Swift and savage, Werewolves slash, bite, and tear through their enemies. They’re strongest in packs, but even a lone Werewolf can send its enemies running in terror.
Overview
Compared to Vampirism, Lycanthropy is very much an all-or-nothing affliction. Transforming into a Werewolf grants you a number of benefits and penalties. Outside of Werewolf form, Lycanthropy has little effect on your character.
Persistent Effects
There are only two Werewolf-related effects that don’t require an active transformation:
Transformation Effects
Getting the most out of the Werewolf skill line takes a great deal of time—and more than a few Skill Points—but even new Werewolves are granted powerful benefits during a transformation:
- 9966 additional Physical Resistance
- 9966 additional Spell Resistance
- Light attacks that inflict Bleeding
- Increased sprint speed
Heavy investment in the Werewolf skill line grants even greater benefits:
- Powerful new abilities
- Longer-lasting transformations
- Up to 100% more Stamina generated from heavy attacks
- Up to 18% more Weapon Damage
- The ability to transmit Lycanthropy to willing players
The penalties associated with Lycanthropy are active during all transformations, regardless of how heavily you invest in the Werewolf skill line. Whenever you’re in Werewolf form, you can expect:
- 25% more damage taken from Poison Attacks
- Up to 20% more damage taken from Fighters Guild abilities
- The inability to use weapons or non-Werewolf skills
Active Effects
For the most part, Werewolf abilities can only be used while Werewolf form is active—the exception being the Ultimate Ability, which triggers the transformation. Luckily, this skill line contains all the abilities you’ll need for an effective transformation:
- Werewolf Transformation changes your character into a savage beast for a short time. While slotted, this Ultimate Ability also increases Stamina Recovery by 15%.
- Pounce is a direct-damage gap closer.
- Hircine’s Bounty is a Magicka-based instant heal.
- Roar serves as a short-range area-of-effect fear.
- Piercing Howl combines heavy single-target damage with a Stun effect.
- Infectious Claws is a cone area-of-effect attack with a considerable damage-over-time effect.
As a whole, Werewolf abilities offer a good mix of damage, crowd control, and self-healing. Available morphs feature a variety of useful effects, adding considerable utility to an already well-rounded skill set. An appropriately built Werewolf can buff allies, debuff enemies, produce Synergies, and more.
Werewolf Transformation
The Werewolf Transformation ability carries a heavy Ultimate cost, and because the Werewolf skill line progresses fairly slowly, Lycanthropy represents a serious investment. If you intend to embrace this affliction, take steps to ensure you make the most of each transformation:
Most Werewolf abilities are Stamina-based, so your damage scales Maximum Stamina, Weapon Damage, and Weapon Critical. Effective Werewolves generally focus on these stats.
Transforming into a Werewolf activates a new Action Bar. Avoid placing any non-Werewolf abilities in these slots.
Killing monsters while you’re in Werewolf mode is the only way to rank up the Werewolf skill line. If you hope to gain access to new Werewolf abilities, transform as often as possible.
While you’re in Werewolf form, a thin bar appears just below your Magicka pool. This extra bar indicates the time left until the transformation ends.
Staying near a Werewolf ritual site allows you to remain in Werewolf Mode indefinitely. Keep this in mind if you want to rearrange skills on your Werewolf Action Bar.