Preemptive Strike is a radiant Dawnguard quest from Gunmar, the order’s beast-tamer at Fort Dawnguard. A Master Vampire has holed up somewhere in Skyrim, and if it is left alone it will turn its companions into vampires too. Gunmar’s plan is refreshingly simple: get there first and end the problem before it multiplies.
How to start
- Be a member of the Dawnguard and not a vampire.
- Complete A New Order.
- Speak to Gunmar and ask for work.
Walkthrough
1. Kill the Master Vampire
Gunmar names the dungeon straight away; unlike Hunting the Monster, there is no contact to interrogate. Travel there, fight through whatever else lives inside and destroy the Master Vampire.
2. Return to Gunmar
Head back to Fort Dawnguard and report the kill to collect your reward.
Possible locations
The lair is picked from a long list: Ansilvund, Bilegulch Mine, Boulderfall Cave, Brittleshin Pass, Broken Helm Hollow, Cragwallow Slope, Cragslane Cavern, Embershard Mine, Falkreath Watchtower, Fellglow Keep, Fort Fellhammer, Gallows Rock, Greywater Gorge, Halted Stream Camp, Hob’s Fall Cave, Ilinalta’s Deep, Knifepoint Ridge, Lost Knife Cave, Morvunskar, Orotheim, Rannveig’s Fast, Redoran’s Retreat, Rift Watchtower, Silent Moons Camp, Stony Creek Cave, Swindler’s Den, Treva’s Watch, Uttering Hills Cave, Valtheim Keep and the Wreck of the Winter War.
With the Dragonborn add-on installed, the vampire may also be on Solstheim: Bloodskal Barrow, Damphall Mine, Hrodulf’s House or the Wreck of the Strident Squall.
Rewards
- A leveled enchanted piece of apparel from Gunmar.
Tips and notes
- The quest is a mirror image of the vampire side quest Protecting the Bloodline, just seen from the hunters’ side.
- If the lair belongs to the Silver Hand (such as Gallows Rock), they will attack the vampire on sight. If it dies in that fight, the quest still counts as done, so letting the werewolf hunters do the work is a valid tactic.
- When the lair is Morvunskar and A Night to Remember is active at the same time, Sanguine will be there and will join in against the vampire.
- Occasionally neither the quest marker nor the vampire shows up at the dungeon.
- For a version with a bit of investigation first, try Hunting the Monster; for treasure hunting, Sorine Jurard offers Ancient Technology.
