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The Dragonborn is one of the most powerful beings on Nirn, using the power of the Thu'um to decimate enemies and slay dragons. Not even the Voice is enough for some players, as Skyrim also allows you to become a vampire or werewolf to gain unique transformation modes.

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Known as Lycanthropy, those that can turn into werecreatures are terrifying to face. Players can obtain the power of Beast Form through a certain questline, allowing them to turn into a werewolf whenever they see fit. It's an extremely powerful ability in the early game that most melee builds should consider taking. Let's go over how you can become a werewolf in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

How To Become A Werewolf

Skyrim Werewolf

There are two main ways of becoming a Werewolf in Skyrim:

  1. Progressing through the Companions' main quest
  2. Wearing the cursed Ring of Hircine during the "Ill Met by Moonlight" quest

The second scenario is so niche that the first option is your only practical choice. You can find the Companions in Whiterun inside The Circle. Speak to the various NPCs there to join the guild, starting their main quest.

The Silver Hand

One of the Companion's main quests, "The Silver Hand," is where players will get to contract Lycanthropy. During the quest, it's revealed that the high-ranking members of the Companions all have Lycanthropy. They bestow you with their "gift" before you storm a Silver Hand stronghold. Once you receive Lycanthropy, you'll have it permanently unless you perform a certain ritual at the end of the Companions' quest.

Curing Lycanthropy

Skyrim Hagraven

There is only one way to remove your werewolf blood in Skyrim, and it only becomes available at the very end of the Companions' main questline. If you want to become a vampire or vampire lord, you'll need to purge your werewolf blood first.

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Throughout the second half of the Companions' quest, you'll be tasked with decapitating the heads of the Glenmorii witches. These heads can be burned during the Companions' final quest, "Glory of the Dead," to cleanse Kodlak Whitemane's Lycanthropy. You can use one of these heads on yourself at the end of the quest to remove the "gift" from yourself. This ritual will remove your Beast Form Power entirely, also disabling Ring of Hircine's main effect.

Contracting Lycanthropy Again

Aela the Huntress against backdrop of leaves broods toward the camera in Skyrim

As long as you own the Dawnguard DLC or the Special Edition of Skyrim, you'll be able to become a werewolf again, even if you purged yourself of the Companions' "gift" in "Glory of the Dead."

To get your Beast Form back, speak to Aela the Huntress in The Circle. She will bestow her blood to you once again, allowing you to regain your werewolf powers once more. Remember, you can't have vampire blood and werewolf blood simultaneously. You have to pick one or the other.

Werewolf Perks

Skyrim Werewolf Perk Tree

Just like vampire lords, werewolves in Skyrim have a perk tree that enhances the strength of your Beast Form. You can earn points in this skill tree by feeding on dead bodies. The more corpses you feast on, the more XP you'll earn towards your next perk point. You can access the skill tree by pressing the inventory button while in Beast Form.

Werewolves can also use special totems to change the effect of their howl. You can find these totems in the Underforge after you've retrieved them. Speak to Aela after becoming Harbinger of the Companions to start the "Totems of Hircine" quest, allowing you to retrieve these totems.

The totems grant the following benefits:

  • Totem of the Hunt: Detect living creatures through walls.
  • Totem of Brotherhood: Summon two wolf spirits to fight alongside you.
  • Toten of Fear: Howl to inflict Fear in a large radius, causing most characters to run away in terror.

Next: Skyrim: The 7 Best And Worst Armor Sets