Is it Better to Not Feed as a Vampire in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide

In the frigid realm of Skyrim, the allure of vampirism comes with a compelling trade-off: immense power balanced against crippling weaknesses. A key decision for any Dragonborn embracing the night is whether to succumb to the bloodlust and feed regularly, or to resist and embrace the increasing power that comes with starvation. The short answer is this: whether it’s better to feed or not depends entirely on your playstyle. A stealthy vampire assassin will likely find feeding a minor inconvenience, while a combat-focused character might prefer the escalating powers of prolonged starvation, despite the drawbacks. However, understanding the nuances of each stage is crucial.

The Stages of Vampirism: A Delicate Balance

The progression of vampirism in Skyrim is divided into four distinct stages, each offering a unique set of advantages and disadvantages. Each stage is triggered by waiting 24 hours without feeding.

Stage 1: The Newly Infected

At Stage 1, you’re essentially a nascent vampire. The benefits are mild, mostly centered around increased sneak skill, illusion magic, and resistance to disease. The downsides are minimal: a slight weakness to fire and a reduced health, magicka, and stamina regeneration in sunlight. For many players, this stage is the sweet spot—enough power to be noticeable without being crippling.

Stage 2: Growing Hunger

As you abstain from feeding, you advance to Stage 2. Your vampiric powers become stronger, with abilities like Vampiric Drain dealing more damage. However, your weakness to fire increases, and the negative effects of sunlight become more pronounced. NPCs begin to react to you with suspicion, offering veiled insults and uneasy glances.

Stage 3: The Brink of Exposure

Stage 3 is where things start to get challenging. The boons of vampirism are potent, but the drawbacks are severe. Your fire weakness is almost crippling, and prolonged exposure to sunlight can be deadly. Most significantly, NPCs are now openly hostile. Guards will attack on sight in most towns, forcing you into a life of isolation or requiring constant use of illusion magic to mask your true nature.

Stage 4: The Feral Beast

Stage 4 is the endgame of starvation. Here, your vampiric powers are at their absolute peak. The Vampire’s Servant ability can reanimate incredibly powerful corpses, and your Vampiric Drain can siphon life at an alarming rate. However, the downsides are almost unbearable. Your fire weakness is devastating, and even a brief stroll in sunlight can lead to a swift demise. Crucially, almost every NPC is hostile on sight. This stage effectively locks you out of civilized society, forcing you to live in the shadows.

The impact of Stage 4 is also influenced by whether or not the Dawnguard DLC is active. With Dawnguard, reaching Stage 4 prevents interactions with friendly NPCs at Castle Volkihar until feeding.

Feeding vs. Abstinence: A Strategic Choice

The decision to feed or abstain from feeding is a strategic one, deeply intertwined with your character build and preferred playstyle.

• Stealth builds: Players focused on stealth will often find feeding to be a minor inconvenience. Sleeping NPCs are plentiful, and the benefits of maintaining Stage 1 or 2 vampirism are sufficient for their needs. They can feed regularly to avoid detection.

• Combat-focused builds: For those who prefer a more direct approach, the lure of Stage 4 powers can be irresistible. The increased damage output and potent vampiric abilities can turn you into a formidable force on the battlefield. However, you’ll need to carefully manage your weaknesses, especially fire resistance and sunlight exposure.

• Roleplaying Considerations: Beyond gameplay mechanics, the decision to feed also has significant roleplaying implications. Do you embrace your monstrous nature and prey on the innocent, or do you strive to maintain a semblance of humanity by feeding sparingly and carefully?

Curing Vampirism: The Ultimate Reset

If the drawbacks of vampirism become too overwhelming, you always have the option to seek a cure. This involves a questline that ultimately removes the vampiric curse, returning you to your mortal state. However, be aware that this is a permanent decision, and you’ll lose all vampiric powers and abilities.

The Dawnguard DLC: A Game Changer

The Dawnguard DLC adds a significant layer of complexity to vampirism in Skyrim. It introduces the Vampire Lord form, a powerful transformation that grants access to unique abilities and a separate skill tree. Siding with the vampires in the Dawnguard questline offers access to new locations, quests, and companions, but also locks you out of the benefits offered by the Dawnguard faction. To be honest unless you plan on actually using the Vampire Lord form a lot, you’re better off going with the Dawnguard. Most of the exclusive benefits the vampires get are only active in Vampire Lord form.

Related Resources

For further insights into the design of gameplay mechanics and player choice, consider exploring resources on GamesLearningSociety.org. Understanding how games create compelling decisions and trade-offs can enrich your understanding of game design.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What happens if I don’t feed as a vampire in Skyrim?

For every 24 in-game hours that you don’t feed, you’ll progress a stage in vampirism, up to stage four. Feeding resets you back to stage one. Without the Dawnguard DLC, you can only feed on sleeping humanoid characters. Approach them and click the interact button that lets you pickpocket them, but instead choose “Feed.”

2. Is it better to be a vampire or not in Skyrim?

It depends on your playstyle. Vampirism offers powerful abilities, but also comes with significant weaknesses, especially fire vulnerability and sunlight sensitivity. If you enjoy a challenging and unconventional playstyle, vampirism can be a rewarding experience.

3. Should I side with the vampires or the Dawnguard in Skyrim?

If you wish for permanent access to Castle Volkihar, side with the Vampires. If you want to align with a more trustworthy faction and gain access to better weapons, side with the Dawnguard.

4. Can you marry as a vampire in Skyrim?

Yes, you can marry while being a vampire. However, you cannot marry a vampire through standard in-game actions without mods. It is possible to turn your spouse into a vampire in the Dawnguard expansion.

5. What is the difference between a vampire and a Vampire Lord in Skyrim?

Vampires are infected with Sanguinare Vampiris, which grants extended life and blood sustenance while retaining a mostly human form. A Vampire Lord is a powerful subspecies blessed/cursed with vampirism by Molag Bal, capable of transforming into a monstrous creature with unique abilities.

6. How do you become the most powerful vampire in Skyrim?

Vampires gain stronger spells and active effects the longer they refrain from feeding, reaching peak power at Stage 4. To truly become the most powerful vampire, players need to utilize vampire abilities effectively and manage the fire weakness. The Vampire Lord form with the Dawnguard DLC provides even greater power.

7. Can you become a vampire and still join the Dawnguard?

If you become a vampire while already allied with the Dawnguard, you will be kicked out until you cure yourself.

8. What is the best race for a vampire in Skyrim?

Dark Elves are often considered the best race for vampires due to their natural fire resistance, which offsets the vampire’s fire weakness. They also possess innate stealth skills, complementing the vampire’s predisposition for sneakiness.

9. Can you marry Serana if you cure her?

No, Skyrim does not allow you to marry any vampires through regular in-game actions. You need to use a mod to marry Serana or any other vampire.

10. Can I turn my child into a vampire in Skyrim?

No, you cannot turn children into vampires without the use of mods.

11. Who is the best vampire follower in Skyrim?

Serana is widely regarded as the best vampire follower in Skyrim. She is a powerful pureblood vampire, essential to the Dawnguard DLC, and offers unique dialogue and questlines.

12. What is the strongest vampire enemy in Skyrim?

The Volkihar Master Vampire is the strongest vampire boss-type in Skyrim without DLCs. They are often found in groups throughout Skyrim.

13. Is Vampire Lord or werewolf better in Skyrim?

Vampire Lords are generally considered stronger than werewolves, particularly in the late game, assuming no mods are used. Werewolves may be more casual and require less maintenance.

14. Can I cure my spouse of vampirism in Skyrim?

No, there is no in-game method to cure your spouse of vampirism once they have been turned. The cure only applies to the Dragonborn.

15. Is it possible to revert to a lower stage of vampirism without feeding?

No. The only way to return to stage one of vampirism is to feed upon a sleeping NPC.

Embracing vampirism in Skyrim is a double-edged sword. Weigh the benefits and drawbacks carefully to determine if the power is worth the price. No matter what you decide, remember that Skyrim provides more than enough tools to realize your roleplaying ambitions. Whether you’re a vampire or a vigilante, there’s always a place for you in this wild world.