Skyrimfeatures a whole plethora of gameplay elements intended to improve immersion and enhance the role-playing aspect of the game - including diseases. Throughout their adventure inSkyrim, players can contract a number of diseases which can be cured by praying at one ofthe many shrinesaround Skyrim, drinking a Cure Disease potion, or speaking to a Vigilant of Stendarr.
RELATED:Realistic Needs & Diseases: Skyrim Mods That Add Realism
Until then, however, players must suffer their harmful effects. Furthermore, if players choose to use the Survival Mode Creation, ignoring them will result in diseases progressing to even worse versions of themselves, their effects amplified. Some of them can become truly crippling, while others can have results that are difficult to reverse. Thus, it is important that players are aware of the diseases they’re at risk of catching before they take their first steps out of Helgen.
12Ataxia
The bane of thieves, Ataxia makes lockpicking and pickpocketing 25% harder (50-75% if allowed to progress). True to reality, Ataxia inSkyrimis based on a real condition by the same name that results in a loss of muscle control and coordination.
RELATED:Skyrim: All Thief Skills, Ranked From Worst To Best
Ataxia is a common disease transmitted by traps and skeevers, and so is most likely caught when wandering the dark, dank areas ofSkyrim. Ironically, charred skeever hide is a possible ingredient used tomake Cure Disease potions!
11Bone Break Fever
Players should take care when exploring the dense forests ofSkyrim, or the frozen wastelands in the north, lest they run into a bear carrying Bone Break Fever.
This disease can be transmitted by traps or any of the bear variants inSkyrim, and once caught, it afflicts players with a 25-point Stamina penalty (50-75 points if allowed to progress).
10Brain Rot
This is a common disease inSkyrim, transmitted by a variety of sources: traps, zombies, and hagravens. While hagravens are somewhat rare, necromancers who raise corpses to fight for them are not hard to find, and so Brain Rot is an affliction many players must deal with at some point.
It affects mages primarily, reducing Magicka by 25 points (50-75 points if allowed to progress).
9Brown Rot
This disease was added by the Survival Mode Creation and is transmitted by all varieties of draugr. Thus, it is most commonly contracted while delving into ancient Nordic ruins.
RELATED:Skyrim: Every Named Draugr & Their Stories
Brown Rot reduces the effectiveness of light and heavy armor by 25% (50-75% if allowed to progress), while also making sleep less restful (25-75% depending on severity).
8Droops
Droops was added by theDragonbornDLC and is one of the rarer diseases inSkyrim, being transmitted solely by ash hoppers. Players will encounter such creatures while wandering the ashy wastes of southern Solstheim.
While ash hoppers themselves aren’t particularly fearsome foes, Droops can be quite a nasty disease, reducing the damage of one-handed and two-handed weapons by 15% (30-45% if allowed to progress). Any who rely on melee weapons for survival inSkyrimwould do well to carry aCure Disease potionwhile traveling through ash hopper territory.
7Food Poisoning
A disease that can only be acquired with the Survival Mode Creation, Food Poisoning is a painful affliction resulting from the consumption of raw meat. It makes the recovery of Magicka and Stamina 50% slower and prevents food from restoring Health for three days. Fortunately, Food Poisoning does not progress into worse forms, and unlike other diseases, the effects wear off after three days.
Argonians and Khajiit are naturally immune to this disease, givingthese two racesa slight advantage in Survival Mode.
6Greenspore
Greenspore is a blight for any merchant and silver tongue inSkyrim, as it makes prices 25% worse and persuasion/intimidation attempts 25% harder (50-75% if allowed to progress).
It was added by the Survival Mode Creation and is transmitted by slaughterfish. Players who enjoy swimming in any of the lakes, rivers, and seas ofSkyrimought to watch out for these nasty fish, lest they find themselves with terrible prices at the next shop they visit.
5Gutworm
Gutworm can harm anyone, reducing how much hunger food restores in Survival Mode by 25% (50-75% if allowed to progress). However, it is most damaging to players who enjoy warrior builds, as its primary effect is to reduce Stamina regeneration by 25-75%.
It is less common than other diseases, however, as it is transmitted exclusively by trolls.
4Rattles
Rattles is a devastating disease for any Stamina-focused build, as contracting it reduces Stamina regeneration by 50%. Allowing this disease to progress in Survival Mode makes Stamina regeneration even slower, and eventually stops it altogether.
RELATED:Skyrim: Amazing Potion Recipes With Multiple Effects
The disease is contracted by traps, as well as any kind of chaurus. Catching Rattles from chaurus can be particularly frustrating for players exploring the deep, extensive Dwemer ruins that chaurus often inhabit, so bringing a few bottles of Cure Disease potions for such expeditions would be a good idea.
3Rockjoint
Rockjoint is a common disease owing to the frequency with which players will encounter its carriers: traps, wolves, and foxes. While foxes are not initially hostile, they can be made to attack the player by spriggans, so take care when encountering any of these creatures.
Rockjoint reduces the effectiveness of melee weapons by 25%, and if allowed to progress, 50% and 75%.
