[Swift]

Umm, you misunderstood some skill descritpions in the Dream tree. I'm running an 54 level Ritualist (Dream+Nature) so let me give you the correct answers:

The Nightmare is ace, enemies can hardly ever hit it due to high dodge, quickly get it up to Level 5 so it can gain an area attack. But, it cannot control monsters... It has a Confusion Gaze attack, which works like the Rogue's Mandrake, it makes the enemy wander around aimlessly and hit the thin air for a while. Lasts pretty long, btw, and the Nightmare casts it often, it's a real life saver as it can take the tougher monsters out of the picture for a while! Word of advice though - put your Nightmare into Normal, not Agressive. Otherwise, it'll run into enemy mobs instead of attacking from afar with range attacks.

Also, Dream has no are skills that controls other monsters - I think you confused it with Spirit's...

Of the trances, I agree, Empathy is the best. The regenaration trance is nice (I used it for a while) but at max level, your Nightmare's permanent aura does the same mana/HP regeneration effect!