1 Create Your Account
Getting into Vampires vs. Werewolves takes about 60 seconds. Head to duskmaw.com/register, pick a username, set a password, and you're in. No email verification required to start playing — you can add an email later to protect your account. The game runs entirely in your browser: no downloads, no plugins, no client to install.
Choose a username you'll be proud of — it's your identity in Aeternum and visible to all players in PvP rankings and clan rosters. You cannot change it later.
2 Choose Your Race
Right after registration, you'll be asked to choose: Vampire or Werewolf. This is the single most important decision in the game and it is permanent. Here's the short version:
- Vampire: Bonus STR and LCK, life steal passive, shadow abilities, solo-focused, high crit builds, Alchemy Station crafting.
- Werewolf: Bonus STR and VIT, pack bonuses, transformation ability, moon abilities, group/clan focused, Forge crafting.
If you prefer solo play and high-risk high-reward mechanics, go Vampire. If you plan to join a clan and thrive in group content, go Werewolf. Not sure? Read our full race comparison guide.
Your race cannot be changed after creation. Think carefully — but don't overthink it. Both races are fully viable at all content levels.
3 Complete the Tutorial
Once inside Aeternum, you'll start in Shadow Vale — the starting zone for all new players. The tutorial takes about 10 minutes and covers:
- Navigating the main game interface (map, stats, inventory, skills)
- Your first combat encounter with a Dungeon 1 monster
- Equipping your starter gear from the inventory screen
- Using your race's first passive skill
- Collecting your first quest reward
Do not skip the tutorial. It rewards a full starter gear set and enough gold to buy your first upgrade from the shop. Players who skip it have to grind these basics from scratch.
The tutorial's final reward includes a Common weapon appropriate for your race. Equip it immediately — it's better than the default fists you start with.
4 Your First Battles
Combat in Vampires vs. Werewolves happens through the dungeon system. At level 1, only Dungeon 1 (D1, levels 1–10) is available. Enter it from the Combat section of the navigation menu.
Each dungeon run costs Action Points (AP) that regenerate over time. Battles are resolved automatically based on your stats — your job is to build your character smart, equip the right gear, and invest your skill points wisely.
- Dungeon 1 (D1): Levels 1–10. Shadow Vale monsters. Great starter XP.
- Dungeon 2 (D2): Levels 5–15. Unlock after your first 5 levels.
- Dungeons scale up to D10 (levels 65–80) for endgame content.
Dungeons drop gold, XP, and gear. Higher dungeons have better drop tables. Push to the highest dungeon your character can consistently clear for optimal progression.
PvP Basics
Once you reach level 5, the PvP system unlocks. You can attack any player up to 3 times per day per target. Wins and losses affect your ELO ranking. Early on, focus on PvE to build your power before engaging in PvP. Getting wiped repeatedly as a fresh level 5 is demoralizing and unhelpful.
5 Leveling Tips
Leveling in Aeternum requires XP from combat and quests. Here are the most efficient strategies for early-game progression:
- Always have a quest active. Quests multiply XP from the activities you're doing anyway. Check the quest board every session.
- Push your dungeon tier. Farming the highest dungeon you can clear gives 30–50% more XP per AP than playing it safe in a lower dungeon.
- Invest skill points wisely. You earn 3 Skill Points (SP) per level. Open the skills screen and spend them on passive skills first — sustained combat bonuses beat situational actives at low levels.
- Don't neglect stat allocation. Every level you gain stat points on the character screen. For Vampires, prioritize STR then LCK. For Werewolves, prioritize VIT then STR.
- Log in daily. The login streak system rewards consistent play significantly.
Login Streak Milestones
| Streak Day | Reward |
|---|---|
| Day 3 | Bonus gold + XP boost (4 hours) |
| Day 7 | Uncommon gear crate + 2x AP |
| Day 14 | Rare item + significant gold bonus |
| Day 30 | Epic gear crate + permanent minor stat bonus |
| Day 60 | Legendary item unlock + title reward |
| Day 100 | Permanent "Eternal" title + major stat bonus |
6 Economy: Work & Quests
Gold is the foundation of Aeternum's economy. You spend it on gear, crafting materials, clan creation, and the auction house. Here's how to earn it consistently:
- Work action: Your character can Work once every 8 hours. Always use it when the cooldown is up — it's free passive gold with zero AP cost. Set a reminder.
- Daily quests: Complete 2–3 daily quests per session for bonus gold and XP. These reset every 24 hours at midnight server time.
- Dungeon drops: Higher-tier dungeon runs drop more gold per run. D5+ dungeons are worth farming for the loot drops alone.
- Sell unused drops: Don't hoard items you can't use. Vendor or auction anything outside your current build.
The Work cooldown is 8 hours — align it with your sleep schedule. Work before bed, work when you wake up, work at lunch. That's three free gold collections every day without changing your play habits.
7 Crafting Basics
Crafted gear is almost always better than shop purchases at equivalent levels. Each race has a dedicated crafting station:
- Vampires — Alchemy Station: Crafts shadow-infused weapons and magic armor. Requires alchemical materials from dungeon drops.
- Werewolves — Forge: Crafts physical weapons and heavy metal armor. Requires ore and hide materials from dungeon drops.
At the start, you'll only have Common-tier recipes unlocked. As you level up and complete crafting quests, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary recipes become available. Always craft the highest-tier gear your materials allow — the stat jump between tiers is substantial.
Don't sell raw crafting materials below level 15. You'll regret it when Uncommon recipes unlock and you've vendor-sold all your Moonstone Shards. Keep a stockpile of at least 20 of each material type.
For a deep dive into crafting, see our complete crafting guide.
8 Joining a Clan
Clans are social guilds that unlock exclusive content and buffs. At level 5, the clan menu becomes available. You have two options:
- Join an existing clan: Free. Browse the clan list and apply. Most active clans accept new members under level 20 to grow their roster.
- Create your own clan: Costs 500 gold and requires you to be at least level 5. Visit the clan creation page to set your name, emblem, and rules.
For new players, joining an existing established clan is almost always better than creating your own. Experienced clanmates will help you progress faster, share dungeon runs, and boost your stats through pack bonuses (especially critical for Werewolves).
Look for a clan that matches your playstyle — PvE-focused clans farm dungeons together, PvP clans compete in ELO rankings. Ask in the clan description which type they are before applying.
What You Unlock with a Clan
- Werewolf pack bonuses activate (up to +25% damage in grouped content)
- Access to Clan Wars (PvP events between rival clans)
- Clan storage — shared resource pool for crafting materials
- Clan quest board — exclusive high-reward missions
- Clan chat and coordination features