How to Keep Serana in Skyrim: A Comprehensive Guide

Keeping Serana, the Daughter of Coldharbour, as a permanent fixture in your Skyrim adventures is a goal for many players. She’s arguably the best follower in the game, offering potent combat abilities, fascinating dialogue, and a compelling backstory. The key is understanding her role within the Dawnguard DLC and managing your choices effectively. In essence, you keep Serana by simply completing the Dawnguard questline; regardless of whether you side with the Dawnguard or the Volkihar vampires, she will remain as a permanent follower upon its completion.

Understanding Serana’s Role

Serana’s journey begins in Dimhollow Crypt, imprisoned with an Elder Scroll. Her unique vampiric lineage, tied to Molag Bal, makes her a powerful and pivotal figure. To maintain her presence in your game, you need to progress through the Dawnguard questline. This involves:

• Freeing her from Dimhollow Crypt.
• Working with her to uncover the secrets of the Elder Scrolls and the vampire prophecy.
• Confronting Lord Harkon in Castle Volkihar.
• Ultimately completing the main Dawnguard storyline.

Once the questline is finished, Serana will remain available as a follower, regardless of your chosen faction.

Maximizing Your Time with Serana

Serana’s usefulness extends far beyond her combat prowess. Her dialogue offers insights into the lore and her own personal struggles. Here are a few ways to get the most out of having her around:

• Explore: Take her to different locations around Skyrim and listen to her unique observations. She has comments for many significant landmarks.
• Utilize her skills: She’s a skilled mage, adept at Conjuration and Destruction spells. Let her unleash her abilities in combat.
• Engage in conversation: Regularly chat with her to learn more about her past and her thoughts on current events.
• Consider her input: When making decisions related to the Dawnguard storyline, think about her perspective. Her views on vampirism and her family can add depth to your choices.

Managing Serana and Other Followers

One of the common questions regarding Serana is her compatibility with other followers. Here’s how it works:

• Standard Followers: Normally, Skyrim only allows for one human follower at a time. However, Serana operates differently.
• Temporary Companions: You can have Serana and another follower simultaneously. Simply recruit another follower while Serana isn’t actively following you. When you re-recruit Serana, you’ll have both.
• Dismissal: You can dismiss the other follower while retaining Serana as your primary companion.
• Multiple Followers Glitches/Mods: PC players can use mods or glitches to have even more followers, but these are outside the scope of the standard game mechanics.

Serana’s Unique Perks

Serana brings more to the table than just raw power. She offers several unique advantages:

• Essential Status: She cannot be killed, making her a reliable companion in even the most dangerous situations.
• Vampire Lord Transformation: If you choose to become a Vampire Lord, she can transform you repeatedly.
• Dialogue: Her unique, fully-voiced dialogue enhances the game’s storytelling.
• Resurrection: She can reanimate corpses to fight for you.
• No Level Cap: Serana will level up with you, making her an effective companion throughout your entire playthrough.

Making the Most of Your Skyrim Experience

Skyrim provides a vast canvas for player agency and creativity. For those interested in further exploring the intersection of gaming, learning, and society, resources like the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) offer valuable insights and research.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I marry Serana in Skyrim?

Unfortunately, without the use of mods, you cannot marry Serana. This is a common request from the community, but Bethesda has not made her marriageable in the base game or DLC.

Can Serana turn me into a vampire multiple times?

Yes, Serana can transform you into a Vampire Lord as many times as you want, provided you have the Dawnguard DLC installed.

What happens if I become a vampire while sided with the Dawnguard?

If you choose to become a vampire while allied with the Dawnguard (for example, when Serana attempts to smuggle you into the Soul Cairn), you will be kicked out of the faction until you cure yourself.

How do I cure Serana of her vampirism?

After completing the main Dawnguard questline, you need to inquire about her well-being by choosing the option “Are you all right?”. This will eventually lead to a dialogue where you can convince her to seek a cure at Fort Dawnguard.

Where is Serana after she gets cured?

According to the wiki, she will be at Fort Dawnguard after being cured, not at your home.

Can I have Lydia and Serana as followers at the same time?

Yes, it is possible to have both Serana and Lydia as followers simultaneously by recruiting Lydia first and then taking Serana along without completing her questline.

Why is Serana no longer following me?

If you tell Serana to wait between the quests “Beyond Death” and “Touching the Sky”, you might not be able to re-recruit her. Complete “Touching the Sky” to re-enable her follower option.

Is Serana a good wife?

While you cannot marry Serana without mods, if you could, her spousal benefits would be excellent. She has unique dialogue, provides a daily home-cooked meal, and has the Spouse Merchant ability.

Who is the best wife for a vampire character in Skyrim?

If you intend to become a vampire, Ysolda is a popular choice for a spouse. She’s easy to marry and acquires unique markings after being turned into a vampire. Note that you can’t marry someone who’s already a vampire.

What should I say to Serana to convince her to get cured?

After killing Harkon, choose the dialogue option “Are you all right?”. This opens the pathway for convincing her to seek a cure at Fort Dawnguard.

Does Serana like the Dragonborn?

While not explicitly stated, Serana’s dialogue and interactions suggest a close bond with the Dragonborn. She expresses gratitude for being freed from her father’s control and seems to enjoy spending time with the player character.

What happens to the Dawnguard if Serana turns me into a vampire?

As mentioned above, if Serana turns you into a vampire while you are already a member of the Dawnguard, you will be expelled from the faction and must cure yourself before rejoining.

Who is the strongest companion in Skyrim?

Many players consider Serana to be the strongest companion in Skyrim due to her essential status, powerful magic, and versatile combat abilities.

Can Serana bite you and give you vampirism?

Yes, Serana can give you vampirism through a bite. This is part of the Dawnguard questline, particularly when you need to enter the Soul Cairn.

How many times can Serana turn you into a Vampire Lord?

Serana can turn you into a Vampire Lord an unlimited number of times after you have completed the relevant questline.

Hopefully, this guide clarifies how to keep Serana as your steadfast companion in Skyrim. Her complex character and powerful abilities make her a valuable asset to any Dragonborn.