The Fateful Choice: To Refuse Lord Harkon or Embrace the Night?
So, you’ve done it. You’ve braved the crypts, navigated the darkness, and returned the mysterious Serana to her ancestral home, Castle Volkihar. But instead of a simple “thank you,” you’re presented with a monumental, game-altering decision. Lord Harkon, the imposing patriarch of this vampire clan, offers you a gift of immense power: his own vampiric blood. The question echoing in every player’s mind at this moment is, should I refuse Lord Harkon?
Let’s be clear right from the start: there is no single “correct” answer. The choice to accept or refuse Lord Harkon’s gift is one of the most compelling dilemmas in Skyrim. It fundamentally boils down to a conflict between raw, transformative power and righteous, specialized purpose. Do you want to become the ultimate predator of the night, or do you want to become its ultimate hunter? This article will provide an in-depth analysis of both paths, delving into the unique rewards, gameplay mechanics, and role-playing implications to help you make the perfect choice for your Dragonborn.
Siding with the Night: The Allure of Accepting Lord Harkon’s Gift
Accepting Harkon’s offer is, without a doubt, the path of immediate and tangible power. He doesn’t just make you a common vampire; he bestows upon you the legendary Vampire Lord form. This choice sends you down a dark and fascinating questline, unlocking a suite of new abilities and a unique lifestyle within the shadowy halls of Castle Volkihar.
The Overwhelming Power of the Vampire Lord
The Vampire Lord transformation is the star of the show. It’s not just a stat boost; it’s a whole new way to play the game. When you transform, you’ll levitate above the ground, sprout massive wings, and gain access to a dedicated skill tree. Your gameplay splits into two modes:
- Blood Magic (Ranged): In this mode, you hover and fling powerful spells. Your right hand drains life from your enemies to fuel your abilities, while your left hand can cast a variety of spells, including the iconic Vampiric Grip, which lets you telekinetically lift and choke your foes before flinging them aside.
- Claw Attacks (Melee): By landing on the ground, you switch to a ferocious melee stance. You’ll attack with powerful claws that can be enhanced through your perk tree to absorb health, magicka, and stamina from your victims.
The Vampire Lord perk tree features 11 skills that dramatically enhance your power, such as summoning gargoyles, surrounding yourself in a swarm of bats, and gaining supernatural reflexes that slow down time. It’s a versatile and incredibly fun form to master.
Exclusive Quests and Potent Rewards
Choosing the vampires grants you access to a series of quests centered around deciphering the Tyranny of the Sun prophecy. One of the most significant is “The Bloodstone Chalice,” which allows you to enhance the power of your life-draining spells. Furthermore, you’ll gain access to some of the best mage and assassin gear in the game:
- Ring of the Erudite: A must-have for any mage, this ring grants a massive +100 bonus to your Magicka and significantly increases your Magicka regeneration.
- Ring of The Beast: Perfect for a more brutish approach, this ring provides +100 to your Health and increases your unarmed claw damage.
- Amulets of Night Power: You can acquire two of these powerful amulets, the Amulet of the Gargoyle (summons an additional gargoyle) and the Amulet of Bats (improves your Bats ability to drain life).
Life in Castle Volkihar and its Downsides
Siding with the vampires makes Castle Volkihar your new home base. It’s a macabre but grand fortress, complete with a blacksmith, an alchemy lab, and a “blood fountain” for a quick health fix. You can rest in a coffin for the “Vampiric Draining” bonus and interact with a court of ancient and powerful vampires. However, this power comes at a steep price. The primary drawback is the Weakness to Sunlight. While in the sun, your Health, Magicka, and Stamina are stunted and will not regenerate. This makes daytime travel and combat a significant challenge. You’ll also have a severe weakness to fire, making dragons and pyromancers a much greater threat. While NPCs won’t attack you on sight like in base-game vampirism, the constant red haze and regeneration penalty during the day can be a major gameplay hurdle for many players.
Walking in the Light: The Case to Refuse Lord Harkon and Join the Dawnguard
If you tell Lord Harkon “I will not be your slave,” you’ll be unceremoniously banished from the castle. Your only recourse is to return to Isran, the leader of the Dawnguard. This choice sets you on a path of righteousness, outfitting you with the tools and allies needed to purge a great evil from Skyrim.
The Arsenal of a Vampire Hunter
What the Dawnguard lack in supernatural transformation, they more than make up for with superior technology and holy weaponry. The centerpiece of their arsenal is the Crossbow. Crossbows offer several advantages over traditional bows:
- Higher Base Damage: They hit harder than bows of the same material.
- Inherent Stagger: Crossbow bolts have a 50% chance to stagger an opponent, interrupting their attacks and spells. This is invaluable against powerful foes.
- Faster Projectile Speed: Bolts fly faster and flatter, making it easier to hit moving targets.
As you progress, you’ll gain access to schematics for the Enhanced Dwarven Crossbow, the best crossbow in the game, and the ability to craft explosive bolts of fire, ice, and shock. Beyond crossbows, you’ll unlock unique Dawnguard Runic weapons, including an axe and warhammer that deal extra sun damage to vampires, and a shield that creates a protective holy aura.
Exclusive Allies and Resources
Choosing the Dawnguard makes Fort Dawnguard your primary base of operations. This refurbished fort is a bustling hub of activity with full crafting facilities and expert-level trainers in skills like Smithing, Heavy Armor, and Archery. Your allies are a dedicated and diverse group, including:
- Armored Trolls: For a small fee, you can hire these beasts to fight alongside you. They are incredibly tough and excellent at distracting enemies.
- Dawnguard Huskies: These loyal canine companions can join you on your adventures.
- Specialized Followers: You gain access to a roster of followers like Celann and Durak who are geared and ready for vampire hunting.
Furthermore, you can learn unique Restoration spells like Stendarr’s Aura and Sun Fire, which are designed specifically to incinerate the undead, giving Paladin or Cleric-style characters a huge boost.
The Righteous Path and Role-Playing
To refuse Lord Harkon is to embrace the role of the hero. The Dawnguard questline is a classic tale of good versus evil. You are not seeking power for yourself but fighting to protect the innocent people of Skyrim from a terrible fate. This path aligns perfectly with a character who is a member of the Companions, a Thane in multiple holds, or anyone with a strong moral compass. It’s a story about duty, sacrifice, and standing against the darkness, offering a deeply satisfying narrative conclusion.
The Great Debate: A Side-by-Side Comparison
To make the decision even clearer, let’s break down the key differences between the two factions in a simple table.
| Feature | Volkihar Vampires (Accept Harkon’s Gift) | The Dawnguard (Refuse Lord Harkon) |
|---|---|---|
| Main Transformation/Ability | Vampire Lord Form | None (Can remain a Werewolf) |
| Primary Base | Castle Volkihar | Fort Dawnguard |
| Unique Gear | Ring of the Erudite, Ring of the Beast, Amulets of Night Power, Vampire Royal Armor | Enhanced Crossbows, Exploding Bolts, Dawnguard Runic Weapons, Heavy/Light Dawnguard Armor |
| Unique Followers/Allies | Vampire Cattle, Death Hounds | Armored Trolls, Huskies, Specialized Dawnguard Followers |
| Unique Spells | Access to Vampire Lord spell tree | Access to anti-undead Restoration spells (Sun Fire, etc.) |
| Key Benefit | A powerful and versatile new form with its own skill tree | Access to the best ranged weapons and a clear heroic narrative |
| Major Drawback | Crippling weakness to sunlight and fire | Miss out on the Vampire Lord form during the main quest |
| Role-playing Flavor | Power-hungry, morally ambiguous, mage/assassin, creature of the night | Righteous, heroic, warrior/archer, defender of the light |
Long-Term Considerations & Crucial Questions
Beyond the immediate rewards, there are a few critical points to consider that might heavily influence your decision.
Can I become a Vampire Lord later if I refuse Harkon?
Yes, and this is perhaps the most important detail many players miss. If you side with the Dawnguard, you can still become a Vampire Lord after the main questline is complete. Serana will retain the ability to turn you into one, and you can ask her to do so at any time. You can even be cured and re-infected by her multiple times. This means you are not permanently locked out of the Vampire Lord form if you refuse Harkon. However, you will be locked out of the vampire-exclusive quests and items like the Rings and Amulets. In essence, siding with the Dawnguard can give you the best of both worlds post-questline, but you have to earn it.
What if I’m already a werewolf?
You cannot be a Werewolf and a Vampire Lord at the same time. Accepting Lord Harkon’s gift will immediately cure your Lycanthropy. If you want to keep your werewolf form, you must refuse Lord Harkon and join the Dawnguard. This makes the decision very simple for players who are deeply invested in their Companion/werewolf identity.
Which side gets better loot overall?
This is entirely subjective and depends on your build. The Vampire rings (Erudite and Beast) are phenomenal and arguably some of the best-in-slot items for pure mages and unarmed characters, respectively. The Dawnguard’s Enhanced Dwarven Crossbow, however, is arguably the single best ranged weapon in the game, especially when combined with exploding bolts. Both sides ultimately gain access to Auriel’s Bow, the final prize of the questline, so the choice comes down to the specialized gear that complements your playstyle.
The Final Verdict: Who Should Refuse Lord Harkon?
Ultimately, the choice rests on the kind of story you want to tell and the gameplay you most enjoy. Your decision should be guided by your character’s identity.
You should refuse Lord Harkon if:
- You are role-playing a traditionally “good” or heroic character. A Paladin, a Vigilant of Stendarr, or a noble warrior would not hesitate to refuse.
- Your build is focused on archery or two-handed/one-handed combat. The crossbows and runic weapons of the Dawnguard are tailor-made for you.
- You cannot stand the idea of being weakened by sunlight. If you enjoy exploring during the day, the Vampire Lord’s debuffs will be a constant annoyance.
- You want to remain a werewolf.
You should accept Lord Harkon’s gift if:
- You want to experience the powerful and unique Vampire Lord transformation.
- Your build is focused on magic or stealth. The exclusive rings and the Vampire Lord’s abilities strongly favor these playstyles.
- You love the dark, gothic aesthetic and the idea of being an ancient, powerful creature of the night.
- You don’t mind planning your adventures around the day/night cycle.
No matter what you choose, the Dawnguard DLC offers a rich and rewarding adventure. The decision to accept or refuse Lord Harkon is the first step on an epic journey. Consider your Dragonborn’s past, their skills, and their moral alignment. Are they a savior or a predator? A protector of the light or a master of the dark? Answer that, and your choice will become clear.