Buzz
You can contract vampirism in Skyrim by fighting vampires or siding with the Volkihar Clan in the Dawnguard expansion. Vampirism enhances magical abilities and resistance but weakens your capabilities during the day and increases fire damage. There are several ways to cure this condition before fully transforming, such as consuming a cure potion or praying at a shrine. To reverse vampirism after fully transforming, you must complete the 'Rising At Dawn' quest given by Falion in Morthal.
Steps
Curing Vampirism Before Full Transformation
Understand how vampirism is contracted. You can contract Sanguinare Vampiris by fighting vampires. You then have 3 in-game days to cure it before fully transforming into a vampire. Once transformed, these methods will no longer work, and you must seek Falion.
- A notification will appear in the bottom-left corner indicating you have contracted Sanguinare Vampiris (if applicable). You can always use one of the basic cures immediately after fighting vampires to stay safe.
- Once the screen displays messages about thirst for blood or skin burning in sunlight, these cures will no longer be effective.
Use a cure potion. These potions can be found throughout the world, purchased from alchemy shops, or crafted. The Silver Hand and Vigilants of Stendarr often leave these potions behind after being defeated.
- In shops, the supply is nearly random, and cure potions are not always available in stock.
- To craft one, ingredients with curative properties include Charred Skeever Hide, Felsaad Tern Feathers DR, Hawk Feathers, Mudcrab Chitin, and Vampire Dust.
Pray at a shrine. All shrines have the ability to cure diseases. You can find them across the world, especially in temples within major cities.
Ask a Vigilant of Stendarr to cure you. They often roam the world but can always be found at the Hall of the Vigilant. This isolated building is located south of Dawnstar.
Curing After Full Transformation
Speak to an innkeeper about rumors until you receive the 'Rising at Dawn' quest. Any innkeeper in Skyrim can provide the quest, but their responses when asked about rumors are somewhat random. The quest will guide you to meet Falion in Morthal, a researcher of vampirism.
- If the innkeeper doesn’t offer the quest, try visiting another town or resting for a night. Their responses may change over time.
- This dialogue only occurs after you have fully transformed into a vampire.
- When at stage 4 of the transformation (after going too many days without feeding), townsfolk (including innkeepers) will attack you on sight. You must feed or use a blood potion to reduce your vampiric stage before speaking to an innkeeper about the quest.
Speak to Falion in Morthal. He will explain the ritual to cure vampirism and then ask you to bring him a filled black soul gem as the next step in the quest.
- Morthal is located north of Whiterun. Falion usually resides in his house, which you can find on the map.
Obtain a black soul gem. Black soul gems are used to trap human souls for powerful enchantments or, in this case, to perform the ritual. Falion sells empty black soul gems. Alternatively, you can find them in dungeons or by defeating Necromancers.
Fill the black soul gem. Unlike other soul gems, black soul gems require human souls to be filled. You must kill a person using a weapon enchanted with Soul Trap or cast the Soul Trap spell on them.
- The Soul Trap spellbook can be purchased from various vendors, including court wizards in Whiterun and Windhelm, or mages at the College of Winterhold.
- Scrolls of Soul Trap can be bought from the same vendors who sell the spellbook. These are cash-only items and do not require any magical proficiency.
- You can enchant a weapon with Soul Trap if you’ve previously enchanted a weapon with a similar effect. Some weapons can be found or purchased throughout the world.
- If you cannot enchant or prefer not to buy a weapon, you can acquire the Mace of Molag Bal, a reward from completing the 'House of Horrors' quest. Speak to Tyranus in Markarth to start that questline.
Bring the filled black soul gem to Falion. He will arrange to meet you at the summoning circle outside the town.
Meet Falion outside the town. The summoning stones are located just north of the town. You must meet him between 5-6 AM in-game time to begin the ritual.
- Falion will not proceed with the ritual if you are not present. This means you can take your time and do not need to rush to the summoning circle immediately.
Wait for the ritual to complete. Falion will perform the ritual, and after a brief dialogue, you will no longer be a vampire.
Tips
- Falion's quest can be repeated anytime if you contract vampirism again in the future.
- You can use cure disease potions, Resist Disease Restoration spells, or enchanted gear to avoid infection when fighting vampires.
- Visit Falion's house at night if you want to avoid being attacked by him during the final stage of vampirism. If Falion is asleep, you can wake him up to talk. Just make sure you don’t feed on him.
- Playing as an Argonian or Bosmer grants natural disease resistance, reducing the chance of contracting Sanguinare Vampiris by 50%.
- If Falion attacks you due to advanced vampirism, you can use a calm spell to pacify him. This also works on innkeepers.
- You can also become a werewolf to remove vampirism, though this comes with its own perks and drawbacks. Start this quest by speaking to any Companion in Whiterun.
Warnings
- Being cured of vampirism does not erase crimes committed while you were a vampire.
- You cannot speak to Falion if you reach stage 4 of vampirism. Reduce your vampiric stage by feeding or using a blood potion.
