Should I be a Vampire or Vampire Hunter in Skyrim?

The decision to become a vampire or a vampire hunter in Skyrim depends on your personal preference and playstyle, as both options offer unique benefits and drawbacks, with vampires providing strong abilities and active effects, while vampire hunters gain access to exclusive weapons and perks. Ultimately, the choice between embracing the darkness of vampirism or dedicating yourself to hunting the undead will shape your experience in the world of Skyrim, influencing your interactions with non-playable characters (NPCs), your access to certain locations and storylines, and your overall gameplay mechanics.

FAQs

General Questions

1. What is the best race to be a vampire in Skyrim?: The Dark Elf is often considered the best race for vampires due to their natural stealth and magical abilities, making them perfect hunters of the night.
2. Is it better to be a vampire or join the Dawnguard?: Joining the Dawnguard provides access to exclusive weapons and perks, while being a vampire offers powerful abilities and active effects, making the choice dependent on your preferred playstyle.
3. Is it best to become a vampire in Skyrim?: Becoming a vampire gives the player strong abilities and active effects, including Nightstalker’s Footsteps, which makes the Dragonborn 25% harder to detect when sneaking.

Vampire-Specific Questions

4. What are the cons of becoming a vampire in Skyrim?: The main con of being a vampire is the weakness to sunlight, which prevents health, stamina, and magicka regeneration, and NPCs becoming hostile towards you, especially in the fourth stage of vampirism.
5. Can you marry as a vampire in Skyrim?: It is not possible to marry someone who is already a vampire, like Serana, but you can turn your spouse into a vampire in the Dawnguard expansion.
6. Will the Dawnguard be mad if I become a vampire?: No, the Dawnguard will not be hostile towards you if you become a vampire, but you will not be able to join their ranks.

Vampire Hunter-Specific Questions

7. Is being a vampire hunter worth it in Skyrim?: Being a vampire hunter provides access to exclusive weapons and perks, and allows you to join the Dawnguard, making it a worthwhile choice for players who enjoy hunting and combat.
8. Can you be a vampire hunter as a vampire?: Yes, some vampire hunters are vampires themselves, such as Morbius, the Living Vampire in Marvel Comics.
9. What happens if you don’t drink blood as a vampire in Skyrim?: You will experience weaknesses, including a 60-point reduction in all stats in daylight and a 50% weakness to fire, but you will not die or suffer any permanent consequences.

Race and Vampirism Questions

10. Can a Khajiit be a vampire?: Yes, Khajiits can become vampires as easily as other races, except for Argonians and Redguards, who have natural disease resistances.
11. What is the rarest type of vampire?: The Dirge is the rarest form of vampiric creature and may be the least-documented undead being known to exist.
12. What happens if a vampire drinks werewolf blood?: The vampire becomes more susceptible to frenzy while the lupine blood remains in their system, increasing the difficulty to resist frenzy.

Gameplay and Story Questions

13. Can you be both a vampire and a werewolf in Skyrim?: No, the lycanthropy will override the vampirism, so you will cease being a vampire and become a werewolf instead.
14. Does becoming a werewolf cure vampirism in Skyrim?: Yes, becoming a werewolf will immediately cure the Dragonborn’s vampirism, but being a werewolf has drawbacks just like being a vampire.
15. How do you become a vampire in Skyrim?: You can become a vampire by coming into contact with another vampire and contracting the Sanguinare Vampiris disease, which can be found in Haemar’s Shame, a cave to the southwest of Ivarstead.