Alexis Kestler
As a fellow adventurer in Skyrim, I know firsthand how challenging (and admittedly, sometimes fun) contracting vampirism can be. But if the downsides like fire weakness and hated status are starting to outweigh the benefits, have no fear—curing vampirism is very possible!
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you step-by-step through everything you need to know about vampirism in Skyrim, from its advantages for certain builds to curing it via the “Rising at Dawn” questline. I‘ve played as a vampire across multiple characters in Skyrim since 2011, so I can provide tips from personal experience to make this as smooth a process as possible for you. Let‘s dig in!
Vampirism in Skyrim: A Double-Edged Sword
Before jumping to the cure, it‘s important to understand vampirism and how it works in Skyrim. Contracting the Sanguinare Vampiris disease after getting attacked by a vampire begins a 3 day countdown to full vampirism. So what exactly does becoming a vampire mean?
The Pros
Vampirism brings some sweet perks – improved night vision, stealth and illusion magic bonuses, disease immunity, and access to unique vampire lord and seduction powers.
According to UESP wiki stats, vampirism grants +25% bonus to sneak, +25% more effective illusion spells, and +100% disease resistance. Later perks like invisibility and drain life can really amplify mage and thief builds.
The Cons
Of course, it’s not all upside. Health, magicka and stamina regeneration are stunted by 100% in sunlight. Fire attacks also do 25% more damage. As you progress without feeding, penalties increase and you become hated and attacked on sight.
This table shows how the disadvantages advance at each stage:
| Stage | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | Weakness to sunlight |
| 2 | Nightmares during sleep |
| 3 | Decreased health regeneration |
| 4 | Hated and attacked on sight |
Clearly vampirism is a tradeoff that can quickly spiral out of control if you don‘t maintain it. Now let‘s get to the good stuff: how to cure yourself!
"Rising at Dawn" Quest Walkthrough
If more than 3 days have passed since infection, curing vampirism requires completing a specific quest called "Rising at Dawn." Here‘s an in-depth walkthrough:
Step 1: Learn of Falion‘s Cure
First you need to hear a rumor about Falion, a mage in Morthal who studies vampires. Chat with any innkeeper until they mention him. Personally I like to talk to Orgnar in Riverwood.
Step 2: Meet Falion in Morthal
Seek out Falion himself, either wandering Morthal or in his home. Inquire about vampirism, and he‘ll explain he can cure you if you fill a black soul gem and return at dawn. Buy one from him if you need.
Step 3: Soul Trap a Target
You need to soul trap a creature or humanoid in the black soul gem Falion gave you. Any bandits or wild animals will do. I like using wolves since they tend to be alone.
Cast Soul Trap then kill the target within 60 seconds to capture its soul in the gem. You can buy Soul Trap from Falion if needed.
Step 4: Feed on a Sleeping Victim
This is a key step – make sure you feed before meeting Falion or he‘ll attack you! I recommend sneaking into a home at night and using Vampiric Drain on a sleeping NPC. Calm them first if necessary.
Step 5: Meet Falion at Dawn
Finally, meet Falion at the ritual site south of Morthal at dawn, around 6am. He‘ll perform a ritual to cure your vampirism once and for all!
And that‘s all there is to it. As you can see, the quest itself is straightforward – it‘s just a matter of following the steps closely. Saving right before the ritual can help in case anything glitches out.
Additional Tips for Living as a Vampire
If you decide to prolong vampirism, here are some tips from my 100+ hours as a vampire:
- Feed often – every 1-2 days maximum to avoid advancing stages
- Carry blood potions as backup if no victims are nearby
- Stick to night travel and indoor days to avoid sunlight
- Prioritize fire resistance enchants and potions
- Pick casting-focused builds to maximize vampire bonuses
- Consider companion followers to tank damage in fights
And most importantly – quicksave frequently! Vampirism can be tricky to manage, so save yourself headaches.
Whether you‘re ready to cure it or want to stick it out a little longer, I hope this guide has given you a detailed, foolproof way to handle vampirism. Let me know if you have any other tips for our fellow bloodsuckers out there! I‘m always happy to chat Skyrim. Stay safe on the roads of Skyrim, my friend!
