How to Join the Dawnguard in Skyrim (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

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1Starting the Dawnguard Quest

2Finding Fort Dawnguard

3Joining the Dawnguard

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Co-authored bywikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 29, 2019

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Once you install the Dawnguard DLC for Skyrim, you can find and join the Dawnguard order to fight vampires. You'll need to find Fort Dawnguard, which can be found in the southwest corner of the map. After finding the fort, there are several quests you'll need to complete before you can join and use the fort.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Starting the Dawnguard Quest

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  1. 1

    Install the Dawnguard content. Dawnguard was the first expansion released for Skyrim. It can be purchased separately if you own the base version of Skyrim, and is included in the Legendary Edition of the game. The Dawnguard content is not available without this expansion.

    • If you have the base version of Skyrim, you can purchase the expansion from your platform's online store. This will automatically install it for your game.
  2. 2

    Raise your level to 10. Being Level 10 or above is the easiest way to start the Dawnguard quest. Your level can be raised by increasing your skill levels. Each time you raise your skill level, you'll gain some experience points towards your character level.

    • See Level Up Fast in Skyrim for tips on gaining levels quickly.
    • You don't need to be Level 10 to start the Dawnguard quest, but it makes it much easier.

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  3. 3

    Talk to town guards. Town guards may relay a rumor about the Dawnguard, revealing the location on your map. This is not guaranteed to happen, but you can increase your chances by talking to as many guards as possible.

    • If you manage to hear the rumor, the location of Fort Dawnguard will appear on your map, and the Dawnguard quest will appear in your journal.
  4. 4

    Walk around a town until your encounter Durak. After you reach Level 10, the orc Durak will seek you out as you enter or exit any building in a town. This is the most surefire way to start the quest.

    • Durak will approach you even if you've already heard about Fort Dawnguard from a town guard.
  5. 5

    Tell Durak that you're interested. Durak will mark the location of the fort on your map if you haven't heard it from a guard yet, and the quest will be added to your journal.[1]

    • If you decline his request to seek out Dawnguard, you can talk to him again and tell him your interested. He'll stay in his current location until you agree.
  6. 6

    Head to Dayspring Canyon if you can't start the quest. If all else fails, you'll be able to force the quest to start by finding Dayspring Canyon and talking to Agmaer there. See the next section for details.

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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Finding Fort Dawnguard

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  1. 1

    Head to Riften. Riften is the nearest landmark to Dayspring Canyon, the entrance to Fort Dawnguard. You most likely already have Riften on your map, but if you don't it can be found in the southeast corner of the map, on the east side of the lake.[2]

    • If you've previously been to Riften, you can fast travel to it from your map to make the journey quick and easy.
  2. 2

    Take the road east out of Riften. The entrance to Dayspring Canyon is a short distance from Riften's east entrance.

  3. 3

    Cross a bridge after turning southeast. You'll cross a small bridge soon after you take the path to the southeast. There may be some wolves nearby that will try to attack.

  4. 4

    Look at the cliff wall to your left as you walk. A few steps after crossing the bridge, start looking at the cliff wall to your left. The entrance to Dayspring Canyon appears as a crack in this wall between a hollow log and a birch tree that's been broken.[3]

  5. 5

    Enter Dayspring Canyon. This will load a new area, where you'll be able to find Fort Dawnguard.

  6. 6

    Follow the path to approach the fort. The path will wind through a rocky area for a few minutes before you reach the fort.

  7. 7

    Talk to Durak and Agmaer if you encounter them. If you see Durak along the path, he'll give you a new crossbow after talking to him. Agmaer is another new recruit, and will provide you with the Dawnguard quest if you somehow managed to make it here without starting it.

  8. 8

    Enter the fort. You'll find the fort at the end of the path. Continue around the fort and up the incline to find the entrance.

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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Joining the Dawnguard

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  1. 1

    Talk to Isran. You'll find Isran in the center of the main room as soon as you enter the fort.[4]

  2. 2

    Tell Isran that you want to join. He'll appreciate your enthusiasm, but he'll need you to complete some tasks before the order is ready to be joined.

  3. 3

    Travel to Dimhollow Crypt. You're tasked with finding what the vampires were after in the cave, and to kill any that may still be there. Tolan tells you that he'll meet you there to help.

    • Dimhollow Crypt is in the mountains of the Dawnstar to the north. You'll find it near Frostmere Crypt if you had previously visited that location.
  4. 4

    Make your way through the crypt. You'll encounter multiple vampires, hounds, and skeletons, as well as a frostbite spider.

  5. 5

    Free Serana. At the end of the crypt, you'll free Serana, who will ask you to take her to her ancestral home. This will start the next quest in the series.

  6. 6

    Fight your way out of the crypt. After freeing Serana, you'll have to fight some gargoyles, draugr, skeletons, and undead as you make your way out of the crypt.

    • Make sure to use the Word Wall and grab any loot that you want on your way out.
  7. 7

    Travel to Icewater Jetty. This is the closest location to Castle Volkihar, where Serana wants you to take her. Icewater Jetty is in the far northwest corner, near Northwatch Keep.

  8. 8

    Take the boat to Castle Volkihar. You can take a boat from Icewater Jetty that will transport you to Castle Volkihar, which is on an island in the northern ocean.

  9. 9

    Decline Lord Harkon's offer. Lord Harkon will offer to turn you into a Vampire Lord, which will activate the Vampire Lord portion of the DLC quests and lock your out of joining the Dawnguard. Decline his offer and you'll be shown out of Castle Volkihar, and told never to return.

    • You can still become a Vampire Lord later on in the Dawnguard questline.
  10. 10

    Head back to Fort Dawnguard. Once you've declined Lord Harkon's offer, make your way back to Fort Dawnguard. You'll find it under attack by vampires, which you'll need to help repel.

  11. 11

    Talk to Isran to join the Dawnguard. After fighting off the attacking vampires, you can speak with Isran and you'll be officially entered into the Dawnguard. Your next few quests will get teh Dawnguard Fort restocked and filled with recruits.

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  • Question

    Can I feed on my kids and wife in vampire mode?

    How to Join the Dawnguard in Skyrim (with Pictures) - wikiHow (31)

    Community Answer

    You can't feed on children, but you can feed on your wife. If you try to feed on children, there is no option to feed, you only talk. You can feed on any adult.

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    Can I still be friends with vampires and Serana if I decline Lord Harkon's offer?

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    Community Answer

    Serana will still talk to you and you can do more quests with her, but Lord Harkon will not be happy with you, and I don't believe you can talk to him after completing the Dawnguard quests.

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    Can I still join the Dawnguard even if I am a full-blown vampire?

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    Community Answer

    No. If you are a vampire, they will attempt to murder you.

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      How to Join the Dawnguard in Skyrim (with Pictures) - wikiHow (48)

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      This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 91,343 times.

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      Co-authors: 6

      Updated: March 29, 2019

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      Categories: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

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      How to Join the Dawnguard in Skyrim (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      How do you join the Dawnguard in Skyrim? ›

      Once you've declined Lord Harkon's offer, make your way back to Fort Dawnguard. You'll find it under attack by vampires, which you'll need to help repel. Talk to Isran to join the Dawnguard. After fighting off the attacking vampires, you can speak with Isran and you'll be officially entered into the Dawnguard.

      Is it better to join the Dawnguard or vampires? ›

      Overall, the physical rewards (weapons, etc) are better if you choose Dawnguard. However, you cannot regularly use the powerful Vampire Lord form until after you've completed the main questline, or else the Dawnguard members will not accept you.

      Can I be a vampire and still join the Dawnguard? ›

      Joining The Vampires

      If the Dragonborn sides with Harkon and agrees to become a Vampire, they will not be able to enter Fort Dawnguard without the NPCs there becoming hostile. Because of this, they will lose out on several benefits of being a Dawnguard member, such as the freedom to purchase and craft Dwarven Bolts.

      Who is the best wife for a vampire in Skyrim? ›

      You will want to select your spouse carefully because some spouses cannot be made into vampires. Ysolda is a favorite choice of spouse because of the unusual markings she gets from being made into a vampire, as well as her relative ease to convince to marry. She can be found in Whiterun in the market.

      How do I get Serana to join the Dawnguard? ›

      When you first meet Serana, she was imprisoned along with an Elder Scroll in an underground tomb within Dimhollow Crypt. The purity of her vampiric blood gives her the title Daughter of Coldharbour. If you complete the entire Dawnguard questline, she becomes a permanent follower.

      What level should I join the Dawnguard? ›

      Starting Dawnguard

      You automatically start Dawnguard when you reach level ten. At this point, you might be approached by an orc named Durak. He will ask if you know anything about the vampire threat and if you would like to do anything about it.

      Can you join the Dawnguard if you cure your vampirism? ›

      However, if you waited too long and levelled up your Vampire perks, you will notice that Dawnguard members will start to attack you (especially in towns). At this point, it is too late. You will not be able to join Dawnguards even if you cured yourself and they will still attack you (but less now).

      How does the Dawnguard react to becoming a vampire? ›

      If you choose to become a vampire while already allied with Dawnguard (i.e. when Serana attempts to smuggle you into Soul Cairn), you basically get kicked out of the Dawnguard, until you cure yourself.

      Does the Dawnguard care if you're a werewolf? ›

      Dawnguard & Werewolves | Fandom. What does the Dawnguard think of werewolves? Do they have any interest in them, or do they only hate vampires? They don't care.

      Can you have two wives in Skyrim? ›

      Once you get marry with the vanilla system, you can use the Shrine to move your vanilla spouse to one of the multiple marriage slots. You can also reset the vanilla quest using the shrine so that you can have another wedding.

      Who is the easiest girl to marry in Skyrim? ›

      Considered among the most popular companions and marriage partners, Lydia is an iconic spouse in Skyrim. She's relatively easy to meet since the main quest will lead players her way.

      How many wives are in Skyrim? ›

      There are a total of sixty six NPCs in the game that are eligible for marriage. You can only have one spouse.

      What are the benefits of joining the Dawnguard? ›

      The unique benefits of joining the Dawnguard include full access to Fort Dawnguard, various new weapons, armor, and spells to help fight vampires, such as crossbows, Dawnguard armor, and faction-specific spells such as Sun Damage and Vampire's Bane. apiece, which serve as temporary followers.

      Can I join the Dawnguard after killing Harkon? ›

      After Harkon is dead, you will either be approached by Isran or Garan Merethi. Isran will offer for you to become a member of the Dawnguard if you are not a vampire. If you are a vampire, Garan Merethi will speak to you and Castle Volkihar will become your home.

      Can you join Dawnguard and Stormcloaks? ›

      The empire and the stormcloaks are mutually exclusive, as are the dawnguard and the volkihar clan. other than that, you can join all of them.

      Who can you marry in Skyrim Dawnguard? ›

      The majority of spouse options are Nords and Imperials, with some Elves, Bretons, Orcs and Argonians mixed in. There are no Khajiit spouses, however; since the majority of Khajiit in Skyrim are traders or travelers from Elsweyr, they probably have families back home.

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