Does Becoming a Werewolf Cure Vampirism in Skyrim? The Ultimate Guide
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Yes, becoming a werewolf in Skyrim does cure vampirism. This is a one-way street. The transformative process of lycanthropy, acquired through the Companions questline, effectively overwrites the vampiric condition afflicting your Dragonborn. However, it’s essential to understand the implications and potential drawbacks before willingly embracing the beast within. Let’s delve into the specifics of this transformative choice and explore the nuances of vampirism, lycanthropy, and their interaction within the world of Skyrim.
The Cure: Embracing the Beast
When you progress through the Companions questline and participate in the ritual at the Underforge, you’re essentially making a deal with Hircine, the Daedric Prince of the Hunt. This ritual infuses your character with the blood of a werewolf, granting you the Beast Form ability. A key side effect of this transformation is the complete eradication of any pre-existing vampirism. This isn’t just a temporary suppression; it’s a permanent cure.
Understanding the Mechanics
Skyrim’s game mechanics treat vampirism and lycanthropy as mutually exclusive states. Lycanthropy, once embraced, provides a 100% resistance to all diseases, including Sanguinare Vampiris, the disease that leads to vampirism. Think of it as installing a powerful antivirus software that blocks any future viral infections. Since vampirism is considered a disease in the game, you cannot contract it while being a werewolf.
The Price of a Cure
While curing vampirism seems like a straightforward benefit, becoming a werewolf comes with its own set of trade-offs. Once you transform, you’re locked into a third-person perspective and can’t access your inventory or interact with objects. Your attacks are limited to claws and teeth, and you cannot use spells or shouts.
Vampirism vs. Lycanthropy: A Detailed Comparison
The choice between becoming a werewolf or a vampire is a significant one, deeply impacting your gameplay experience. Both paths offer unique abilities and challenges, catering to different playstyles and roleplaying preferences.
Werewolf Advantages:
- Disease Immunity: As mentioned, a complete and permanent resistance to all diseases.
- Powerful Melee Attacks: The Beast Form provides substantial melee damage, allowing you to tear through enemies with claws and teeth.
- Increased Strength: The ability to ragdoll and throw enemies can be strategically advantageous.
- Devour: Eating slain foes extends your time in Beast Form and restores health.
- Howl of Terror: A special shout that causes enemies to flee in fear.
Werewolf Disadvantages:
- Restricted Form: Limited actions and perspective while transformed.
- Inability to Loot: No access to inventory or interaction with items while in Beast Form.
- No Resting Bonus: You cannot gain resting bonuses while possessing the werewolf blood.
- Forced Transformation: The Beast Form transformation is forced upon you if you get arrested while in werewolf form.
Vampire Lord Advantages:
- Powerful Spells: Access to unique Vampire Lord spells and abilities, including summoning gargoyles and draining health.
- Bat Form: The ability to transform into a swarm of bats for rapid traversal and evasion.
- Unearthly Strength: Enhanced melee damage and durability.
- Invisibility: Powers that allow temporary invisibility.
Vampire Lord Disadvantages:
- Sunlight Weakness: Reduced health, magicka, and stamina regeneration in daylight.
- Stage-Based Penalties: Progression through vampiric stages can lead to hostility from NPCs.
- Feeding Requirements: Regular feeding is necessary to control vampiric stages.
- Limited Armor: Vampire Lords cannot equip standard armor.
Making the Right Choice for Your Dragonborn
The decision to embrace lycanthropy to cure vampirism is a personal one that depends on your preferred playstyle and character concept. Do you envision your Dragonborn as a cunning mage who utilizes dark magic and relies on stealth, or as a savage warrior who revels in close combat and brute strength? Consider the pros and cons of each path carefully before committing. And remember, while some choices are initially permanent, Skyrim offers ways to reverse these decisions, albeit with specific questlines and requirements.
Roleplaying Considerations
Beyond the statistical advantages and disadvantages, think about the narrative implications of each choice. Being a werewolf aligns you with the primal forces of nature and the hunt, while vampirism connects you to the shadowy realms of undeath and dark magic. These thematic elements can significantly enhance your roleplaying experience and add depth to your Dragonborn’s story. You may find interesting discussions about gaming and story telling at the Games Learning Society website. Visit them at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the complexities of vampirism, lycanthropy, and their interaction in Skyrim:
1. Can I become a vampire again after being cured by becoming a werewolf?
Yes, after being cured of vampirism by becoming a werewolf, you can contract Sanguinare Vampiris again after curing yourself of lycanthropy.
2. How do I cure lycanthropy in Skyrim?
You can cure lycanthropy by completing the “Glory of the Dead” quest for the Companions. You’ll need to throw a Glenmoril Witch Head into the fire at the Ysgramor’s Tomb.
3. Does the Dawnguard care if I’m a werewolf?
No, the Dawnguard is primarily focused on eliminating vampires. Being a werewolf is not an issue for them, and you can join their ranks.
4. Can I be both a Vampire Lord and a Werewolf at the same time?
Normally, no. However, through specific glitches, it’s possible to become a hybrid Vampire Lord/Werewolf. These glitches often involve timing-specific actions during transformations. Be aware that exploits like this may alter the gaming experience.
5. Is it better to be a Vampire Lord or a Werewolf in Skyrim?
This is subjective and depends on your playstyle. Vampire Lords are generally considered more powerful at higher levels due to their versatile spells and abilities, while werewolves excel in raw melee damage.
6. What are the best races to play as a Werewolf in Skyrim?
Nords, Redguards, and Argonians are good choices for werewolves due to their racial abilities and starting skills. However, any race can be an effective werewolf.
7. What are the disadvantages of being a vampire in Skyrim?
The primary disadvantage is sunlight weakness, which reduces health, magicka, and stamina regeneration. Additionally, progressing through vampiric stages can lead to negative interactions with NPCs.
8. Can a Khajiit become a werewolf?
Yes, any race in Skyrim can become a werewolf.
9. How long do you stay a werewolf in Skyrim?
The initial Beast Form lasts for 150 seconds. You can extend this time by feeding on corpses.
10. How many times can you switch between vampire and werewolf in Skyrim?
You can contract vampirism and cure it as many times as you want. You can only become a werewolf twice through the Companions questline (once during the initial transformation, and again if you ask Aela after curing yourself).
11. What happens if the Dragonborn becomes a werewolf?
It doesn’t fundamentally alter the Dragonborn’s destiny, but it does add another layer to their character. It’s important to note that both werewolves and vampires have afterlife connections to Daedric Princes.
12. Do you lose werewolf perks if you become a vampire?
Yes, becoming a vampire removes lycanthropy entirely. Your werewolf perks would only remain after being cured of lycanthropy. You will still be a Dragonborn whether a vampire, or a werewolf.
13. Should I join the Companions and become a werewolf?
Becoming a werewolf is part of the Companions questline. Joining them is a good way to become a werewolf, but you can cure yourself later if you wish.
14. Can I still use Dragon Shouts as a werewolf?
No, you cannot use Dragon Shouts while in Beast Form.
15. If I use mods, does that change the strengths and weaknesses of werewolves and vampires?
Absolutely. Many mods significantly alter the mechanics and abilities of both werewolves and vampires, often making one or both much more powerful or introducing new gameplay features. Always research the specific changes made by the mods you install.
By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision about whether to embrace the beast within and cure your Dragonborn of vampirism through lycanthropy. Your journey through Skyrim is your own, and the path you choose will shape your legend.