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Do the Dawnguard Ever Stop Attacking? A Skyrim Survival Guide

So, you’ve chosen a path that’s rubbed the righteous Dawnguard the wrong way, and now they’re hot on your heels. The burning question is: Do the Dawnguard ever stop attacking? The short answer is, yes, but it depends on your choices and actions within the Dawnguard DLC.

The persistent attacks from the Dawnguard can be frustrating. This guide aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of why these attacks occur, how to stop them, and what to expect based on your allegiances. It also answers frequently asked questions to help navigate the intricacies of this DLC.

Understanding the Dawnguard’s Aggression

The Dawnguard are a dedicated band of vampire hunters. Their primary mission is to eradicate the vampire threat, and their actions are directly influenced by your perceived allegiance. If you side with the vampires in the Dawnguard DLC – particularly if you’re a Vampire Lord – they will consider you a hostile. Even if you later cure yourself of vampirism, that initial alignment can have lasting consequences.

The attacks from the Dawnguard are often triggered by random encounters in the world. These encounters typically involve small groups of Dawnguard members who are actively patrolling and hunting vampires. Their aggression is heightened if they detect you using vampire abilities, are aware you are or were a vampire, or are in areas of the map near vampire strongholds.

How to Stop the Dawnguard Attacks

There are several ways to cease, or at least mitigate, the persistent Dawnguard attacks:

Complete the Dawnguard Questline (on Either Side): The most effective way to end the attacks is to complete the main Dawnguard DLC questline, siding with either the Dawnguard or the Volkihar vampires. Completing the questline fundamentally changes the power dynamics within Skyrim, and will influence the presence of vampire and Dawnguard patrols, making a huge change in gameplay.
Side with the Volkihar Vampires and Eliminate the Dawnguard Leaders: If you choose to side with Lord Harkon and the Volkihar vampires, you can undertake radiant quests from Garan Merethi which involve destroying the Dawnguard. While the random quests might seem like an endless chore, they are the key to pacifying these attacks. The key is to get the quest which focuses on taking out the Dawnguard Leaders, and that will put an end to those nasty encounters.
Console Commands (PC Only): If you’re playing on PC, you can use console commands to stop the attacks. This is generally not recommended as it can introduce other issues, but commands like stopcombat or disabling the Dawnguard faction entirely can be effective.

A Note on Radiant Quests and RNG

It’s important to acknowledge the role of randomness in Skyrim’s quest system. The “radiant” quests from both the Dawnguard and Volkihar factions are procedurally generated, meaning the specific tasks you receive are randomly selected from a pool of possibilities. This can sometimes make it difficult to trigger the specific quest required to eliminate the Dawnguard threat, if siding with the Volkihar. As the article you provided noted, you can save outside of the castle, reload the game, and get a new radiant quest in an attempt to fast track things.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions that address common concerns about the Dawnguard DLC and the Dawnguard’s behavior:

Question 1: Will the Dawnguard attack me if Serana turns me into a vampire?

No, they won’t attack you if Serana turns you into a vampire after you have completed the main questline. If Isran has already performed the initial “vampire check” on you, you won’t even need to undergo a cure quest.

Question 2: Can I join the Dawnguard as a werewolf?

Yes, being a werewolf does not prevent you from joining the Dawnguard. They primarily focus on hunting vampires and will not discriminate against werewolves.

Question 3: Are the Dawnguard the “good guys”?

This is subjective. The Dawnguard views themselves as protectors of the innocent, while the Volkihar vampires seek power and dominance. The Dawnguard are the more conventionally “righteous” faction.

Question 4: What happens if I refuse Harkon’s offer to become a Vampire Lord?

If you refuse Harkon’s offer, you will be banished from Castle Volkihar. You can then return to Isran and continue the questline with the Dawnguard.

Question 5: Can I still get Auriel’s Bow if I side with the Dawnguard?

Yes, you can obtain Auriel’s Bow regardless of whether you side with the Dawnguard or the Volkihar.

Question 6: Do the Dawnguard hate werewolves?

The Dawnguard does not specifically target werewolves. Their main focus is on eradicating vampires.

Question 7: Is it better to join the vampires or the Dawnguard?

This depends on your playstyle and preferences. Siding with the Volkihar vampires grants permanent access to Castle Volkihar and vampire abilities. Siding with the Dawnguard provides access to crossbows and other anti-vampire tools.

Question 8: Can I marry Serana if I join the Dawnguard?

No, you cannot marry Serana without using mods. However, she does have unique dialogue about marriage.

Question 9: Will the Dawnguard be mad if I become a vampire after joining them?

They won’t attack you immediately, but NPCs at Fort Dawnguard will urge you to seek a cure. They won’t attack you unless you do something overtly hostile, but services will be withheld.

Question 10: Can you still go to Castle Volkihar after curing vampirism?

Yes, you can still enter Castle Volkihar, but the vampires will express their disapproval of your decision to cure yourself.

Question 11: Do the Dawnguard missions ever end?

The main Dawnguard DLC story missions will end, but both the Dawnguard and Volkihar factions offer radiant (repeatable) quests that can continue indefinitely.

Question 12: Are there any Dawnguard quests after killing Harkon?

Yes, after killing Harkon, Isran will offer you membership if you’re not a vampire. If you are a vampire, Garan Merethi will make Castle Volkihar your home.

Question 13: Can you become a Vampire Lord twice?

Yes, if you cure your vampirism, you can ask Serana to turn you into a Vampire Lord again.

Question 14: How long does the Dawnguard DLC take to complete?

The main objectives of the Dawnguard DLC take about 7.5 hours. Achieving 100% completion can take around 19 hours.

Question 15: Does Harkon know I am Dragonborn?

There is no explicit in-game dialogue indicating that Harkon knows you are Dragonborn.

Navigating the Political Landscape

The Dawnguard DLC is a complex web of allegiances, choices, and consequences. Your actions directly influence how the various factions perceive you, which is an interesting case study when looking at Games and learning at the Games Learning Society. Understanding the nuances of these relationships is crucial for effectively navigating the political landscape of Skyrim and mitigating unwanted aggression. By making informed decisions and completing the appropriate quests, you can effectively manage the Dawnguard threat and ultimately shape your own destiny in the world of Skyrim.

You can learn more about the intersection of games and learning by visiting the GamesLearningSociety.org website.