Introduction
Being a vampire in Skyrim can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it grants you special abilities, increased powers, and immortality. On the other hand, it makes you weaker to fire, forces you to avoid sunlight, and makes you hated by most NPCs.
If you want to get rid of vampirism, you’re in luck. Our guide will teach you everything you need to know about curing vampirism in Skyrim. Whether you’re a new player who accidentally got infected or a seasoned veteran who wants to switch from vampire to human, this guide is for you.
Curing Vampirism in Skyrim: Step-by-Step Guide
The main quest to cure vampirism in Skyrim is called “Rising at Dawn.” You can trigger this quest by speaking to Falion in Morthal, who is a powerful wizard and expert on curing diseases.
Before you embark on this quest, you need to have enough money to pay Falion for his services and have a Black Soul Gem in your inventory. You can obtain a Black Soul Gem from various sources, such as killing Necromancers or purchasing it from court wizards.
Once you have the prerequisites, follow these steps:
- Travel to Morthal and speak to Falion.
- Agree to meet Falion at dawn outside the entrance of the Morthal cemetery.
- Meet Falion at the appointed time and location.
- Follow Falion to a ritual site in the marshes.
- Cast a soul trap spell on yourself and let Falion fill the Black Soul Gem with your soul.
- Drink the potion Falion gives you to complete the ritual.
- You will wake up cured of vampirism and with all your previous human abilities restored.
Note that if you’re in stage four of vampirism (where NPCs will actively attack you on sight), you need to cure yourself within three in-game days, or your vampirism will become permanent. Also, you can’t be a werewolf and a vampire at the same time, so if you’re a werewolf, you need to cure lycanthropy first before curing vampirism.
Pros and Cons of Curing Vampirism Versus Embracing the Power
As mentioned earlier, being a vampire in Skyrim has its advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a breakdown:
Benefits of Being a Vampire
- Vampires have increased powers, such as invisibility, superhuman speed, and night vision.
- Vampires are immune to diseases and poisons.
- Vampires can gain health by draining the blood of sleeping NPCs.
- Vampires can transform into a swarm of bats and fly short distances.
- Vampires can enter houses at any time of the day without being detected.
Drawbacks of Being a Vampire
- Vampires are weak to fire and take extra damage from it.
- Vampires can’t regenerate health naturally and need to feed on sleeping NPCs periodically.
- Vampires are weaker during the day and can’t regenerate magicka or stamina in sunlight.
- Vampires are hated by most NPCs and can’t buy items or receive quests from them without persuasion or intimidation.
- Vampires cause a drain effect on nearby NPCs, who will have their health, magicka, and stamina reduced.
Comparison of the Benefits and Drawbacks of Being Cured versus Embracing the Power
As you can see, being cured of vampirism restores all your previous human abilities but comes at the cost of losing your vampire powers. Embracing the power of vampirism, on the other hand, grants you access to new abilities and powers but also makes you weaker to fire and sunlight and disliked by most NPCs.
The choice of curing vampirism versus embracing it ultimately depends on your playstyle and preferences. If you’re more interested in playing a human character and exploring the world without restrictions, curing vampirism is the way to go. If you enjoy the extra powers and want to challenge yourself with the additional drawbacks, embrace the power of vampirism.
The Origins and Myths Behind Vampirism in the Elder Scrolls Universe
To fully appreciate the nature of vampirism in Skyrim, it helps to understand the lore and myths that surround it. The Elder Scrolls universe, of which Skyrim is a part, features various races and cultures that interact with vampires in different ways. Here’s an overview:
Different Races and Societies in Tamriel and Their Relationships with Vampires
- In the province of Morrowind, vampires are often associated with the ancient Houses of Vvardenfell and are respected for their longevity and wisdom.
- In the province of Cyrodiil, vampires are generally feared and hunted by the population, who view them as monsters.
- In the province of Skyrim, vampires are divided into clans and bloodlines, each with their unique abilities and characteristics. Most citizens of Skyrim view them with suspicion and hostility, although some factions, such as the Volkihar clan, have their followers.
History and Myths Surrounding Vampirism in Elder Scrolls Lore
Vampires in the Elder Scrolls universe have a complex history and mythology. According to lore, vampirism was first created by Molag Bal, a Daedric Prince of Domination, who infected a pure-blooded Nede with the disease. This act created the first vampire, Lamae Beolfag, who would go on to establish her own bloodline.
Over time, different clans and bloodlines would form, each with their unique powers and weaknesses. Several factions throughout Tamriel have either fought against or allied themselves with vampires, ranging from the Dawnguard in Skyrim to the Order of the Virtuous Blood in Cyrodiil.
Cultural Analysis of Vampirism
The portrayal of vampires in the Elder Scrolls universe reflects different cultural attitudes towards the undead. Some societies view vampires as cursed beings who must be destroyed, while others respect them as powerful entities with unique insights and skills. The different powers and abilities granted to vampires in Skyrim and other Elder Scrolls games reflect these cultural conceptions, with some powers representing the fears and desires surrounding vampires in their respective societies.
The Lore Surrounding Vampirism
As mentioned earlier, Skyrim features several vampire clans and bloodlines, each with their strengths and weaknesses. Here’s an overview:
Different Vampire Clans and Bloodlines in Skyrim
- The Volkihar clan: This clan is featured prominently in the Dawnguard expansion and is led by Harkon. Members gain abilities such as Vampire Lord form and Blood Magic, but are weaker to fire.
- The Clan of the Crown: This clan is unique in that it is made up entirely of Dunmer (Dark Elf) vampires and is led by Movarth Piquine. Members gain increased sneak and illusion abilities and are immune to disease but take extra damage from silver.
- The Clan of the Rose: This clan is composed of Breton and Nord vampire nobles. Members gain increased illusion and alteration abilities and regenerate health faster than other vampires, but take extra damage from fire.
- The Ancestor Moth Cult: This group is composed of moth-priests who have voluntarily submitted to vampirism. Members gain increased magicka regeneration and are immune to poison but are weaker to fire.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Being a Vampire or Vampire Hunter
Whether you decide to become a vampire or a vampire hunter, it’s important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each:
Benefits of Being a Vampire Hunter:
- Vampire hunters can join the Dawnguard faction and receive unique quests and rewards.
- Vampire hunters can acquire special weapons, such as crossbows and vampire-specific arrows and bolts.
- Vampire hunters can restore Fort Dawnguard and use it as a base of operations.
- Vampire hunters have access to the Auriel’s Bow, which is useful against undead enemies.
Drawbacks of Being a Vampire Hunter:
- Vampire hunters must avoid accidentally attacking friendly NPCs or being attacked by Dawnguard members for accidental crossfire.
- Vampire hunters have to constantly replenish their supplies of materials like fire salts, garlic, and frost mirriam to craft anti-vampire products such as garlic braids, fire-flavored crossbow bolts, and potent poison.
Benefits of Being a Vampire:
- Vampires gain access to unique abilities and powers, such as invisibility and superhuman speed.
- Vampires can transform into a powerful Vampire Lord and gain access to new spells and abilities.
- Vampires are immune to diseases and poisons.
Drawbacks of Being a Vampire:
- Vampires are weak to fire and take extra damage from it.
- Vampires are despised by most NPCs and are often attacked on sight or avoided out of fear.
- Vampires must frequently feed on sleeping NPCs to avoid going into a weakened state.
Enhancing the Vampire or Vampire Hunter Experience on Skyrim
If you’re looking to expand and customize your gameplay experience in Skyrim, here are some recommended mods and external tools:
Mods:
- Better Vampires: This mod overhauls the vampire system in Skyrim and adds various customizable features, such as new spells, abilities, and perks.
- Vampiric Thirst: Similar to Better Vampires, this mod adds new features to the vampire system, such as more realistic hunger and thirst mechanics.
- The Dark Brotherhood Resurrection – Part Two: This mod extends the Dark Brotherhood questline in Skyrim and adds new features for vampire players, such as vampire-only assassination contracts and perks.
External Tools:
- Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE): This tool extends the scripting capabilities of Skyrim and enables more complex mods.
- Mod Organizer 2: This tool helps you manage your mod installation and prevents mod conflicts.
- LOOT: This tool helps you optimize your mod load order for better performance and stability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, curing vampirism in Skyrim is a straightforward but vital quest for players who want to play as a human character or simply want to explore a different playstyle. The pros and cons of being a vampire versus a human are subjective and depend on your preferences, but it’s helpful to weigh them against each other to make an informed decision.
Regardless of your choice, it’s always helpful to delve into the rich lore and myths surrounding vampirism in the Elder Scrolls universe. Whether you decide to use mods and external tools to enhance your experience or not, we hope this guide has given you a comprehensive understanding of how to deal with vampirism in Skyrim.
