff Portrait.png](/images/thumb/5/53/Wagstaff_Portrait.png/20px-Wagstaff_Portrait.png)
–Wagstaff, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Wigfrid Portrait.png](/images/thumb/8/86/Wigfrid_Portrait.png/20px-Wigfrid_Portrait.png)
–Wigfrid, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Webber Portrait.png](/images/thumb/d/d4/Webber_Portrait.png/20px-Webber_Portrait.png)
–Webber, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Walani Portrait.png](/images/thumb/0/03/Walani_Portrait.png/20px-Walani_Portrait.png)
–Walani, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Warly Portrait.png](/images/thumb/3/3b/Warly_Portrait.png/20px-Warly_Portrait.png)
–Warly, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Woodlegs Portrait.png](/images/thumb/b/bf/Woodlegs_Portrait.png/20px-Woodlegs_Portrait.png)
–Woodlegs, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Wilba Portrait.png](/images/thumb/c/ce/Wilba_Portrait.png/20px-Wilba_Portrait.png)
–Wilba, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Wormwood Portrait.png](/images/thumb/0/00/Wormwood_Portrait.png/20px-Wormwood_Portrait.png)
–Wormwood, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Wheeler Portrait.png](/images/thumb/3/34/Wheeler_Portrait.png/20px-Wheeler_Portrait.png)
–Wheeler, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Winona Portrait.png](/images/thumb/2/25/Winona_Portrait.png/20px-Winona_Portrait.png)
–Winona, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Wortox Portrait.png](/images/thumb/6/60/Wortox_Portrait.png/20px-Wortox_Portrait.png)
–Wortox, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Wurt Portrait.png](/images/thumb/1/1b/Wurt_Portrait.png/20px-Wurt_Portrait.png)
–Wurt, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Walter Portrait.png](/images/thumb/a/ae/Walter_Portrait.png/20px-Walter_Portrait.png)
–Walter, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
![Wanda Portrait.png](/images/thumb/1/17/Wanda_Portrait.png/20px-Wanda_Portrait.png)
–Wanda, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.
- Nightmare Lights and Fissures remain part-way open (Nightmare Creatures will not spawn, but already spawned ones will remain for some of this phase)
- Runic Turf is gray
- A quiet ambient sound can be heard in the background
- Ancient Statues continue to glow
- Splumonkeys remain hostile Shadow Splumonkeys
Fissures in the Caves will open and close independent of each other and independent of the Nightmare Cycle in the ruins, Fissures in the ruins will all be synchronized with the Nightmare Cycle.[Verification Needed]
Tips
- Time cave exploration and travel carefully to avoid aggroing a host of nightmare creatures and shadow splumonkeys. Running for several minutes may be impractical if the weather is too wet or cold, or if you are starving, or run out of light. Running while insane generally picks up additional shadow creatures that will not despawn when the cycle ends (because they were produced from character insanity, not a Light/Fissure).
- Summer is the traditional time to explore the ruins: it doesn't generally rain and there's no chance of freezing. Also the surface-world is hot at this time.
- The Shadow Creatures that spawn from Nightmare Lights/Fissures stay within a screen of their spawn point until they detect a nearby survivor.
- Runic Turf is safe (not a nightmare light).
- Nightmare Lights appear on the map (making them easier to avoid in future), but Nightmare Fissures do not show on the map.
- Nightmare Lights can only spawn up to two shadow creatures per cycle, while Nightmare Fissures can only spawn one.
- Burning or hammering Splumonkey Pods will allow for larger areas of safety, though resetting the ruins respawns the pods. Some players put walls around the pods (the walls remain when the ruins reset). Many players simply run past the Splumonkeys during the calm phase and wait for another calm phase to cross their territory again.