The vast forests and frozen wastes of Skyrim are home to many well-kept secrets, one of the best known being arguably the clandestine werewolf pack better known as the Companions. Joining this group allows you to transform into a mighty creature when night falls, but that power has its downsides and some players prefer to return to their natural state. There are only two ways to cure lycanthropy: the first is accessible through the Companions quests, while the second is to become a vampire lord.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Curing Lycanthropy with Companion Missions
Step 1. Accept the radiant Purity mission
After completing the "Glory to the Dead" quest, talk to Farkas or Vilkas (you can find them in their respective rooms in Jorrvaskr's basement), as you normally would to receive a new assignment. They will seem upset to you. Show your empathy and ask what worries them.
- They will reveal to you that they want to make the same choice as Kodiak and heal their lycanthropy. Offer your help.
- Radiant missions are awarded by Vilkas or Farkas when your character asks the Companions if they have any jobs available and almost all of them can be repeated indefinitely to earn money and experience. However, after completing the last mission of the main campaign of the Companions, you have a chance to receive the mission "Purity".
Step 2. Obtain a Glenmoril Witch's Head
If you have already collected one in the previous mission, you will be asked to go to the Cairn of Ysgramor (skip to the next step); if not, you will be offered help finding one.
- Use the fast travel to get to the Glenmoril Coven. After completing the "Blood and Honor" mission, the cave should be accessible on the world map. You'll find it northwest of Falkreath.
- Enter the coven and you will find five Glenmoril witches. Kill them and collect their heads from the corpses (at least two, one for you and one for the character who gave you the mission).
Step 3. Reach the Cairn of Ysgramor
Go there with your companion. You can use fast travel or follow the mission symbol on your compass. You will find the place you are looking for in the northernmost region of Skyrim; the nearest large city is Winterhold, which has a shield with a three-pointed crown as its coat of arms.
- To get to Ysgramor's Cairn from Winterhold, head north across the water. The mound is on the right, on the shore of a small island.
- Getting to the mound from Whiterun takes a much longer journey. The place you are looking for is in the northeast of the city. After exiting the walls, proceed north and continue in that direction. You will pass many mountains along the way, but don't stop until you reach Dawnstar. After Dawnstar, proceed northeast across the water to reach the shores of the island where the mound is located.
Step 4. Enter the mound
Open the doors and go down the stone stairs. Pass the torches, until you reach the wooden spiral staircase that leads deeper.
Go down the stairs, which will lead you to a large room with a blue flame, called the Harbinger's Flame, burning in the center
Step 5. Turn on the flame
Approach the fire and activate it with the button that appears on the screen.
Step 6. Kill the wolf spirit
After activating the flame, a ghostly wolf will jump off the altar and start attacking you. Defeat him to purge the character who gave you the quest from the lycanthropy.
- The spirit behaves like the wolves you met on the surface; keep it at a distance by throwing fireballs or hitting it with arrows.
- The wolf is not a particularly formidable enemy. Its most dangerous feature is speed, so you should keep your distance. However, if you prefer hand-to-hand combat, a couple of well-aimed blows with a heavy war hammer may be enough to defeat him.
Step 7. Talk to the character who gave you the quest (Farkas or Vilkas)
After defeating the wolf, your companion will start a conversation. He will ask you if the mission is over and explain that he now feels like a real warrior.
After talking to him, the mission will be completed
Step 8. Cure yourself of lycanthropy
Approach the flame and activate it again by pressing the button that appears on the screen. A window will appear with the words "Throw the witch's head into the flames to cure yourself of lycanthropy forever"; press Yes (note that this is a permanent decision).
Another ghostly wolf will appear, which you will have to defeat. Use the same methods described above
Step 9. Once the wolf is defeated, you will no longer be a werewolf
Method 2 of 2: Curing Lycanthropy with Dawnguard Missions
Step 1. Purchase the Dawnguard DLC
If you haven't cured lycanthropy in Ysgramor's Mound, the Dawnguard DLC (which you can purchase on Steam or by purchasing the Skyrim expansion pack at video game stores) gives you three opportunities to get rid of the wolf blood.
- The Dawnguard DLC focuses on the clash between vampires and the organization that hunts those monsters; throughout history you will be forced to choose which side to take sides. If you ally with the first faction, you will be transformed into a vampire lord, a much more powerful version of the vampires you can encounter in the game.
- By transforming yourself into a vampire lord you will be cured of lycanthropy, because it is impossible to be a vampire and a werewolf at the same time.
Step 2. Accept Lord Harkon's gift
During the "Bloodline" mission, one of the first in the DLC, you will have the chance to become a vampire lord.
- Once the "Awakening" quest is complete, Serana will ask you to take her to Volkihar Castle, which is home to Skyrim's first vampires. You can reach the castle by ship: hire a ferryman to take you there or take the ice water launch, at a small dock near the Northwatch Keep. Getting on the boat you will arrive at the castle.
- Climb up to the stone bridge that leads to the imposing castle. Vampires will look at you with distrust, but will let you pass after recognizing Serana.
- Enter the castle and look for Serana's father. When the two are reunited, he will approach you and give you an ultimatum: continue working with the Dawnguard, denying you access to the castle forever, or enter the vampires of Volkihar by becoming a vampire lord.
- You choose to become a vampire lord and Lord Harkon will explain that you will be cleansed of lycanthropy (note that this choice makes you an enemy of the Dawnguard, who will send soldiers to ambush you).
Step 3. Ask Serana to transform you into a vampire lord
If you have not accepted Lord Harkon's gift, you will be offered the chance again later, during the mission "Pursuing Reminiscences", the sixth of the main story of Dawnguard. During the mission, you and Serana must travel to the Cairn of Souls, an altered plane of reality where lost souls are doomed to wander.
- The mound is located in a secret section of Volkihar Castle where Serana will lead you. The living cannot enter the mound of souls, so Serana will offer to transform you into a vampire lord.
- Choose the "Turn me into a vampire" option and Serana will bite you, knocking you unconscious. After a few moments, you will awaken as a vampire lord and as a result you will be cured of lycanthropy.
- If you refuse, your soul will be temporarily trapped in a soul gem, greatly reducing health, stamina and magicka within the soul mound.
Step 4. Become a vampire lord after completing the missions of the Dawnguard DLC
After the final mission of the Blood Sentence DLC, you will have the option to ask Serana to transform you into a vampire lord whenever you please.
- You can find Serana in the entrance to Volkihar Castle. Approach her and talk to her. If you haven't already become a vampire lord, she will offer to transform you. Accept.
- After being bitten, you will lose consciousness. Once awakened, you will be a vampire lord and no longer a werewolf.
- Note that if you convince Serana to cure herself of vampirism, she will no longer be able to transform you into a vampire lord.
