What should you know before the first 10 hours?
Start neutral, learn the day/night rhythm, and protect the Chapter 2–4 decisions that keep endings available. The checklist below is the shortest route through the early game without spending days on avoidable detours.
- A 18–25 hour main-quest playthrough, depending on side-quest depth.
- New Game Plus carries your build + one key item; trophies reset.
- Five endings depend on a single Chapter 3 or 4 conversation.
- Refund NPC exists, gold cost scales with level.
- Verified against The Blood of Dawnwalker patch 1.0.4 (2026-08-21).
Hours 1–3: learn the two-form rhythm
The game runs a Vampire at night and a Human by day. Your first three hours are about getting comfortable with the rhythm:
- Day segments — quests, NPC conversations, exploration.
- Night segments — combat, vampire abilities, blood tracking.
- Don't try to do both at once. Pick the form the chapter opens with, complete its beats, then transition.
Hours 4–6: pick a starting allegiance
By Chapter 2 you will be asked which side to favor. The game does not lock you in, but your answers are tracked:
- Side with Humans early — locks out 2 Vampire-aligned endings.
- Side with Vampires early — locks out 2 Human-aligned endings.
- Stay neutral — keeps all 7 endings available; halves faction reputation gains.
Recommendation for a first run: stay neutral. You cannot get all 7 endings in one playthrough anyway, but staying neutral keeps your options open until Day 22.
Hours 7–10: don't grind, do side-quests
Side-quests give you Lore Pages and key items. Some key items are required for trophy unlocks. Skipping side-quests to rush the main quest is the most common first-run mistake.
Three mistakes to avoid
Do not spend points blindly before level 10. Do not skip the Magistrate's Day 12 conversation. Do not fast-travel in Chapter 2 if you want the missable trophy.
What you can safely ignore (for now)
- Daily crafting rotations. They matter for endgame builds, not your first run.
- NPC romance flags. They affect flavor text, not endings or trophies.
- The Blood Bank. You unlock it in Chapter 3. Focus on the main quest until then.
FAQ
How long is a playthrough?
18–25 hours for the main quest, depending on side-quest depth. Trophy hunters add 5–10 hours per extra run.
Can I switch my allegiance mid-run?
Yes, but your previous choices still count. You cannot un-make a Chapter 2 decision.
Should I start with the Vampire or Human form?
Either. The game opens with both. The form you play first depends on which chapter intro you trigger.
Is there a New Game Plus?
Yes — you carry your build and one key item. Trophies reset. Endings reset.
Next step
Where were these game facts checked?
All page content verified against The Blood of Dawnwalker patch 1.0.4 (2026-08-21). Game identity, developer and publisher relationship, setting, trophy counts, and ending branching confirmed against the sources below. Gameplay counts and route notes are editorial guide data and may change after future updates.