The Nightmare World opens at trainer level 100. Its maps are twisted versions of places you know, plus the haunted island of Roshamuul and the Pits of Inferno, defended by Nightmare Pokémon: darker, stronger forms of every species, from level 110 to 999.
Its regions
The maps open one after another, each after the one before it:
| Region | Maps | Defenders |
|---|---|---|
| Nightmare Dusk | 31 | level 110-331 |
| Nightmare Dread | 31 | level 334-554 |
| Nightmare Abyss | 31 | level 558-778 |
| Nightmare Inferno | 30 | level 782-995 |
What drops there
- Nightmare Shards, which you need to Awaken and rank up Pokémon: more often on deeper maps.
- Rarely, a Nightmare Pokémon of the defenders, already Awakened (☾1), up to level 200.
- Shinies roll as anywhere else, and the usual items drop too.
Awakening
A 5★ Pokémon at level 100 can be Awakened into its Nightmare form: stronger than its species, with a new look. It keeps its genes, moves, traits and held item (holding its Mega Stone, it becomes a Nightmare Mega). A Nightmare form doesn't evolve and wears no costume.
Then its Nightmare ranks (☾) raise its level cap, up to 999:
| Rank | Level cap | Nightmare Shards | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☾1 (Awaken) | 200 | 10 | 100,000 |
| ☾2 | 300 | 15 | 150,000 |
| ☾3 | 400 | 20 | 250,000 |
| ☾4 | 500 | 30 | 400,000 |
| ☾5 | 600 | 40 | 600,000 |
| ☾6 | 700 | 55 | 900,000 |
| ☾7 | 800 | 75 | 1,300,000 |
| ☾8 | 900 | 100 | 2,000,000 |
| ☾9 | 999 | 140 | 3,000,000 |
Past level 100, each level counts a bit less than the first hundred, but your Pokémon keep getting stronger all the way to 999.
Shinies Ascend
Shinies don't get a Nightmare form: a shiny Ascends instead, keeping its shine and its name, and climbs the same ranks. Shinies stay the strongest Pokémon in the game.
In the Arena
To keep the Arena fair, Pokémon fight there at level 100 at most, and Nightmare forms with their species' stats.