Nightmare Essence

Overview

A material from Shadowkeep dropped by Nightmare enemies on The Moon. Each Essence holds a piece of Moon gear, either a Dreambane armor piece or a Moon weapon. You unlock that gear at the Lectern of Enchantment in Sanctuary after cleansing the Essence, for example the Essence of Insanity quest. Eris Morn also offers Dreambane buy-backs and bounties at the Lectern.

Acquisition

• Nightmares on the Moon and Nightmare Hunt bosses drop Essences.
• Phantasmal Fragments come from Nightmare bounties at the Lectern, drops from Nightmares, and Nightmare Hunts and Lost Sectors. Spending Glimmer at the Lectern also creates a Fragment.
• A Phantasmal Core is made by trading 20 Fragments at the Lectern. Nightmares rarely drop Cores.
• An Essence can be obtained by trading a Core at the Lectern.

Cleansing

An Essence must be cleansed before its gear can be claimed. Cleansing means completing a task on the Moon, such as killing specific enemies or using a specific weapon. Then turn the Essence in at the Lectern. These 2019 Shadowkeep requirements may have changed since:

• Pride: kill Nightmares in Lost Sectors on planets other than the Moon. Unlocks the Dreambane helm, cowl or hood.
• Isolation: defeat Fallen on the Moon. Unlocks the Dreambane gauntlets, grips or gloves.
• Fear: defeat Hive on the Moon. Unlocks the Dreambane plate, vest or robes.
• Anguish: complete bounties for Eris Morn. Unlocks the Dreambane greaves, strides or boots.
• Despair: complete Moon activities such as chests, resource collection, public events, Lost Sectors and patrols. Unlocks the Dreambane mark, cloak or bond.

The Essence of Insanity is a weapon essence. Cleanse it by scoring Grenade Launcher final blows in Strikes, Gambit or the Crucible, then claim the Bound Manacle in the Gatehouse. It rewards the Love and Death grenade launcher.

Dreambane

If a Dreambane piece is dismantled by accident, it can be bought back from Eris or the Lectern, but only after all five armor Essences are cleansed. Each piece has random roll perks, and the perk pools include buffs against Nightmares.