Editing Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare

{{Title|''Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
[[File:Halo-Wars-2 Key-Art Vertical.jpg|300px|thumb|''Awakening the Nightmare'' banner.]]
'''''Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare''''' is a digital expansion for ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''. It features a new [[campaign]] and a new cooperative mode known as [[Terminus Firefight]]. In addition, ''Awakening the Nightmare'' also added two new [[Banished]] multiplayer [[leader]]s ([[Pavium]] and [[Voridus]]) and two new standard multiplayer maps, the latter of which was also made available to those without the expansion. The expansion was released on September 26, [[2017]] for $19.99 USD on [[Xbox One]] and Windows 10 PC. It is not included with the ''Halo Wars 2'' Season Pass,<ref name="WP ATK">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/introducing-halo-wars-2-awakening-the-nightmare '''Halo Waypoint News -''' ''Introducing Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare'']</ref> but is included in the [[Halo Wars 2: Complete Edition|''Halo Wars 2'': Complete Edition]].

The expansion was launched alongside the start of ''Halo Wars 2''{{'}}s [[Season 7 (Halo Wars 2)|Season 7]].

==Plot==
===Characters and setting===
''Awakening the Nightmare'' takes place in [[2559#June|June 2559]], several months following the events of the main game. Like the main game, ''Awakening the Nightmare'' is set on the Ark, though this time set around the remains of the Covenant city High Charity, which crash-landed on the Ark in ''[[Halo 3]]''. Due to the lack of an [[000 Tragic Solitude|active monitor]] on the installation, the Ark's defenses were only able to establish a quarantine zone around the infected city, like the one [[Quarantine zone (location)|established]] on [[Installation 05]]. Unlike ''Halo Wars 2'' and ''Operation: SPEARBREAKER'', ''Awakening the Nightmare'' is set entirely from the point-of-view of the Banished, and is the first time in the series' history in which players can fight UNSC enemies. The primary characters of the campaign are the Jiralhanae brothers Pavium and Voridus, who are tasked by Atriox to investigate and salvage the Covenant holy city for useful equipment.

===Plot synopsis===
{{Spoiler/begin}}
[[File:HW2-HighCharityshield.png|thumb|left|The quarantine shield protecting High Charity.]]
Several months following the events of ''Halo Wars 2'' and ''[[Halo Wars 2: Operation: SPEARBREAKER|Operation: SPEARBREAKER]]'', the forces of the [[UNSC Spirit of Fire|UNSC ''Spirit of Fire'']] and [[Atriox]]'s Banished are still locked in a [[Second Ark Conflict|bitter stalemate]] on [[Installation 00|The Ark]]. With the loss of ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', Atriox is still cut off from receiving supplies and aid from his forces in the [[Milky Way]] galaxy. To remedy this, Atriox looks to the ruins of the [[Covenant]] holy city [[High Charity]] - which had been captured by the [[Flood]] and crashed onto the surface of the Ark in the final months of the [[Human-Covenant War]] - as a potential source of weapons, vehicles and supplies. Atriox tasks two of his lieutenants - brothers Voridus and Pavium - with scouting out the structure and scavenging any useable supplies they can find, but with strict orders not to enter the ruined city. 

Due to abuse of the Ark's systems by both sides of the conflict, the structure's [[Sentinel|defense systems]] are now hostile to humans and Banished alike. While Banished troops on the ground find modest amounts of supplies, Voridus leads his troops directly to the quarantine perimeter of High Charity, using his [[Barukaza Workshop Scarab|Scarab]] to cut through the energy shield. Believing the stories of the Flood infection to be Covenant lies and myth, Voridus deactivates the Sentinel defenses in the region and orders a squad of [[Jiralhanae|brutes]] to scout out the interior of the structure. However, the trio are rapidly infected and [[Flood combat form|turned]], spurring a massive Flood counterattack as the parasite escapes the ruins of High Charity and into the surrounding landscape.

[[File:HW2-Atriox&Protogravemind.png|thumb|Atriox stands before the Proto-Gravemind.]]
In response to the quarantine breach, Pavium prepares several waves of defenses, establishing several defensive perimeters in which to fall back while [[Mgalekgolo|Goliaths]] clear pathways for Banished forces to fall back in. However, all defensive efforts fail and eventually Pavium is forced back to his main [[Banished outpost]]. Meanwhile, Voridus and his men manage to retreat and find a nondescript Forerunner structure. While Voridus attempts to reactivate the defenses in the region, Pavium comes up with a plan to stay the Flood's advance - at least temporarily. Fissures in the landscape are honeycombed with explosive power, which the Banished could potentially use to catalyse a chain reaction, burning the Flood away. Pavium sets up a mining facility, eventually able to dig into the crystals beneath the surface and start the reaction necessary - however, the Flood senses this threat, and begins sending much [[Abomination|stronger forms]] against Banished forces. With the Flood scourge burned away, Voridus is able to enter the Forerunner structure and find a way to reactivate the Ark's defenses. Fighting through Flood, Voridus is eventually able to reactivate the defenses, in time to hear news that Atriox has dispatched Banished reinforcements to assist in quarantine cleanup measures.

Atriox proceeds to scold the two brothers, informing them that their recklessness has cost him several major fortifications as he must now reroute troops away from fighting the UNSC to deal with this threat, warning that if the situation is not dealt with by the time he arrives personally there will be grave consequences. Pavium and Voridus begin a centralised effort to fight back against the infection, but soon find their path blocked by a massive tentacle. Pavium commissions a [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Antlion]] to deal with the threat, but soon realises that the tentacle is but one extension of a gargantuan [[Proto-Gravemind]] - if allowed to finish growing, the Flood would be unstoppable. Thanks to coordination by artillery, orbital support and ground troops, the Proto-Gravemind is killed in time for Atriox to arrive and inspect the scene himself. Once again, he scolds the two brothers before ordering them to secure the breach. As Atriox inspects the remains of the Proto-Gravemind, Sentinels begin swarming into the area to cleanse it of all infection.
{{Spoiler/end}}

==Gameplay==
===Campaign===
[[File:HW2 Nightmare Loadscreen.jpg|thumb|Campaign menu background for ''Awakening the Nightmare''.]] 
The ''Awakening the Nightmare'' campaign, which includes new bookend cutscenes by [[Blur Studio]], takes place a few months after the main game. The story explores the [[Banished]] and their desperate struggle against the [[Flood]], which survived the [[Battle of Installation 00|conflict on the Ark]] and the activation of the [[Installation 08|replacement Halo]] at the end of ''[[Halo 3]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|WP ATK}} The ''Awakening the Nightmare'' campaign has five missions.
#"[[What Could Go Wrong?]]" - ''"Voridus launches a Scarab assault through Sentinel-heavy territory to break into High Charity."''
#"[[Fighting Retreat]]" - ''"Pavium and his troops prepare an exit route to extract High Charity salvage."''
#"[[Light the Fuse]]" - ''"Pavium must rescue Voridus and clear a path to the Forerunner structure nearby."''
#"[[The Archive]]" - ''"Voridus desperately seeks a way to reactivate the Ark's sentinel defenses in an effort to stop the spread of the Flood."''
#"[[Manifestation]]" - ''"Voridus and Pavium must assist the Ark's defenses in a final push to contain the Flood threat."''

===Terminus Firefight===
{{Main|Terminus Firefight}}
[[File:HW2-The Last Bastion.jpg|thumb|The Last Bastion.]]
Aside from the campaign, the expansion also includes a new mode called Terminus Firefight. In the new mode, up to three players can cooperate in defending their bases and a [[Forerunner]] [[Terminus]] node against waves of hostile [[UNSC]], Banished, and Flood forces. The mode, as well as the new leaders, was playable at the 2017 [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]].{{Ref/Reuse|WP ATK}} Terminus Firefight can only be played on one map, [[The Last Bastion]].

===Multiplayer===
Aside from the campaign and firefight, ''Awakening the Nightmare'' also grants accessed to two Banished leaders - Pavium and Voridus. Pavium is granted access to the Antlions, the [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Wraith Invader|Wraith Invader]] APC and focuses largely on a defensive playstyle, while Voridus' abilities focus on the use and combo of [[Infusion gel]]. Alongside the expansion's release, a free update was rolled out to all ''Halo Wars 2'' players which included two new maps - [[Fissures]] and [[Mirage]].

==Marketing==
===E3 2017 announce trailer===
{{Main|Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare E3 2017 Trailer}}
A trailer for the expansion was released on June 12, at [[E3]] 2017. It depicts the moment the Banished enter High Charity in the DLC's cutscene.
{{#widget:YouTube|id=VVLyX5dHLLo|width=300|height=200}}

===Launch trailer===
{{Main|Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare Launch Trailer}}
A launch trailer for the expansion was uploaded on the day of the expansion's launch.

==Achievements==
{{Halo Wars 2 Achievements|ATN|category=yes}}

==Cancelled pitch==
When the idea of a ''Halo Wars 2'' expansion was first pitched, the Flood were but one idea pitched during initial brainstorming. Some concept art shows a failed pitch depicting [[Promethean]] enemies led by the [[Warden Eternal]]. This concept art was released alongside art depicting a [[Halo Wars 3 (rejected pitch)|cancelled pitch]] for a hypothetical "''Halo Wars 3''" featuring space battles.
<gallery>
File:HW2_ATN_Warden_Concept.jpg|Concept art depicting the Warden Eternal, an army of Prometheans and Phaetons battling UNSC forces.
File:HW2_ATN_Knight_Concept.jpg|Concept art of a [[Promethean Knight]] battling UNSC marines.
File:HW2_ATN_Artillery_Concept.jpg|Concept art of what appears to be some sort of Promethean cannons.
File:HW2_ATN_BanishedPrometheanBattle_Concept.jpg|Concept art of Banished forces battling Prometheans.
File:HW2_ATN_Prometheans_Concept_1.jpg|Concept art for Prometheans.
File:HW2_ATN_Prometheans_Concept_2.jpg|Concept art for Prometheans.
File:HW2_Cryptum_Concept.jpg|''Halo Wars 2'' concept art depicting a [[Cryptum]].
File:HW2 UNSC vs Guardian.jpg|Concept art depicting UNSC forces battling a [[Guardian Custode]].
</gallery>

==Gallery==
===Concept art===
<gallery>
File:HW2_Nightmare_Loadscreen_Sketch.jpg|An early sketch for the campaign menu background.
File:PL Keyminds.jpg|
File:HW2C-ATN.jpg
File:HW2 ATN art relentless.jpg|
File:HW2 ATN art infected.png|
File:HW2 FloodTankForm Concept.jpg|
File:HW2 ATN- Flood unleashed concept art.jpg
File:HW2 InfectorTidalWave Concept.jpg
File:HW2 TerminusFirefight Concept.jpg
File:HW2 Blightlands Concept 1.jpg
File:HW2 Blightlands Concept 2.jpg
File:HW2_Blightlands_Concept_3.jpg
File:HW2_Blightlands_Concept_4.jpg
File:HW2_Blightlands_Concept_5.jpg
File:HW2 HCContainment Concept.jpg
File:HW2_FloodEnvironments_Concept.jpg
File:HW2_FloodEnvironments_Concept_SulphurLake.jpg
File:HW2_FloodEnvironments_Concept_Dark.jpg
File:HW2_FloodEnvironments_Concept_Burnt.jpg
File:HW2_FloodEnvironments_Concept_Bioluminescent.jpg
File:HW2_FloodEnvironments_Concept_Ice.jpg
File:HW2_FloodBlending_Concept.jpg
File:HW2_HighCharityDebris_Concept_1.jpg
File:HW2_HighCharityDebris_Concept_2.jpg
File:HW2_HighCharityDebris_Concept_3.jpg
File:HW2_HighCharityDebris_Concept_4.jpg
File:HW2_ATNCampaignMissionLightingConcept.jpg
File:HW2ATN_Flood_Concept.jpg|Thumbnail concept art of the Flood.
File:HW2ATN BaseAttack Concept.jpg
File:HW2ATN FloodBattleConcept.jpg
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Causeway_1.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Causeway_2.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Causeway_3.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Causeway_4.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Carved.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_AmberLilly.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Fungus.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Ice.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Ice_2.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_SillyString.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Swirls.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Various_1.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Various_2.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Columns.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_StoneBlocks_1.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_StoneBlocks_2.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Ribs.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Ruins.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_Jungle.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
File:HW2_Installation00_Concept_BanishedDesecration.jpg|Concept art of Installation 00.
</gallery>

===Images===
<gallery>
File:HW2 ATN logo.jpg|''Awakening the Nightmare'' logo.
File:HW2_ATN_Keyart.jpg|''Awakening the Nightmare'' keyart.
File:Halo-Wars-2 Key-Art Vertical.jpg|''Awakening the Nightmare'' banner.
File:HW2 ATN art.jpg|''Awakening the Nightmare''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s E3 2017 keynote art.
File:Halo-Wars-2 Screen-Shot Air-Recon Large.png|
File:Halo-Wars-2 Screen-Shot Attack-1.jpg|
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Map pack}}

[[Category:Halo Wars 2 DLC]]
[[Category:Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare| ]]