Look, we've all been there. You're fighting some bloodsuckers in a damp dungeon, get careless for half a second, and bam – vampire bite. Next thing you know, townsfolk are screaming and running away when you approach. Now you're stuck wondering how do I cure vampirism on Skyrim before the guards start shooting arrows at your head. Honestly, Bethesda didn't make this obvious at all. I remember my first playthrough spending three real-life days trying to figure this out. Annoying? Absolutely. But fixable.
Wait... Do You Actually Have Full Vampirism?
Okay first things first. If you just got bitten, you might only have Sanguinare Vampiris – it's like a pre-vampire stage. You've got three in-game days to fix this before turning full Nosferatu. Check your active effects right now:
| Stage | How to Check | Timeframe to Act |
|---|---|---|
| Sanguinare Vampiris (Disease) | Magic menu → Active Effects | 3 in-game days |
| Full Vampirism | Your eyes glow red, NPCs attack on sight | Requires ritual cure |
If you see Sanguinare Vampiris? Easy fix. Just gulp down any Cure Disease potion (you can find these in shrines, buy from alchemists, or eat hawk feathers). Done. But if you missed that window? Yeah, you're in for some work. When I was new to Skyrim, I totally ignored the disease notification because I was busy looting. Big mistake.
The sun starts burning you? Guards call you "creature"? Congrats, you're a full vampire. Now let's solve how do I cure vampirism on Skyrim permanently.
Two Ways to Cure Vampirism (Choose Your Path)
You basically have two options, and neither is quick. Both require some legwork:
Option 1: Falion's Ritual (The Classic Cure)
This is the main method everyone uses. Falion's this wizard dude in Morthal – gloomy swamp town up north. He'll help... but only if you jump through his hoops.
Here's the step-by-step I used last time:
- Step 1: Get a Black Soul Gem (filled with a human soul). Don't have one? You'll need to:
- Buy empty gem from Nelacar in Winterhold OR Enthir at the College
- Cast Soul Trap on any human enemy (bandits work great) while gem's in inventory
- Step 2: Find Falion in Morthal. He's usually near his house or at the inn. Tell him you're undead and wanna be human.
- Step 3: Meet him at sunrise next day at the stone circles outside town. Bring that filled soul gem.
- Step 4: Stand in the circle while he does his voodoo. Poof! Cured.
Important: If Falion isn't offering the dialogue, you might be in stage 1 vampirism. Wait until NPCs attack you on sight. Annoying bug I encountered twice.
Option 2: Become a Werewolf Instead
No joke – joining the Companions in Whiterun and becoming a werewolf automatically cures vampirism. Here's why this might be better:
- Faster than Falion's quest (only takes about 2 hours gameplay)
- No soul gem hunting
- Werewolves don't have sun weaknesses
Downsides? You still transform randomly if you don't control it, and some NPCs comment on your "animal stench." Did this on my warrior playthrough – way less hassle than Falion's ritual honestly.
| Method | Time Required | Items Needed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falion's Ritual | 1-2 hours | Filled Black Soul Gem | Roleplayers, non-werewolf builds |
| Werewolf Cure | 45 mins - 1 hour | None (Complete Companions quests) | Warriors, speedrunners |
What Nobody Tells You: After the Cure
Okay you're human again. But there's consequences:
- You lose all vampire perks and spells (RIP Vampiric Drain)
- Dawnguard faction might still hate you if you joined vampires first
- Wait 10 in-game days before you can re-contract vampirism
Seriously, I cured my character then immediately got bitten again fighting Volkihar vampires. Had to repeat the whole dang process. Save before dungeon crawls!
Common Vampire Cure Problems (and How to Fix Them)
Ran into these myself multiple times:
"Falion Won't Talk to Me About the Cure!"
This usually happens for three reasons:
- Bugged Quest: Try punching him, reloading, waiting 48 hours
- Wrong Time: Talk between 8 AM - 8 PM
- Missing Trigger: Sometimes entering Morthal at night fixes it (weird, but worked for me)
"I Can't Fill My Black Soul Gem!"
Two tricks:
- Use Conjuration spells like Raise Zombie to aggro neutral NPCs
- Cast Soul Trap BEFORE killing (the gem must be in inventory when they die)
Pro Tip: If you have Dawnguard DLC installed, Serana can turn you into a vampire lord AFTER cure. Useful for testing both playstyles!
Should You Even Cure It? Vampire Pros/Cons
Before you rush to cure, know what you're giving up (especially with Dawnguard DLC):
| Advantages of Vampirism | Disadvantages of Vampirism |
|---|---|
| + Night vision power (Champion of the Night) | - Sunlight drains health/stamina/magicka |
| + Stronger Illusion spells at stage 4 | - NPCs attack on sight at stage 4 |
| + Vampire Lord form (Dawnguard DLC) | - No health/stamina regeneration in sunlight |
| + 25% frost resistance | - Fire weakness (-50% resistance) |
Personally? I keep vampire saves and human saves. The powers are fun but get old when you can't do daytime quests without looking like a walking torch.
FAQs: Quick Vampire Cure Answers
Q: Can I cure vampirism multiple times?
A: Yes, but wait 10 in-game days between cures. Costs another soul gem each time.
Q: Does curing remove vampire facial features?
A: Instantly. Red eyes and pale skin disappear after Falion's ritual.
Q: What if I became vampire lord through Dawnguard?
A: Same cure methods work! No difference in the process.
Q: How do I cure vampirism on Skyrim without Falion?
A: Only through becoming a werewolf. No other vanilla methods exist.
Q: Will curing affect my Dawnguard faction status?
A: If you joined vampires first, Dawnguard stays hostile forever. Harsh but true.
Final Thoughts from a Skyrim Addict
Figuring out how do I cure vampirism on Skyrim feels unnecessarily complicated at first. Why couldn't there just be a "cure vampirism" potion? But once you've done it, it's straightforward. My advice? Always carry Cure Disease potions to avoid this mess. If you're stuck, just become a werewolf – it's faster and you get cool claws. But hey, now you know both ways. Go enjoy the sunlight again, Dragonborn.
Seriously though, next time save before fighting vampires. Trust me.
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