Will Serana Follow You After Dawnguard? A Comprehensive Guide to Skyrim’s Most Enigmatic Companion
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Yes, Serana will absolutely follow you after the Dawnguard questline, becoming an invaluable companion regardless of whether you sided with the Dawnguard or the Volkihar vampires. Her continued presence is integral to the game, offering unique dialogue, potent abilities, and a compelling narrative presence long after Harkon falls. However, certain conditions and potential bugs can affect her availability. Let’s dive into the intricacies of keeping Serana by your side in Skyrim.
Serana: An Indispensable Ally
Serana isn’t just any follower; she’s an essential character. This designation makes her uncapable of being killed, a significant advantage in Skyrim’s often-brutal combat scenarios. Her proficiency in Conjuration, Necromancy, and Vampire Drain makes her a formidable ally against both the living and the undead. Beyond her combat prowess, Serana’s dialogue and interactions add depth and emotional resonance to the game. Her unique perspective on the world, shaped by centuries of isolation, offers valuable insights into the lore and moral ambiguities of Skyrim.
Navigating the Post-Dawnguard World with Serana
Even after completing the main Dawnguard storyline, Serana remains available as a follower. Her initial willingness to accompany you is tied to the quest “Touching the Sky.” If you dismissed her before completing this quest, or if a bug occurs, there are ways to rectify the situation. Her availability is crucial for players invested in exploring Skyrim’s hidden corners and engaging in its numerous side quests.
Potential Issues and Solutions
Several factors can prevent Serana from following you after Dawnguard. It is important to be aware of these. Addressing these issues often requires a bit of troubleshooting, but the reward of having Serana as a constant companion is well worth the effort.
The “Wait” Bug:
A common problem occurs if you instructed Serana to wait at a specific location between the quests “Beyond Death” and “Touching the Sky.” This can permanently disable her follower dialogue, preventing you from recruiting her again.
- Solution: Completion of the “Touching the Sky” quest will usually re-enable her follower option. Load a save before “Beyond Death” and tell her to follow, or wait until after “Touching the Sky” is complete.
Dismissal Glitch:
Dismissing Serana under certain circumstances in the vanilla game (unmodded) can cause a bug that removes her follower dialogue entirely.
- Solution: On PC, console commands can be used to re-add the dialogue. The Unofficial Skyrim Patch is highly recommended, as it prevents this bug from occurring in the first place (must be installed before dismissing Serana).
Combat Lock:
After defeating Harkon, Serana may sometimes remain locked in combat mode, preventing dialogue.
- Solution: Attack Serana until she kneels (essential characters don’t die) or leave the room and then re-enter to initiate conversation.
Where to Find Serana After Dismissal
Generally, after dismissing Serana, she will return to Fort Dawnguard, the headquarters of the vampire hunters. If you sided with the Volkihar vampires, she will return to Volkihar Keep. However, glitches can sometimes prevent her from returning to either location.
- Troubleshooting: If Serana is not at Fort Dawnguard or Volkihar Keep, try retracing your steps to the last location where you dismissed her. She may still be waiting there.
FAQs: All You Need to Know About Serana
1. Is Serana Essential After Dawnguard?
Yes, Serana remains an essential character throughout the game, making her invulnerable to death. This is irrespective of whether you finish the Dawnguard questline or not. You cannot kill her, ensuring she can be your constant companion.
2. Where Does Serana Go After Being Dismissed?
Typically, Serana returns to Fort Dawnguard (if you sided with the Dawnguard) or Volkihar Keep (if you sided with the vampires) when dismissed. If you cannot find her there, she may be glitched.
3. Can Serana Turn You Into a Vampire After Dawnguard?
Yes, Serana can turn you into a Vampire Lord even after completing the Dawnguard questline, regardless of your chosen side.
4. How Do You Get Serana To Follow You Again After Dismissal?
At the completion of ‘Touching the Sky’, her option to follow you will be reenabled. She will still appear at quest locations as she is needed. To fix this issue, either load a save before ‘Beyond Death’ and tell her to follow, or wait until after ‘Touching the Sky’ is complete.
5. Why Won’t Serana Follow Me Anymore?
Potential reasons include the “wait” bug between “Beyond Death” and “Touching the Sky,” or the dismissal glitch in the vanilla game. Refer to the “Potential Issues and Solutions” section above for fixes.
6. Can You Marry Serana?
Not without mods. Skyrim does not allow you to marry vampires through regular in-game actions. Mods are required to enable a marriage option with Serana.
7. Is Serana In Love With The Dragonborn?
That’s up for interpretation! The game hints at a possible affection but never explicitly confirms it. She seems to hold the Dragonborn in high regard, wavering between close friendship and a potential crush.
8. Can You Talk to Serana After Killing Harkon?
Sometimes, Serana gets stuck in combat after Harkon’s death. To resolve this, attack her until she goes down or leave the room and initiate conversation upon returning.
9. Does Serana Want To Be Cured of Her Vampirism?
Serana’s feelings about being cured are complex. Initially, she refers to her vampirism as a “gift.” However, it is possible to convince her to seek a cure after Harkon’s death if you approach the conversation correctly.
10. What Race Is Serana?
Despite her appearance, Serana is a Nord.
11. What Did Molag Bal Do To Serana?
Valerica says that both her and Serana willingly gave themself’s to Molag Bal.
12. Will Serana Leave If I’m Not A Vampire?
No, Serana will still show up at Fort Dawnguard and become your companion.
13. What Happens If Serana Gets Cured?
She loses her 100% resistance to frost and poison AND can no longer turn you into a Vampire Lord. Plus, she’ll STILL have Vampire drain even when cured and get creepy jaundiced green eyes.
14. Is Serana a Good Wife?
Serana’s spousal benefits are quite complete. She’ll provide a home-cooked meal daily, she has the Spouse Merchant ability, and has unique, fully-voiced dialogue.
15. Why won t Serana follow me anymore?
Why does Serana no longer have the option to follow me from Beyond Death to Touching the Sky quests? If you tell Serana to wait between these two quests, you will not be able to tell her to follow you again. At the completion of ‘Touching the Sky’, her option to follow you will be reenabled.
Conclusion: Embrace the Undead Ally
Serana is more than just a follower; she’s a character with depth, complexity, and a significant impact on the Skyrim experience. Overcoming any potential glitches to keep her by your side enhances the game immeasurably. Whether you seek a powerful companion in battle or a nuanced perspective on the world, Serana offers a unique and unforgettable partnership.
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