After more than a decade since its launch, playing as a typical Sim in The Sims 4 can sometimes feel a bit uninspired. Fortunately, the game offers a wide variety of supernatural life states that can significantly revolutionize your gameplay, ranging from enigmatic vampires to whimsical fairies.
In its initial years, The Sims 4 had a limited supernatural presence, with only Aliens and Vampires introduced through downloadable content during its first five years. However, since 2019, Maxis has dramatically altered this, incorporating Spellcasters, Mermaids, Werewolves, Ghosts, and most recently, Fairies with the Enchanted by Nature DLC. This impressive collection of supernatural characters provides substantial depth to the game, assuming you own the necessary expansion packs.
To assist you in navigating this extensive supernatural world, we have compiled a detailed guide for each occult type, making it straightforward for you to delve in and explore their unique characteristics and powers.
How to Create an Occult Sim by Birth
Sims can also be born as any of the occult types, with ghosts being the sole exception. The rules for inheritance are consistent across all varieties:
- If both parents are of the same occult type, their offspring is guaranteed to inherit that same occult state (e.g., two Vampire parents will have a Vampire baby).
- If one parent is occult and the other is a normal human Sim, there`s a 50% chance the baby will inherit the occult parent`s life state.
- When parents of two different occult types have a child (e.g., a Vampire and a Werewolf), the child has an equal chance of inheriting either parent`s occult type. The Sims 4 does not natively support occult hybrids. For instance, a Vampire or Spellcaster Sim cannot become a Fairy until they revert to a regular Sim. However, community modifications are available if you wish to bypass this restriction.
Now, let`s explore the specifics of each supernatural life state.
1. Vampire (Vampires DLC)
How to become a Vampire
You can create a Vampire Sim directly in Create-a-Sim (CAS), or have an existing Sim befriended by a Vampire and request to be turned.
What changes once your Sim is a Vampire
Upon becoming a Vampire, your Sim`s energy and hunger needs are replaced by Vampire Energy and Thirst. They no longer require the toilet and will cease to age. However, there are significant drawbacks: Vampires are vulnerable to sunlight, get sick from eating regular food, and must constantly feed their thirst for blood to avoid going feral and attacking others randomly.
Vampires possess a unique skill chart that progresses as they engage in Vampire activities. Advancing through this chart grants powerful abilities and can mitigate some vampiric weaknesses, such as sun vulnerability. However, leveling up also requires choosing certain negative perks.
Pros
- Provides an alternative method to achieve some lifetime aspiration rewards that would otherwise take much longer (e.g., eliminating the need for sleep or bathing).
- Offers a perk that dulls emotions, preventing extreme sadness from frequent deaths of distant relatives.
- Thirst is manageable with readily available plasma packs and fruit, allowing you to avoid feeding on other Sims if desired.
Cons
- Vulnerable to sunlight (can be fatal).
- Garlic acts as a poison.
- Cannot sleep in a normal bed.
- Requires constant blood consumption.
- Progressing through the skill tree forces selection of negative perks alongside beneficial ones, making vampirism a challenging path.
How to cure Vampirism
Sims who have maxed out their Vampire Lore skill can mix the Ultimate Vampire Cure using the mixology skill at any bar. Consuming this drink will revert them to a normal Sim.
2. Werewolf (Werewolves DLC)
How to become a Werewolf
You can create a Werewolf directly in Create-a-Sim, or have an existing Sim bitten and turned by another Werewolf.
What changes once your Sim is a Werewolf
Your Sim will transform into their wolf form during every full moon. A new “Fury” gauge appears on the needs panel, which increases with mood changes or Werewolf activities. Higher Fury levels result in more animalistic behavior. Each Werewolf also has a unique temperament that determines what triggers their fury.
Werewolves have their own skill tree to improve abilities and reduce drawbacks. Beyond the standard tree, six dormant abilities can be unlocked by performing specific actions. Naturally, Werewolves can form and run with wolf packs, as social interaction is crucial for their happiness, unlike solitary Vampires.
Pros
- Offers unconventional gameplay options, such as eating furniture or quickly traveling by burrowing underground.
- Like most occult types, maxing out the skill tree grants immortality; your Sim will still age but won`t die of old age.
Cons
- The Fury meter can be difficult to manage initially, as uncontrolled rampages negatively impact your Sim`s social standing.
- It is the most esoteric occult state, representing a significant departure from standard Sims 4 gameplay.
- While challenging, Werewolves do not have mortal vulnerabilities like Vampires.
How to cure the Werewolf condition
A Sim can revert to a regular person by utilizing 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. For an existing Sim, the process involves visiting Innisgreen, obtaining a Fairy Seedling from a fairy, planting it to summon Mother Nature, asking for Mother Nature`s Charm, and then completing the transformation by visiting Moondrop Springs in the Everdew neighborhood.
What changes when your Sim is a Fairy
Fairies do not need to eat or use the toilet. They can fly everywhere and possess extraordinary powers to control other Sims` emotions, inflict or heal ailments, and accelerate plant growth significantly. They have a new “Emotional Force” energy bar that requires careful management; running out can lead to the Fairy`s demise.
Pros
- Fairy Sims are exceptionally powerful gardeners, capable of managing numerous plants with minimal effort.
- Their ability to manipulate other Sims` emotions and relationships opens up many fun and chaotic social opportunities, making it a highly enjoyable occult type.
Cons
- A Fairy can accidentally die quite easily by depleting their Emotional Force. While more powerful Fairies can mitigate this risk by advancing their skill tree, playing as a Fairy can be unusually dangerous if attention is not paid to this need.
How to remove a Sim`s Fairy status
The removal process is identical to becoming a Fairy: 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
You can 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 another sufficiently powerful Spellcaster Sim.
What changes when your Sim is a Spellcaster
Spellcasters unlock a unique skill tree that progresses through the use of any magical ability. They must also individually learn magic powers and alchemical recipes by practicing the three magic types to learn spells or by experimenting with a cauldron to discover potion recipes. Using magic wands will enhance their powers.
However, casting spells increases a new “Spellcaster Charge” meter. The higher this meter, the greater the likelihood of a spell malfunctioning, which could potentially kill your Sim.
Pros
- Learning spells and potions grants various practical abilities that simplify your Sim`s life, such as instantly repairing broken objects or duplicating items.
- You can brew a Potion of Plentiful Needs (which fills all need meters) and then use the Copypasto spell to duplicate it for an endless supply for your entire family.
- Spellcasters can brew a Potion of Immortality to prevent dying of old age or use a spell to bring a ghost back to life.
- This life state generally offers improvements with no inherent downsides.
Cons
None; becoming a Spellcaster is almost entirely beneficial.
How to get rid of your Spellcaster status
You can take 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 be retained, but you will need to reassign the skill tree perks.
5. Alien (Get to Work DLC)
How to become an Alien
Sims cannot be “turned” into Aliens; they must either be created in Create-a-Sim or born as one. However, a Sim can use a satellite dish to provoke alien abductions, which occasionally results in an alien pregnancy regardless of the Sim`s gender. Children born from these pregnancies will always be Aliens.
What`s different when playing as an Alien
The Alien life state introduces fewer dramatic changes compared to other occult types. Aliens can have blue or purple skin and can disguise themselves as humans to avoid unwanted attention. There isn`t a traditional skill tree, but Aliens possess unique abilities, such as transmogrifying one type of metal or crystal into another randomly. They also have empathy skills that allow them to understand and even copy the emotional state of any Sim they interact with.
Pros
- Essentially, playing as an Alien Sim is akin to playing a normal Sim but with a few extra, unique perks. It offers a subtle difference rather than a complete overhaul.
Cons
None; the Alien life state comes with no significant drawbacks.
6. Mermaid (Island Living DLC)
How to become a Mermaid
You can create a Mermaid directly in Create-a-Sim, be born as one, or consume Mermadic Kelp, which can be found in the world or purchased from the aspiration rewards store for 500 points.
What changes when your Sim is a Mermaid
When a Sim becomes a Mermaid, they develop a tail. On land, they can revert to their normal form with legs. Their hunger need is replaced by a unique “Hydration” need, requiring them to stay moist to avoid dying from dehydration.
Mermaids gain several inherent abilities, each depleting their hydration meter. Care must be taken to avoid drying out your Sim. These abilities include singing various lullabies that inspire specific moods in listeners, communicating with fish and dolphins, and performing mischievous acts like luring swimmers into the water and potentially drowning them. Mermaids also possess limited weather control.
Pros
- If your Sim resides in Sulani or another aquatic world, the Mermaid`s significantly faster swimming ability is a major advantage.
- The ability to communicate with and befriend fish is a fun and unique interaction.
Cons
- Managing the Hydration meter can be challenging if your Sim does not live near the ocean. While baths and showers help, swimming in pools or using hot tubs (anything with chlorinated water) will paradoxically dehydrate your Sim further.
7. Ghost (Life & Death DLC)
How to become a Ghost
Simply put: your Sim must die.
What changes when your Sim becomes a Ghost
Your Sim ceases to be a corporeal being and transforms into a glowing spirit. This unlocks the “Ghost Mastery” skill tree, allowing a Sim to gain new ghostly abilities and choose whether to become a benevolent or mischievous spirit. Malicious ghost abilities include haunting household objects, inducing nightmares in other Sims, 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 bestow good fortune.
Occult Sims who died due to their inherent weakness (e.g., a Vampire dying from sunlight) will retain their occult abilities even in ghost form.
Pros
- Without a physical presence, Ghosts can perform many actions normal Sims cannot, such as walking through walls or other Sims, which offers a uniquely strange yet enjoyable gameplay experience.
- Ghosts can also perform “jump scares” for entertainment.
Cons
- While a Ghost can perform most actions a regular Sim can, there are limitations; for instance, a Ghost cannot have children.
How to stop being a Ghost
The Ghost state is unique in that it offers multiple ways to revert to a living Sim:
- A Ghost can be brought back to life using a Book of Life, written by an author Sim.
- By cooking and consuming Ambrosia.
- By using the magic spell “Dedeathify.”
- A Ghost can also choose to “pass on” and be reincarnated as a new Sim by swimming in the waters of Revenwood.