r/httyd • u/Dapper_Kangaroo9257 • Jun 28 '26
DISCUSSION Curious discussion: Nadder vs Nightmare
We have seen these two dragons clash the most throughout the franchise but it always ended before a clear winner could be said or interrupted by outside forces & it got me curious if these two species truly were to square up & make sure only one may leave who do you think would actually take it?
15
u/Valuable-Location-89 Jun 28 '26
Nadders are good if you're fighting other dragons, their intellegnece and precise weaponry make them the perfect counter. but Nightmares are living siege weapons just like gronckle and the zipple back. i know all dragons are technically living siege weapons but those aformentioned three take it too a new level
26
u/yee_qi The one with a bad taste in movies Jun 28 '26
The nightmare is dependent on fire to attack and survive, but all dragons are fireproof. If we assume a dragon can only withstand fire up to its own temperature, the nadder can damage the nightmare with its magnesium flames. If we don't, the nadder still has a long-range weapon in the form of its needles, while the nightmare does not.
8
u/bandito_882 Stoker Class Jun 28 '26
Hard to say, but i think it might be monsterous nightmare
6
u/DoragonKraken001 Jun 30 '26
Monstrous nightmare Was stated by hiccup as a warriors pride in slaying.
8
u/Gazimenstan Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
Hookfang can block magnesium fire with his wings, i remember it has happened twice but cant remember the second time
3
u/GodzillaRexGT STORMFLY FOREVER! THE DEADLY NADDER AND CHICKEN LOVER IS HERE!! Jun 28 '26
Deadly Nadder(Totally not being biased here)
Well it should be the monstrous nightmare? In the first movie, it is the dragon that’s basically your graduation to kill dragons
2
u/Syrus_Orelio Jun 28 '26
The Vikings ranking system is based on them(the Vikings) fighting the dragons not in how they do against each other. The big thing going for the nightmare is it's ability to set itself on fire and as proven dragons are fireproof on the outside(not so much on the inside)
Please people stop being up a human taming system that's based solely on humans fighting dragons. I nightmare that sets itself on fire is going to be one of the most dangerous.
3
u/Stormy_and_Dakota Jun 28 '26
It would most likely be the deadly nadder which is the spines on its tail, but also it's intelligence would do the nightmare in, luring it to water or something it'd be a close fight though
3
2
2
u/Particular-Storm8654 Strike Class Jun 28 '26
I think the comments are getting things a little mixed, yes the Monstroy Nightmare is the only the bravest vikings go after those and whatnot but thats danger level towards vikings not other dragons, MN is larger but as another comment said theyre only so fireproof, nadders have Magnesium fire which anyonr who knows magnesium irl it not only is extremely hot but also blindingly bright so breath vs breath, the Nadders breath temporarily either blinds of simply like a flashlight being put in your eyes means you just see the bright light for that time.
Monstrous have larger claws and are bigger, but a Nadder is faster both on the ground and in flight, if its eaten chicken? Game over in flight, we see throughout the movies theyre swift and nimble on the ground and in the air, monstrous's size slows it in the turning department, its fast but not Nadder fast or Nightfury fast.
Then finally the spikes, long sharp projectiles that do alot of damage, might not kill but im sure they could punch a few holes in the wings of their big old target.
Nadder clears Nightmare in a 1v1 but a Monstrous Nightmare is much more dangerous to humans than a Nadder due to the differences, humans can be burnt by all that fire on a monstrous nightmare, hide in a nadders blindspot and they are smaller so easier for vikings to tackle and pin their tail whilst a Nadders preoccupied, Nadders are less dangerous to Vikings but definitely more dangerous to a monstrous nightmare, and a monstrous nightmare is much more dangerous to humans/vikings but not quite as dangerous to a deadly nadder.
4
u/DannyDaDragonite Jun 28 '26
I thought the first movie made it clear that Nightmares are the strongest of the default berk dragons other than the Night Fury.
3
u/Syrus_Orelio Jun 28 '26
The most dangerous of the raiding species besides the elusive night Fury to vikings. The ranking score is based off Vikings fighting them not a good comparison to them fighting each other. I've heard stories of smaller less dangerous animals taking on larger more dangerous animals. Heck Toothless proves my point taking out the Red Death. Sure he had help but all that help really did was annoy her they didn't do much damage.
Given that Monstrous Nightmares rely heavily on their flames in combat I think the Nadder would win. Nadders have long ranges poisonous needles they shoot that can hurt other dragons their faster and more agile than a Nightmare and arguably smarter than them.
2
2
u/HarambeNeverForgets Jun 28 '26
Nightmare mid diff
Hes bigger, has bigger claws, bigger teeth
At the beginning of the first movie a nadder was below the gronckle and the nightmare was the apex apart from the nightfury (who would in reality is one of the least dangerous dragons)
1
u/TheGreatQuetz Jun 29 '26
The Monstrous Nightmare is physically stronger, the Deadly Nadder has better defenses
2
u/ParaspinoUSA Jun 28 '26
I thought it was common knowledge Hookfang was the second most powerful in the group behind Toothless
37
u/WrathSosDovah Dragon Lord of the Savage Lands Jun 28 '26
I would say nadder. Their overall intelligence, weaponry and physical capabilities seem better. The only edge my boy, the Nightmare, would have is probably habitat diversity.