The Birth of Nightmare
This pivotal moment in Soulcalibur VI's narrative marks the tragic transformation of the noble Siegfried Schtauffen into the monstrous Nightmare, host of the cursed sword Soul Edge. As a player, you'll step into the boots of this terrifying entity, experiencing firsthand his brutal, aggressive, and utterly devastating moveset. This section of the story mode serves as an excellent tutorial for Nightmare's unique combat style, emphasizing raw power, psychological pressure, and the relentless pursuit of victory.
The battles within this chapter are designed to showcase Nightmare's overwhelming strength. You will face a series of characters desperately attempting to halt his rampage, so be prepared for aggressive AI that will challenge your mastery of his new abilities. Your primary objectives will be to utilize Nightmare's inherent advantages: his immense damage output, his potent ring-out capabilities, and his intimidating array of unblockable attacks and powerful grabs.
Mastering Nightmare's Brutality
Nightmare's gameplay revolves around overwhelming opponents with heavy-hitting attacks and maintaining constant pressure. Understanding his core mechanics is crucial for success:
- Aggressive Stance: Nightmare thrives when he's on the offensive. His attacks often have significant pushback, allowing him to control space and corner opponents.
- Ring-Out Prowess: Many of Nightmare's attacks, particularly his horizontal swings and certain throws, are excellent for knocking opponents out of the arena. Always be mindful of your surroundings and position your opponents near the edge.
- Soul Charge Enhancement: Activating Soul Charge (by pressing A+B+K simultaneously) is paramount for maximizing Nightmare's damage potential. During Soul Charge, many of his attacks gain increased damage, new properties, or become unblockable. It also grants him access to his powerful Soul Attack. Strategically using Soul Charge at critical moments can turn the tide of a match.
Signature Moves and Combos
To fully grasp Nightmare's brutal style, let's look at some specific examples of his most impactful moves:
- Grim Stride (66B): A powerful forward-moving horizontal attack that covers significant ground. It's excellent for closing distances and can lead to ring-outs if an opponent is near the edge. This move also has good range and can punish whiffed attacks.
- Night Lower (236B): A classic Nightmare unblockable. This slow, but incredibly damaging vertical attack is a strong deterrent for overly defensive opponents. While easily sidestepped, the threat of it forces opponents to make a move, opening them up for other attacks. Use it when you've conditioned your opponent to block or when they're recovering from a knockdown.
- Death Claw (A+G): This is Nightmare's standard forward throw. It deals decent damage and, more importantly, often positions the opponent for a potential ring-out or further pressure. When near the edge, a successful Death Claw can be an instant round win.
- Nightmare's Embrace (4A+G): A more damaging and visually intimidating grab. This command grab is slower than Death Claw but offers higher damage and can be a great mix-up option against opponents who anticipate a standard strike.
Simple Combo Example:
A fundamental combo to start with Nightmare, showcasing his heavy-hitting nature:
- 6B (Forward + B): A strong vertical attack that launches the opponent slightly.
- Follow up with 66B (Forward, Forward + B): As the opponent is airborne, quickly input Grim Stride to connect for additional damage and potential ring-out.
This simple sequence demonstrates how Nightmare can quickly rack up damage and control the flow of battle. Experiment with his various launchers and follow-ups to discover more devastating combinations.
