Soulcalibur VI/Nightmare

From SuperCombo Wiki

Introduction

A big baddie with a big mutated arm and a big sword, what’s not to like? As expected from his giant weapon and stature, Nightmare has threatening damage with dominant mid-range attacks and added pressure from his stance mix-ups. Use of his unique Night Terror Charge, which gives him access to Soul Charge moves without meter, allows him to really keep the enemy on the back foot. He also has armored attacks and his aGI bubble to keep his turn. When not initiating offense and catching the enemy with aGIs he suffers from both a lack of fast attacks and in particular some of the worst punishment in the game, including no standing i12 punisher (which makes a huge amount of otherwise unsafe attacks safe against him).

As per the archetype, he is a "high-risk, high-reward" character. To get the most out of Nightmare you will have to be willing to play high stakes when the situation calls for it. Patience is paramount, you will need to pick your spots and wait for the right moment attack. Knowing your range and spacing is essential.

Strengths Weaknesses
  • High Damage combos and moves
  • Strong guard gauge pressure
  • Long attack range
  • Farthest possible ring out distance in game
  • Possesses one of the best horizontals in the game (iagA, iabA)
  • High risk, high reward
  • His only i12 move only hits crouching opponents
  • Limited fast attacks to deal with pressure
  • Horrendous at poking
  • Whiffs the hardest in the cast
  • High risk, high reward

Unique Mechanics

Night Terror Charge

After landing certain attacks Nightmare enters Night Terror Charge (NTC), granting him access to one Soul Charge attack. He will glow with a red aura in this state. The state will end after this attack but he can re-enter by landing certain attacks.

See Strategy for a full breakdown.

Nightmare
#SCVI_NTM
SCVI Nightmare Face.jpg
His dark, azure armor invokes the night; his helmet covers all but his red, glowing eyes; his trunk-like right arm holds a great sword with a cursed eye glaring from its center... Could such a monstrous being really exist? Appearing from out of shadows like the advent of nightfall, this barbaric knight reaps the souls of the living as if they were mere stalks of corn. His name came to represent fear and desperation to all who heard it.

Key Moves

Sc 6.pngSc A.png 6A - Attack Level: Sc H.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
22 20 -16 -4 -4 4%
Armor[10-20]. See Soul Wave (hit) for successfull armor frames.

A long-reaching and forward-advancing attack, boasts great range and covers a good deal of ground too, making this a superb zoning tool that also has decent viability in anti-step strategies. It also has armor/revenge properties, however it is unsafe on block and it's follow-ups are fairly reactable.


Sc 3.pngSc A.pngSc A.png 3AA - Attack Level: Sc M.pngSc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
20 20,32 -20 KND KND 3%
Normal Hit Combo

Decent whiff punishment tool for the range it has, as well as some reasonable use towards anti-step. However it's very punishable on block, so be sure as to not use it carelessly.


Sc 2.pngSc A.png 2A - Attack Level: Sc L.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
18 16 -14 -4 6 1%
Tech Crouch[8-18]

A little on the slower end when it comes to pokes, what it lacks in speed it makes for in range and being a low that also covers a wide area making it difficult to step.


Sc a.pngSc g.pngSc A.png agA - Attack Level: Sc H.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
16 36 2 KND KND 4%
Sc LH.png post-GI. 42 dmg and Sc GC.png on perfect input

The best and arguably most versatile tool in your arsenal, boasts amazing range, damage and lends itself to a number of situations where this move will be useful such as whiff punishment, anti-step, guard crushing, combo extensions and enders.


Sc 6.pngSc B.png 6B - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
22 18 -16 STN STN 4%
Armor[10-22]. See Soul Wave (hit) for successfull armor frames.
Sc 6.pngSc B.pngSc B.png 6BB - Attack Level: Sc M.pngSc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
22 18,20 -12 KND KND 10%
Normal Hit Combo

One of the best whiff punishers in Nightmare's toolset when comparing it's speed to it's great range, though it is very linear and can be easily stepped if used carelessly. Has armor properties, should it be triggered you will blast the opponent away and be gifted with Terror Charge.


Sc 3.pngSc B.png 3B - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
22 36 -20 LNC LNC 9%
STN on tip hit
Sc 3.pngSc BB.png 3(B) - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
22 36 -6 LNC LNC 9%
Sc SS.png into NSS. STN on tip hit.

Go-to launcher for whiff punishment, offers great damage with it's follow-up combos, is versatile for setting up ring outs and wallsplats.


Sc 2.pngSc B.png 2B - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
20 18 -10 2 2 2%
Tech Crouch[18-RC]
Sc 2.pngSc BB.png 2(B) - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
20 18 2 14 14 2%
Sc SS.png into NLS

A relatively fast mid range attack that is excellent for spacing, keep out, and okizeme.


WR Sc B.png B - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
16 18 -22 LNC LNC 2%
Sc LH.png counter vs vertical
WR Sc BB.png (B) - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
16 18 -2 LNC LNC 2%
Sc LH.png counter vs vertical. Sc SS.png into NSS

One of your better, stronger crouching punishment tools. Not only for whiff punishment, but for block punishment as well.


Sc 6.pngSc K.png 6K - Attack Level: Sc H.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
16 24 -4 KND KND 2%
Sc LH.png when counterhit vs red flashing health bar. See Soul Wave (hit) for successfull armor frames.

The speed and distance it covers make this one of your go-to block punishers and, in other cases, whiff punishment. It is also your fastest armor move making it a viable reversal attack.


Sc 3.pngSc K.png 3K - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
14 16 -6 6 6 2%

Go-to poke that gives advantage on hit.


Sc 2.pngSc K.png 2K - Attack Level: Sc L.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
16 12 -14 -4 -4 1%
Tech Crouch[11-RC]

A low poke that doesn't cover as much ground or have as much range as 2A, though it is faster in comparison.


Sc A.pngSc +.pngSc B.png A+B - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
32 42 8 LNC LNC 13%
Sc BA.png. Sc LH.png vs GI. -10 if you wish to guard

Go-to break attack. Its immune to guard impacts and reversal edge, using this move in any of these situations will score you a lethal hit, earning huge damage.


Sc 6.pngSc A.pngSc +.pngSc B.png 6A+B - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
36 30 -14 KND KND 9%
Armor[10-35]. See Soul Wave (hit) for successfull armor frames.
hit Sc 6.pngSc A.pngSc +.pngSc B.png 6A+B - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
36 30 2 KND KND 9%
If armor clicks. Sc LH.png in SC. Sc BA.png

Your only armor move that is best used defensively. Slow to start up but on whiff, hit or block will give you Terror Charge.


Sc 22.pngSc 5.pngSc 88.pngSc A.png (2)_(8)A - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
22 22 -10 0 0 2%

Excellent for spacing at mid-range, it's wide angle also covers a fair bit of ground making it great for anti-step.


Sc 33.pngSc 5.pngSc 66.pngSc 5.pngSc 99.pngSc B.png (3)_(6)_(9)B - Attack Level: Sc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
20 24 -22 LNC LNC 15%

Not as damaging but it's sheer speed compared to your other whiff punishers make this move stand out as well as it's versatile follow-up options to suit your needs.


Sc 33.pngSc 5.pngSc 66.pngSc 5.pngSc 99.pngSc A.pngSc +.pngSc B.png (3)_(6)_(9)A+B - Attack Level: Sc M.pngSc M.png
Impact Damage Block Hit Counter Guard Burst
31 48 4 LNC LNC 13%
2nd hit only hits grounded

Lacking in speed, but makes up for this in its ability to lend itself to wake up situations. Boasts huge range and damage, as well as dealing fantastic guard damage on block.

SCVI Navigation

General
Controls & Notation
HUD
Glossary
System
Stages
Resources
Characters
2B
Amy
Astaroth
Azwel
Cassandra
Cervantes
Geralt
Groh
Haohmaru
Hilde
Hwang
Ivy
Kilik
Maxi
Mitsurugi
Nightmare
Raphael
Seong Mi-na
Setsuka
Siegfried
Sophitia
Taki
Talim
Tira
Voldo
Xianghua
Yoshimitsu
Zasalamel
Inferno