Use this guide to learn how to transform into a werewolf in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, and discover the benefits - as well as drawbacks - of doing so.

In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition, players aren't limited by the races they can choose from during the character creation process. On the contrary, they can also take control of some rather ghoulish beasts, including vampires and werewolves. Becoming a werewolf in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a matter of joining the proper guild, and completing the quests therein to begin the transformation. For those experiencing Skyrim for the first time with the game's Special Edition, please note that this article will have spoilers.

The first step for anyone wanting to become a werewolf in Skyrim is joining the Companions. The Companions are similar to the Fighters Guild in Oblivion, except for their penchant to transform into werewolves. Joining the Companions is a matter of speaking with Aela the Huntress at Whiterun, who will get players started on the Companions quest line.

After completing the first quest for the Companions, speak with Vilks in Jorrvaskr, the Companions headquarters in Whiterun. Afterwards, players will officially be a part of the group, but there's still some quests to complete before they will have a chance to become a lycanthrope. The first being a radiant quest, and the rest being quests that drive the Companions story forward in big ways.

By completing the main quests for the Companions, players will learn that members of the group have the ability to transform into werewolves. Players are given the option to learn this ancient ability for themselves, and can then transform into a werewolf once a day for 150 seconds at a time, with the option of extending that time by feeding on corpses.

As a werewolf, players will be cured of all diseases, which means if they were a vampire before, they will no longer be. Werewolves also enjoy significant stat boosts in terms of health, mana, and stamina, and can carry more objects than non-werewolves. Werewolves are also capable of delivering devastating melee attacks without weapons, which makes the ability especially useful against the game's tougher enemies.

However, there are some caveats to being a werewolf. For example, werewolves take extra damage from silver weapons, and most NPCs that witness a werewolf transformation will attack. Anyone that gets tired of dealing with these headaches as a werewolf can choose to cure themselves of the disease before the Companions quest line wraps up, or by completing the "Purity" radiant quest received by talking to people about lycanthropy.

It used to be impossible to become a werewolf again after curing oneself of the affliction, but thanks to the Dawnguard expansion that comes with Skyrim - Special Edition, players can speak with Aela the Huntress if they want to return to their beastly ways.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Source: WikiHow