After 11 years, playing The Sims 4 as a regular Sim can start to feel repetitive. Fortunately, the game offers a wide array of occult life states, from vampires to the newly introduced fairies, which can significantly transform your gameplay experience. While early years of Sims 4 had limited supernatural options (only aliens and vampires through DLC), Maxis significantly expanded this in 2019 by adding spellcasters, mermaids, werewolves, and ghosts. The recent Enchanted by Nature DLC further enriches the game with fairies. If you own these DLCs, you have access to a truly diverse cast of supernatural characters. This guide provides a detailed overview of each occult type, helping you easily explore these unique gameplay possibilities.
Table of Contents
- How to create an occult Sim by birth
- 1. Vampire (Vampires DLC)
- 2. Werewolf (Werewolves DLC)
- 3. Fairy (Enchanted by Nature DLC)
- 4. Spellcaster (Realm of Magic DLC)
- 5. Alien (Get to Work DLC)
- 6. Mermaid (Island Living DLC)
- 7. Ghost (Life & Death DLC)
How to create an occult Sim by birth
Excluding ghosts, Sims can be born into any occult state. The lineage rules are consistent: two parents of the same occult type guarantee their offspring will inherit that same occult state (e.g., two vampire parents result in a vampire baby). If one parent is occult and the other is a regular human Sim, there`s a 50% chance the child will inherit the occult parent`s life state. When two Sims of different occult types have a child, the offspring has an equal chance of inheriting either parent`s supernatural state, but never both, as The Sims 4 does not natively support occult hybrids. For instance, a Sim cannot be both a vampire and a spellcaster simultaneously; they would need to revert to a regular Sim before adopting another occult form. However, player-created mods can bypass these limitations.
Now, let`s dive into the details for each specific occult type.
1. Vampire (Vampires DLC)
How to become a vampire
Become a vampire through Create-a-Sim or by befriending an existing vampire and requesting to be turned.
What changes once your Sim is a vampire
Vampire Sims replace their energy and hunger needs with vampire energy and thirst, and no longer require toilets. They also become immortal, ceasing to age. However, vampirism has drawbacks: Sims can die from sunlight exposure, get ill from normal food, and must satisfy a constant blood thirst or risk turning feral and attacking others. Vampires possess a unique skill tree; progressing through this tree grants powerful abilities, mitigates weaknesses like sun vulnerability, and unlocks special powers. Advancing these skills, however, also necessitates acquiring certain negative perks.
Pros
The vampire path offers an alternative way to achieve certain lifetime aspiration rewards that would otherwise take much longer, such as eliminating the need to sleep or bathe. Vampirism also holds a significant advantage over other forms of immortality in The Sims 4 due to a perk that deadens a Sim`s emotions. This prevents extreme sadness when distant relatives die, which could be frequent for long-lived Sims. While the thirst need can be annoying, plasma packs and fruit are readily available, allowing you to avoid feeding on other Sims if preferred.
Cons
The well-known downsides of being a vampire include vulnerability to sunlight, garlic acting as poison, inability to sleep in normal beds, and the constant need to drink blood. Fortunately, most major negatives can be mitigated. However, the requirement to take several bad perks alongside good ones as you level up vampire skills means that being a vampire is never entirely without challenges.
How to cure vampirism
Sims who have maximized their Vampire Lore skill can mix the Ultimate Vampire Cure using the mixology skill at any bar. They simply need to drink it to revert to normal.
2. Werewolf (Werewolves DLC)
How to become a werewolf
Create one in Create-a-Sim, or have an existing werewolf bite your Sim to initiate the transformation.
What changes once your Sim is a werewolf
Your Sim will transform into their wolf form every full moon. A new “Fury” gauge appears on the needs panel, increasing regularly due to mood changes or engaging in werewolf activities. The higher a werewolf Sim`s fury, the more animalistic their behavior becomes. All werewolves in The Sims 4 have a temperament that dictates what makes them agitated. Werewolves also feature their own unique skill tree, allowing them to level up abilities and lessen some downsides. Beyond the standard skill tree, werewolves can unlock six dormant abilities by performing specific actions. Naturally, they can form wolf packs, which are crucial for werewolf happiness as they are not reclusive like vampires.
Pros
Playing as a werewolf introduces unconventional new gameplay options in The Sims 4. For instance, a werewolf perk allows your Sim to eat furniture, and another enables quick travel by burrowing underground. Like most occult types, once the skill tree is maxed out, your Sim can live forever. They will still age but will not die from old age.
Cons
The Fury meter can be quite challenging to manage initially, as rampant transformations negatively impact your Sim`s social standing. However, werewolves lack the mortal vulnerabilities of vampires. Even so, this is arguably the most esoteric occult state, representing the most significant departure from standard Sims 4 gameplay.
How to cure the werewolf condition
A Sim can revert to a regular person using the Lunar Epiphany dormant ability, which is unlocked by reading werewolf tomes.
3. Fairy (Enchanted by Nature DLC)
How to become a fairy
A new Sim can be created as a fairy in Create-a-Sim. An existing Sim can become a fairy by visiting Innisgreen, obtaining a Fairy Seedling from a fairy, and then planting it to summon Mother Nature. Request Mother Nature`s Charm to begin the process, then visit Moondrop Springs in the Everdew neighborhood to complete the transformation.
What changes when your Sim is a fairy
Fairies do not need to eat food and, consequently, have no bladder need. They can also fly everywhere and possess extraordinary powers. These powers allow them to control the emotions of other Sims, inflict or heal strange ailments, and accelerate plant growth significantly. Fairies have a new energy bar called “Emotional Force” that requires special attention, as running out can lead to the fairy`s death.
Pros
Fairy Sims are incredibly powerful gardeners, capable of quickly and easily tending to large numbers of plants. Their potential for manipulating the emotions and relationships of other Sims opens up many enjoyable new social dynamics. It`s a very fun occult type to play.
Cons
A fairy can accidentally kill themselves surprisingly easily by depleting their Emotional Force. More powerful fairies can mitigate this risk by advancing their fairy skill tree, but it can be unusually dangerous to play as a fairy if you are not careful.
How to remove a Sim`s fairy status
The process for removing fairy status is identical to becoming one: summon Mother Nature with a Fairy Seedling, ask her to remove the charm, and visit Moondrop Spring again.
4. Spellcaster (Realm of Magic DLC)
How to become a spellcaster
Become a spellcaster via Create-a-Sim, by requesting the Rite of Ascension from one of the sages in the Magic Realm, or by asking a sufficiently powerful spellcaster Sim.
What changes when your Sim is a spellcaster
Spellcasters unlock a unique skill tree that progresses with any magical ability use, but they must also individually learn magic powers and alchemical recipes. Sims can learn spells by practicing each of the three magic types or by experimenting with a cauldron to discover potion recipes. They can also use magic wands, which enhance their powers. However, using magic also increases a new “spellcaster charge” meter; the higher this meter, the more likely a spell will malfunction and potentially kill your Sim.
Pros
Learning spells and potions unlocks various practical abilities that simplify your Sim`s life, such as instantly repairing broken objects or duplicating items. You could brew a Potion of Plentiful Needs, which fills all your Sim`s need meters, then use the “Copypasto” spell to duplicate it, ensuring a lifetime supply for your entire family. Spellcasters can also brew a Potion of Immortality to prevent death from old age, or use a spell to revive a ghost into a living Sim.
Cons
There are no inherent downsides to becoming a spellcaster. Every aspect of this life state is an improvement.
How to get rid of your spellcaster status
You can undergo the Rite of Dissolution from any of the sages in the Magic Realm to remove your spellcaster status. If your Sim later decides to become a spellcaster again, their power level will remain the same, but you will need to reassign the skill tree perks.
5. Alien (Get to Work DLC)
How to become an alien
Sims cannot transform into aliens; they must be created in Create-a-Sim or born as one. However, a Sim can use a satellite to provoke alien abduction, which sometimes results in an alien pregnancy regardless of the Sim`s gender. Children born from such pregnancies will always be aliens.
What`s different when playing as an alien
Not much changes with the alien life state compared to other occult types. Aliens can have blue or purple skin and can disguise themselves as humans to avoid social awkwardness. There isn`t a specific skill tree, but aliens possess unique abilities, such as transmuting one metal or crystal into another random type. They also have empathy skills that allow them to understand and copy the emotional state of any Sim they converse with.
Pros
Essentially, playing as an alien Sim is like playing as a normal Sim but with a few extra perks. It`s different, but not drastically so.
Cons
None
6. Mermaid (Island Living DLC)
How to become a mermaid
Become a mermaid via Create-a-Sim, by being born as one, or by eating Mermadic Kelp, which can be found in the world or purchased from the aspiration rewards for 500 points.
What changes when your Sim is a mermaid
When a Sim becomes a mermaid, they grow a tail. They can still revert to their normal form with legs when on land. Their hunger need is replaced by a unique hydration need; mermaids must stay moist or they will die. Mermaids receive a number of inherent abilities, each depleting their hydration meter. Caution is needed with these abilities to prevent your Sim from drying out. They can sing various lullabies that inspire specific moods in listeners, talk to fish and dolphins, and even perform mischievous acts, like luring swimmers into the water and pulling them under, potentially drowning them. They also have minor weather control abilities.
Pros
If your Sim lives in Sulani or another aquatic world, a mermaid`s ability to swim significantly faster than a normal Sim is a huge advantage. The ability to communicate with and befriend fish is also a fun aspect.
Cons
The hydration meter can be more challenging to manage if you don`t live near the ocean. While baths and showers provide some relief, swimming in pools or using hot tubs (or any chlorinated water) will actually dehydrate your Sim further.
7. Ghost (Life & Death DLC)
How to become a ghost
Die.
What changes when your Sim becomes a ghost
Your Sim will transform into a glowing, non-corporeal spirit. This unlocks the Ghost Mastery skill tree, allowing a Sim to gain new ghostly abilities and choose whether to become a benevolent or malevolent ghost. Malicious ghost abilities include haunting household objects, giving other Sims nightmares, or cursing them with bad luck. On the friendly side, a ghost Sim can replenish a living Sim`s needs, save a recently deceased Sim`s life, or simply bless them with good fortune. Occult Sims who died due to their specific weakness (e.g., a vampire dying from sunlight) will retain their occult abilities in ghost form.
Pros
Since they lack physical presence, ghosts can perform many unique actions normal Sims cannot, such as walking through walls or even other Sims, which adds a delightfully strange feel. Ghosts can also perform jump scares for entertainment.
Cons
While ghosts can perform most actions a regular Sim can, there are limitations; for instance, a ghost cannot have a child.
How to stop being a ghost
The ghost state is unique in that it can be cured in multiple ways. A ghost can be returned to a living Sim by using a Book of Life (written by an author Sim), by cooking Ambrosia, or by using the magical spell “Dedeathify.” A ghost can also pass on and be reincarnated as a new Sim by swimming in the waters of Revenwood.