Guides / The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Castle Volkihar
Castle Volkihar is the ancestral home of Lord Harkon's vampire clan, situated on a secluded island northwest of Solitude. The player first enters this fortress alongside Serana during the Dawnguard questline after retrieving her from Dimhollow Crypt. Inside, Lord Harkon introduces the court and presents a major decision: accept his vampiric blood to join the clan or refuse his gift and be banished back to the mainland.
- Region
- Haafingar
- Getting there
- North-west of Icewater Jetty, across the sea by taking the boat
- Connects to
- Volkihar Keep, Icewater Jetty
- Related quests
- Bloodline · The Bloodstone Chalice · Prophet · Chasing Echoes · Beyond Death · Kindred Judgment
- Services and people
- Lord Harkon · Serana · Vingalmo · Orthjolf · Fura Bloodmouth · Garan Marethi · Feran Sadri · Ronthil
Achievements here
Items
0/1
Key fights
Enemies: Faldan, Salonia Caelia, Volkihar vampires, death hounds, and gargoyles
Threats: Faldan and Salonia cast expert Destruction spells (Ice Storm, Thunderbolt) and Vampiric Drain, while gargoyles deal heavy physical melee damage; death hounds inflict frost damage
Weaknesses and resistances: Weak to fire damage, Sun damage, Turn Undead; resistant or immune to frost and poison
Tactics: Funnel vampire defenders down the grand entry staircase and bridge to prevent them flanking; use AoE Sunhallowed arrows, Stendarr's Aura, or Fire Storm to shred the clustered vampires while Dawnguard allies tank the gargoyles
Rewards: Loot from Faldan and Salonia, vampire armor, Volkihar castle access for the final confrontation
Enemies
Only hostile later in the storyline; initially offers to transform the player into a Vampire Lord
Powerful spellcasters inhabiting the keep who will turn hostile if the player refuses Harkon's gift
Tips
- Save your game right before talking to Lord Harkon inside the main hall, as your decision to accept or decline his offer permanently sets your faction allegiance for the Dawnguard questline.
- If you plan on joining the Dawnguard faction, ensure you have gathered all wanted items outside and spoken to everyone before Harkon banishes you, as the castle will lock its gates to you.
Not listed for this area: secrets, shops and people.
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