How to become a Vampire in Elder Scrolls Online is a thrilling prospect for many players, and at gmonline.net, we’re here to guide you through every step of the transformation, offering insights into the benefits, drawbacks, and unique abilities that come with embracing the life of a Vampire, enriching your online gaming experience. Discover how to navigate the intricacies of vampirism, master your newfound powers, and thrive in the world of Tamriel.
1. Understanding Vampirism in Elder Scrolls Online
Becoming a Vampire in Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) offers a unique and compelling gameplay experience. It’s not just a simple character change; it’s a lifestyle choice with both advantages and challenges. So, what does it truly mean to embrace vampirism in ESO?
1.1 What Does It Mean to Be a Vampire in ESO?
Being a Vampire in ESO means gaining access to a dedicated skill line with powerful abilities, altering your character’s strengths and weaknesses. You’ll develop a thirst for blood, manage your Vampire Stage, and navigate the world differently, making it a richer online gaming experience.
- Unique Skill Line: Vampires gain a dedicated skill line with active and passive abilities.
- Vampire Stages: Your powers and weaknesses fluctuate based on your current Vampire Stage, ranging from 1 to 4.
- Social Interactions: NPCs react differently to you based on your Vampire Stage, influencing interactions in towns and cities.
1.2 Why Choose Vampirism?
Choosing vampirism can enhance your gameplay style, offering stealth, sustain, and damage boosts. It’s an excellent choice for players who enjoy solo content, PvP, or prefer a darker aesthetic. It allows players to fully embrace their characters and connect with the online gaming community.
- Stealth and Evasion: Abilities like Invisibility and Mist Form enhance stealth capabilities.
- Sustain: Blood Scion and other skills provide significant sustain in combat.
- Roleplaying: Embracing the Vampire role adds depth and immersion to your character.
1.3 Downsides of Being a Vampire
While vampirism offers exciting perks, it also presents challenges. Increased fire damage and reduced health recovery can impact survivability, requiring strategic planning and resource management, adding complexity to the online gaming experience.
- Fire Weakness: Vampires take increased damage from fire.
- Reduced Health Recovery: Natural health recovery is significantly reduced.
- NPC Reactions: High Vampire Stages can lead to negative interactions with NPCs.
2. Initiating the Transformation: Becoming a Vampire
So, how does one actually become a Vampire in the world of Elder Scrolls Online? There are two primary methods: contracting the disease from a specific enemy or having another player infect you. Let’s explore both options.
2.1 Getting Infected by a Bloodfiend
The most common method is getting infected by a Bloodfiend, a creature found in specific zones. These enemies have a chance to inflict the Noxiphilic Sanguivoria disease, which turns you into a Vampire.
- Where to Find Bloodfiends: Look for Bloodfiends in Bangkorai, The Rift, and Reaper’s March.
- Timing: Bloodfiends only appear at night, adding an element of challenge to the hunt.
- Contracting the Disease: Allow a Bloodfiend to attack you, hoping they inflict Noxiphilic Sanguivoria.
2.2 Getting Bitten by Another Player
Another way to become a Vampire is through a player bite. Players who are already Vampires can use a specific skill to turn another player, provided they meet certain criteria.
- The Rite of Passage: Players must reach a certain level in the Vampire skill line to unlock the Blood Ritual skill.
- Availability: Vampires can only bite another player once every seven days.
- Location: Biting can only occur at specific Vampire shrines found in Bangkorai, The Rift, and Reaper’s March.
2.3 The Ritual of Vampirism
Once infected, you must complete a quest to fully transform into a Vampire. This quest involves traveling to a specific location and performing a ritual, solidifying your transformation.
- Quest Location: The quest giver is located at the Vampire shrine in the zone where you contracted the disease.
- Quest Objectives: Typically, the quest involves collecting items, defeating enemies, and performing a ritual at the shrine.
- Completion: Completing the quest officially turns you into a Vampire, granting you the Vampire skill line.
3. The Vampire Skill Line: Powers and Abilities
Once you’ve become a Vampire, you’ll gain access to a unique skill line filled with active and passive abilities. These skills not only define your combat style but also offer unique utility.
3.1 Active Skills
Active skills are the bread and butter of any build, and the Vampire skill line offers several potent options. These skills can enhance your damage, sustain, and utility.
- Eviscerate: A powerful melee attack that deals significant damage, especially against low-health targets.
- Blood Frenzy: Increases weapon and spell damage but drains your health over time, offering a high-risk, high-reward playstyle.
- Mist Form: Turns you into an invulnerable mist, increasing movement speed and reducing damage taken, ideal for escaping tough situations.
- Blood Scion: Transforms you into a monstrous Vampire Lord, increasing health, stamina, and magicka, while also granting access to new abilities.
3.2 Passive Skills
Passive skills offer constant benefits that enhance your character’s overall performance. The Vampire skill line includes several impactful passive skills that complement your active abilities.
- Undeath: Reduces damage taken based on missing health, increasing survivability in prolonged fights.
- Bloodseeker: Increases weapon and spell damage against targets with low health.
- Dark Stalker: Increases movement speed while sneaking and reduces the cost of sneaking, perfect for stealth-based gameplay.
- Feed: Allows you to feed on NPCs to reduce your Vampire Stage, offering a way to manage your vampiric state.
3.3 Ultimate Ability: Blood Scion
The ultimate ability, Blood Scion, transforms you into a Vampire Lord, significantly increasing your stats and granting access to new abilities. This transformation is a game-changer in both PvE and PvP scenarios.
- Transformation: Increases health, stamina, and magicka, making you a formidable opponent.
- New Abilities: Gain access to new active abilities while in Vampire Lord form, enhancing your combat options.
- Versatility: Blood Scion can be morphed to suit different playstyles, offering flexibility in your build.
4. Managing Your Vampirism: The Vampire Stages
One of the most crucial aspects of being a Vampire in ESO is managing your Vampire Stage. This mechanic affects your powers, weaknesses, and interactions with the world.
4.1 Understanding Vampire Stages
Vampire Stages range from 1 to 4, with each stage affecting your abilities and NPC interactions. Managing these stages is crucial for optimizing your gameplay experience.
- Stage 1: Minimal effects, both positive and negative.
- Stage 2: Moderate increase in Vampire abilities and a slight increase in fire damage taken.
- Stage 3: Significant increase in Vampire abilities and a moderate increase in fire damage taken.
- Stage 4: Maximum increase in Vampire abilities, a substantial increase in fire damage taken, and negative interactions with most NPCs.
4.2 How to Increase Your Vampire Stage
Your Vampire Stage increases passively over time, but it can also be increased by using certain Vampire abilities or by feeding on NPCs.
- Time: Your Vampire Stage increases by one stage every six hours.
- Abilities: Some Vampire abilities, like Blood Frenzy, increase your Vampire Stage when used.
- Feeding: Feeding on NPCs increases your Vampire Stage, offering a way to quickly maximize your powers, though at the cost of increased downsides.
4.3 How to Decrease Your Vampire Stage
Decreasing your Vampire Stage is essential for mitigating the negative effects, such as increased fire damage and negative NPC interactions.
- Feeding: Feeding on an NPC reduces your Vampire Stage by one.
- Purifying Bloody Mara: This consumable item reduces your Vampire Stage by one.
- Time: Your Vampire Stage decreases by one stage every six hours if you do not feed.
5. Best Builds for Vampire Characters
Creating an effective Vampire build requires careful consideration of your class, playstyle, and the content you plan to tackle. Here are a few popular Vampire builds:
5.1 Magicka Vampire Necromancer DPS Build
This build focuses on maximizing damage output using magicka-based abilities while leveraging the Vampire skill line for sustain and utility.
- Class: Necromancer
- Primary Skills: Eviscerate, Blood Frenzy, Mystic Orb, Blastbones
- Gear Sets: Mother’s Sorrow, Siroria, Zaan
- Playstyle: Burst damage with sustain through Vampire abilities.
5.2 Stamina Vampire Nightblade PvP Build
Designed for PvP, this build emphasizes stealth, burst damage, and survivability, making it a formidable opponent in Cyrodiil and Battlegrounds.
- Class: Nightblade
- Primary Skills: Surprise Attack, Relentless Focus, Shadowy Disguise, Mist Form
- Gear Sets: Spriggan’s Thorns, Hunding’s Rage, Balorgh
- Playstyle: Stealth ambushes with high burst damage and escape options.
5.3 Tank Vampire Dragonknight Build
This build utilizes the Dragonknight’s tanking prowess combined with the sustain and defensive capabilities of the Vampire skill line, creating a resilient and effective tank.
- Class: Dragonknight
- Primary Skills: Pierce Armor, Heroic Slash, Volcanic Rune, Blood Scion
- Gear Sets: Ebon Armory, Plague Doctor, Bloodspawn
- Playstyle: Damage mitigation and sustain through Vampire and Dragonknight abilities.
6. Roleplaying as a Vampire: Immersion and Story
Being a Vampire in ESO isn’t just about combat; it’s also about embracing the roleplaying aspects. Immersing yourself in the Vampire lore can significantly enhance your enjoyment of the game.
6.1 Embracing the Vampire Lore
Understanding the history and culture of Vampires in Tamriel can add depth to your roleplaying experience.
- The Origins: Learn about Lamae Bal, the first Vampire, and the origins of vampirism in Tamriel.
- Vampire Clans: Discover the different Vampire clans and their unique beliefs and practices.
- The Gray Host: Delve into the lore of the Gray Host, a powerful Vampire faction that plays a significant role in ESO’s story.
6.2 Engaging with Other Players
Interacting with other players who are also roleplaying as Vampires can create unique and engaging experiences.
- Forming Covens: Create or join a Vampire coven to share stories, strategies, and engage in group activities.
- Roleplaying Events: Participate in roleplaying events focused on Vampire lore and themes.
- Community Forums: Engage in discussions and share your Vampire roleplaying experiences on community forums.
6.3 Customizing Your Character’s Backstory
Developing a detailed backstory for your Vampire character can add depth and meaning to your gameplay.
- Origins: Consider how your character became a Vampire and the circumstances surrounding their transformation.
- Motivations: Determine your character’s goals and motivations as a Vampire.
- Relationships: Develop relationships with other characters, both Vampire and mortal, and explore how your vampirism affects these relationships.
7. Overcoming Challenges: Dealing with Vampire Weaknesses
While vampirism offers many advantages, it also comes with significant weaknesses. Understanding and mitigating these weaknesses is crucial for surviving in Tamriel.
7.1 Managing Fire Damage
The primary weakness of Vampires is their increased vulnerability to fire damage. This can be a significant problem in many areas of the game, but there are ways to mitigate this weakness.
- Resist Fire Enchantments: Use enchantments that increase your fire resistance.
- Gear Sets: Equip gear sets that provide fire resistance or reduce fire damage taken.
- Skills: Utilize skills that grant temporary immunity to fire damage.
7.2 Dealing with Reduced Health Recovery
Vampires suffer from reduced health recovery, making it harder to sustain themselves in combat. However, there are several ways to compensate for this.
- Skills: Use skills that provide health regeneration or healing.
- Potions: Utilize potions that restore health over time.
- Gear Sets: Equip gear sets that enhance health recovery.
7.3 Navigating NPC Interactions
High Vampire Stages can lead to negative interactions with NPCs, making it difficult to complete quests and interact with merchants.
- Feeding: Regularly feed on NPCs to reduce your Vampire Stage.
- Purifying Bloody Mara: Use this consumable item to quickly reduce your Vampire Stage.
- Stealth: Utilize stealth to avoid detection by NPCs.
8. Endgame Content for Vampires
Even at the endgame, being a Vampire offers unique advantages and challenges. Whether you’re tackling dungeons, trials, or PvP, vampirism can enhance your performance.
8.1 Dungeons and Trials
Vampire abilities can be highly effective in dungeons and trials, providing sustain, damage, and utility.
- Sustain: Vampire abilities like Blood Scion and Undeath provide excellent sustain, allowing you to survive longer in difficult encounters.
- Damage: Skills like Eviscerate and Blood Frenzy can significantly boost your damage output.
- Utility: Mist Form and other Vampire skills offer utility in specific encounters, such as dodging mechanics or escaping dangerous situations.
8.2 PvP in Cyrodiil and Battlegrounds
In PvP, the Vampire skill line offers stealth, burst damage, and survivability, making you a formidable opponent.
- Stealth: Abilities like Mist Form and Dark Stalker enhance your stealth capabilities, allowing you to surprise your enemies.
- Burst Damage: Skills like Eviscerate and Surprise Attack provide high burst damage, enabling you to quickly eliminate targets.
- Survivability: Undeath and other Vampire skills increase your survivability, allowing you to withstand enemy attacks.
8.3 Solo Content
For solo players, vampirism can make completing quests and exploring the world more engaging and rewarding.
- Sustain: Vampire abilities provide excellent sustain, allowing you to tackle challenging content on your own.
- Stealth: Stealth abilities make it easier to avoid difficult encounters or sneak past enemies.
- Roleplaying: Embracing the Vampire role adds depth and immersion to your solo gameplay experience.
9. The Future of Vampires in ESO: Updates and Changes
The Vampire skill line has undergone several changes over the years, and it’s likely to continue evolving in the future. Staying informed about the latest updates and changes is crucial for optimizing your Vampire build.
9.1 Patch Notes and Updates
Keep an eye on patch notes and updates to stay informed about changes to the Vampire skill line.
- Official Forums: Monitor the official ESO forums for announcements and discussions about updates.
- Community Websites: Follow community websites and content creators who provide analysis and insights into patch notes.
- In-Game Notifications: Pay attention to in-game notifications about updates and changes.
9.2 Community Feedback and Suggestions
Participate in community discussions and provide feedback and suggestions to the developers.
- Forums: Share your thoughts and ideas on the official ESO forums.
- Social Media: Engage with the ESO community on social media platforms.
- In-Game Surveys: Participate in in-game surveys to provide feedback to the developers.
9.3 Upcoming Content
Stay informed about upcoming content that may impact the Vampire skill line.
- New Skill Lines: Be aware of any new skill lines that may synergize with or compete with the Vampire skill line.
- New Gear Sets: Keep an eye out for new gear sets that may enhance Vampire builds.
- New Content Zones: Be aware of any new content zones that may pose unique challenges or opportunities for Vampires.
10. Resources for Vampire Players
There are many resources available to help you optimize your Vampire build and enhance your gameplay experience.
10.1 Online Guides and Builds
Utilize online guides and builds to learn from experienced Vampire players.
- ESO-Hub: A comprehensive resource for ESO guides, builds, and information.
(Source: eso-hub.com) - AlcastHQ: A popular website with detailed ESO builds and guides.
(Source: alcasthq.com) - YouTube: Watch YouTube videos from ESO content creators who specialize in Vampire builds.
10.2 Community Forums and Discords
Engage with the ESO community on forums and Discord servers to share knowledge and ask questions.
- Official ESO Forums: The official ESO forums are a great place to discuss Vampire builds and strategies.
- Tamriel Foundry: A popular ESO forum with a dedicated section for builds and gameplay.
- Discord Servers: Join Discord servers focused on ESO to connect with other Vampire players.
10.3 In-Game Resources
Utilize in-game resources such as guild traders and crafting stations to acquire gear and consumables.
- Guild Traders: Purchase gear, potions, and other items from guild traders.
- Crafting Stations: Craft your own gear and consumables using crafting stations.
- Daily Rewards: Claim daily rewards to acquire useful items and resources.
Becoming a Vampire in Elder Scrolls Online is a transformative experience that offers a unique blend of power, challenge, and roleplaying opportunities. By understanding the mechanics of vampirism, managing your Vampire Stage, and optimizing your build, you can thrive as a creature of the night in the world of Tamriel. Stay informed, engage with the community, and embrace the darkness to unlock the full potential of your Vampire character.
Are you ready to embrace the night and become a Vampire in Elder Scrolls Online? Visit gmonline.net for the latest news, guides, and community discussions to help you on your journey. Join our forums, share your experiences, and connect with fellow gamers who share your passion for ESO and the dark allure of vampirism. At gmonline.net, we’re dedicated to providing you with the most up-to-date and comprehensive information to enhance your online gaming experience. For any questions or further assistance, you can reach us at Address: 10900 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, United States or Phone: +1 (310) 235-2000.
FAQ: Becoming a Vampire in Elder Scrolls Online
1. Can any race become a Vampire in ESO?
Yes, any race in Elder Scrolls Online can become a Vampire. Your race will provide unique passive bonuses, but the Vampire skill line is available to all races.
2. Where can I find Bloodfiends to become a Vampire?
Bloodfiends can be found in specific zones: Bangkorai, The Rift, and Reaper’s March. They only appear at night, so plan your hunt accordingly.
3. How often can a Vampire player bite another player?
Vampires can only bite another player once every seven days. This is regulated by the game to prevent overpopulation of Vampires.
4. What are the different Vampire Stages, and how do they affect gameplay?
Vampire Stages range from 1 to 4. Higher stages increase your Vampire abilities but also increase fire damage taken and negatively affect interactions with NPCs.
5. How do I manage my Vampire Stage?
You can manage your Vampire Stage by feeding on NPCs to lower it or by using consumables like Purifying Bloody Mara. The stage increases over time or by using certain Vampire abilities.
6. What are the best classes for a Vampire build in ESO?
The best classes for Vampire builds include Necromancer for magicka DPS, Nightblade for stamina PvP, and Dragonknight for tanking.
7. What are the primary weaknesses of being a Vampire in ESO?
The primary weaknesses of being a Vampire are increased vulnerability to fire damage and reduced health recovery.
8. How can I mitigate the fire damage weakness as a Vampire?
You can mitigate the fire damage weakness by using resist fire enchantments, equipping gear sets that provide fire resistance, and utilizing skills that grant temporary immunity to fire damage.
9. Can I cure vampirism if I decide I don’t want to be a Vampire anymore?
Yes, you can cure vampirism by completing a quest given by a priest of Arkay. This will remove the Vampire skill line and restore your character to their original state.
10. Where can I find the latest updates and guides for Vampire builds in ESO?
You can find the latest updates and guides for Vampire builds on gmonline.net, official ESO forums, community websites like ESO-Hub and AlcastHQ, and YouTube channels specializing in ESO content.