Can I Still Become a Vampire Lord After Dawnguard? A Comprehensive Skyrim Guide
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The short answer is a resounding yes! Even after choosing to side with the noble Dawnguard in Skyrim’s expansive Dawnguard DLC, the path to becoming a Vampire Lord remains open to you. It’s not a locked door, just a slightly more discreet passage. The key to unlocking this power lies with Serana, the ancient and powerful vampire. Let’s delve into the details of how you can embrace the night, even after battling its denizens.
Embracing the Darkness: Becoming a Vampire Lord Post-Dawnguard
While siding with the Volkihar Clan grants you immediate access to the Vampire Lord transformation, courtesy of Lord Harkon, the Dawnguard route simply delays the inevitable (if you desire it, of course!). Your saving grace is Serana. As long as you haven’t convinced her to seek a cure for her vampirism, she retains the ability to bestow the gift (or curse, depending on your perspective).
Here’s the breakdown:
- Complete the Dawnguard Questline: This is crucial. You need to finish the main quest associated with the DLC, which involves defeating Harkon.
- Maintain Serana’s Vampirism: This is the golden rule. Do NOT convince Serana to seek a cure at Fort Dawnguard after her father is dead. If she’s cured, this option is gone. To prevent this, choose the option “Are you all right?” instead of asking her about a cure.
- Speak to Serana: Once the dust settles, simply speak with Serana. She’ll be your follower throughout much of the questline and will remain an accessible companion afterward.
- Request the Transformation: In the dialogue options, you’ll find the ability to ask her to turn you into a Vampire Lord. She’ll make it clear that she is capable of turning the player into one, but never specifically says whether or not she wants you to become one. Accept her offer, and prepare for the transformation sequence.
The Drawbacks (and Benefits)
Remember, becoming a Vampire Lord comes with its own set of pros and cons:
- Strengths: Powerful abilities, including the Vampire Lord transformation and associated skill tree. Nightstalker’s Footsteps, which makes the Dragonborn 25 percent harder to detect when sneaking, is great for Skyrim players going the stealth archer route.
- Weaknesses: Vulnerability to sunlight, which can negatively impact your health, magicka, and stamina. You also face hostility from some NPCs if they detect your vampiric nature in later stages.
- The Four Stages: Vampire Lords enjoy the benefits and detriments of regular vampires, including the four stages.
Knowing these factors will help you determine if embracing the darkness is truly the path you want to take.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Becoming a Vampire Lord
Here are some of the most common questions about becoming a Vampire Lord in Skyrim, especially after the Dawnguard DLC:
Can I become a Vampire Lord multiple times?
Absolutely! As long as Serana retains her vampirism, she can turn you into a Vampire Lord as many times as you wish. This is particularly useful if you decide to cure yourself and then regret your decision.
What happens if I refuse Lord Harkon’s gift initially?
If you refuse Harkon’s offer to become a Vampire Lord at the beginning of the Dawnguard questline, you’ll be locked out of the Vampire side of the game. However, you can still become one later through Serana, as described above, if you choose to side with the Dawnguard.
Can I cure my vampirism and then become a Vampire Lord again?
Yes, you can. Simply ask Serana to turn you again. The only way to permanently prevent this is to convince Serana to cure herself.
Does siding with the Dawnguard lock me out of any Vampire Lord-specific quests?
If you refuse Harkon’s offer you’ll miss out on two quests where you get special rings and amulets that make you stronger in vampire lord forme.
Is it better to side with Harkon or the Dawnguard if I want to be a Vampire Lord?
This depends on your preference. Siding with Harkon gives you immediate access to the Vampire Lord form and unique quests. However, siding with the Dawnguard doesn’t prevent you from becoming a Vampire Lord later, and you gain access to different quests and rewards. The benefits of being a Dawnguard member outweigh the benefits of being a Vampire Lord.
Can I marry Serana after killing Harkon?
No. Serana, unfortunately, is not marriable in base-game Skyrim for consoles. On PC, she still is not marriable in the base game. However, with the use of mods, she can be changed to become marriable.
Does Serana want me to become a Vampire Lord?
She makes it clear that she is capable of turning the player into one, but never specifically says whether or not she wants you to become one. It’s possible that she does want you to become a vampire, but it’s also possible that she just doesn’t want you to die.
Is being a Vampire Lord worth it?
The main benefit of being a vampire is that it gives the player strong abilities and active effects, which include Nightstalker’s Footsteps. This makes the Dragonborn 25 percent harder to detect when they’re sneaking, which is great for Skyrim players going the stealth archer route.
What happens if I tell Serana to cure herself?
She will no longer be undead, which means that she can be healed by your Restoration healing spells, she won’t be damaged by Restoration combat spells that target undead, and she appears with Detect Life instead of Detect Dead.
Who can cure Serana?
It’s possible to cure Serana of her vampirism after finishing the Dawnguard DLC. You can bring Serana to Falion, who resides in Morthal, and he can cure her of her vampirism by performing a ritual; you can also do this for your character if you wish to cure your own vampirism.
Do you lose Serana if you side with the Dawnguard?
No, you get Serana as a follower either way. If you side with the Dawnguard she will come to Fort Dawnguard while you are away and tell you of the prophecy. You and Serana will go find a moth priest to read her Elder Scroll then go into Castle Volkiar to find her mother, Valerica.
Can you have multiple wives in Skyrim?
Unfortunately you’re only able to have 1 wife. Even if your spouse dies – or if you kill her – you are unable to remarry. Just one spouse, ever.
Is Vampire Lord or Werewolf better?
Vampire Lords are much stronger than werewolves (assuming we’re not using mods) especially at late game if you set it up right. For me its always the ‘use whenever you feel like destroying your enemies’ option.
How far into the Dawnguard questline can you go as a Vampire?
It is possible to play the entire Dawnguard questline as a vampire.
Can I become a Vampire Lord after killing Harkon?
Yes you can become a vamp lord again. Go back into the castle and go into the room where harkon was defeated. Go up to the fountain on blood in the back of the room and activate it.
Hopefully, this guide has illuminated the path to becoming a Vampire Lord even after siding with the Dawnguard. Remember to make your choices wisely, considering both the benefits and drawbacks of this powerful transformation. And most importantly, enjoy your adventures in the world of Skyrim!
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