I just started Dawnguard recently and I chose the path of the Vampire. I noticed that I can either feed frequently, which keeps my sunlight issues in check, but this also weakens vampiric powers. Has anyone found it better to keep the vampiric powers strong, even though you are more vulnerable to the sun? The hit you take to your regen on everything seems like a pretty big deal, especially if you get caught in a dragon fight after fast traveling.

Any advice on which works better?

I stayed at stage 4 and just used the http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:The_Lady_Stone for regen.

The powers you receive from not feeding are merely there to help you feed.

Except for the extra Vampiric drain damage which is a tiny increase..goes from 1 point per sec to 3 points per sec at stage 4, vampires servant which even at stage 4 only scales to lvl 20 enemies and increased frost resistance.

Downside of not feeding is, you take an excessive amount of fire damage if you play on anything other than Novice.

Mages who abuse the area of effect fire spell will destroy you if you don't kill them fast. (On master its nearly always a one shot kill)


I like to roleplay my Imperial Volkihar vampire so I feed regardless if it "makes me weaker"..(still don't see how it does though)..and travel only at night..sleep during the day.


If not feeding gave you actual offensive spells/powers that harm enemies then I'd understand feeding makes you weaker as a vampire but embrace of shadows and such is there so you can sneak into a house and bite some random NPC even if ur sneak svcks.

Then again I guess people just like to complain.


I still think though Vampire should 24/7 have access to Vampire's seduction.

Thanks for the info. I didn't really notice any benefit to not feeding, so I do it as often as I can. Traveling at night seems to be the key, as you would expect with a vampire.

No problem.

I didn't really see any benefit for being in any other stage than one. I am an assassin so I don't need to depend on embrace of shadows to get me any where, I can do that already. I travel and play day and night, so having the least amount of sun damage is preferable, however I've done it in all stages before. I use the lord stone and being dark elf, it pretty much negates the stage one fire penalty.

And yes, vampire seduction should be able to used more than once a day or being able to feed at will. Although that would make the target aggro, it wouldn't matter if you were going to kill them anyways (bandit, thugs, dawnguard, etc.)

There is some blood potions in the keep aswel.. they works as if you feed on people