Where is Harkon's castle in Skyrim?
Harkon's castle, Castle Volkihar, is located on a secluded island in the far northwest of Skyrim, west of Solitude, accessible via a bridge or boat from Icewater Jetty after starting the Dawnguard DLC questline, serving as the base for the Volkihar Vampire Clan.Where is Lord Harkon's castle?
Located in the northwestern most area of Skyrim, Castle Volkihar is the home of Lord Harkon and his Vampire Lords. You must use a boat to reach the secluded castle the first time you visit it. You will go to this location during the quest Awakening.How do you get to the Castle Volkihar in Skyrim?
To get to Castle Volkihar in Skyrim, go to the Solitude Docks, find the ferryman, and pay him to take you to Icewater Jetty, a small island near the castle; from the jetty, you'll walk northeast to the castle entrance, which only opens during the Dawnguard questline (specifically Bloodline) after rescuing Serana.Where is the vampire castle located in Skyrim?
Castle Volkihar is located in a previously inaccessible region in the far northwest corner of Skyrim, near the sea border with High Rock. The entrance can initially be accessed via Icewater Jetty, northwest of Northwatch Keep. The castle can also be reached by Ferrymen, or by swimming across the channel.Can you still become a Vampire Lord if you refuse Harkon?
Yes, you absolutely can become a Vampire Lord even after refusing Harkon's offer; you just need to get turned by Serana later in the questline or after completing it, either during "Chasing Echoes," "Kindred Judgement," or as a follower, as long as she hasn't been cured of her vampirism. This allows you to get the Vampire Lord form and powers without siding with Harkon initially, though it might affect your relationship with the Dawnguard if you're actively helping them.Skyrim Castle Volkihar Gate Glitch Fix 2025 - Dawnguard DLC
How many times will Serana make you a vampire?
Serana can turn you into a Vampire Lord an unlimited number of times, provided you've completed the Dawnguard questline and haven't persuaded her to cure herself. After the main quest, you can simply ask her to transform you as often as you like, but you'll need to get cured by Harkon or a priest to interact normally with the Dawnguard again.Is it better to side with Vampires or Dawnguard?
Choosing between Dawnguard or Vampire in Skyrim's DLC depends on your playstyle: Dawnguard offers powerful crossbows, unique sun-based spells, trolls, and a focus on traditional vampire hunting, while Vampires provide the potent Vampire Lord form with unique powers, vampire-specific jewelry, and a darker roleplaying experience, though becoming a vampire early can alienate Dawnguard members and vendors. You can even join the Vampires later as a Dawnguard member for a mix of rewards, but expect bugs with Dawnguard interactions.Where is the secret entrance to Castle Volkihar?
Castle Volkihar has several "secret" entrances, including a hidden dockside door on the north side accessible during the "Chasing Echoes" quest (activated by turning a candlestick or pulling a chain in the ruins). Another is the "Secret Cave" well entrance (requiring mods or specific conditions) near the courtyard, and the main gate, which often glitches and requires using a Wooden Plate and Whirlwind Sprint to bypass before the quest allows entry.Can you make Castle Volkihar your home?
Yes, Castle Volkihar can become a player home in Skyrim, especially if you join the Volkihar vampires in the Dawnguard DLC, but it often requires mods to fully transform the ruined castle into a functional, safe player base with dedicated quarters and storage, with popular mods like "Castle Volkihar Rebuilt" or "Castle Volkihar Redux" adding this functionality.Can I become a Vampire Lord after Dawnguard?
Yes, you absolutely can become a Vampire Lord after finishing the main Dawnguard questline in Skyrim by asking Serana to bite you, even if you sided with the Dawnguard. This ability remains available even after the DLC concludes, allowing you to switch between forms, though being a vampire will make the Dawnguard hostile and stop most of their radiant quests unless you cure yourself.Can you keep Serana as a follower if you side with the Dawnguard?
Yes, you absolutely can get Serana as a follower if you join the Dawnguard; she's a core companion for the entire Dawnguard DLC questline, regardless of which faction (Dawnguard or Vampires) you ultimately side with, and remains a permanent follower after completion if you choose. She'll follow you through most of the main story as an essential guide, and after the questline, she'll stay at Fort Dawnguard (or Castle Volkihar if you chose vampires) and can be recruited indefinitely.Where is the best place to find vampires in Skyrim?
You can find vampires in Haemar's Shame, a cave to the southwest of Ivarstead. If you want to contract Vampirism, go there and let the vampires attack you. Or simply purchase or aquire Vampire Salts and ingest them as you would any food item.Why can't I get into Castle Volkihar?
Can't get into Castle Volkihar? It's a common glitch, usually fixed by using the "Plate & Whirlwind Sprint" method (dropping a plate, holding it to the gate, and shouting through) or console commands (like setstage DLC1VQ02 8 then coc DLC1VampireCastleGuildHall) for PC users to teleport inside, as the door often fails to open after the outer gate. If on console, the plate glitch is your best bet; if on PC, use console commands for a more reliable fix.Can you get Harkon's sword as a Dawnguard?
Yes, you can get Harkon's Sword as a Dawnguard member by killing Lord Harkon during the final quest, "Kindred Judgment," after siding with the Dawnguard faction; it's a unique weapon that's part of the main story's conclusion for both sides, similar to Blades katanas but with vampire-themed guards.Where does Serana go after killing Harkon?
After killing Harkon, Serana stays with you as a follower, but her home base depends on your choice: she'll be at Fort Dawnguard if you sided with them (and might seek a cure from Falion), or at Castle Volkihar if you sided with the vampires. She continues to adventure with you, or you can find her wandering these locations when dismissed.Is it worth it to become a Vampire Lord in Skyrim?
Whether you should become a Vampire Lord in Skyrim depends on your playstyle: it's great for stealth/mage builds (better Illusion, Sneak, disease immunity) but tough for daytime combat (fire weakness, sunlight penalties), though powerful if you embrace the Dawnguard DLC's Castle Volkihar path or master specific perks like Necromage to negate drawbacks, offering fun roleplay and powerful forms for a mage/warrior, but requiring commitment to feeding and managing NPC hostility.Can I get a free house in Skyrim?
Yes, you can get free houses or properties in Skyrim through quests, joining factions, or by using a well-known gold glitch to essentially "steal" a house from the steward after initiating the purchase. Options range from small shacks like the Alchemist's Shack and Riverside Shack to larger homes like Severin Manor (with Dragonborn DLC) or even parts of faction headquarters like the Jorrvaskr Living Quarters.Is Dawnguard or Volkihar better?
Fort Dawnguard and Castle Volkihar are the opposing strongholds in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's Dawnguard DLC, offering different gameplay experiences: Dawnguard focuses on vampire hunting with crossbows and trolls, appealing to warriors/archers, while Volkihar leans into being a powerful vampire lord with unique spells and rings, better suited for mages, with both sides offering distinct gear and follower types but differing story paths and aesthetics. Your choice depends on your character's build and preferred roleplaying: heroic vampire hunter or powerful undead lord.How to gain access to Castle Volkihar?
To get into Castle Volkihar, you must start the Dawnguard questline, rescue the vampire Serana from Dimhollow Crypt, and escort her back to the castle via a boat from Icewater Jetty; the gate guard will then let you in to meet Lord Harkon, after which you can explore or join the vampires. If you encounter a glitch where the gate won't open, you can use a wooden plate/bowl and Whirlwind Sprint to clip through, or use console commands on PC to teleport inside.Why can't I go back into the Soul Cairn in Skyrim?
If you become a Vampire to enter the Soul Cairn, or were on the Vampire path and cure your character of Vampirism, you will no longer be able to enter the Soul Cairn.Where is Seranas' mom?
Serana's mother, Valerica, is initially found trapped in the Soul Cairn's Boneyard during the Dawnguard DLC quest "Beyond Death," held by an invisible barrier, and to free her, you must defeat the three Keepers in the Cairn. After the main questline, if you defeat Harkon, she returns to Castle Volkihar and can be found in her study or tending her courtyard garden, depending on whether you sided with the Dawnguard or vampires, or after Harkon's death, Reddit users noted.Will Serana still follower if you choose Dawnguard?
Yes, you absolutely can get Serana as a follower if you join the Dawnguard; she's a core companion for the entire Dawnguard DLC questline, regardless of which faction (Dawnguard or Vampires) you ultimately side with, and remains a permanent follower after completion if you choose. She'll follow you through most of the main story as an essential guide, and after the questline, she'll stay at Fort Dawnguard (or Castle Volkihar if you chose vampires) and can be recruited indefinitely.Can I be a Vampire Lord and join the Dawnguard?
Yes, you can become a Vampire Lord and still side with the Dawnguard in Skyrim: Dawnguard DLC, but you'll face challenges, as Dawnguard members become hostile and block quests until you're cured; you get chances from Serana in the questline after killing Harkon, allowing you to be a Vampire Lord and complete the Dawnguard side, then cure yourself for faction progression, and can be turned again later.What happens if I accept Harkon's gift?
Accepting Lord Harkon's gift in Skyrim's Dawnguard DLC instantly turns the Dragonborn into a Vampire Lord, aligning you with the vampires against the Dawnguard, giving you immense power but making you weak in the sun and blocking normal Dawnguard quests unless you get cured and later choose the Vampire path again via Serana. Refusing banishes you but leaves the choice open, and you'll be attacked on sight by vampires.
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