Trigger: Guards mention the Dawnguard reforming, or visit Fort Dawnguard SE of Riften.
Unlocks: Serana (companion), Auriel's Bow, Vampire Lord or Dawnguard perk trees, and crossbows.
1. Joining the Fight
Rumours spread of an order of vampire hunters — the Dawnguard — reforming under Isran at Fort Dawnguard, hidden in a canyon southeast of Riften. Your first task takes you to Dimhollow Crypt to investigate what the Volkihar vampires are searching for.
2. Awakening Serana
Deep in Dimhollow you solve a ring-of-braziers puzzle to open a sealed monolith and free Serana, a pure-blood vampire who has slept for millennia — clutching an Elder Scroll. Escort her home to Castle Volkihar, where her father Lord Harkon reveals his plan: the Tyranny of the Sun, a prophecy to blot out the sun forever so vampires can rule.
3. The Choice
Join the Dawnguard
Refuse Harkon's gift and side with the hunters. Unlock crossbows, armored trolls, and the Dawnguard perk line. The "good" path.
Become a Vampire Lord
Accept Harkon's blood to join the Volkihar. Gain the Vampire Lord transformation and its own perk tree. The "dark" path.
Either way the main story is similar — both sides ultimately race to stop (or fulfil) the prophecy, and both must gather the Elder Scrolls and Auriel's Bow.
4. The Soul Cairn & Auriel's Bow
- 1
Find Valerica (Soul Cairn)
To read the Elder Scrolls you need Serana's mother, Valerica, hidden in the bleak plane of the Soul Cairn. Reach it through Castle Volkihar's ruined courtyard.
- 2
The Forgotten Vale
The scrolls point to the breathtaking Forgotten Vale. With the Snow Elf paladin Gelebor, gather Auriel's Bow after defeating the corrupted arch-curate Vyrthur.
- 3
Sunhallowed arrows
Auriel's Bow fires devastating sunlight. Bless arrows at a Sunhallowed altar for extra power — the key to the finale.
5. Boss: Lord Harkon
Return to Castle Volkihar for the showdown with Harkon, now a monstrous Vampire Lord. He drains health, summons gargoyles and turns intangible to heal at pools of blood. Interrupt his healing, and finish him with Auriel's Bow — its sunlight staggers and burns him. With Harkon dead, the Tyranny of the Sun is averted (or claimed, depending on your path).
When Harkon phases out and flies to a blood pool, chase him and keep firing — if he fully heals the fight resets. Keep Serana attacking to split his focus.
6. Rewards
You keep Auriel's Bow (one of the best bows in the game), Serana as a permanent follower (she can even cure her vampirism), plus crossbows and Dragonbone weapon smithing. The Soul Cairn also lets you permanently boost your Stamina or Magicka.
💬 Community Strategies & Discussion
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