Is it Better to Be Soul Trapped or a Vampire in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide
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The eternal question for any Dragonborn delving into the Dawnguard DLC: is it better to be partially soul trapped or embrace the path of a vampire? The answer, as is often the case in Skyrim, depends entirely on your playstyle, your priorities, and how much you enjoy the nuances of each option. In short, being soul trapped is generally the less impactful and easily reversible option, making it the “better” choice if you’re unsure. Becoming a vampire, especially a Vampire Lord, offers unique powers and challenges, but comes with significant trade-offs and can dramatically alter your gameplay experience. Let’s dive deeper.
The Soul Trapped Dilemma: A Minor Inconvenience?
Serana, a powerful pure-blooded vampire and arguably the most compelling companion in Skyrim, needs to access the Soul Cairn to progress the Dawnguard questline. To do this, she needs to partially soul trap you. This sounds alarming, but in practice, it’s largely inconsequential.
Benefits of Soul Trapping (Temporarily)
- Minimal Impact: Being partially soul trapped has virtually no noticeable effect on your stats, abilities, or gameplay.
- Reversibility: The soul trapping is temporary. You can retrieve your lost soul fragment from a chest within the Soul Cairn. Valacia will even mark the location for you.
- Quest Progression: It allows you to progress the Dawnguard questline.
Drawbacks of Soul Trapping
- Roleplaying Implications: Some players might find the idea of having their soul partially trapped undesirable from a roleplaying perspective.
- Cosmetic Thought: Potentially you feel more like a puppet for the vampire
- No real tangible drawbacks: in gameplay functionality
Conclusion: Soul Trapping
If you are playing the Dawnguard DLC and Serana asks you to become soul trapped, go ahead, as it makes little difference.
Embracing the Darkness: The Allure of Vampirism
Becoming a vampire in Skyrim, especially a Vampire Lord through the Dawnguard questline, is a significant decision that fundamentally changes your character.
Benefits of Vampirism
- Unique Powers and Abilities: As a Vampire Lord, you gain access to a unique skill tree and powerful abilities, including transforming into a winged beast with devastating melee and magical attacks. You also get access to unique spells like Vampiric Drain, Vampire’s Servant, and Vampire’s Sight.
- Stat Bonuses: Vampires gain bonuses to various skills, including Illusion, Sneak, and Destruction.
- Resistances: Vampires are resistant to diseases and poison. At stage two, you’ll have 50% resistance to Frost and 50% weakness to Fire (30% to each with Dawnguard).
- Roleplaying Opportunities: Playing as a vampire offers a distinct roleplaying experience, with unique dialogue options and interactions.
- Castle Volkihar Access: Siding with the vampires grants you permanent access to Castle Volkihar, a vampire stronghold with unique vendors and quests.
Drawbacks of Vampirism
- Sunlight Weakness: Vampires are significantly weaker in sunlight. Their health, magicka, and stamina regeneration are reduced, and they can even take damage.
- Fire Vulnerability: Vampires are more vulnerable to fire damage.
- Feeding Requirements: Vampires must feed on blood to avoid progressing through the stages of vampirism, which can lead to negative interactions with NPCs.
- Dawnguard Hostility: If you become a Vampire Lord and side with the vampires, the Dawnguard will become hostile towards you.
- Curing Limitations: The Dawnguard faction will not accept you once you are a vampire until you seek the cure.
- Cure Cost: It will cost you one full black soul gem.
Conclusion: Vampirism
Becoming a vampire in Skyrim can be a great experience if you wish to play as a stealthy, powerful mage. Being a vampire is only worth the trouble if you plan on playing as one long term.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into Soul Trapping and Vampirism
1. Should I side with the vampires or the Dawnguard?
The choice between siding with the vampires or the Dawnguard depends on your preferred playstyle and moral alignment. The vampires offer unique powers and access to Castle Volkihar, while the Dawnguard provides access to powerful weapons and a more trustworthy faction. Remember, Serana will support your decision regardless.
2. Can I become a Vampire Lord if I side with the Dawnguard?
Yes, even if you side with the Dawnguard, Serana can still turn you into a Vampire Lord later in the questline.
3. Will Serana leave me if I’m not a vampire?
No, Serana will not leave you if you choose not to become a vampire. She sides with the Dragonborn regardless of their choice.
4. Is it better to be a Vampire Lord or a werewolf?
Being a Vampire Lord offers more potent powers and abilities but comes with significant weaknesses, especially to sunlight. Being a werewolf is less restrictive but less powerful.
5. What race is best for a vampire in Skyrim?
Dark Elves (Dunmer) are often considered the best race for vampires due to their natural resistance to fire and their proficiency in stealth and magic.
6. Is it worth feeding as a vampire?
Feeding postpones the progression of vampirism, preventing you from reaching the more detrimental stages. It’s essential for maintaining a manageable vampire existence.
7. Can I marry Serana if I’m a vampire?
No, you cannot marry Serana if you are already a vampire. You can only marry someone before becoming a vampire.
8. What happens if I try to join the Dawnguard as a vampire?
The Dawnguard will refuse to give you quests until you are cured of vampirism.
9. Is Serana good or bad?
Serana is morally ambiguous, leaning towards Chaotic Neutral to Lawful Good. She is ultimately driven by her own goals and desires, but she is not inherently evil.
10. Can Lydia become a vampire?
Yes, you can turn followers like Lydia into vampires. However, be aware of the pros and cons before doing so.
11. What are the disadvantages of being a Vampire Lord?
The main disadvantages are the severe weakness to fire and the sunlight’s effect on regeneration and stats.
12. Is it bad to cure Serana?
Curing Serana removes her vampire abilities and resistances. Many players consider it a less desirable outcome.
13. What happens if I refuse to become a vampire in Dawnguard?
If you refuse, you remain with the Dawnguard. The overall story progression remains largely the same.
14. What happens if you let Serana turn you into a vampire?
You gain the powers of a Vampire Lord but become vulnerable to sunlight and fire. You will need to be cured in order to continue working with the Dawnguard, if you have not made the decision to side with the vampire clan.
15. Can you still become a Vampire Lord if you side with the Dawnguard?
Yes, you can become a Vampire Lord as part of the quest called Bloodline, even if you side with the Dawnguard. Serana can turn you into a Vampire Lord, and then you are given the option to continue siding with the Dawnguard.
Final Verdict: Choose Your Path Wisely
Ultimately, the decision of whether to be soul trapped or a vampire in Skyrim is a matter of personal preference. Soul trapping is a minor inconvenience, while vampirism offers a more transformative experience. Consider your playstyle, your character’s alignment, and the trade-offs involved before making your choice. No matter what you choose, embrace the adventure and carve your own legend in the world of Skyrim! To learn more about the educational aspects of gaming, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.