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Delving into the Dawnguard’s Arsenal: A Comprehensive Guide to Rewards

So, you’re considering joining the Dawnguard in Skyrim? Smart move! While the allure of becoming a Vampire Lord certainly has its appeal, the Dawnguard offers a robust set of rewards tailored for the aspiring vampire hunter. Let’s break down exactly what you get for siding with these stalwart defenders of the innocent.

The primary rewards for joining the Dawnguard fall into several key categories:

Access to Fort Dawnguard: This serves as your base of operations, offering all the amenities you’d expect, including a bed, crafting stations (forge, workbench, grindstone, alchemy lab, enchanting table), and storage.
Unique Weapons and Armor: The Dawnguard specializes in anti-vampire gear. While some are more useful than others, you gain access to things like the Dawnguard Rune Hammer, Dawnguard Rune Axe, and Dawnguard Rune Shield. The usefulness of these is very subjective, but they are unique items nonetheless!
Enhanced Crossbows: This is arguably the biggest draw. The Dawnguard provides access to Dwarven Crossbows and the ability to enhance both them and Steel Crossbows. Enhanced crossbows ignore 50% of armor, making them incredibly effective against heavily armored enemies (including vampires, of course). You can also craft a variety of exploding bolts (fire, ice, and shock) to further customize your combat style.
Armored Trolls: For a fee of 500 gold, you can hire Armored Trolls as followers. These behemoths are powerful melee combatants, providing excellent support in battle.
Restoration Spells: The Dawnguard offers unique Restoration spells designed to combat the undead. These spells are particularly effective against vampires and can provide crucial healing and protection.
Skill Trainers: Fort Dawnguard boasts several high-level skill trainers, allowing you to hone your combat and crafting abilities.
Auriel’s Bow: Ultimately, siding with the Dawnguard allows you to obtain Auriel’s Bow, a powerful artifact with unique sun-based enchantments. This bow is devastating against undead and is crucial for completing the Dawnguard questline.
Serana as a Follower: Whether you side with the Dawnguard or the vampires, you gain Serana as a follower. While not exclusive to the Dawnguard, her invaluable assistance and unique vampire abilities are a significant boon.

Digging Deeper: Specific Rewards Explained

Let’s delve into some of the more significant rewards in greater detail:

The Crossbow Advantage

The crossbows offered by the Dawnguard are a game-changer, particularly for archer builds. The ability to ignore 50% of armor with enhanced crossbows makes them far more effective against heavily armored foes than traditional bows. Crafting exploding bolts adds another layer of tactical depth, allowing you to deal area-of-effect damage and exploit enemy weaknesses.

Armored Trolls: Brute Force

While not the most subtle companions, Armored Trolls provide raw power and distraction on the battlefield. Their high health and damage output make them excellent tanks, drawing enemy fire while you unleash your crossbow bolts or spells.

Restoration Magic: Healing and Protection

The Dawnguard’s Restoration spells aren’t just about healing. They offer specialized abilities designed to turn the tide against undead foes. These spells can provide crucial buffs, debuff vampires, and even turn undead directly.

Auriel’s Bow: The Ultimate Weapon

Auriel’s Bow is the ultimate reward for completing the Dawnguard questline. Its sun-based enchantments are devastating against vampires, and it can be further enhanced with sunhallowed arrows for even greater effectiveness.

Dawnguard Rewards: Answering Your Burning Questions (FAQs)

Still have questions? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the rewards for joining the Dawnguard, answered with expertise and clarity.

H3 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the unique weapons from the Dawnguard, and are they any good?

The Dawnguard offers the Dawnguard Rune Hammer, Dawnguard Rune Axe, and Dawnguard Rune Shield. Their usefulness is highly subjective. They all have the same unique enchantment that does sun damage to undead. The shield creates a ward against magic. The axe places runes that damage undead and the hammer places runes that protect the caster. Their value depends entirely on your playstyle and build. Some players find them underwhelming compared to other unique weapons, while others appreciate their niche anti-vampire abilities.
Can I still become a Vampire Lord if I side with the Dawnguard?

Yes! Even if you choose to support the Dawnguard, you have the option to become a Vampire Lord during the quest “Bloodline.” Serana offers you the gift of vampirism, allowing you to experience both sides of the conflict. You can even get cured by her later in the quest.
Is it possible to cure Serana of her vampirism if I side with the Dawnguard?

Yes, it is! After completing the Dawnguard questline, you can convince Serana to seek a cure for her vampirism. You’ll need to take her to Falion in Morthal to perform a ritual.
Does Serana prefer the Dawnguard or the vampires?

Serana’s loyalty lies with the Dragonborn, regardless of which side you choose. She doesn’t express a preference for either the Dawnguard or the vampires, and will support your decisions throughout the questline.
Can a werewolf join the Dawnguard?

Absolutely! Being a werewolf has no impact on your ability to join the Dawnguard. You can seamlessly integrate into the faction and enjoy all the rewards they offer, regardless of your lycanthropic status.
What happens to Serana after the Dawnguard questline is complete?

After the questline, Serana remains a potential follower. If you dismiss her, she will reside at Fort Dawnguard (if you sided with them) or Castle Volkihar (if you sided with the vampires), waiting to join you on future adventures.
Can I marry Serana?

Without mods, no. Skyrim does not natively allow you to marry vampires. However, there are several mods available that enable you to marry Serana, such as the “Marriable Serana” mod.
Do the Dawnguard have anything to do with werewolves?

No, the Dawnguard primarily focuses on fighting vampires. While the Dawnguard DLC added a perk tree for werewolves, it was mainly to balance the content with the Vampire Lord perk tree.
Can you lose Serana as a follower?

No, you cannot permanently lose Serana as a follower unless she dies, which is unlikely since she is an essential character during the questline. If you dismiss her, she’ll wait for you at Fort Dawnguard or Castle Volkihar.
What is the best choice: Dawnguard or Volkihar?

The “best” choice depends on your playstyle and character alignment. The Dawnguard provides better weapons and support for a “good” character, while the Volkihar clan offers unique vampire abilities and suits an “evil” character.
Can you get Auriel’s Bow if you side with the vampires?

Yes, you still obtain Auriel’s Bow regardless of whether you side with the Dawnguard or the Volkihar. It is a key item necessary to complete the main questline of the Dawnguard DLC.
What are sunhallowed arrows?

Sunhallowed arrows are unique arrows crafted after siding with the Dawnguard. When fired from Auriel’s Bow, they do significant sun damage to undead, making them incredibly effective against vampires and other creatures of the night. You need to speak with Florentius Baenius at Fort Dawnguard after a radiant quest to learn the recipe.
Are armored trolls worth the 500 gold?

Whether armored trolls are “worth it” depends on your playstyle and needs. They are powerful melee combatants that can tank damage and draw enemy fire. If you need a strong and durable follower, they can be a valuable asset. However, their lack of stealth and reliance on melee combat may not suit all playstyles.
If I choose to cure Serana, will she still be a useful follower?

Yes! Even after being cured, Serana remains a powerful follower with access to a variety of spells and abilities. While she loses her Vampire Lord form, she retains her necromantic skills and remains a valuable asset in combat.
Where can I learn more about the educational aspects of gaming?

For those interested in exploring the intersection of games and learning, visit the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Explore the fascinating research and resources available at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Choosing the Dawnguard is more than just picking a side; it’s about embracing a playstyle focused on combatting the undead with specialized weapons, powerful magic, and unwavering resolve. The rewards are well worth the effort, transforming you into a formidable vampire hunter capable of protecting Skyrim from the encroaching darkness.

What are the rewards for the Dawnguard?