Lycanthropy turns you into a hulking werewolf with a powerful daily Beast Form — huge melee damage, a fear howl and 100% disease immunity. The path runs through the Companions of Whiterun. Here's how to earn it, what it does, and how to reverse it.
Step 1: join the Companions
- Go to Jorrvaskr in Whiterun and ask to join the Companions. Complete the intro task to be accepted.
- Work through their quests until you're invited into the inner circle.
Step 2: take the blood
During the Circle's induction (the quest The Silver Hand) you meet the inner members at the Underforge beneath Whiterun, where you drink the blood of Aela the Huntress. This grants you the Beast Form greater power and makes you a werewolf.
Using Beast Form
- Beast Form is a once-per-day power — equip it under Powers and activate to transform for a few minutes.
- Feed on a fresh corpse to extend the timer and (with the Dawnguard perk tree) grow stronger.
- As a werewolf you can't use items, weapons, spells or shouts — you fight with claws and your fear howl.
How to cure lycanthropy
At the end of the Companions questline (Glory of the Dead) you gain Glenmoril Witch heads. Take one to the flame at Ysgramor's Tomb and burn it to cure yourself. Keep a spare head if you think you might want to become a werewolf again later.
Console command shortcut
On PC you can skip the questline. Open the console and add Beast Form with player.addspell (player.addspell 000200CD), or change into the werewolf race with player.setrace. Reverse it by setting your race back to normal (e.g. player.setrace NordRace). To go the vampiric route instead, see how to become a vampire. Console commands disable achievements for that save.
Frequently asked questions
How do you become a werewolf in Skyrim?
Join the Companions in Whiterun and progress their questline until the quest The Silver Hand, where the Circle members induct you. During the related quest you drink Aela's blood at the Underforge and gain Beast Form, turning you into a werewolf.
What does Beast Form do?
Beast Form is a once-a-day power that transforms you into a werewolf for a few minutes — granting massively increased health, stamina, melee damage, sprint speed and a fear-inducing howl. Feeding on corpses extends the timer.
Can you cure being a werewolf?
Yes. Late in the Companions questline (the quest Glory of the Dead) you can cure lycanthropy by burning a Glenmoril Witch's head in the flame at Ysgramor's Tomb. You can cure yourself once for free, and again later if you become a werewolf a second time.
Is there a console command for Beast Form?
Yes. On PC, add the Beast Form power with player.addspell 000200CD (or the Werewolf race with player.setrace WerewolfBeastRace). Console commands disable Steam achievements for that save.