Werewolves in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim offer a unique and powerful alternative to standard character builds. But are the werewolf perks worth your time—and which ones should you focus on first? This guide will walk you through the werewolf perk tree, helping you maximize your efficiency and unlock the most valuable perks at every stage of the game.

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How Werewolf Perks Work

Unlike regular perks in Skyrim, werewolf perks don’t use perk points. Instead, you gain progress by feeding on corpses in werewolf form. The more you feed, the more experience you gain—unlocking new perks in the process. There are eight perks total, with Bestial Strength having four ranks.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Werewolf Perks

1. Bestial Strength (Rank 1)

• Effect: Increases melee damage in werewolf form by 25%.
• Why Prioritize: This is your starting perk and a solid damage boost. However, don’t invest in the remaining ranks just yet—there’s a more efficient progression path.

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2. Animal Vigor

• Effect: Grants +100 health and +100 stamina in werewolf form.
• Why Get It Early: A major survivability boost and a required step toward more advanced perks.

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3. Gorging

• Effect: Feeding restores twice as much health.
• Evaluation: Helpful, but less impactful than Animal Vigor. Still, it’s a necessary step to unlock the best perk on the tree.

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4. Savage Feeding

• Effect: Allows feeding on most dead creatures (excluding undead, automatons, and Daedra).
• Why It’s a Game-Changer: This perk dramatically accelerates perk progression by expanding your feeding pool to include animals. You’ll gain experience faster and stay in werewolf form longer, especially useful when roaming the wilds.

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5. Max Out Bestial Strength

• Effect: Each additional rank adds 25% more melee damage (up to 100% at Rank 4).
• Why Now: After unlocking Savage Feeding, it’s much easier to grind perks. Maxing out Bestial Strength now gives you devastating melee power.

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Totem Perks Overview

Through the Totems of Hircine questline, you can unlock powerful new howl abilities linked to different totems. Each offers unique gameplay effects—some more practical than others.

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Totem of Terror

• Effect: Upgrades Howl of Terror, causing enemies up to level 35 to flee.
• Use Case: Great in early game for crowd control, but loses effectiveness against high-level enemies.

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Totem of the Hunt

• Effect: Grants Scent of Blood, allowing you to detect life over a wide area for 60 seconds.
• Best For: Immersive roleplay or stealth-hunter builds. Not as impactful in direct combat.

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Totem of Brotherhood

• Effect: Unlocks Howl of the Pack, summoning two wolf spirits.
• Upgrades:
  • Totem of Ice Brothers – Summons Ice Wolves.
  • Totem of the Moon – Summons two spectral werewolves, significantly increasing combat strength.
• Why It’s the Best: Spectral werewolves are powerful allies, making this the strongest totem choice for combat-focused builds.

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Optimized Perk Progression Path

1. Bestial Strength (Rank 1) – Required start
2. Animal Vigor – Boosts survivability
3. Gorging – Enables stronger healing through feeding
4. Savage Feeding – Unlocks fast leveling through creature feeding
5. Bestial Strength (Ranks 2–4) – Finish upgrading damage
6. Totem Perks – Choose based on your playstyle:
   • Totem of Terror – Best early game
   • Totem of the Moon – Best mid/late game for combat support

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Summary: Are Werewolf Perks Worth It?

Absolutely. Werewolf perks are free to unlock and offer significant power boosts—especially for melee-focused or roleplaying characters. To get the most out of the werewolf form:

• Unlock Savage Feeding early to level up faster.
• Prioritize Bestial Strength for massive damage.
• Use Totem of the Moon to summon powerful allies.

With this strategy, you’ll become a true predator of the night—ready to dominate Skyrim in beast form.