Embracing the Darkness: What Happens When Serana Turns You Into a Vampire Lord in Skyrim?

Letting Serana, the compelling vampire noble from the Dawnguard DLC, turn you into a Vampire Lord is a pivotal decision in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Accepting her gift plunges you into a world of heightened powers, unique abilities, and transformative gameplay. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect. You gain the Vampire Lord transformation, granting access to a new skill tree, powers like Blood Drain and Bats, and the ability to transform into a powerful gargoyle-like form. However, you’ll also experience increased vulnerability to sunlight, a negative reaction from some NPCs, and potential conflicts with the Dawnguard if you aren’t careful. It’s a significant shift that alters your gameplay experience in both combat and interaction.

The Allure and Consequences of Vampirism

Unlocking the Vampire Lord Power

The most immediate and impactful change is becoming a Vampire Lord. This unlocks a new skill tree accessible through the Vampire Lord transformation. As a Vampire Lord, you can transform into a monstrous form, complete with wings and claws, capable of unleashing devastating attacks. You gain access to blood magic spells and unique powers. However, this also means a vulnerability to sunlight and a possible negative reaction from some NPCs. You will need to feed regularly on humans to satiate your thirst and mitigate the negative effects of sun exposure. Neglecting your thirst can lead to more pronounced weaknesses and hostility from certain segments of society.

Gameplay Transformation

Combat fundamentally changes. You can utilize your Vampire Lord form in combat to devastate enemies with powerful spells and claw attacks. You can use Blood Magic to drain life from your foes or conjure swarms of bats to distract them. However, in your mortal form, you’ll experience increased weakness to fire, a significant consideration given the number of dragons and fire-based mages in Skyrim. Your stealth capabilities are also affected. While vampirism can enhance your sneaking skills, being discovered as a vampire can trigger immediate aggression from town guards and some NPCs.

The Dawnguard’s Reaction

If you’ve sided with the Dawnguard, becoming a Vampire Lord (especially after initially rejecting Harkon’s offer) creates a complex situation. They will likely turn hostile toward you until you cure yourself of vampirism. However, after completing the Dawnguard questline, they may tolerate your vampiric state as long as you maintain a low profile. But remember, becoming a Vampire Lord might lock you out of certain Dawnguard-specific quests or interactions until you seek a cure.

The Volkihar Perspective

If you’ve aligned yourself with the Volkihar vampire clan, becoming a Vampire Lord solidifies your position and opens up further quests and interactions within the castle. You’ll gain access to unique vampire-themed rewards and gear, and your standing within the clan will improve.

The Cure for Vampirism

The good news is that becoming a Vampire Lord isn’t a permanent sentence. If you decide the vampiric life isn’t for you, curing yourself is relatively straightforward. Speaking to innkeepers often leads you to Falion in Morthal, a researcher specializing in vampirism. He will provide you with a quest to gather black soul gems and perform a ritual to cleanse yourself of the affliction. This process is repeatable, so you can become a Vampire Lord again later through Serana, if you wish.

Weighing the Decision

Ultimately, the decision to let Serana turn you into a Vampire Lord is a matter of personal preference and how it aligns with your character’s roleplaying and gameplay style.

• Embrace the Darkness: If you enjoy playing as a powerful, morally ambiguous character who thrives in the shadows, becoming a Vampire Lord offers a compelling and rewarding experience.
• Seek a Balance: If you want to explore the Vampire Lord powers without fully committing to the vampiric lifestyle, you can always cure yourself and revert to your original form.
• Consider the Consequences: Be mindful of the potential conflicts with the Dawnguard and the challenges of managing your vampiric thirst and weaknesses.

The world of Skyrim is vast and brimming with narrative choices. This one, like all the others, adds a unique flavor to your adventure. And for those interested in exploring the deeper impacts of gaming and learning, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can Serana turn you into a vampire more than once?

Yes, Serana can turn you into a Vampire Lord as many times as you wish, provided you have the Dawnguard DLC installed. If you cure yourself of vampirism, you can simply ask her again to embrace the darkness.

2. What happens if you let Harkon turn you into a vampire first?

If you accept Harkon’s initial offer to become a Vampire Lord, you’ll undergo a similar transformation as if Serana had done it. The main difference lies in the narrative context and your allegiance. Accepting Harkon’s gift aligns you more firmly with the Volkihar clan and their goals.

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

No, in the base game, you cannot marry Serana, regardless of whether you are a vampire or not. She is not a marriageable NPC. However, numerous mods exist that allow you to marry Serana, even if you are both vampires.

4. Does Serana prefer the Dawnguard or Volkihar side?

Serana doesn’t inherently favor either the Dawnguard or Volkihar. She prioritizes the Dragonborn’s choices and supports their decisions throughout the Dawnguard questline. Her loyalty lies with the player character.

5. Is it better to be a vampire or join the Dawnguard?

The “better” choice depends on your character’s alignment and playstyle. Vampires gain powerful abilities but suffer from sunlight weakness and NPC hostility. The Dawnguard offers access to superior crossbows and sun-based spells, but lacks the transformative power of vampirism.

6. What are the stages of vampirism, and how do they affect gameplay?

Vampirism progresses through four stages, with increasing powers and weaknesses as you go longer without feeding. Stage 1 is relatively mild, while Stage 4 leads to severe sunlight penalties and aggressive NPC behavior. Regularly feeding on blood is crucial to manage these stages.

7. Can you convince Serana to cure her vampirism?

Yes, you can convince Serana to seek a cure for her vampirism after completing the main Dawnguard questline, provided you choose the correct dialogue options during your conversations. However, this is entirely optional and doesn’t affect her role as a follower.

8. What happens if you come to Serana as a vampire already?

If you are already a vampire when you first meet Serana, it has minimal impact on the Dawnguard questline. She acknowledges your condition, but it doesn’t significantly alter her dialogue or the overall storyline.

9. How many times will Serana make you a vampire?

As many times as you want, assuming you did the dawnguard side. Serana will always offer the option to be a vampire, and you can always talk to the dawnguard to get the cure option.

10. Can Serana turn you into a vampire if you side with the Dawnguard?

Yes, even if you side with the Dawnguard, Serana can still turn you into a Vampire Lord. However, doing so may cause the Dawnguard members to become hostile until you cure yourself.

11. How do you feed as a Vampire Lord?

In your Vampire Lord form, you can use the Blood Drain power on sleeping or unsuspecting NPCs to feed. You can also craft Potions of Blood or acquire them through quests.

12. What are the benefits of the Vampire Lord skill tree?

The Vampire Lord skill tree offers a range of powerful abilities, including enhanced strength and speed, blood magic spells, summoning gargoyles, and transforming into a mist form. These skills significantly enhance your combat capabilities and offer unique tactical options.

13. What is the best armor for Serana?

Serana favors light armor. Enchanted light armor with Muffle and Fortify Sneak is ideal for stealth builds. Her default Vampire Royal Armor is already quite strong, but you can equip her with other light armor sets, ensuring they are appropriately tempered.

14. Is Serana good or bad?

Serana’s morality is complex. She aligns with the player’s choices and ultimately strives to do what she believes is right. She leans towards Chaotic Neutral to Lawful Good, never truly embracing evil.

15. What to say to Serana to convince her to cure herself?

If you wish for her to cure her vampirism after the main questline, then choose the option “Are you all right?” instead of asking her about a cure. Once you ask this, she will end the conversation but you will still be able to convince her to seek a cure at Fort Dawnguard after her father is dead.