Nightmare

Nightmare is the main antagonist of the Soulcalibur series. Initially, he was the evil alter-ego of Siegfried Schtauffen after being controlled by the cursed sword Soul Edge, but later became a separate entity from Siegfried in Soulcalibur III and onward. Nightmare is the living incarnation of Soul Edge and a vessel for Inferno. He first appeared as an alternate form of Siegfried in Soul Edge and was later introduced as Nightmare in Soulcalibur. As a primary antagonist, Nightmare's ownership of Soul Edge makes him the objective of many characters. He has been in constant conflict with Siegfried until Soulcalibur V, where Raphael Sorel becomes the new host of Nightmare under the alias of Graf Dumas. In Soulcalibur VI, the story revisits the original and Nightmare possesses Siegfried once more. Nightmare has appeared with visual differences in each game, and his fighting style changed after his separation from Siegfried. Nightmare's signature features are his large, three-fingered claw and the cursed sword Soul Edge. He is portrayed as a violent and ruthless creature, constantly seeking souls to enhance Soul Edge. He despises humans, considering them "pathetic" and "foolish," and has no mercy for others.