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Should I Be a Vampire or a Dawnguard? A Skyrim Dilemma Decoded

The eternal question for any Dragonborn venturing into the Dawnguard DLC: Should I embrace the night as a Vampire Lord or stand defiant against the darkness with the Dawnguard? The answer, as with most things in Skyrim, is: it depends. It depends on your playstyle, your character’s moral compass, and what you want to get out of the experience. Both paths offer unique rewards, challenges, and storylines that drastically alter your gameplay. There’s no objectively “better” choice, only the choice that’s right for you.

If you crave immense power, enjoy a stealthy approach, and don’t mind the inconveniences of vampirism (weakness to sunlight, hostile NPCs if you neglect feeding), then the Volkihar Vampire Clan is likely the better path. You’ll become a formidable Vampire Lord, gaining access to devastating spells, unique perks, and a transformed combat style. However, if you prefer a noble calling, enjoy archery, and find the idea of hunting vampires appealing, then the Dawnguard is your calling. You’ll gain access to powerful crossbows, armored trolls, and a sense of camaraderie as you fight to protect Skyrim from the vampire menace.

Ultimately, the best way to decide is to weigh the pros and cons of each faction against your personal preferences. Consider how each path aligns with your character’s backstory and motivations, and which gameplay style appeals to you most. Both sides offer fantastic experiences, and you can always create another character to explore the alternative.

Understanding the Vampire Lord

The Allure of the Night

Becoming a Vampire Lord offers unparalleled power. The Vampire Lord form grants access to unique abilities, including summoning gargoyles, draining enemies dry, and transforming into a swarm of bats. The Vampire Lord perk tree is extensive, allowing you to customize your powers and become an even more formidable force. But power comes at a price. Vampires suffer from a weakness to sunlight, which reduces health, stamina, and magicka regeneration during the day. Neglecting to feed will lead to increased aggression from NPCs.

Benefits of the Vampire Lord

Powerful Vampire Lord Form: Access to unique powers and abilities.
Extensive Perk Tree: Customize your Vampire Lord abilities.
Unique Dialogue Options: New interactions with NPCs based on your vampiric status.
Serana as a Follower: A powerful and interesting companion who can turn you back into a Vampire Lord if you cure yourself.

Drawbacks of the Vampire Lord

Weakness to Sunlight: Reduced health, stamina, and magicka regeneration during the day.
NPC Hostility: If you don’t feed, NPCs will become hostile towards you.
Curing Vampirism: If you join the Dawnguard, you’ll be forced to cure your vampirism.
Limited Armor Options: You can’t wear armor while in Vampire Lord form.

Standing Strong with the Dawnguard

A Beacon of Hope Against the Darkness

Joining the Dawnguard provides a sense of purpose. You’ll become part of an ancient order dedicated to eradicating vampires. The Dawnguard offers unique weapons and armor, including the powerful crossbow, which is particularly effective against vampires. You’ll also have the opportunity to recruit armored trolls and huskies as companions. However, the Dawnguard path is not without its challenges. You’ll face powerful vampires, including the formidable Harkon, and you’ll have to make difficult choices that will test your morality.

Benefits of the Dawnguard

Unique Weapons and Armor: Access to crossbows, enhanced bolts, and Dawnguard armor.
Armored Trolls and Huskies: Powerful companions to aid you in battle.
Sense of Purpose: Fighting for good against the vampire menace.
Improved Archery Skill: Crossbows provide a significant advantage for archer builds.

Drawbacks of the Dawnguard

Limited Magic: Fewer magical options compared to the Vampire Lord.
No Vampire Lord Transformation: You won’t be able to experience the unique Vampire Lord form.
Repetitive Radiant Quests: Side quests can become monotonous.
Moral Choices: You may face difficult decisions that challenge your beliefs.

Key Differences in Quests

While the main questlines for both factions converge on a similar path, there are distinct differences in the experience. As a vampire, you’ll experience the story from the perspective of the hunted, working to secure your power and influence. As a Dawnguard member, you’ll experience the story as the hunter, striving to protect the innocent from the vampire threat. These different perspectives provide unique insights into the events of the Dawnguard DLC and can significantly impact your overall enjoyment. TBH – it doesn’t make a lot of difference which path you take. The questlines are functionally the same.

The Games Learning Society emphasizes the educational potential of games, and even Skyrim’s moral choices can be seen as a form of learning and ethical exploration. Choosing between the Dawnguard and the Volkihar Clan is more than just picking sides; it’s a reflection of your own values and how you choose to engage with the game world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I join both Dawnguard and vampires?

Yes, but only temporarily. You’ll eventually have to choose a side. If you accept Harkon’s gift and become a Vampire Lord, Isran will reject you from the Dawnguard. If you refuse, Harkon will kick you out of Castle Volkihar.

2. What happens if I choose not to be a vampire in Dawnguard?

You remain with the Dawnguard. The questline continues from their perspective, focusing on eradicating the vampire threat.

3. What are the benefits of choosing Dawnguard?

You gain access to unique weapons like the crossbow and enhanced bolts, powerful armored trolls and huskies as companions, and a strong sense of purpose in fighting the vampire menace.

4. Do vampire attacks stop after Dawnguard?

Yes, the random vampire attacks in cities will cease once the Dawnguard DLC’s main questline has been completed, regardless of which side you chose.

5. Can you marry Serana if you cure her vampirism?

No, unfortunately, Skyrim doesn’t allow you to marry vampires without mods. While she has dialogue about marriage, it’s not possible in the vanilla game.

6. Can you marry Serana if you are a vampire?

No. Even if you’re a vampire, you can’t marry her in the base game.

7. Can you marry Serana after killing Harkon?

Still no. Marrying Serana requires the use of mods.

8. Can you wipe out the Dawnguard?

Yes, you can destroy the Dawnguard after completing the main questline as a vampire by accepting a specific side quest from the Volkihar clan.

9. What is the best level to join Dawnguard?

The Dawnguard questline activates at level 10, but it’s advisable to be at least level 30 before tackling the DLC due to the powerful enemies involved.

10. What are the benefits of being a vampire in Skyrim?

As a vampire, you gain increased frost resistance, enhanced strength based on your hunger stage, immunity to poison and disease, and improved illusion magic and stealth abilities.

11. How do I get Falion to cure me?

Simply visit Falion at the summoning stone near Morthal at dawn with a filled black soul gem in your inventory. Speak to him, and he’ll perform the ritual to cure you of vampirism.

12. Should I side with Harkon or Dawnguard?

This depends on your playstyle. Siding with Harkon grants you access to the Vampire Lord form and its unique abilities, while siding with the Dawnguard provides access to powerful weapons like the crossbow and armored companions. Many players consider siding with Harkon initially because he grants the Vampire Lord transformation, though Serana can also do that later.

13. Should I let Serana turn me into a vampire?

You get access to the Soul Cairn. If you’re not planning on getting into the Soul Cairn that’s fine.

14. Is Vampire Lord or werewolf better?

Vampire Lords are generally considered stronger, especially in the late game, due to their powerful abilities and extensive perk tree. However, werewolves offer their own advantages, such as immunity to disease and a powerful melee form.

15. Should I accept vampire Skyrim?

Accepting vampirism grants you access to the Vampire Lord perk tree and the unique powers associated with the form. If you’re interested in experiencing the vampire side of the Dawnguard DLC, then accepting is the logical choice.

Choosing between vampire and Dawnguard is a significant decision that shapes your Skyrim experience. Consider your playstyle, moral compass, and the types of rewards you seek. Both paths offer compelling stories and unique challenges, ensuring a memorable journey regardless of your choice. GamesLearningSociety.org highlights the many ways games can teach us about ourselves and the world. Good luck, Dragonborn!

Should I be a vampire or a Dawnguard?