Skyrim: Dawnguard DLC – Vampire Lord or Werewolf? Decisions, Decisions… And Fangs.
You now find yourself in Skyrim’s Dawnguard DLC. Congrats! You face life-altering choices. Will you side with the vampire hunters of the Dawnguard? Or will you join Lord Harkon’s vampire clan? Perhaps you want to experience furry transformations. Let’s explore.
Choosing Sides: Dawnguard or Volkihar Vampires? It’s More Than Good vs. Evil
When you begin the Dawnguard questline, you face a classic RPG choice: pick a side. Join the Dawnguard, defenders of the innocent? Or side with the Volkihar vampires, who have a unique take on ‘innocent’ (hint: typically involves being bitten)?
The Righteous Dawnguard: Pros and Cons
Joining the Dawnguard is the ‘good guy’ option. In Skyrim, being the ‘good guy’ brings sweet perks. Here’s what you obtain:
- Fort Dawnguard Access: Enjoy your rustic fort designed to eliminate the undead.
- Shiny New Toys: Weapons, armor, and spells that make vampires regret existing. Think crossbows and Dawnguard armor, plus spells like Sun Damage and Vampire’s Bane.
- Temporary Backup: Dawnguard members can serve as temporary followers. Need help carrying dragon bones? They can assist.
The Dawnguard is a strong choice. They are equipped and morally sound-ish, without trying to turn you into a creature of the night… initially.
Volkihar Vampire Clan: Embrace the Night
If ‘good’ isn’t for you, consider more… bite. Joining the Volkihar vampires brings a different kind of power and serious lifestyle changes.
- Early Vampire Lord Access: Want to terrorize Skyrim? Join Harkon and transform sooner. It’s like early access to an edgy beta.
- Castle Volkihar Crib: Enjoy gloomy castles with questionable décor? Castle Volkihar offers this. Plus, you have permanent access for blood cocktails.
Joining the vampires is about power, especially the Vampire Lord form. But remember, that power comes with a cost: sunlight and likely your soul.
Consequences? There Will Be Consequences.
Picking a side brings repercussions. Reject Harkon’s offer of vampirism? Expect a swift exit from Castle Volkihar and a one-way trip back to Isran, the Dawnguard leader. Awkward.
Want to become a Vampire Lord later? If you pursue Dawnguard quests, note they will want you cured before proceeding. It’s like showing up to a health food restaurant with fried chicken. They won’t be happy.
If you become a Vampire Lord, don’t expect pleasant interactions with the Dawnguard. They won’t attack you immediately, but progressing quests and social interaction? Forget it. It’s a very cold professional relationship.
Dawnguard: The Less Evil Path
For most players, joining the Dawnguard is smoother and more rewarding. You get cool gear, avoid sunlight battles, and feel like a hero. Unless you yearn to be a Vampire Lord… which leads us to our next point.
Embrace the Thirst: Becoming a Vampire or a Vampire Lord
You’re curious about pointy teeth and a nocturnal lifestyle. Becoming a vampire in Skyrim is more than just aesthetics; it creates a new way to play with unique benefits and drawbacks.
Vampire Perks: Unique Advantages
Being a vampire gives you some ‘unique’ perks. It’s not all bad after joining the creatures of the night.
- Skill Boosts: Vampires excel at sneak and magic skills. You gain sneak boosts and Illusion spells. Perfect for stabbings from shadows… magically.
- Vampire Powers: Drain health and stamina with Vampire Drain. It’s useful for those ‘hangry’ moments. Plus, you can transform into a Vampire Lord.
- Immunity is Bliss: Diseases and poisons don’t affect vampires. Great news for anyone who forgets cooking mammoth cheese.
- Frosty Resilience: Each stage of vampirism increases frost resistance. You can reach 100% at stage 4. Nords will envy your chill tolerance.
- Vampire Lord Form: This is key. Transform into a winged horror with blood magic, gargoyle summoning, and life-draining attacks. It’s the ultimate vampire power fantasy.
Vampire Drawbacks: Sunlight Sensitivity
Life as a vampire has downsides that are not minor nuisances.
- Fire Weakness: Vampires and fire don’t mix well. Expect extra damage from flames. Fire mages and dragons are nightmares now.
- Sunlight Sensitivity: Daylight is your kryptonite. Regeneration slows down or stops during the day, and you lose health just for being outside.
- NPC Reactions: Most Skyrim inhabitants don’t like vampires. Expect negative reactions and hostility, especially as a Vampire Lord.
- The Hunger Pangs: You must feed on humans to maintain your status, which doesn’t help your social standing.
- Vampire Lord Limitations: In Vampire Lord form, only powers apply—no regular weapons or spells. You can’t open doors or interact normally either.
- Gear Gone Wild: Transforming into a Vampire Lord removes most gear except rings. Fashion emergencies happen often.
Becoming a Bloodsucker: How-To Guide
Ready to join the undead elite? Here are ways to become a vampire or a Vampire Lord.
- Harkon’s Generous Offer: Side with Volkihar Clan, accept Harkon’s gift, and BAM! You become a Vampire Lord. He bites you, and then you wake up with fangs. Classic initiation.
- Serana’s Post-Questline Gift: Even siding with Dawnguard allows for becoming a Vampire Lord later. Serana can offer you ‘the gift’ after defeating Harkon.
Cure That Craving: Reversing Vampirism
If vampire life isn’t for you, there are ways to kick the habit.
- Early Intervention: Caught Sanguinare Vampiris early? Use a Potion of Cure Disease or pray at a shrine to fix it—like catching a cold but more undead potential.
- Falion’s Ritual: Visit Falion in Riften for cures. He requires a Black Soul Gem first. Soul-trapping might be needed.
- Werewolf Route: Join the Companions to become a werewolf. Lycanthropy overwrites vampirism—swap fangs for fur.
Howl at the Moon: Embracing the Beast Within as a Werewolf
If fangs aren’t appealing, maybe claws and carnage are your style. Becoming a werewolf in Skyrim focuses on brute force.
Werewolf Perks: Unleash the Inner Beast
A werewolf embraces raw power rather than subtlety. Here are benefits:
- Carnage is King: Werewolves excel in raw destruction. While vampires think strategically, werewolves prefer enthusiasm—less chess, more demolition derby.
- Strength in Fur: Generally, werewolf form makes combat easier, especially using sprint attacks quickly dismantling enemies.
- is optional, effectiveness is mandatory.
Werewolf Drawbacks: Not Exactly a Social Butterfly
Being a werewolf has its issues. It’s not just about roaring and ripping. There are downsides to transforming into a giant, furry killing machine.
- Public Nudity and Aggression: If you transform in public, expect angry guards. Werewolf transformations are not legal.
- Inventory Lockdown: No looting containers or picking locks in werewolf form. Claws and instinct take over, no inventory management.
- Gear Striptease: Transforming strips your gear. This leaves you vulnerable if the transformation ends at a bad time. Imagine dealing with a dragon unarmed. Awkward.
- No Manual Transformation Reversal: You can’t just change back whenever. You must wait for it to wear off. Patience isn’t a werewolf trait.
- No Regen in Beast Form: No health, stamina, or magicka regen during transformation. Go in hard and fast because you are on a timer.
- Fire Weakness (Again!): A big issue, werewolves are weak to fire. Skyrim has a serious fire hazard issue.
- Disease Vulnerability: Unlike vampires, werewolves can get diseases. So watch out for that swamp fever.
Joining the Pack: Becoming a Werewolf 101
Want to be furry? The path to lycanthropy is through the Companions questline.
- Companions Questline Ritual: Complete it; participate in a ritual with Aela the Huntress. Lycanthropy awaits! Try not to shed too much on the furniture.
Werewolf Lifespan: Twice the Furry Fun
Good news for commitment-phobes! You can actually become a werewolf twice in Skyrim. Just in case you mess up.
- Two Transformations Total: Skyrim allows for two werewolf transformations total. Use them wisely.
Curing the Beast Within: Lycanthropy Be Gone
Tired of wolfing out? Want to go back to being your human self? Curing lycanthropy is possible.
- Companions Quest Cure: Finish a quest with the Companions to cure your lycanthropy. They offer more than just fetch quests.
Serana: The Vampire Companion Who’s More Than Just a Pretty Face (and Fangs)
Let’s discuss Serana. She plays a major role in the Dawnguard DLC. Honestly, she is much more interesting than most NPCs in Skyrim. Plus, she’s a vampire. Bonus points!
Serana’s Role: More Than Just a Quest Giver (Thankfully)
Serana is key to the Dawnguard questline. She is not just a damsel; she has her own agenda and backstory. Plus, those sharp teeth.
- Vampire Lord Gifting: Remember how you can become a Vampire Lord with the Dawnguard? Thank Serana. She can turn you into one at your request. Great perk of friendship.
Curing Serana? A Question of Morality (and Gameplay)
Can you cure Serana of her vampirism? Yes, but should you? That’s the real question.
- Post-Harkon Cure Option: Side with the Dawnguard; convince Serana to cure herself after defeating her father, Harkon. It’s her character arc.
- Defeat Harkon First: You must defeat Harkon before curing Serana. Family drama is complicated, even for vampires.
Serana: Nord by Blood (and Vampire by… Blood)
What race is Serana? She’s a Nord, just like her parents, Harkon and Valerica. Vampirism appears to cross racial boundaries.
- Nordic Vampire Lineage: Serana, Harkon, and Valerica are all Nords. Vampire families can be… complicated.
Serana and the Dragonborn: A Bond Beyond Blood (Drinking)
No matter your choice in the Dawnguard DLC, Serana is your friend and follower. And maybe something more.
- Friend and Follower: Dawnguard or Volkihar, Serana is on your side. Loyalty is a rare trait in Skyrim, especially among vampires.
- Marriable (Eventually): Yes, you can marry Serana after completing the “Kindred Judgment” quest. Vampire waifu?
- Sleepovers with Serana: If romanced, she will sleep in player-owned beds with you. Even vampires need their beauty sleep (or undeath sleep).
Refusing Harkon with Serana Around: Awkward Elevator Ride
If you refuse Harkon’s vampire offer, what happens to Serana? Well, nothing directly. She stays there. But your relationship with Harkon declines.
- Banishment for You, Status Quo for Serana: Refusing Harkon means you get kicked out. Serana remains in the castle, likely rolling her eyes at your choices.
Love and Undeath: Relationships in Skyrim with Vampires and Werewolves
Romance in Skyrim is… well, it is what it is. Can you involve vampires and werewolves? Let’s dive into love and lycanthropy.
Marriage and Vampires: Till Undeath Do Us Part (Literally)
Can you vampire-ify your spouse? Can you marry a vampire? The answers are complicated.
- Vampire Spouse Conversion: Yes, you can turn your spouse into a vampire. Either through “The Gift” quest or feeding on them while they sleep.
- Marrying Existing Vampires? Vanilla No, Mods Yes: Vanilla Skyrim won’t let you marry a pre-existing vampire like Serana. But with mods? Your friend!
- Karliah Marriage? Mod It Up: Want to marry Karliah from the Thieves Guild? In vanilla Skyrim, that’s not possible. Mods offer solutions.
- Argis the Bulwark: Husband Material?: Argis the Bulwark is seen as the best Skyrim husband by some. He becomes your housecarl and potential spouse after you become Thane of the Reach.
Harkon Romance? Forbidden Love with the Vampire King
Marrying Harkon? It’s an intriguing idea that raises questions of morality.
- Harkon Marriage: Interesting But…: Marrying Harkon would be a power move. However, he’s married to Valerica. Polygamy isn’t common, even among vampires.
Lydia the Vampire? Your Burden, Now With Fangs
Turning Lydia into a vampire? Possible and possibly hilarious.
- Lydia, Vampire Follower: Side with the Volkihar vampires and become a vampire yourself. You can turn Lydia into one too. Your loyal housecarl now thirsts for blood.
Werewolf Spouses? Sorry, Vampire Spouses Only (Officially)
Can you change your werewolf friends into vampires? Nope.
- No Vampire Werewolves: Aela, Farkas, Vilkas? They remain werewolves. No vampire conversions for them, it’s simply their nature.
Hybrid Theory: Vampire Lord Werewolf? Is it Even Possible?
The ultimate power fantasy: Vampire Lord AND Werewolf. Can you have both? Officially? No. However, glitches are opportunities in Skyrim.
Becoming a Hybrid: Glitch in the Matrix (or Skyrim)
The official way to become hybrid doesn’t exist. But there’s a glitch.
- Vampire Lord First, Then Glitch: Become a Vampire Lord first; during “Underforge” with Serana as your follower, activate both transformations at once. Timing must be perfect for glitches.
Vampire Werewolf: Officially No, Glitchily Yes
You cannot become a vampire if you’re already a werewolf, according to the rules. Yet glitches open doors.
- Glitchy Hybrid Potential: During the Companions questline, when gaining lycanthropy, glitches might allow both forms. Embrace the chaos!
Harkon: Friend or Foe? (Definitely Foe)
Lets return to Harkon. Is he misunderstood or just a bad guy? Spoiler: mostly bad guy.
Helping Harkon: Snipers and Short Quests
If Harkon gets shot with an arrow, should you help him? Gameplay-wise, it’s minor.
- Help Harkon, Get a Quest: Assist him and receive “Snipers’ Alley.” Track down the sniper while doing some Skyrim tasks.
Harkon: Good, Bad, or Just Plain Evil?
A good guy? Let’s be honest here.
- Main Antagonist Alert: Harkon is one of three major antagonists in Dawnguard DLC. He isn’t trying for sainthood.
Auriel’s Bow and Harkon: A Match Made in… Molag Bal’s Realm
If you give Auriel’s Bow to Harkon? Bad things will happen; vampire bad things.
- Harkon’s Dark Ritual: With Auriel’s Bow, he’ll blot out sunlight for all eternity. He’ll feast on your soul too. That’s not exactly gratitude!
Your guide to the Dawnguard DLC features vampires, werewolves, Serana, and many messy choices within. Choose wisely, Dragonborn! Reloading saves is an option too if mistakes happen!
