Do you want to cure vampirism in Skyrim quickly? Learn step-by-step how to complete Rising at Dawn, use potions, shrines, or become a werewolf.
Vampirism in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is more than just a spooky cosmetic change — it’s a gameplay-altering condition with unique powers, weaknesses, and role-play possibilities. But while some players embrace the night, others just want to return to normal as quickly as possible.
Whether you’ve just been infected with Sanguinare Vampiris or you’ve reached the point of full vampirism, this guide walks you through every method to get rid of it. You’ll learn how to cure it early, how to complete the Rising at Dawn quest, alternative cures like becoming a werewolf, and even quick fixes for PC players via console commands.
We’ll also cover troubleshooting tips, DLC-specific options, and frequently asked questions — so you’ll have everything you need to cure vampirism in Skyrim, no matter your playstyle.
Understanding Skyrim’s Two Stages of Vampirism
Before jumping into the cures, it’s important to understand that Skyrim has two distinct stages when it comes to vampirism — and the cure depends entirely on which stage you’re in.
Stage 1 – Early Infection (Sanguinare Vampiris)
The first stage, Sanguinare Vampiris, is triggered when you take melee hits from vampires during combat. Once infected, you can confirm it in your Active Effects menu, where it will appear as Sanguinare Vampiris. This early stage lasts for three in-game days before progressing to full vampirism. At this point, curing yourself is still quick and straightforward, requiring minimal resources and effort.
Stage 2 – Full Vampirism
If you fail to treat Sanguinare Vampiris within three in-game days, the disease advances to full vampirism. This transformation grants you powerful vampire abilities such as Vampire’s Sight and Vampiric Drain, but it also imposes severe drawbacks like weakness to sunlight and fire. Once you reach this stage, standard cures such as shrines or Cure Disease potions will no longer work. You’ll need to complete a special quest or pursue an alternate cure method.
Key takeaway: If you’re still within the early infection window, take action immediately. If you’ve already turned, prepare for a longer and more involved cure process.
Stage 1 – How to Cure Sanguinare Vampiris in Skyrim (Early Infection)
If you’ve been infected for less than three in-game days, curing vampirism is straightforward. You have several reliable options available.
1. Drink a Potion of Cure Disease
One of the quickest solutions is to drink a Potion of Cure Disease. These potions are sold by most alchemists throughout Skyrim, making them easy to obtain. You can also find them as loot in dungeons, chests, or on defeated enemies. Once consumed, the potion will remove Sanguinare Vampiris instantly, restoring you to full health without any lingering effects.
Resource: Skyrim Potion Locations Guide – UESP
2. Pray at a Shrine
Another fast and effective cure is to visit any shrine in Skyrim. Shrines to Talos, Akatosh, Mara, and others all provide blessings that remove diseases. You can find shrines inside temples in major cities or outdoors in the wilderness. Simply activate the shrine, and the blessing you receive will cure Sanguinare Vampiris completely.
Resource: Skyrim Shrines Locations – IGN Wiki
3. Get Help from the Vigilants of Stendarr
If you happen to encounter the Vigilants of Stendarr, you can ask them for help. These traveling vampire hunters roam Skyrim’s roads and will cure diseases for free. They are easily recognizable by their steel armor, maces, and torches, and are a great option if you are far from towns or shrines.
Important Note: After three in-game days, the disease progresses into full vampirism. At that point, none of these early-stage cures will work, and you’ll have to seek out the Rising at Dawn quest or take the werewolf route.
Stage 2 – How to Cure Full Vampirism in Skyrim
When the early infection stage passes, you’ll need a more involved cure. The main way to remove full vampirism is by completing the Rising at Dawn quest, which centers around the mage Falion in the town of Morthal.
Starting the Rising at Dawn Quest
To begin this quest, speak to any innkeeper and ask about rumors. They will tell you about a mage in Morthal who has knowledge of curing vampirism. Alternatively, you can skip the rumor step and travel directly to Morthal to find Falion yourself. Falion is a Redguard mage who studies vampirism and can usually be found in town during the day and outdoors at night. Speaking to him will initiate the Rising at Dawn quest.
Resource: Falion Quest Guide – UESP
Getting and Filling a Black Soul Gem
The core requirement for the cure is a filled Black Soul Gem. To get one, you can purchase it directly from Falion or from Enthir at the College of Winterhold. Black Soul Gems can also occasionally be looted from necromancers. Once you have the gem, you must fill it with a human soul. This is done by using the Soul Trap spell or a weapon enchanted with Soul Trap, then killing a humanoid enemy like a bandit while the effect is active. Only a human soul will satisfy Falion’s requirements.
Attending the Ritual
With the filled Black Soul Gem in your possession, return to Falion and arrange to meet him at the summoning circle near Morthal. The ideal time for the ritual is around 5:00am in-game. When you arrive, stand within the circle as Falion performs the ceremony. The screen will fade to black, and when it returns, you’ll be cured of vampirism.
If Falion refuses to perform the ritual, you may be “blood-starved” from hunger. In this case, you need to feed first. Sneak up to a sleeping NPC at night and select the Feed option to satisfy your hunger, then try again.
Alternate Permanent Cure – Become a Werewolf
If you prefer to bypass Falion entirely, another method is to cure vampirism by becoming a werewolf. Joining the Companions in Whiterun and progressing through their questline will eventually offer you the chance to accept lycanthropy. Once you become a werewolf, vampirism is removed instantly.
Players with the Dawnguard DLC have even more flexibility. You can switch between being a werewolf and a vampire multiple times. Aela the Huntress can re-grant lycanthropy, while Serana can transform you into a Vampire Lord again, giving you the freedom to swap between both supernatural states whenever you choose.
Resource: Werewolf and Vampire Switching – IGN Wiki
Console Command Method (PC Only)
For PC players, there’s an even faster solution. By opening the console with the ~ key and typing:
setstage 000EAFD5 10
you can cure yourself of vampirism instantly. This is ideal if you are stuck due to a bug, if Falion is unavailable, or if you simply don’t want to go through the quest.
Resource: Skyrim Console Commands – UESP
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If Falion won’t speak to you, it’s likely because you are in a blood-starved state. Feeding on a sleeping NPC will resolve this. If Falion has died, your options are limited — PC players can use console commands, while console players may need to pursue lycanthropy instead.
For those unable to find a Black Soul Gem, remember to check Falion, Enthir, and necromancer lairs. You might also consider corrupting Azura’s Star to create the Black Star, which functions as a reusable Black Soul Gem, though it has its own quest requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you cure vampirism in Skyrim for the second time?
You can simply repeat the Rising at Dawn quest or become a werewolf again. Both methods work as often as needed.
Can a shrine cure vampirism in Skyrim?
Only during the early Sanguinare Vampiris stage, before three in-game days have passed.
What happens if you don’t cure vampirism?
You’ll progress through the vampire stages, gaining new powers but also suffering from greater sunlight damage and fire vulnerability.
Do I lose vampire powers permanently?
Yes, curing removes all vampire abilities, but you can become a vampire again at any time.
Where do I go to cure vampirism in Skyrim?
For early infection, visit any shrine or alchemist. For full vampirism, seek out Falion in Morthal.
Final Tips and Closing Thoughts
Vampirism in Skyrim is a double-edged sword. While some players enjoy the unique powers and role-play opportunities, others find the drawbacks too disruptive. The cure you choose depends on how far the infection has progressed and whether you want a permanent or reversible solution.
If you catch Sanguinare Vampiris early, a Cure Disease potion, shrine blessing, or visit to the Vigilants of Stendarr will fix it quickly. If you’re already a full vampire, completing Rising at Dawn or becoming a werewolf will be necessary. And if you’re on PC, console commands provide an instant alternative.
The best part? Every cure is repeatable, so you can experiment with both vampire and werewolf gameplay without locking yourself out of future choices.
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