Editing Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare

{{Title|''Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare''}}

{{Status|RealWorld}}

'''''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]].

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.

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.

==Gameplay==

===Campaign===

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."''

===Terminus Firefight===

{{Main|Terminus Firefight}}

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]].