Nightmare (move)

If you were looking for the Mystery Dungeon level, see The Nightmare.

If you were looking for the Ability, see Bad Dreams.

Nightmare あくむ Nightmare

Battles Type  Ghost Category  Status PP  15 (max. 24) Power  — Accuracy  100% Priority  0 Does not make contact Affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Affected by Mirror Move Not affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user

Availability Introduced  Generation II TM50 in Generation II Move Tutor in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  1 ♥ Jam  3 ♥♥♥ Badly startles those that have made appeals.

Super Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  2 ♥♥ Prevents the Voltage from going down in the same turn.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Clever Appeal  1 ♥ Jamming  3 ♥♥♥ Badly startles all of the Pokémon to act before the user.

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

Nightmare (Japanese: あくむ Nightmare) is a non-damaging Ghost-type move introduced in Generation II. It was TM50 in Generation II.

Effect

	This move effect may be in need of research. Reason: Does the Shed Skin bug occur in Pokémon Colosseum and XD? How does the Shed Skin bug work in link battles? You can discuss this on the talk page.

Generation II

If the target is asleep, Nightmare afflicts the target with a status that causes it to take damage equal to one quarter of its maximum HP each turn. Nightmare inflicts damage after the afflicted Pokémon or its Trainer takes an action, unless its opponent faints (in which case Nightmare does not damage it that turn). If the Pokémon wakes up, the effect of Nightmare ends and does not reoccur if put back to sleep.

Nightmare bypasses accuracy checks to always hit, unless the target is in the semi-invulnerable turn of Dig or Fly.

In Generation II only, due to an oversight, if an opponent cures their Pokémon of sleep with a Full Heal or Full Restore, it will not be cured of Nightmare even after waking up; this does not occur if the player cures their own Pokémon of sleep.

Generation III

A Pokémon afflicted by Nightmare takes damage at the end of each turn (even if the opponent fainted).

In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire only, due to an oversight, if a Pokémon cures itself of sleep with Shed Skin, it will not be cured of Nightmare even after waking up.

Nightmare can be used as the second move of a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user gaining 1 bonus appeal point if Hypnosis was used in the previous turn.

Generations IV to VII

Nightmare now has 100% accuracy.

Nightmare can be used as part of a Contest Spectacular combination, with the user gaining an extra three appeal points if a sleep-inducing status move (except Psycho Shift and Rest) was used in the prior turn.

If powered up by a Ghostium Z into Z-Nightmare, the user's Special Attack stat rises by one stage.

Generation VIII

Nightmare cannot be selected in a battle.

Description

Games Description Stad2 A move that makes a sleeping target have bad dreams. The victim will steadily lose HP. GSC A sleeper loses 1/4 HP every turn. RSE Inflicts 1/4 damage on a sleeping foe every turn. ColoXD Inflicts 1/4 damage on a sleeping target each turn. FRLG DPPtHGSSPBR A sleeping foe is shown a nightmare that inflicts some damage every turn. BWB2W2 XYORAS SMUSUM A sleeping target sees a nightmare that inflicts some damage every turn. SwShBDSPLA This move can't be used. It's recommended that this move is forgotten. Once forgotten, this move can't be remembered.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0092		Gastly		Amorphous		Amorphous		41FRLG	43	47	47	47SMUSUM
0093		Haunter		Amorphous		Amorphous		53FRLG	55	61	61	61SMUSUM
0094		Gengar		Amorphous		Amorphous		53FRLG	55	61	61	61SMUSUM
0097		Hypno		Human-Like		Human-Like		1FRLG	1	1	1	1SMUSUM
0491		Darkrai		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered			38	38	38	38
0517		Munna		Field		Field				29	29	29
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		Egg Move
						II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0442		Spiritomb		Amorphous		Amorphous				✔	✔	✔
0562		Yamask		Mineral	Amorphous				✔	✔	✔
0778		Mimikyu		Amorphous		Amorphous						✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By TM

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Machine
						I --	II TM50	III --	IV --	V --	VI --	VII --	VIII --	IX --
0012		Butterfree		Bug		Bug	✔
0035		Clefairy		Fairy		Fairy	✔
0036		Clefable		Fairy		Fairy	✔
0039		Jigglypuff		Fairy		Fairy	✔
0040		Wigglytuff		Fairy		Fairy	✔
0052		Meowth		Field		Field	✔
0053		Persian		Field		Field	✔
0063		Abra		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0064		Kadabra		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0065		Alakazam		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0079		Slowpoke		Monster	Water 1	✔
0080		Slowbro		Monster	Water 1	✔
0092		Gastly		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0093		Haunter		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0094		Gengar		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0096		Drowzee		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0097		Hypno		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0102		Exeggcute		Grass		Grass	✔
0103		Exeggutor		Grass		Grass	✔
0108		Lickitung		Monster		Monster	✔
0121		Starmie		Water 3		Water 3	✔
0122		Mr. Mime		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0124		Jynx		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0131		Lapras		Monster	Water 1	✔
0137		Porygon		Mineral		Mineral	✔
0150		Mewtwo		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0151		Mew		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0163		Hoothoot		Flying		Flying	✔
0164		Noctowl		Flying		Flying	✔
0173		Cleffa		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0174		Igglybuff		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0177		Natu		Flying		Flying	✔
0178		Xatu		Flying		Flying	✔
0190		Aipom		Field		Field	✔
0196		Espeon		Field		Field	✔
0197		Umbreon		Field		Field	✔
0198		Murkrow		Flying		Flying	✔
0199		Slowking		Monster	Water 1	✔
0200		Misdreavus		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0203		Girafarig		Field		Field	✔
0206		Dunsparce		Field		Field	✔
0215		Sneasel		Field		Field	✔
0228		Houndour		Field		Field	✔
0229		Houndoom		Field		Field	✔
0233		Porygon2		Mineral		Mineral	✔
0234		Stantler		Field		Field	✔
0238		Smoochum		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0248		Tyranitar		Monster		Monster	✔
0249		Lugia		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0250		Ho-Oh		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0251		Celebi		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By Move Tutor

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Game
						FRLG	E	XD
0012		Butterfree		Bug		Bug	✔
0035		Clefairy		Fairy		Fairy	✔
0036		Clefable		Fairy		Fairy	✔
0039		Jigglypuff		Fairy		Fairy	✔
0040		Wigglytuff		Fairy		Fairy	✔
0052		Meowth		Field		Field	✔
0053		Persian		Field		Field	✔
0063		Abra		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0064		Kadabra		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0065		Alakazam		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0079		Slowpoke		Monster	Water 1	✔
0080		Slowbro		Monster	Water 1	✔
0092		Gastly		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0093		Haunter		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0094		Gengar		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0096		Drowzee		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0097		Hypno		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0102		Exeggcute		Grass		Grass	✔
0103		Exeggutor		Grass		Grass	✔
0108		Lickitung		Monster		Monster	✔
0121		Starmie		Water 3		Water 3	✔
0122		Mr. Mime		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0124		Jynx		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0131		Lapras		Monster	Water 1	✔
0137		Porygon		Mineral		Mineral	✔
0150		Mewtwo		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0151		Mew		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0163		Hoothoot		Flying		Flying	✔
0164		Noctowl		Flying		Flying	✔
0173		Cleffa		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0174		Igglybuff		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0177		Natu		Flying		Flying	✔
0178		Xatu		Flying		Flying	✔
0190		Aipom		Field		Field	✔
0196		Espeon		Field		Field	✔
0197		Umbreon		Field		Field	✔
0198		Murkrow		Flying		Flying	✔
0199		Slowking		Monster	Water 1	✔
0200		Misdreavus		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0203		Girafarig		Field		Field	✔
0206		Dunsparce		Field		Field	✔
0215		Sneasel		Field		Field	✔
0228		Houndour		Field		Field	✔
0229		Houndoom		Field		Field	✔
0233		Porygon2		Mineral		Mineral	✔
0234		Stantler		Field		Field	✔
0238		Smoochum		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0248		Tyranitar		Monster		Monster	✔
0249		Lugia		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0250		Ho-Oh		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0251		Celebi		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0280		Ralts		Human-Like	Amorphous	✔
0281		Kirlia		Human-Like	Amorphous	✔
0282		Gardevoir		Human-Like	Amorphous	✔
0284		Masquerain		Water 1	Bug	✔
0292		Shedinja		Mineral		Mineral	✔
0302		Sableye		Human-Like		Human-Like	✔
0315		Roselia		Fairy	Grass	✔
0316		Gulpin		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0317		Swalot		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0327		Spinda		Field	Human-Like	✔
0353		Shuppet		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0354		Banette		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0355		Duskull		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0356		Dusclops		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0358		Chimecho		Amorphous		Amorphous	✔
0359		Absol		Field		Field	✔
0385		Jirachi		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
0386		Deoxys Normal Forme		No Eggs Discovered		No Eggs Discovered	✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, Nightmare is a move with 15PP and 100% accuracy. It hits the enemy in front of the user, causing Nightmare status condition if target can be put to sleep, dealing 8HP of damage when waking up. This move is affected by Taunt.

In Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, the move's accuracy has been decreased to 88% and its PP to 12. Additionally, the move can now be reflected by Magic Coat.

Description

Games Description MDRB Inflicts the Nightmare status on the target, making it incapable of action. MDTDS Afflicts the targeted enemy with a Nightmare status condition. A Pokémon with the Nightmare status is incapable of action. BSL てきポケモンを あくむじょうたいにかえる あくむじょうたいの ポケモンは こうどうできない MDGtI It causes the Nightmare status condition to an enemy. With the Nightmare status, the enemy can't do anything and takes damage when it wakes up. SMD It induces sleep, which makes the enemy unable to move, and damages it when it wakes up.* It causes an enemy to have a nightmare.*

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Haunter
The user gives the sleeping opponent nightmares.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Haunter waves its arms and black energy comes out of its body and surrounds the sleeping opponent, giving them nightmares.
Evan's Haunter	Oh, It's Ho-Oh!		Debut

In other generations

Core series games

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	DPPt	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	BW	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Side series games

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Spin-off series games

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

• In Generation III, the status screen erroneously states that the move has 100% accuracy, even though it ignores accuracy and evasion checks.
• This move is completely unavailable in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald and Pokémon Colosseum without trading, as no Pokémon can learn it in Generation III outside of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen and XD.
• This move originated as a TCG Attack.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 惡夢 Okmuhng Mandarin 惡夢 / 恶梦 Èmèng French Cauchemar German Nachtmahr Greek Εφιάλτης Italian Incubo Korean 악몽 Angmong Polish Koszmar Portuguese Pesadelo Serbian Noćna mora Spanish Pesadilla Vietnamese Ác Mộng

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.