Skyrim Special Edition - Modding Guide

Introduction

This is a guide on how to improve Skyrim Special Edition using mods.

This guide contains hundreds of mods. Because of this, I divided it up into smaller sections. Most of the sections work fine by themselves, so you don't need to commit to following the entire guide; just pick and choose the parts you want.

Modding Tools

I strongly recommend using Mod Organizer 2 as your mod manager. I won't be offering any support for problems caused by other mod managers. I am going to assume you already watched the GamerPoets videos on MO2 and know all of the basics.

You should also familiarize yourself with Cathedral Assets Optimizer. It can be used to convert mods from the original Skyrim to the newer Skyrim Special Edition. I also use it to extract most of the BSAs that come with mods. It makes it easier to understand what each mod is doing and resolve conflicts.

What to Download

I listed the names of every file I used under each mod link. They can be merged into the same MO2 mod folder (in the same order they are listed). Some mods might have newer versions available. Most of the time, it is safe to grab the newest version.

Quality vs. Performance

Whenever a mod is available in multiple sizes (4k, 2k, etc.), I always just list the largest option. It is up to you to know how powerful your computer is and respond accordingly.

Load Order

The sections are intended to be installed in order they appear below. Within a section, the mods are also intended to be installed in the same order they appear. I use LOOT to sort the plugins, so the plugin order won't exactly match the order of the mod assets on the left side of MO2.

Change Log

People create new mods every day, so this load order will never truly be finished. I update this site regularly, so please check back once in awhile. There are still some additional sections I plan on adding in the future.

A history of updates to this guide can be found here: Skyrim Special Edition - Change Log.

Other Information

This a "family friendly" guide that doesn't include any "adult" mods. For this reason, there are certain topics that won't be covered.

Sections

1. DLL Plugins & Script Extenders
2. User Interface
3. Bug Fixes
4. Audio Part 1
5. Audio Part 2
6. Dialogue & Followers
7. Base Meshes & Textures
8. Optional Texture Overhauls
9. Roads & Bridges
10. Mesh Fixes & Improvements
11. Interiors
12. Special Effects
13. ENB & ReShade
14. Water & Particles
15. Weather
16. Lighting
17. Plants & Trees Part 1
18. Architecture
19. Plants & Trees Part 2
20. Fires & Forges
21. Rocks & Mountains
22. Ice & Glaciers
23. Grass
24. Dwemer Metal
25. Furniture
26. Candles & Silverware
27. Head, Face, Mouth
28. Eyes, Brows, Hair
29. NPC Visual Overhaul
30. Clothing & Armor
31. Weapons & Shields
32. Skeletons
33. Animals
34. Monsters
35. Gems
36. Misc. Models & Textures
37. Food, Potions, Ingredients
38. Books, Paper, Scrolls
39. Combat Fixes & Improvements
40. Animations (Requirements)
41. Animations (Miscellaneous)
42. Animations (Movement)
43. Animations (SkySA)
44. Animations (Stances)
45. Animations (Jumping)
46. Patch Collections & Scripts