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Who Cures Vampirism in Skyrim?

The most reliable way to cure vampirism in Skyrim involves completing the quest “Rising at Dawn,” which is initiated by speaking to Falion in Morthal. Falion, a skilled mage, is the primary NPC capable of performing the ritual required to purge the vampire’s curse from the Dragonborn.

Curing Vampirism: The Quest “Rising at Dawn”

If you’ve unfortunately contracted Sanguinare Vampiris and allowed it to progress into full-blown vampirism, the quest “Rising at Dawn” is your best bet for reversing your condition. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to complete it:

Understanding the Stages of Vampirism

Before seeking a cure, it’s important to understand the different stages of vampirism. Each stage comes with increased strengths and weaknesses. The longer you go without feeding, the more powerful your vampiric abilities become, but so does your vulnerability to sunlight. This directly impacts gameplay, making daytime exploration increasingly difficult.

Initiating the Quest

The quest “Rising at Dawn” can be initiated in several ways:

Hearing Rumors: Over time, NPCs may comment on your pale appearance or unusual behavior, eventually leading you to information about a cure for vampirism. Talk to innkeepers and guards; they often have useful insights.
Seeking Divine Guidance: Visiting a shrine of a deity, particularly those dedicated to curing diseases, may prompt a quest objective to seek a cure for your affliction.
Speaking to Falion Directly: If you know where Falion is located in Morthal, you can simply approach him and ask about a cure for vampirism. He will readily offer the quest.

The Quest Requirements

Falion requires two things to perform the cure:

A Black Soul Gem: These gems are more difficult to acquire than regular soul gems because they require trapping the soul of a humanoid – a person, elf, or similar intelligent creature.
Filling the Black Soul Gem: You need to use the Soul Trap spell or a weapon with the Soul Trap enchantment to capture the soul of a humanoid into the Black Soul Gem. Killing bandits, necromancers, or any other humanoid enemy and trapping their soul will fulfill this requirement. Be warned, using Black Soul Gems is considered a dark practice, so avoid doing it in populated areas.

Completing the Ritual

Once you have both the filled Black Soul Gem and have spoken to Falion, he will ask you to meet him at dawn near the summoning stones outside Morthal. At dawn, Falion will perform the ritual, consuming the soul within the gem and purging the vampirism from your body. You will be fully cured and no longer have any vampiric traits.

Preventing Re-infection

After being cured, you are still vulnerable to contracting Sanguinare Vampiris again. Avoid fighting vampires, especially at low levels, and consider using potions of resist disease if you know you will be facing them. Also, be aware that the disease can be contracted from traps and other environmental hazards, though this is less common.

Alternative Methods (Less Reliable)

While Falion‘s quest is the most definitive method, other options exist, though their effectiveness can be limited or temporary:

Becoming a Werewolf: This completely overrides vampirism. However, becoming a werewolf also has its own set of consequences and gameplay adjustments. Note that you cannot be both a werewolf and a vampire simultaneously.
Console Commands (PC Only): PC players can use console commands to instantly cure vampirism. However, using console commands can sometimes lead to unexpected glitches or problems with the game. This method is not available on consoles.
Praying at Shrines (Early Stage Only): If you catch Sanguinare Vampiris early enough (before three days have passed and it turns into full vampirism), you can pray at a shrine to cure the disease. This will not work once you are a full vampire.

FAQs: All About Curing Vampirism

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further address concerns about curing vampirism in Skyrim:

Can I cure vampirism more than once? Yes. You can become a vampire again after being cured and then seek another cure through Falion.
Does being cured of vampirism remove my skills? No. Being cured only removes the vampiric abilities and weaknesses. Your skills and attributes remain unchanged.
What happens if I’m a Vampire Lord from the Dawnguard DLC? The process is the same. Completing “Rising at Dawn” will cure you of the Vampire Lord form as well.
Where can I find Black Soul Gems? Black Soul Gems are typically found in necromancer lairs, bought from specific merchants, or crafted at the Atronach Forge in The Midden under the College of Winterhold.
Can I buy a filled Black Soul Gem? It is possible, but rare. Some necromancer merchants may occasionally sell filled Black Soul Gems. Look for merchants who deal in dark arts or magical components.
What’s the best way to fill a Black Soul Gem? The easiest way is to cast Soul Trap on a humanoid enemy just before killing them. A weapon with the Soul Trap enchantment is also effective.
Does curing vampirism affect my relationships with NPCs? Curing vampirism can improve your interactions with NPCs. Some NPCs may react negatively to vampires, and being cured can remove that penalty.
Can I cure other NPCs of vampirism? No, you cannot cure other NPCs. The “Rising at Dawn” quest is only for the Dragonborn.
Does the Dawnguard questline affect the cure for vampirism? The Dawnguard questline itself doesn’t change the process of curing vampirism through Falion. However, it offers an alternative through becoming a werewolf.
What are the advantages of being a vampire? Vampires gain increased resistance to diseases and poisons, increased strength, and access to powerful vampiric abilities like invisibility and draining life.
What are the disadvantages of being a vampire? Vampires are vulnerable to sunlight, which reduces their health, magicka, and stamina. They also face negative reactions from some NPCs and are forced to feed on blood to maintain their powers.
Is there a way to manage vampirism without curing it? Yes. You can manage vampirism by regularly feeding on blood, which reduces the negative effects and resets your stage of vampirism.
Can I become a vampire again after becoming a werewolf? No. You cannot contract vampirism while you are a werewolf. To become a vampire again, you must first cure yourself of lycanthropy (werewolfism).
What level should I be before attempting to cure vampirism? There is no specific level requirement. The quest “Rising at Dawn” can be completed at any level, but lower-level players might struggle to acquire a filled Black Soul Gem.
Are there any glitches associated with curing vampirism? Occasionally, glitches can occur where the cure doesn’t fully remove all vampiric effects. Saving your game before the ritual and reloading if necessary can resolve this issue. Using unofficial patches also helps prevent such glitches.

Who cures vampirism in Skyrim?