Serana

Lore & Background

Serana is the daughter of Lord Harkon, leader of the Volkihar clan, and Valerica. Thousands of years ago, her father pledged his soul to Molag Bal to gain immortality for himself and his family through vampirism. To prevent Harkon from fulfilling a prophecy that would permanently blot out the sun using an Elder Scroll, Serana's mother convinced her to undergo a ritual sealing her body within a statue in Dimhollow Crypt. Valerica then fled with the Elder Scroll to the Forgotten Vale. For centuries, Serana remained in stasis while her father sought other scrolls and weapons like Auriel's Bow. When awakened, she reveals that Harkon intends to kill her to fulfill the prophecy. She also shares that her mother was estranged from the family after fleeing the castle.

In Their Own Story

The player discovers Serana trapped inside a statue in Dimhollow Crypt after dealing with vampires led by Lokil. She explains her possession of an Elder Scroll and requests safe passage to Castle Volkihar, located on a coastal island off Haafingar. Upon arrival, her father Harkon offers the player the chance to become a vampire lord or return to the Dawnguard. If the player joins the Volkihar path, Serana accompanies them to retrieve the Bloodstone Chalice and later journeys with them to the Soul Cairn to find Valerica. There, they locate the final Elder Scroll. In the end, regardless of the faction chosen, the player and Serana confront Harkon in Castle Volkihar. They battle and slay him, ending his threat to Tamriel and saving Serana from her father's plan.

Reader's Guide

Serana acts as a unique companion who can be recruited early in the questline by escorting her from Dimhollow Crypt. She possesses the ability to resurrect fallen enemies and cast powerful spells like Drain Vitality. If the player chooses the Volkihar path, she transforms into a Vampire Lord alongside the player, utilizing a skill tree with eleven perks that levels up through kills using Drain Life or bite attacks. On the Dawnguard path, she aids in retrieving the missing Elder Scrolls, including one held by her mother Valerica in the Soul Cairn. She can also be cured of vampirism if the player chooses to help her, though this option depends on specific quest outcomes and dialogue choices regarding her condition.

Did You Know?

• Serana is voiced by Laura Bailey.
• She was sealed inside a statue in Dimhollow Crypt for over two thousand years to prevent her father from fulfilling a prophecy.
• Her mother, Valerica, fled Castle Volkihar with an Elder Scroll and took refuge in the Forgotten Vale.
• Serana can transform into a Vampire Lord form that utilizes a skill tree containing eleven perks.
• The player must choose between aiding Serana's father Harkon or the Dawnguard after escorting her to Castle Volkihar.