“Kindred Judgment” is the final quest of the Dawnguard add-on: with Auriel’s Bow in hand, you and Serana go to Castle Volkihar to stop Harkon once and for all. Whichever side you chose in Bloodline, it ends the same way – in the castle’s cathedral, facing Serana’s father.
How it starts
Talk to Serana after taking Auriel’s Bow at the end of Touching the Sky.
Walkthrough
Dawnguard path
Return to Fort Dawnguard. Isran decides the time for waiting is over and sends the Dawnguard with you to storm Castle Volkihar. Fight through the remaining vampires and make your way to the cathedral, where Harkon waits.
Vampire path
Serana tells you plainly that her father has to die, or neither of you will ever be safe from him. Walk into Castle Volkihar – nobody stops you on the way – and head for the cathedral.
The fight with Harkon
Harkon greets you in Vampire Lord form and may ask you to hand over Auriel’s Bow. Refusing or agreeing changes nothing: he attacks anyway, so keep the bow. You can also skip the talk and attack straight away.
- He summons skeletons and gargoyles, drains your health from a distance and sometimes bursts into a swarm of bats to reposition.
- At low health he retreats to the altar at the west end of the room, raises a shield and regenerates.
- Shoot the shield with Auriel’s Bow to interrupt the healing and force him back into the fight. Without the bow you have to wait until he’s fully healed.
- Expect him to run back to the altar two or three times before he goes down.
Loot his ashes for Harkon’s Sword and a set of Vampire Royal Armor.
Aftermath
- Serana talks to you about her father and can now join you as a full follower – one of the best in the game.
- If you don’t take her along, she stays at Castle Volkihar (vampire path) or moves to Fort Dawnguard (Dawnguard path).
- Your faction keeps handing out repeatable side quests after the story ends.
Want to read up on the villain? See our page on Harkon and the Volkihar Clan.
