Should You Join Volkihar or Dawnguard in Skyrim? A Definitive Guide

The age-old question! When you delve into the Dawnguard DLC for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you’re faced with a monumental choice: join the ancient and powerful Volkihar vampire clan or pledge your allegiance to the Dawnguard, a band of vampire hunters dedicated to eradicating the undead menace. The “right” answer depends entirely on your playstyle, character build, and personal preferences. However, for the vast majority of players, the Dawnguard offers a more well-rounded and less restrictive experience. While the allure of becoming a Vampire Lord is strong, the downsides and limitations of playing as a vampire often outweigh the benefits, especially for new or casual players. The Dawnguard provides superior gear, a less punishing gameplay loop, and a narrative arc that generally aligns better with a “heroic” playthrough.

Unpacking the Benefits of Each Faction

To make an informed decision, let’s dissect the core advantages of joining each side:

Dawnguard Advantages

• Enhanced Dwarven Crossbow: As the article you provided highlights, the Enhanced Dwarven Crossbow is a potent weapon, particularly for ranged characters. Its ability to ignore a portion of enemy armor makes it invaluable against heavily armored foes. It stands out as one of the strongest weapons in the game.
• Bolt Crafting: The Dawnguard allows you to craft specialized bolts, including Exploding Bolts and Sunhallowed Elven Arrows. These elemental projectiles add a layer of tactical depth to combat, letting you exploit enemy weaknesses.
• Huskies and Armored Trolls: While seemingly minor, these animal companions provide valuable support in combat. Huskies act as distractions and early-warning systems, while Armored Trolls serve as powerful melee tanks.
• A Focus on Sunlight Resistance: By siding with the Dawnguard, you’re not as forced into becoming a vampire. This means that you can play as a naturalist Bosmer, as described, without worrying about constant sun damage. This path also suits those who enjoy exploring the open world.
• A “Heroic” Narrative: Many players prefer the narrative of fighting against evil and protecting the innocent. The Dawnguard fulfills this desire, offering a clear and compelling “good vs. evil” storyline.
• Access to Fort Dawnguard: Serves as a safe haven with merchants, trainers and companions.

Volkihar Clan Advantages

• Vampire Lord Transformation: This is the primary draw for many players. The Vampire Lord form grants access to powerful spells and abilities, turning you into a force of nature. However, it’s important to note that you can acquire the Vampire Lord transformation even if you side with the Dawnguard, making this advantage less exclusive.
• Volkihar Keep Access: Castle Volkihar provides a safe haven with storage, resources, and thralls for feeding.
• Powerful Vampire-Specific Perks: As you progress as a Vampire Lord, you unlock powerful perks that enhance your vampiric abilities.
• The Thrill of the “Dark Side”: Some players simply enjoy playing as a villain, embracing the power and freedom that comes with being a vampire.
• Blood Potions: The clan has a number of mortal thralls, making feeding convenient.
• More “Evil” Dialogue Options: If you enjoy role-playing as a villain, the Volkihar clan will give you the option to do so in many conversations throughout the game.

The Downside of Vampirism

While the Vampire Lord form is undeniably cool, the practicalities of playing as a vampire in Skyrim can be frustrating:

• Sunlight Weakness: Vampires suffer penalties to health, stamina, and magicka regeneration while in direct sunlight. This can severely limit your ability to explore during the day, a significant drawback in an open-world game.
• NPC Hostility: As you progress through the stages of vampirism without feeding, NPCs will become increasingly hostile toward you. This makes it difficult to interact with merchants, complete quests, or even simply walk through towns.
• Feeding Requirements: To mitigate the negative effects of vampirism, you must regularly feed on human blood. While there are ways to do this stealthily, it can still be inconvenient and immersion-breaking for some players.

Ultimately, Consider Your Playstyle

The best choice ultimately depends on your personal preferences.

• Choose Dawnguard if: You prefer a more traditional “heroic” role, enjoy ranged combat, want access to powerful crossbows and bolts, and dislike the limitations of playing as a vampire.
• Choose Volkihar if: You relish playing as a villain, are drawn to the power of the Vampire Lord transformation, don’t mind the drawbacks of vampirism, and enjoy a darker, more morally ambiguous storyline.

Remember, you can experience elements of both sides regardless of your initial choice. You can become a Vampire Lord even if you side with the Dawnguard, and you can still use crossbows to some extent if you side with the Volkihar (though you won’t get the enhanced versions or bolt crafting).

FAQs: Answering Your Burning Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Volkihar and Dawnguard factions, providing further clarity to help you make the right choice:

1. Does Serana care if you join the Dawnguard or Volkihar?

Yes, but not in a way that significantly alters the storyline. Serana is integral to the Dawnguard questline regardless of your chosen faction. She will seek you out after you free her from her crypt. Her personal feelings may be subtly reflected in her dialogue, but she will ultimately assist you in your quest.

2. Can I join both the Dawnguard and Volkihar at the same time?

No. You can initiate the Dawnguard questline and meet both Isran and Harkon. However, you will eventually be forced to choose a side. Accepting Harkon’s gift of vampirism locks you into the Volkihar questline, while refusing it commits you to the Dawnguard.

3. What are the disadvantages of being a vampire in Skyrim?

The primary disadvantages are weakness to sunlight (reduced health, stamina, and magicka regeneration), and increased NPC hostility as you progress through the stages of vampirism without feeding.

4. Can you join the Dawnguard after killing Harkon?

Yes. After defeating Harkon as a vampire, you can be approached by Garan Merethi, who invites you to return to Castle Volkihar. However, if you are cured of vampirism, Isran will offer you a place in the Dawnguard.

5. Should I turn Serana human?

This is a personal choice. Turning Serana human prevents her from turning you into a Vampire Lord and removes her ability to provide Bloodcursed Elven Arrows. However, it also frees her from the curse of vampirism, which some players find morally desirable. Also, if you turn her human her eyes will become yellow, due to a bug.

6. Can you become the leader of Castle Volkihar?

Yes, if you join the vampires and complete their questline, you will effectively become the leader of Castle Volkihar, although the game doesn’t explicitly state this.

7. Can you get Harkon’s sword if you join the Dawnguard?

Yes. Regardless of which faction you join, the final quest involves defeating Harkon. After you defeat him, you can loot his sword from his corpse.

8. Do you need to be a vampire to get into Volkihar?

Not initially. You can enter Castle Volkihar as a mortal when you first meet Harkon. However, to progress through the Volkihar questline, you will need to accept his gift and become a vampire.

9. What happens if you go to Castle Volkihar before starting the Dawnguard questline?

Access to the castle is blocked without the Dawnguard quest active. Discovering the castle before starting the questline can sometimes cause bugs, so it’s best to avoid it.

10. What is the best level to join the Dawnguard?

You can start the Dawnguard questline at any level. However, it’s generally recommended to be at least level 10 to handle the early encounters effectively.

11. What happens if you side with the Dawnguard as a vampire?

The Dawnguard generally disapproves of vampires. Isran will ask you to cure your vampirism. If you refuse, he will permit you to assist them until the end of the main questline.

12. Can you cure Serana after killing Harkon?

Yes. After completing the Dawnguard questline, you can ask Serana if she has ever considered curing her vampirism. If she expresses interest, you can take her to Falion in Morthal to undergo the curing ritual.

13. Can you marry Serana after killing Harkon?

Unfortunately, the base game of Skyrim does not allow you to marry Serana. To marry her, you’ll need to use a mod.

14. Is it better to feed or not feed as a vampire in Skyrim?

Feeding as a vampire resets your stage of vampirism, reducing the negative effects of sunlight and NPC hostility. However, it also weakens your vampiric powers. The best choice depends on your playstyle. Stealth characters often find feeding easy, while those who embrace the full power of vampirism may prefer to go unfed.

15. Can you turn your spouse into a vampire if you side with the Dawnguard?

If you side with the Volkihar, you will have the option to turn your spouse into a vampire through a quest called “The Gift”. However, if you side with the Dawnguard, you will not be able to turn your spouse into a vampire through any quests.

Choosing between the Volkihar clan and the Dawnguard is a pivotal decision in the Dawnguard DLC. Hopefully, this detailed breakdown of their respective advantages, disadvantages, and common questions has equipped you with the knowledge to make an informed choice that aligns with your desired Skyrim experience. No matter which side you pick, enjoy the adventure!

Understanding the mechanics and choices within games can offer valuable insights into decision-making processes and strategic thinking. For more on the educational aspects of gaming, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.