The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Vampirism & Lycanthropy

Master Vampirism and Lycanthropy in Oblivion. Learn to acquire, manage, and cure these powerful afflictions that shape your journey through Cyrodiil.

Vampirism & Lycanthropy

In the dark corners of Cyrodiil, two powerful afflictions offer unique, albeit dangerous, paths for the intrepid adventurer: Vampirism and Lycanthropy. While both grant immense power, they come with significant drawbacks and require careful management. This guide will walk you through acquiring, managing, and curing these conditions.

Vampirism

Becoming a Vampire in Oblivion offers a potent suite of abilities, but also introduces a debilitating weakness to sunlight and a constant thirst for blood. The benefits and drawbacks intensify with each stage of vampirism, determined by how long you go without feeding.

Acquiring Vampirism

The most common way to contract Vampirism is by fighting Vampires. When a Vampire hits you with a melee attack, there's a chance you'll contract the disease Porphyric Hemophilia. You'll receive a message indicating you've contracted a disease. If you don't cure this disease within three in-game days, it will transform into full-blown Vampirism.

  • Where to find Vampires:
    • Vampire Lairs: Numerous caves and ruins throughout Cyrodiil are home to Vampire clans. Good early-game locations include:
      • Barren Cave (east of Cheydinhal)
      • Crowhaven (northwest of Anvil)
      • Bloodmayne Cave (south of Bravil)
    • Dark Brotherhood Questline: During certain quests for the Dark Brotherhood, you will encounter Vampires.
  • Contracting the Disease: Allow a Vampire to hit you several times. You don't need to die, just be struck. Keep an eye on your active effects for "Porphyric Hemophilia."
  • Waiting it Out: Once infected, simply wait three full days without curing the disease. You can sleep or just pass time. On the third night, you will awaken as a Vampire.

Managing Vampirism

Vampirism progresses through four stages, each increasing your powers and weaknesses. Feeding on a sleeping NPC will revert you to Stage 1.

  • Stage 1 (Fed):
    • Benefits: +5 to Strength, Willpower, Speed, Acrobatics, Athletics, Destruction, Hand to Hand, Mysticism, Sneak. 100% Resist Disease, 100% Resist Paralysis, 20% Resist Normal Weapons. Night-Eye (constant), Hunter's Sight (Detect Life, Fortify Attack).
    • Drawbacks: 20% Weakness to Fire, 20% Weakness to Sunlight (Health, Magicka, Stamina drain in sunlight).
  • Stage 2 (24 hours without feeding):
    • Benefits: +10 to attributes, 30% Resist Normal Weapons. Embrace of Shadows (Invisibility, Night-Eye).
    • Drawbacks: 30% Weakness to Fire, 30% Weakness to Sunlight.
  • Stage 3 (48 hours without feeding):
    • Benefits: +15 to attributes, 40% Resist Normal Weapons. Kiss of Death (Charm).
    • Drawbacks: 40% Weakness to Fire, 40% Weakness to Sunlight.
  • Stage 4 (72+ hours without feeding):
    • Benefits: +20 to attributes, 50% Resist Normal Weapons. Reign of Terror (Silence, Demoralize).
    • Drawbacks: 50% Weakness to Fire, 50% Weakness to Sunlight. NPCs will refuse to speak to you.

Feeding: To feed, approach a sleeping NPC (most common in beds at night) and activate them. You will get the option to "Feed." This will reset your Vampirism to Stage 1. Be careful not to be seen, as feeding is considered an assault.

Curing Vampirism

Curing Vampirism is a multi-step quest. You cannot simply use a Potion of Cure Disease once you've fully transformed.

  1. Seek a Healer: Speak to a Mages Guild member or a priest at a chapel. They will direct you to Raminus Polus at the Arcane University in the Imperial City.
  2. The Cure for Vampirism Quest: Raminus Polus will tell you to speak with the Countess of Skingrad, Janus Hassildor, who is secretly a Vampire himself.
  3. Janus Hassildor's Request: The Countess will direct you to a reclusive witch named Melisande, who lives in a shack in the wilderness. Her shack is located southeast of Skingrad, near the Strid River.
  4. Melisande's Ingredients: Melisande requires several rare ingredients for her cure:
    • 2 Grand Soul Gems (filled): Can be purchased from Mages Guild members or found in dungeons.
    • 5 Cloves of Garlic: Common in homes and taverns.
    • 2 Shots of Bloodgrass: Found in the Oblivion planes.
    • 1 Nightshade: Found in dark, damp areas, often near ruins.
    • 1 Root Tendril: Found in Oblivion planes or some caves.
    • 1 Belladonna: Common in forests and near roads.
    • 1 Mandrake Root: Found in various wilderness locations.
  5. The Final Ingredient: After gathering these, Melisande will ask for the blood of a powerful Vampire. She will instruct you to find a specific Vampire, usually one you've already encountered, and retrieve their blood. This often involves returning to a Vampire lair.
  6. The Cure: Return all ingredients to Melisande. She will brew the cure, and you will be free of Vampirism.

Lycanthropy (Shivering Isles DLC)

Lycanthropy, the ability to transform into a Werewolf, is not naturally present in the base game of Oblivion. It is exclusively available through the Shivering Isles expansion, and even then, it's not a player-obtainable ability. The only instance of Lycanthropy in the Shivering Isles is tied to the character Thadon, the Duke of Mania. Players cannot become a Werewolf in Oblivion. If you encounter information suggesting otherwise, it likely refers to fan-made modifications (mods) or other Elder Scrolls titles.

Therefore, if you are playing the vanilla game or the GOTY edition without mods, Lycanthropy is not an option for your character.