Vampirism in Skyrim is a powerful condition that grants night-vision, invisibility and life-draining powers — at the cost of a growing weakness to fire and sunlight. Here's how to catch it, turn, and what each stage does. When you want to reverse it, see the cure vampirism guide.
Step 1: contract Sanguinare Vampiris
- Find a vampire and let it hit you with its Vampiric Drain spell — each hit has a chance to give you the disease Sanguinare Vampiris.
- A reliable spot is Broken Fang Cave, west of Whiterun, which is full of low-level vampires.
- Check your active effects — if you see Sanguinare Vampiris listed, you've caught it.
Step 2: let it turn you
Do not cure the disease. Wait or sleep for three in-game days (72 hours). After the disease runs its course you transform into a Stage 1 vampire and gain the Vampire's Servant, Vampiric Drain and other vampire powers.
The four stages of vampirism
Your stage rises the longer you go without feeding (activate a sleeping NPC and choose to feed). Each stage strengthens your powers and your weaknesses:
- Stage 1 — mild: small bonuses, minor sun weakness.
- Stage 2–3 — stronger powers and resistances, but sunlight saps your health, magicka and stamina more each stage.
- Stage 4 — most powerful, but townsfolk recognize you as a vampire and may attack on sight. Feed to drop back to Stage 1.
Becoming a vampire with the console
On PC you can shortcut the process. Open the console with the tilde key and add the vampire spells/abilities directly with player.addspell, or change into a vampire race with player.setrace (e.g. player.setrace NordRaceVampire). Browse the codes on the races and spells lists. Console commands disable Steam achievements for that save.
Frequently asked questions
How do you become a vampire in Skyrim?
Get hit by a vampire's Vampiric Drain spell to contract the disease Sanguinare Vampiris. If you don't cure it within three in-game days, you turn into a full vampire. The easiest source is the vampires in Broken Fang Cave, west of Whiterun.
How long does it take to turn into a vampire?
Three in-game days after contracting Sanguinare Vampiris. Wait or sleep through 72 hours without curing the disease and you become a Stage 1 vampire.
What are the stages of vampirism?
There are four stages. The longer you go without feeding on a sleeping person, the higher the stage: your powers and weaknesses (especially weakness to fire and sunlight) both grow stronger, and townspeople eventually turn hostile at Stage 4.
Can I become a Vampire Lord?
Yes, with the Dawnguard add-on. Side with Lord Harkon during the Dawnguard questline and he turns you into a Vampire Lord, granting a powerful transformation with its own perk tree.