Can Magic Mend a Vampire’s Soul? Exploring Healing Options for Serana in Skyrim
The question of whether magic can heal Serana in Skyrim is multifaceted. While magic itself cannot cure her vampirism, certain spells can provide temporary healing and support, and her eventual path to seeking a cure involves more than just arcane power. The specific spells that directly heal Serana are the standard Restoration spells available in the game, just as they would heal any other follower or character. This includes spells like Healing, Fast Healing, Close Wounds, and Grand Healing. However, these spells only address physical damage; they do nothing to alter her vampiric state. Serana’s transformation requires a unique process involving a specific individual and a willingness on her part.
Understanding Serana and Her Vampirism
Before diving into the specifics of healing spells, it’s crucial to understand the nature of Serana’s vampirism. She’s not just any vampire; she’s a pure-blood vampire of the ancient Volkihar clan. This means her vampirism is deeply ingrained and more resistant to typical methods of curing the affliction. Regular potions or common cure diseases won’t work on her.
While you can certainly use healing spells on her during combat or after taking damage, to restore her health, this is completely different from curing her of vampirism. Serana has to choose to seek help from Falion who resides in Morthal.
Healing Spells: Practical Applications for Serana
While they don’t cure her condition, Restoration spells are invaluable for keeping Serana alive and effective as a follower. Here’s a closer look at some useful options:
- Healing: The basic Restoration spell, available from the start. It continuously heals the target for as long as you maintain the spell. Useful for topping off her health during less intense encounters.
- Fast Healing: A more potent single-cast heal. Ideal for quickly restoring a significant chunk of her health in the heat of battle.
- Close Wounds: An efficient spell in terms of magicka cost, providing a quick and substantial heal. A solid choice for emergency situations.
- Grand Healing: The most powerful healing spell. It heals both the caster and all allies within a 15-foot radius. Perfect for keeping both you and Serana alive during tough fights. The Regeneration perk boosts this spell’s effectiveness even further, increasing the healing amount.
Remember, Serana also possesses her own healing abilities as a vampire. She can use Vampiric Drain to replenish her health by sapping it from enemies. This makes her surprisingly resilient in combat.
The Cure: A Journey of Choice and Ritual
The cure for Serana’s vampirism isn’t a simple spell. It’s a quest in itself, predicated on her personal decision to seek help. Here’s the breakdown:
- Complete the Dawnguard DLC: This is the prerequisite. You need to finish the main questline of the Dawnguard expansion.
- Initiate the Conversation: After defeating Harkon, talk to Serana. Choose the dialogue option “Are you alright?” instead of directly asking about a cure.
- Convincing Serana: This conversation path will eventually lead to Serana expressing her doubts about her vampiric nature and considering a cure. Persuade her to seek help.
- The Ritual with Falion: Once convinced, Serana will travel to Morthal to seek out Falion, a mage specializing in spiritual matters. Falion will perform a ritual to cure her of vampirism. This ritual involves the use of a filled Black Soul Gem.
It’s crucial to note that you cannot force Serana to cure herself. The decision must be her own.
FAQs: Decoding Serana’s Healing and Cure
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of healing and curing Serana:
1. Can I use the Necromantic Healing spell on Serana?
The Necromantic Healing spell is specifically designed to heal undead creatures. Since Serana, despite being a vampire, is still considered undead, yes, you can use Necromantic Healing on her.
2. Does Serana benefit from healing potions?
Yes, Serana can benefit from healing potions just like any other follower. You can give her potions to use or, if she’s injured, use a potion directly on her, which will instantly restore her health.
3. Will Serana automatically use healing potions in her inventory?
Serana will automatically use potions in her inventory when her health is low. Make sure to provide her with a good supply of healing potions to keep her alive during tough battles.
4. Can I marry Serana if she’s cured?
Without mods, no. Skyrim doesn’t allow you to marry vampires or someone who was a vampire. To marry Serana, you’ll need a mod like the “Marriable Serana” mod.
5. Can I still become a Vampire Lord again if Serana is cured?
Yes. Curing Serana doesn’t affect your ability to become a Vampire Lord. She can turn you into a Vampire Lord as many times as needed.
6. What armor is best for Serana?
Serana prefers light armor. High-quality light armor with enchantments like Muffle and Fortify Sneak will make her an even more effective follower, especially if you favor stealthy gameplay. Also, consider improving whatever armor she wears using smithing.
7. Does Serana like the Dragonborn?
Serana seems to have a fondness for the Dragonborn. She expresses gratitude for being freed from her father’s control and hints at a deeper connection through her dialogue.
8. Can Serana wear any armor?
Serana will generally only wear light armor that is better than her default Vampire Royal Armor. Ensure the armor has a high armor rating to encourage her to equip it.
9. Can Serana die?
Serana is an essential character for much of the Dawnguard questline, meaning she can’t die during those quests. After the Dawnguard quests, Serana cannot die from normal damage but can be killed by the player or essential NPCs.
10. What happens if Serana refuses the cure?
If Serana refuses to seek a cure, there is no way to force her. You will have to accept her as a vampire and continue your adventures together as is.
11. Can I cure Serana and then turn her back into a vampire?
No. Once Serana is cured, you cannot turn her back into a vampire through normal gameplay mechanics.
12. What if Falion is dead?
If Falion is dead, you won’t be able to cure Serana. He’s the only NPC who performs the curing ritual. You’ll need to reload a previous save or use console commands (if playing on PC) to resurrect him.
13. Does curing Serana change her dialogue?
Yes. Curing Serana changes her dialogue options and her general disposition. She becomes more optimistic and less brooding.
14. Will curing Serana affect her abilities as a follower?
Curing Serana will remove her vampiric abilities, such as Vampiric Drain. However, she’ll still be a powerful mage and a valuable companion.
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To explore the broader implications of games and interactive media on learning, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. You can see how games can be a catalyst for cognitive and social development.
Conclusion: Healing and Choice in Skyrim
Ultimately, “healing” Serana is a journey with two distinct paths. One involves the practical application of Restoration spells to keep her alive and fighting by your side. The other is a deeply personal quest where she grapples with her identity and ultimately chooses her own destiny. While magic plays a role in both, it’s the power of choice and the bond between the Dragonborn and Serana that truly defines her fate.