Skyrim: How to Become a Werewolf

There are only two ways to become a werewolf in Skyrim. One may catch you off-guard when you come across it, and the other requires going out of your way a bit and own either the Anniversary Edition or the Dawnguard DLC. In this guide, we’ll go over how to become a werewolf as well as how to cure lycanthropy once you’re all done with it.

How to Become a Werewolf in Skyrim

First thing’s first: catching lycanthropy. And aside from it being cool, why would you even want to do it?

• Progress through the Companions’ storyline.
• Accept Isran’s offer during the Dawnguard storyline.

The first way you’re likely to become a werewolf comes during a quest titled “The Silver Hand.” It will be revealed that all Companions who are Circle members have lycanthropy. Progress more through the storyline by meeting Farkas, Aela, Vilkas, and Skjor under the Skyforge for the ritual. Confirm you want to proceed, and the transformation will take place. You’ll then find yourself as a werewolf in the wilds of Skyrim.

If you have Dawnguard DLC, becoming a werewolf is as easy as joining the Dawnguard faction. Talk to town guards until one relays a rumor about the faction, which will reveal Fort Dawnguard on your map, all the way to the east past Riften. When you reach Level 10, Durak will tell you the location of the fort, in case you’re having trouble getting town guards to help. When it appears, you will gain access to the Dawnguard quest in your journal. You’ll need to find a cave, Dayspring Canyon, located east of Broken Helm Hollow, to reach the fort.

Once you reach the fort, talk with Isran in the main room and tell him you’d like to join. This will spark a series of quests that you need to complete until you meet Lord Harkon, who will offer to turn you into a Vampire Lord during the Bloodline quest. Decline his offer, then head back to Fort Dawnguard. Talk with Isran again to join the Dawnguard faction and become a werewolf.

Werewolf Skill Tree

As a werewolf, you have access to a new skill tree. To gain skills, you must eat corpses after slaying them. This will also extend the time you remain as a werewolf.

• Bestial Strength 1: Do 25% more damage as a werewolf.
• Bestial Strength 2: Do 50% more damage as a werewolf.
• Bestial Strength 3: Do 75% more damage as a werewolf.
• Bestial Strength 4: Do 100% more damage as a werewolf.
• Totem of Ice Brothers: Summon 2 ally Ice Wolves.
• Totem of the Moon: Summon 2 ally werewolves with a howl.
• Totem of the Predator: Werewolf Totem of the Hunt has extended range, and shows whether the targets are not in combat, searching, or actively in combat.
• Totem of Terror: Werewolf Howl of Terror affects even higher level creatures.
• Animal Vigor: 100 point bonus to health and stamina in beast form.
• Gorging: Feeding heals twice as much health.
• Savage Feeding: Able to feed off most dead creatures (not undead, daedra, or automatons). Feeding off creatures instead of people only provides half the extended time.

Pros and Cons of Being a Werewolf in Skyrim

Pros of Being a Werewolf

• Werewolf Skills.
• Howl Abilities.
• 100% Resistant to Disease.
• Increased health as a person.
• Won’t be attacked by wild wolves when in Beast Form.
• Doesn’t raise suspicion or hatred of NPCs.

Cons of Being a Werewolf

• Can only change once a day.
• Can’t stop being a werewolf on cue, it must time out.
• Silver weapons do increased damage.
• Followers could abandon you when you change.
• Can’t gain the Rested, Well Rested or Lover’s Comfort buffs.
• Weak to Undead enemies.
• Howls will not effect undead enemies.
• Can’t pick up any items while a werewolf.

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How to Cure Your Werewolf Disease

If you’re like me, once you get to the end of The Companions’ questline, you’re ready to give up your lycanthropy. I am a Skyrim hoarder, and not being able to pick up items I may need or even interact with a corpse’s inventory drives me nuts in the earlier levels.

During the final quests for The Companions, you’ll learn Kodlak Whitemane is seeking a way to cure himself of the werewolf affliction. You’ll be able to help him by burning a Glenmoril witch head. If you brought a second head with you, you can burn it to cure yourself of lycanthropy. If you don’t have the additional head, that’s no concern, as you can return to the altar and burn it at a later time. You’ll also return here with Vilkas and Farkas to cure them of being a werewolf.

If you opt to cure yourself and change your mind, you can become a werewolf again. Speak with Aela the Huntress under the Skyforge, and she will grant you the ability to transform once again with her werewolf blood. If you’ve been a werewolf and cured yourself, then want to become a werewolf again, all before completing any Dawnguard quests, you’ll also be able to enter the legions of lycanthropy with Isran.

Related guides:

• How to Get Dragon Scales in Skyrim
• How to Get the Skeleton Key
• Unconventional Skyrim Builds

There are seemingly endless things to do in Skyrim, and even if you’ve played it through a thousand times, there’s always something new for you to try. If you’ve always wondered how to become a werewolf, now you know what to do! It can be a great way to spice up a playthrough. For more on Skyrim, consider checking out the links above or heading over to our guides hub for The Elder Scrolls V.