The Elder Scrollsfranchise is filled with thousands of lore entries and multiple games that can take thousands of hours to fully experience. Games such asSkyrimare frequently regarded as some of the most replayable games out there. Some of this is due to the game’s plethora of quests, but a lot of this has to do with the modding community.
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Mods are fan-madeadd-ons that add or change content. This can range from bug fixes to adding entirely new areas to explore. Modding is something that many consider intimidating, but it isn’t nearly as intimidating as it sounds. Here is a complete guide to moddingSkyrim.
10Oldrim Vs. Special Edition
Before players start modding their game, they should learn what version ofSkyrimthey own. Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and most PC users will be using theSkyrim: Special Editionversion of the game.Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 usershave the original version ofSkyrimthat doesn’t support console modding.
Some PC users might be using the original release ofSkyrim, sometimes referred to as “Oldrim” by the community. If players can’t view Creation Club mods or the Mod menu in the title screen, they are likely running the original version ofSkyrim. The version ofSkyrima player prefers will determine what type of mods they can install.
9In-Game Modding
Console players and PC users alike can actually mod their game without leaving the title menu. When booting up the game, head to the Mods menu to see various mods uploaded on Bethesda.net. Players can download these mods andSkyrimwill handle the rest. This is the easiest way to install mods but doesn’t include the tens of thousands of mods that exist on other websites such as Nexus Mods.
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Note that console versions ofSkyrimmods are unable to use script extenders and the PlayStation 4 version ofSkyrim: Special Editiondoes not supportmods that include new assets—meaning PS4 players have a much smaller list of mods to play with.
8Mod Manager
As for PC users that wish to go even further with modding, the next step is to find a good mod manager. Mod managers are software that store, install, and configure mods for their respective games.Skyrimhas three major mod managers:Mod Organizer 2,Nexus Mod Manager, andVortex.
Most modders should use Mod Organizer 2 as their mod manager of choice as it provides a plethora of options, an in-built tutorial, and installs in a separate registry instead of the game’s install folder. In other words, it is both faster and safer than Nexus Mod Manager. Vortex is still in its infancy and should only be used by experienced modders for the time being.
7Skyrim Script Extender
Mod Created BySkyUI Team (Nexus Mods)
The benefit to modding on PC is that players can use a Skyrim Script Extender, otherwise known as SKSE. This executable file allows modders to do much more withSkyrim’sCreation Kit thanks to the Script Extender’s added features. Many fan-favorite mods on the Nexus require SKSE to function. Even those that don’t mod should consider installing it as it fixes memory issues withSkyrimand itsSpecial Edition. Players candownload it here. Download “current classic” for Oldrim and “current SE” forSpecial Edition.
If downloaded as a 7z archive, find whereSkyrimis installed and drop the file’s contents into the root directory—the same place where “Skyrim.exe” is stored. If using Mod Organizer 2, verify to add SKSE as a shortcut in Mod Organizer’s launch menu.
6Optimizing Skyrim
It is important to make sure thatSkyrimis running as well as possible before players install dozens ofGigabytes worth of modsfor their game. Two great tools for his are BethINI and xEdit.
BethINI is not so much a mod as it is an application. This executable will allow players to quickly optimize their .ini files while also editing any setting they please. These settings can include FOV, companions using ammunition for weapons, and how detailed distant terrain should be.Download it hereand drop its contents intoSkyrim’sroot directory. If using Mod Organizer 2, as with SKSE, add BethINI as an executable and run it directly through the mod manager.
xEdit can be used to “clean” mods and Bethesda’s own DLC files to makeSkyrimmore stable. YouTuber GamerPoets has a great guide on this thatmodders can watch here. Finally, mods such as theUnofficial Patchesdo wonders for making the game less prone to crashing.
5Where To Find Mods
Image from Vokrii mod, created byEnai Siaion (Nexus Mods)
Mods are most commonly found on either theNexus Mods websiteor Bethesda.net. Both websites offer a wide range of mods to choose from, although the Nexus is the only means of finding mods that support the original version ofSkyrim. Browse both websites for mods that sound interesting. Bethesda.net mods are installed straight toSkyrimwhile Nexus Mods are downloaded to a mod manager like Mod Organizer 2.
Steam users can also usethe Steam Workshop to install a few mods.
4How To Install Mods
Image from Open Cities mod, created byArthmoor (Nexus Mods)
Bethesda.net mods can be installed by clicking “add to library.” This will causeSkyrim: Special Editionto install the mod the next time the player boots up the game. As for Nexus users, they can either download the file to a mod organizer or manually. Manually will give the file as a 7zip most of the time, forcing players to unpack the file to their root directory.
Don’t do that. Instead, click “download with manager” and make sure that the mod manager of choice is hooked up with a Nexus account. It should appear in the mod manager’s download section. Double click to download and follow any on-screen prompts as necessary.
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In either case, the mod is now ready to go. Boot up the game to see the mod in action. Whether it is a texture overhaulor combat mod, most mods should be immediately recognizable if they were successfully installed.
Image fromOwwThatSmarts - XBOX - Random Gaming (YouTube)
When multiple mods are installed forSkyrim, it is important to make sure that players have a good load order to prevent crashes and unintended behavior. Load order refers to the order in which mods are loaded intoSkyrim. Mods that are loaded later are given priority and override earlier-loaded files, meaning any mods that overlap can cause issues. Some mods also require certain files provided by other mods to work. Loading those in the wrong order can crash a player’s game.
To prevent this from being a hassle, frequently run programs such as LOOT to manage a mod load order.Download LOOT here.
2What Are ENBs?
ENBs, short for “Enhanced Natural Beauty,” is a graphics engine created by Boris Voronstov thatruns parallel toSkyrim.It injects post-processing effects into the game to drastically increase visual fidelity typically at the cost of performance. Players will need to deal with any performance issues before installing one.
Nearly every ENB requires the ENBseries files to work,which can be found here. Install those toSkyrim: Special Edition’sroot directory and look for an ENB on the Nexus that seems appealing. Install the ENB as instructed on the mod page and follow any additional instructions the mod author provides.
Players using the original version ofSkyrimmight also want to use ENBoost to letSkyrimuse a computer’s VRAM as additional RAM. To learn more about this, visit S.T.E.P.’s guide on the subjecthere.
1Useful Tools
Finally, there are a few additional community tools for hardcore modders.xEditis a great tool to use for modders that have hitSkyrim’s255 plugin limit. This tool can create merged patches that allow multiple plugins to be detected as one, allowing players to go well beyond 255 mods.
As for those that decided that manually modding is too much for them, consider givingWabbajacka try. Wabbajack, not to be confused withthe Daedric Artifact, allows users to browse multi-modded setups named Modlists or “modules” that can be installed all at once with little tweaking needed.
