Sure, they were around, but Dawnguard adds new types and makes them a central part of the world. If you explore a lot, your paths are bound to cross. And whether you’re for or against them, everything will eventually circle back to their biggest and most isolated lair. Castle Volkihar is already pretty magnificent in the vanilla game. But with these mods, it can fit your play style more than ever before.
1. Castle Volkihar Rebuilt
Check Out This Mod The disheveled state of Castle Volkihar really isn’t befitting of…well, anything. This place is incredible from an architecture standpoint and although the locale is a little dreary, it suits the vibe. It just doesn’t seem right that creatures who go around in some of the most awesome attire in the game would spend eternity with their home crumbling down around them. Thanks to this mod, not only can you give this glorious castle the renovation it deserves, but you get to make it happen yourself with your own two hands. That’s right, this isn’t just a quick fix – you get some new gameplay! Throughout the estate, the modder added piles of rubble that you can use a pickaxe to clean up. And you don’t have to do all of this out of the good of your own heart, it’ll pay off in the end. Once you’ve cleared away all the debris the North Tower can be used as a player home, complete with three storage chests, a bed, and some basic furnishings.
2. Northfire’s Castle Volkihar
Check Out This Mod Unlike the previous mod, there’s no work required here for this total graphics overhaul within the castle. This seemingly simple edit does some truly incredible things. Visually, Volkihar will no longer be a dusty old palace. Every texture is improved, from the stone walls to the dirt floor. The lighting even feels brighter and warmer, and the shadows are way more realistic. As charming as Skyrim’s vanilla graphics are… at the end of the day they’re over a decade old. There’s no doubt that as far as retexturing goes, this modder has got the market cornered for Castle Volkihar. Thanks to them, it’s a spectacular sight on every level. I mean, even the dirt is pretty now. That’s top notch stuff.
3. Volkihar Waiters
Check Out This Mod What good is a castle without a staff? No good at all. How is my Dragonborn supposed to feel like royalty if they don’t have someone available at their beck and call? During the Bloodline quest, there are two vampire thralls who stand by ready to serve drinks – but you won’t see them again after that without this mod. Now you can keep them around to serve you for eternity, and also feed them if you’re feeling particularly generous.
4. Castle Volkihar Ambiance
Check Out This Mod Skyrim generally provides a nice soundtrack for your adventures, but it just doesn’t do Castle Volkihar justice. We need something that truly captures how unsettling this place is. Well Ramaum has got the perfect soundtrack right here. Everything about this mod is bound to fill you with unease and trepidation. And the longer the song goes on, the more intense it gets… much like the vampire and Dawnguard related quests themselves. The final stretch of this custom tune consists of booming crescendos & an unavoidable sense of impending doom. Every vampire’s dream, honestly.
5. Volkihar Extended
Check Out This Mod Compared to many other locations in the game, this castle feels surprisingly big. You can see from the outside that it’s no measly starter home… but with so many different rooms, it really seems like these vampires are making the most of the space they have. All it needs now is a room for your character to call their own – and that’s exactly what’s offered in this mod. As you’d expect, this extension comes with some cool perks that’ll really only benefit you if you’re a vampire. The additions include a basin of blood and a sarcophagus, in addition to a regular bed. Another cool feature is that the room is lit with candles that are essentially functional and you can turn on and off whenever you please. Compared to some of the places you’ll find vampires in this game, this room is definitely luxurious.
