Unlocking the Night: When Should You Begin the Dawnguard Questline in Skyrim?

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So, you’re itching to dive into the chilling world of vampires and vampire hunters in Skyrim’s Dawnguard DLC? Excellent choice! But a question plagues many adventurers: “At what level should I start the Dawnguard questline?” Here’s the straight answer: while the Dawnguard questline officially activates at level 10, you’ll find a smoother and more enjoyable experience if you wait until you’re around level 30 or higher. This recommendation is based on the difficulty of the enemies you’ll encounter, especially later in the questline, and the power of the rewards available.

While the game allows you to start at level 10, those early encounters will quickly make you realize that some foresight is needed. Running into death hounds, gargoyles, and fully-fledged vampires at level 10 is often a recipe for constant, frustrating deaths. Leveling to 30 provides you with the stats, skills, and gear necessary to survive these battles and fully appreciate the narrative without being bogged down by excessive grinding or frustrating defeats.

Why Level 30? The Rationale Behind the Recommendation

The difficulty spike in the Dawnguard DLC is significant. The DLC introduces new enemy types and variations that are considerably tougher than many of the foes you’ll face in the base game’s early stages.

• Enemy Scaling: While Skyrim’s enemies do scale to your level to some extent, the Dawnguard’s enemies have a higher base level. This means even at level 10, you’re not fighting equally matched opponents; they inherently have an advantage in stats and abilities.
• Powerful Foes: You’ll encounter Death Hounds, Gargoyles, and various types of Vampires, including Vampire Lords, who possess powerful spells and abilities. At lower levels, these enemies can quickly overwhelm you, especially if you’re not playing a highly optimized character build.
• Questline Rewards: The rewards from the Dawnguard DLC are substantial, including unique weapons, armor, and abilities. However, to make the most of these rewards, you’ll ideally have a character build that complements them. Reaching level 30 usually means you have a clearer idea of your character’s strengths and weaknesses and can tailor your gameplay accordingly.
• Enhanced Exploration: Waiting until a higher level allows you to more thoroughly explore the new areas introduced in the DLC without the constant fear of being instantly killed. You can take your time, uncover secrets, and enjoy the rich lore and atmosphere that Dawnguard has to offer.

Character Builds and the Dawnguard

Different character builds will find the Dawnguard questline more or less challenging, but they will still require considerable preparation.

• Melee Builds: Melee characters benefit greatly from having upgraded armor, weapons, and skills like Block and Heavy Armor or Light Armor. At level 30, you’ll likely have perks that enhance your survivability and damage output.
• Magic Builds: Mages will want to have a diverse repertoire of spells to deal with the various enemies, including powerful Destruction spells to damage from a distance and Conjuration spells to summon allies. Investing in Alteration for armor spells is also crucial.
• Stealth Builds: Stealth archers might find the Dawnguard slightly easier at lower levels, but they still need to be wary of being detected. Skills like Sneak, Archery, and Light Armor are essential, and having powerful poisons can help deal with tougher enemies.

Dawnguard: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the Dawnguard DLC, providing additional insights to make your experience even better:

1. Should I do the main quest or Dawnguard first? The order doesn’t drastically alter the experience. The game makes small acknowledgements to your Dragonborn status, but the differences are minimal. Feel free to prioritize based on your roleplaying preferences. The Games Learning Society, as well as most other fans, suggests just playing as you want!
2. Is it better to join the Dawnguard or the vampires? This depends on your character and playstyle. The Dawnguard offers unique crossbows and anti-vampire tools. Joining the Volkihar vampires allows you to become a Vampire Lord, with a unique skill tree and powers. From a gameplay and storyline perspective, many find the Dawnguard path more rewarding due to its focus on combatting evil.
3. What level should I be for the Dragonborn DLC? Similar to Dawnguard, a level of 30 or higher is recommended for Dragonborn. The enemies on Solstheim are challenging, and the final boss, Miraak, is a formidable opponent, especially if you want the satisfaction of actually winning the battle.
4. Which questline is better in Dawnguard? The quality of the questline is subjective. Both sides offer unique experiences and perspectives. The Dawnguard offers a more traditional “good vs. evil” narrative, while the Volkihar vampires delve into darker themes. The “Touching The Sky” quest in the Dawnguard questline is a highlight for many players.
5. What is the hardest questline in Skyrim? Outside of the DLC, the Ebony Warrior quest is considered one of the most challenging, requiring you to reach level 80 to even trigger it. Within the main quest, the Elder Knowledge quest can be difficult due to its reliance on navigating Blackreach.
6. Is being a vampire worth it in Dawnguard? Being a vampire offers unique abilities, such as Nightstalker’s Footsteps for enhanced sneaking, and the powerful Vampire Lord form. However, it also comes with drawbacks, such as weakness to sunlight, impacting health, stamina, and magicka regeneration. Whether it’s “worth it” depends on your playstyle and tolerance for these downsides.
7. What race is best for Dragonborn? Race has a minimal impact on overall power in Skyrim. Any race can effectively become the Dragonborn. Nords, with their resistance to frost, and High Elves, with their bonus to magicka, can provide slight advantages, but the differences are marginal.
8. Can you marry Serana if you join the Dawnguard? Unfortunately, no. Serana is one of the most popular characters in the game, but the game doesn’t allow you to marry her without mods.
9. Can I still become a Vampire Lord if I side with the Dawnguard? Yes! As part of the quest, Bloodline, you will be given the opportunity to embrace vampirism. You can even become a Vampire Lord later with Serana’s help. This versatility allows you to experience both sides of the conflict.
10. What happens to Serana if I join the Dawnguard? Joining either faction, Serana becomes your follower. She plays a crucial role in the main quest, regardless of your choice.
11. What is the best quest to start with in Skyrim? There’s no definitive “best” quest to start with. “Innocence Lost” for the Dark Brotherhood or “First Lessons” at the College of Winterhold are good options for early experience and quest rewards.
12. What is the best order to complete the Skyrim questlines? There isn’t a definitive best order. Many recommend completing the miscellaneous quests and side content before tackling the main storylines. The Dark Brotherhood is often suggested as one of the last questlines to complete due to its impact on certain NPCs involved in other quests.
13. How long does the Dawnguard quest take? Focusing solely on the main objectives, the Dawnguard questline can be completed in around 7-8 hours. However, exploring all aspects of the DLC and completing side quests can easily extend the playtime to 19 hours or more.
14. Is Miraak good or bad? Miraak is a primary antagonist in the Dragonborn DLC. He is a former Dragon Priest who sought to usurp the power of the dragons and ultimately posed a threat to Tamriel. His motivations are rooted in a desire for power and control, making him a clear villain.
15. Does the Dawnguard accept werewolves? Yes, you can side with the Dawnguard as a werewolf. Your lycanthropy won’t prevent you from joining their ranks, but it might lead to some interesting dialogue interactions.

By waiting until level 30, you give yourself the best chance to appreciate The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Dawnguard for everything it has to offer.

The world of gaming is constantly changing, and there are many things to learn. Check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org to discover new methods for game-based education.