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

Appearance of Runic Turf during the Calm Phase.

“All is well.”

–Wilson, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“Looks normal to me.”

–Willow, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“No bad light.”

–Wolfgang, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“I know not what lurks in the shadow.”

–Wendy, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“AT CYCLE MINIMUM”

–WX-78, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“The levels of ectoplasmic residue seem to be at their lowest.”

–Wickerbottom, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“I think it's off.”

–Woodie, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“The heart of the city is still.”

–Maxwell, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“It's attuned to areas of psychic attack.”

–Wagstaff, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“Nöthing stirs.”

–Wigfrid, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“Everything's dandy.”

–Webber, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“Nothing out of place here.”

–Walani, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“It appears that all is well.”

–Warly, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“All be calm.”

–Woodlegs, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“WILBA 'TIS FEELINGS FINE”

–Wilba, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“Quiet now”

–Wormwood, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“A little too calm around here for my taste.”

–Wheeler, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“I can breathe easy.”

–Winona, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“No games to play today.”

–Wortox, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“It seem safe.”

–Wurt, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“Nothing's really happening.”

–Walter, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during calm phase.

“Things seem quiet for the time being.”

–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

Appearance of Runic Turf during the Warning Phase.

“Getting pretty magical around here.”

–Wilson, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“It's warning me.”

–Willow, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“The bad light comes soon.”

–Wolfgang, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“I can feel the prying eyes.”

–Wendy, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“CYCLE MINIMUM HAS PASSED”

–WX-78, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“There are low, but increasing levels of vapors containing ectoplasmic residue.”

–Wickerbottom, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“This thing just turned on!”

–Woodie, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“It beats once again.”

–Maxwell, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“It's picking up fluctuations.”

–Wagstaff, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“It's starting...”

–Wigfrid, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“Something's brewing.”

–Webber, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“Woah! Things are really heating up!”

–Walani, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“I feel some magic coming on!”

–Warly, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“Somethin' feels off...”

–Woodlegs, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“SOMETHING ROTTEN IN STATE OF WILBA HEAD”

–Wilba, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“Something happening...”

–Wormwood, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“Something's happening. I don't know what, but definitely something.”

–Wheeler, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“I feel uneasy for some reason.”

–Winona, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“I'm getting so excited!”

–Wortox, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“Getting weird, florp...”

–Wurt, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“Things are starting to get exciting!”

–Walter, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during warning phase.

“Oh no no no, don't you dare!”

–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

Appearance of Runic Turf during the Nightmare Phase

“I think it's becoming more concentrated!”

–Wilson, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“The fuel is coming to life!”

–Willow, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“The bad light is here and getting stronger.”

–Wolfgang, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“They approach.”

–Wendy, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“INCREMENTAL INCREASE DETECTED”

–WX-78, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“Levels of ectoplasmic residue seem to be increasing.”

–Wickerbottom, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“It's vibrating!”

–Woodie, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“The pulse is quickening.”

–Maxwell, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“It's releasing a pulse. Almost as if it were alive!”

–Wagstaff, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“The magic is heightening!”

–Wigfrid, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“It's getting magickier!”

–Webber, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“It's gaining strength!”

–Walani, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“Magic hour!”

–Warly, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“It be buildin'!”

–Woodlegs, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“SOMETHING WICKED'D THIS WAY COMES!”

–Wilba, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“Getting scary”

–Wormwood, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“Things are getting... interesting.”

–Wheeler, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“The air's all prickly.”

–Winona, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“Ooo, it's picking up!”

–Wortox, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“Something happening!”

–Wurt, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“I think the monsters are coming!”

–Walter, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“They're everywhere! I-I need to get out of here!!”

–Wanda, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waxing nightmare phase.

“It seems to be staying steady.”

–Wilson, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“It's almost humming.”

–Willow, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“I think bad light not get stronger.”

–Wolfgang, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“They're all around me!”

–Wendy, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“LEVELS ARE HIGH AND MONOTONIC”

–WX-78, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“The levels of ectoplasmic residue seem to be at their peak.”

–Wickerbottom, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“It's going crazy!”

–Woodie, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“The pulse is holding steady.”

–Maxwell, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“Hohoo! I'm being hit with fluctuating psychic attacks!”

–Wagstaff, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“The magic pöwer hölds steady.”

–Wigfrid, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“Stable, for now.”

–Webber, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“I think it's keeping consistent.”

–Walani, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“Steady on.”

–Warly, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“Th'nightmare's at its peak!”

–Woodlegs, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“NOW IS WINTER OF WILBA DISCONTENT”

–Wilba, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“Bad! Really bad!”

–Wormwood, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“I wanted an adventure. This is definitely an adventure.”

–Wheeler, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“It can't possibly get worse.”

–Winona, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“Hyuyu! What fun!”

–Wortox, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“Staying the same.”

–Wurt, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“Just a steady stream of monsters!”

–Walter, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“Stay away from me!!”

–Wanda, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during steady nightmare phase.

“Feels like it's receding.”

–Wilson, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“I think it's turning off.”

–Willow, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“Bad light time is ending.”

–Wolfgang, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“I think they're leaving.”

–Wendy, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“THE CYCLE IS SUBSIDING”

–WX-78, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“Levels of ectoplasmic residue are high but seem to be decreasing.”

–Wickerbottom, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“It's settling down.”

–Woodie, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“The pulse is waning.”

–Maxwell, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“The pulses are coming less frequently now.”

–Wagstaff, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“It's starting tö retreat!”

–Wigfrid, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“Magic go down the hole.”

–Webber, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“It's leaving...”

–Walani, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“Subsiding.”

–Warly, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“Me pegs feel it be dyin'.”

–Woodlegs, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“THE VEIL 'TIS LIFTING”

–Wilba, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“Getting better”

–Wormwood, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“Things are getting back to normal. Whatever "normal" is.”

–Wheeler, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“My head's starting to clear a bit.”

–Winona, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“Aw, the chaos is dissipating.”

–Wortox, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“It going away!”

–Wurt, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“I think they're running out of energy...”

–Walter, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during waning nightmare phase.

“I just need to hold out a little longer--!”

–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

Appearance of Runic Turf during the Dawn Phase.

“The nightmare is almost gone!”

–Wilson, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“I guess it's nearly over.”

–Willow, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“Good time is soon.”

–Wolfgang, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“It's almost over.”

–Wendy, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“LEVELS ARE LOW AND DIMINISHING”

–WX-78, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“There is very little ectoplasmic residue vapor.”

–Wickerbottom, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“It's nearly still.”

–Woodie, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“It calms once more.”

–Maxwell, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“The psychic attacks are over. What a shame!”

–Wagstaff, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“Barely any magic remains.”

–Wigfrid, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“Return to us, day!”

–Webber, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“It's almost over...!”

–Walani, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“This nightmare is almost over!”

–Warly, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“It be slippin' away...”

–Woodlegs, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“WHAT VISIONS HAS'T WILBA SEEN'D?”

–Wilba, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“Whew”

–Wormwood, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“Well, that was fun.”

–Wheeler, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“I'm feeling much better.”

–Winona, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“Playtime's almost over.”

–Wortox, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“Over soon, over soon.”

–Wurt, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“They're going away!”

–Walter, inspecting a Thulecite Medallion during dawn phase.

“It's almost over... I can do this!”

–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

A Fissure in a Cave floor as the Nightmare Cycle leaks through.

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

Using a Bush Hat to avoid Shadow Creatures.

• 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.