Nightmare Tsums checklist｜missions & what to save

The Sep 29 update made the app icon look Nightmare Before Christmas-flavored—good moment to inventory NBC Tsums you already own. October predictions and BOX+ lineups live elsewhere; this page sticks to Tsums already in the encyclopedia.

Bottom line

For “Nightmare Tsum” mission tags, start with Jack, Zero, Sally (NBC), Oogie Boogie, Pumpkin King
Almost all sit in time-limited Premium pools—don’t burn coins when they aren’t listed
Emptying tickets “just in case” for October is optional at best—move when the tag appears or a limited banner shows the name

Core roster

Game8’s series page: no Happiness / always-on Premium members; nearly everything is limited Premium (plus event-only Holiday Jack).

Tsum	Skill vibe	Reach for them when…
Jack	Tap-to-clear during skill	Combo missions; flexible filler
Zero	Briefly vanishes	Long chains (fewer colors on screen)
Sally (NBC)	Cross clear	Light charge; skill count / bridging
Oogie Boogie	Random clear	Clear count / Fever bridging
Pumpkin King	Clears linked + neighbors	Series pick for score / coins / bombs
Mischievous Jack	Random clear + special bomb	Clears / Fever
Lock	Spawns high-score Tsum	Body count + score help
Vampire Teddy	Horizontal clear	Simple clear lines
Sandy Claws	(see encyclopedia)	Limited-pool member
Jack & Sally	Dual skill	Insurance for tagged missions
Holiday Jack	Auto clear	Event reward—don’t chase in normal boxes

Monsters, Inc. Sulley (often nicknamed “Sally” in Chinese) and Jack Sparrow do not count—only Nightmare’s Sally does.

Mission-type cheat sheet

If skill levels are uneven, use the leveled one.

Goal	Look at first
Combo	Jack → Pumpkin King
Long chain	Zero
Score / coins / bombs	Pumpkin King → Boogie / Mischievous Jack
Fever count	Pumpkin King (time-bomb lean) / Boogie & Sally bridges
Many skills	Sally (NBC)
My Tsum clears	Pumpkin King / Boogie / Mischievous Jack

Events are easier with two or three usable NBC bodies than one perfect Tsum.

Availability & saving

Not in the always-on boxes; watch limited Premium, pickup, select, and events
Holiday Jack is event-leaning—don’t farm him like a regular banner unit
Halloween weeks may also tag “pumpkin / costume” Tsums—that’s a different sentence than “Nightmare”

Save-plan

Finish any current timed events first
Don’t force an NBC completionist run—spend when the pool shows them
Keep Premium Tickets for UP windows you actually want
Quick check: own Jack / Zero / Sally (NBC)?

Lookalikes (don’t mix tags)

Pumpkin Mickey/Minnie, mummy Donald, Halloween Sora, Vampire Mickey, Devil Donald, and friends feel seasonal but often don’t satisfy “Nightmare Tsum” wording. Read the mission text.

For October outlook see October preview. Always trust the in-game box screen for who’s droppable today.