Curing Serana of Vampirism After Siding with the Volkihar: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’ve embraced the power of the night, sided with Lord Harkon and the Volkihar vampire clan, and now you’re having second thoughts about your favorite vampire companion, Serana. Can she be cured even after pledging allegiance to the vampires? The answer is a resounding yes, but it comes with a few caveats and requires specific dialogue choices throughout the Dawnguard DLC. While siding with the Dawnguard makes convincing Serana to cure herself more straightforward, it is indeed possible after siding with the vampires. It involves a bit of persuasion and timing, but with this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to convince Serana to seek a cure in Morthal.

Convincing Serana to Seek a Cure: The Key Steps

The process isn’t immediately obvious, and it’s tied to how you interact with Serana during the main Dawnguard questline. If you consistently adopt a certain approach in your conversations, the option to discuss a cure will eventually become available.

1. Complete the Dawnguard Questline: First and foremost, you need to finish the entire Dawnguard questline, up to and including the defeat of Lord Harkon. This is crucial, as the option to discuss her vampirism won’t appear until after this point.

2. Dialogue Choices are Crucial: During the questline, avoid explicitly asking Serana directly about finding a cure for her vampirism. This might seem counterintuitive, but directly pushing the idea early on can close off the option later. Instead, focus on showing concern for her well-being.

3. The “Are You Alright?” Trigger: After Harkon is defeated and you’ve left Volkihar Keep, approach Serana and instead of bringing up a cure, ask her “Are you alright?” or a similar question indicating concern for her feelings. Choosing the dialogue option that implies sympathy and worry rather than directly referencing the cure is vital.

4. Follow-Up Conversations: This question opens a new dialogue path. Serana will respond, likely talking about her feelings regarding her father’s death or her own nature. Continue to respond with sympathetic and understanding answers.

5. The Choice Arises: After a few conversations where you express concern, she will eventually broach the topic of potentially seeking a cure herself. She might express doubts or fears, but now you can offer your support for her seeking a normal life.

6. Falion’s Assistance: Once Serana expresses interest in a cure, you can suggest seeking help from Falion, the wizard residing in Morthal. Falion is an expert in vampirism and soul manipulation, and he’s the key to the cure.

7. The Cure Ritual: Serana will then travel to Morthal to meet with Falion. The curing process will take approximately three in-game days. You may need to travel back and forth between Morthal and Fort Dawnguard before Falion will start the ritual.

8. Reunion at Fort Dawnguard: After three days, Serana will be cured and will return to Fort Dawnguard (if you sided with the vampires, she will go to her mother’s study). You can find her there, ready to continue adventuring with you.

Important Considerations

• Patience is Key: This process isn’t instant. You need to have multiple conversations with Serana before the option to discuss a cure arises.
• No Guarantees: Even with the right dialogue choices, there’s a small chance Serana won’t agree to be cured. The game’s systems can be finicky. If she refuses, you might need to reload an earlier save and try the conversation again.
• Permanent Changes: Curing Serana will alter her appearance slightly (her eyes change), and she loses her 100% frost resistance and ability to turn you into a Vampire Lord, but will still use vampire drain abilities.
• Is it Worth It?: Many players find that the loss of her vampiric abilities outweighs the benefits of curing her. Ultimately, the decision is yours.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Curing Serana

Here are some frequently asked questions for you:

Can I cure Serana immediately after defeating Harkon?

No. You need to have several conversations with Serana after defeating Harkon, expressing concern for her well-being, before the option to discuss a cure becomes available. Patience is key.

Does siding with the Dawnguard make curing Serana easier?

Yes. Siding with the Dawnguard offers more straightforward dialogue options to convince Serana to seek a cure. The process is still possible if you sided with the vampires, but requires more careful conversation choices.

What happens if I directly ask Serana about a cure early in the questline?

Repeatedly asking or immediately pushing Serana for a cure can block the option to convince her later. Focus on showing concern for her feelings and situation instead.

Where can I find Falion in Morthal?

Falion resides in Morthal, usually in his home or wandering around town. He’s a mage who specializes in soul manipulation and is the only one in Skyrim known to be able to cure vampirism.

How long does the curing process take?

Once Serana agrees to seek a cure and goes to Falion, the curing process takes approximately three in-game days.

Where will Serana be after she is cured?

After being cured, Serana will usually return to Fort Dawnguard or her mother’s study in Castle Volkihar depending on which side you aligned yourself with.

Does Serana lose all her vampire abilities if she is cured?

Yes, however she will still use vampire drain abilities. She also loses her vampire lord transformation if she had access to it.

Can Serana turn me into a Vampire Lord after she is cured?

No. Once Serana is cured, she can no longer turn you into a Vampire Lord.

Is it possible to marry Serana after curing her?

Officially, no. Skyrim doesn’t allow you to marry Serana or any other vampire without the use of mods. Curing her doesn’t change this restriction in the unmodded game. You can find community engagement and learning at Games Learning Society, but they do not have mods. GamesLearningSociety.org.

Will Serana still follow me after she is cured?

Yes. Curing Serana does not prevent her from being a follower. She will still accompany you on your adventures.

What are the benefits of curing Serana?

The main benefit is that you’ve helped her potentially find peace and a semblance of a normal life. Some players also prefer her appearance after the cure.

Are there any downsides to curing Serana?

Yes. She loses her 100% resistance to frost and poison.

Can Serana die after being cured?

No, Serana will always be an essential character, and as such, you can’t kill her.

What dialogue options should I avoid when talking to Serana about her vampirism?

Avoid being pushy or judgmental about her vampirism. Don’t directly ask her about a cure right away. Focus on empathy and understanding her situation.

Is curing Serana worth it?

Whether curing Serana is “worth it” is subjective. It depends on your roleplaying preferences. Do you value her vampiric powers, or do you want to help her find a more normal life? Consider the pros and cons before making your decision.