Table of Contents

Skyrim: To Embrace the Night or Shun the Shadows? A Vampire’s Dilemma

So, you’re pondering the age-old question in the frigid lands of Skyrim: is it better to be a vampire, or not? The answer, like the province itself, is layered and complex, heavily dependent on your playstyle, your character’s build, and your personal preferences. There’s no universally “better” option; both vampirism and remaining mortal (or even becoming a werewolf) offer distinct advantages and disadvantages that dramatically alter the Skyrim experience.

Ultimately, the “better” choice hinges on your roleplaying goals and gameplay priorities. A stealthy character might relish the increased sneaking ability, while a warrior might find the drawbacks overwhelming. Understanding the nuances of each path is crucial to making an informed decision.

The Allure of the Vampire Lord

The primary draw to vampirism in Skyrim lies in the powerful abilities and unique gameplay it unlocks, especially through the Dawnguard DLC. Becoming a Vampire Lord grants access to a dedicated skill tree, potent spells, and the ability to transform into a winged monstrosity of the night. This form offers devastating melee attacks, access to life-draining spells, and enhanced mobility, making you a formidable force.

The Benefits of the Blood

Enhanced Stealth: The Nightstalker’s Footsteps perk (especially at lower stages of vampirism) significantly improves sneaking, making it easier to stalk enemies and avoid detection. This is a boon for stealth archers and assassins.
Powerful Abilities: As a Vampire Lord, you gain access to a unique skill tree with perks that enhance your vampiric abilities, improve your damage output, and grant access to new spells.
Disease and Poison Resistance: Vampires are highly resistant to diseases and poisons, making them less susceptible to the various maladies that plague Skyrim.
Increased Strength and Magicka: Depending on the stage of vampirism, you receive boosts to your Strength, Magicka, and Illusion magic skill.
Roleplaying Opportunities: Playing as a vampire offers unique roleplaying opportunities, allowing you to explore the darker side of Skyrim and interact with other vampires. You can explore Castle Volkihar and its inhabitants, delving into the lore of Skyrim’s vampires.

The Curse of the Thirst

However, the path of the vampire is not without its drawbacks. Living as a creature of the night comes with significant challenges:

Sunlight Weakness: Spending time in direct sunlight negatively affects vampires. Your health, magicka, and stamina are reduced, and you won’t regenerate these stats. This can be particularly debilitating during daytime quests.
Fire Vulnerability: Vampires are more susceptible to fire damage, which is a common element in Skyrim’s combat encounters. This vulnerability can make battles against dragons and mages particularly challenging.
Feeding Requirements: To mitigate the negative effects of vampirism, you must regularly feed on sleeping victims. This can be inconvenient, especially if you’re trying to maintain a low profile.
NPC Reactions: As your vampirism progresses through its stages, NPCs will become increasingly hostile towards you, making it difficult to interact with merchants and complete quests.
Appearance Changes: As vampirism advances, your character’s appearance will change. Features become gaunt, the eyes glow, and the skin pales.
Companions: Having a companion may complicate sneaking as a vampire, making a stealthy run harder than it needs to be.

The Dawnguard: Hunters of the Night

Choosing to side with the Dawnguard offers a contrasting experience, focused on hunting vampires and protecting the innocent. While you won’t gain the powerful abilities of a Vampire Lord, you’ll have access to unique weapons, armor, and allies.

The Benefits of the Hunt

Powerful Equipment: The Dawnguard provides access to specialized weapons and armor, including the Enhanced Dwarven Crossbow, which is highly effective against vampires and other enemies.
Unique Allies: You’ll gain access to a group of dedicated vampire hunters, each with their own skills and expertise. They make powerful and valuable allies.
Moral Alignment: Siding with the Dawnguard allows you to play a more heroic role, protecting the people of Skyrim from the threat of vampirism.
Freedom from Vampiric Drawbacks: You won’t suffer from sunlight weakness, fire vulnerability, or the need to feed.

The Limitations of the Light

Lack of Vampiric Powers: You won’t have access to the unique abilities and transformations of a Vampire Lord, limiting your combat options and roleplaying possibilities.
Limited Story Content: While the Dawnguard storyline is engaging, it lacks some of the complexity and moral ambiguity of the Volkihar vampire storyline.

Werewolf Transformation as an Alternative

If you desire powerful transformations but are hesitant about the vampire route, consider the werewolf transformation. Offered through the Companions questline, it provides a bestial form with immense strength and speed, though with its own set of limitations.

Conclusion: Choose Your Destiny

Ultimately, the decision to become a vampire in Skyrim is a personal one. Weigh the advantages and disadvantages carefully, consider your character’s build and playstyle, and choose the path that best aligns with your vision of the Dragonborn. Whether you embrace the darkness or stand against it, Skyrim offers a rich and rewarding experience. The Games Learning Society website contains a vast library of information about game-based learning. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you still become a Vampire Lord if you side with the Dawnguard?

Yes, absolutely. You can still become a Vampire Lord even if you initially side with the Dawnguard. Serana can turn you into a Vampire Lord later in the questline, before she considers seeking a cure for her own vampirism.

2. Is it possible to join both the Dawnguard and the vampires?

You can start both storylines, but you’ll eventually be forced to choose a side. Accepting Harkon’s gift of vampirism will cause the Dawnguard to reject you, and refusing will lead to banishment from Castle Volkihar.

3. Is it worth feeding as a vampire in Skyrim?

Feeding is essential for managing vampirism. It resets your stage of vampirism back to stage one, mitigating the negative effects like NPC hostility. For stealth-based characters, feeding is easier to manage.

4. Can you marry as a vampire in Skyrim?

Yes, you can marry as a vampire. However, you can’t marry another vampire like Serana without using mods. It’s possible to turn your spouse into a vampire after marriage (with limitations).

5. Should I turn my wife into a vampire in Skyrim?

That’s up to you! Consider the implications of your choice, and choose a spouse that can actually be turned (some cannot). It’s a permanent decision, so make sure it aligns with your character’s story.

6. What is the best race for a vampire in Skyrim?

The Dark Elf (Dunmer) is often considered a strong choice due to their natural fire resistance, which helps offset the vampire’s weakness to fire. They also benefit from inherent stealth skills.

7. Should I accept vampirism from Harkon?

If you want to embrace the Vampire Lord playstyle and explore the Volkihar storyline, then yes. If you prefer to play as a hero and fight against vampires, then refuse Harkon’s offer.

8. Is it better to side with Harkon or the Dawnguard?

Harkon’s side is tailored for Vampire Lords, while the Dawnguard is better for those who want to hunt vampires and use specialized weapons. Choose based on your preferred playstyle and moral alignment.

9. Should I let Serana make me a vampire?

If you’re playing as a Vampire Lord, then yes. Letting Serana turn you can be worth it. Consider your roleplay, however, as this choice may exclude you from other side quests.

10. Should I join Volkihar or the Dawnguard?

If you’re a warrior, archer, or someone playing a more naturalistic character, then the Dawnguard is a good choice. If you want to explore the darker side of Skyrim and embrace vampiric powers, then join Volkihar.

11. Can I turn Lydia into a vampire?

To turn Lydia (or any follower) into a vampire, you first need to marry them. Since there’s no divorce in Skyrim, ensure you’re committed before tying the knot (and the turning).

12. Will your wife leave you in Skyrim?

There’s no formal divorce system in Skyrim, your wife will stay with you, for better or worse. However, be sure to be a good partner as they may become unhappy if you are constantly committing crimes.

13. Can I turn my child into a vampire in Skyrim?

No, you cannot turn children into vampires in the base game without using mods.

14. How do you become a royal vampire in Skyrim?

Becoming a “Royal Vampire” isn’t an official designation in the game. It’s generally understood to mean becoming a Vampire Lord through Harkon’s gift or by accepting Serana’s offer, signifying a powerful transformation.

15. Can you cure your wife of vampirism in Skyrim?

Unfortunately, once you turn your spouse into a vampire, there’s no way to cure them in the vanilla game. It’s a permanent decision, so be absolutely sure before taking the plunge.

Hopefully, this comprehensive guide has provided clarity and insight into the vampire versus non-vampire dilemma in Skyrim. May your adventures be filled with exciting stories, no matter which path you decide to take!

Is it better to be a vampire or not in Skyrim?