Preface
⚠ This modlist is currently Skyrim SE only. It is focused primarily on graphics and textures.
"I decided to create this modlist because people kept asking how I got Skyrim to look so good. When you begin, it can be hard to mod correctly and you can quickly get lost — but following this guide will help you build the Skyrim of your dreams! This very extended and detailed modlist will help you understand modding, minimizing bugs and conflicts to allow for a completely immersive experience. This is how I think the game is perfect, but the choice is yours. For each graphic mod I use 2K resolution, but you can install between 1K and 4K (sometimes 8K, if your PC can handle it). Installing below 1K is not recommended."
A huge thanks to WiZkiD for allowing use of his unreleased mods. Join his Discord Server!
Specs
Alaxouche's Setup
CPUIntel i5-4670k
GPUGTX 1070 8GB
RAM16GB DDR3
Display1080p 60Hz
TrevvSparXx's Setup
CPUIntel i7-8750H
GPUGTX 1070 8GB
RAM32GB DDR4
Display1080p 144Hz G-Sync
Mod Organizer 2 Tips
Install MO2 to a drive that is not your C drive.
During installation, select portable.
Create a new profile with a unique name.
How To Clean and Optimize Your Plugins
As you add more mods, plugins will begin to conflict — requiring patches for stability and fewer bugs. Here are the tools to handle them.
🔧 LOOT — Load Order Optimization ToolTo reduce and optimize conflicts between plugins, you need to order them by priority. LOOT (Load Order Optimization Tool) does this automatically.
What LOOT does:
Shows plugin types (ESP, ESP-FE, ESL, ESM)
Shows dirty plugins that need cleaning
Shows redundancies and recommended patches
How to use LOOT:
Link LOOT to Mod Organizer 2
Launch LOOT through Mod Organizer 2
Run LOOT every time you install new mods containing plugins.
⚙️ SSEEdit — Plugin CleaningSSEEdit lets you modify any plugin, create patches, and clean dirty plugins.
Launch LOOT through MO2 and note any dirty plugins.
Add SSEEditQuickAutoClean.exe to MO2 executables with arguments: -DontCache and -IKnowWhatImDoing
Add SSEEdit.exe with arguments: -C:"D:\Gaming\Tools\xEdit\Cache\" and -IKnowWhatImDoing
Launch SSEEditQuickAutoClean for each dirty plugin. Re-launch after each cleaning.
Click OK and wait — some plugins take longer. Your plugins are now cleaned!
📋 Installation Tips & Load Order SeparatorsGeneral Tips:
If nothing is said about installation, download only the Main File.
Files underlined in yellow are typically renamed but can be merged if the instructions specify.
If you use an ENB, don't use SSE Parallax Shader Fix. Instead, set EnableTerrainParallax=false in enbseries.ini under [Effect].
MO2 Load Order Separators:
DLC
Foundation
Base Game Bug Fixes
User Interface
Sounds & Music
Weather & Lighting
Environment
Models & Textures
Cities & Towns
Interiors
Player & NPCs
Immersion & Overhauls
Animations
Combat
Creatures & Animals
Armors & Weapons
Effects
Fixes & Patches
LOD & Output
Foundation
🏗 Unofficial Patch, SKSE, Engine Fixes, SkyUI & DynDOLODUnofficial Patch
Cleaned Skyrim SE Plugins
Installation:
Copy Update.esm, Dawnguard.esm, HeartFires.esm and Dragonborn.esm from your Skyrim SE\Data folder.
Create a new folder in MO2\mods called Cleaned Skyrim Special Edition Plugins and paste them.
Run each plugin through SSEEdit Quick Clean.
Apply the following manual edits to Dawnguard.esm: remove XEZN from CELL 00016BCF, remove sub-block from 0001FA4C and Block 8 Sub-Block 1.
Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch
Download the Main File. Delete the modgroup after installation.
Vanilla Script (micro)Optimizations
Download the Main File.
SKSE Resources
Download the correct version for your game. Install the data folder through MO2.
SKSE - INI Pre-Download for Lazy Users (Optional)
Download the second Main File.
Engine Fixes
Download the Main File. Edit SSEDisplayTweaks.ini: BorderlessUpscale=true, EnableVsync=false, SwapEffect=flip_discard, MaximumRefreshRate=your refresh rate, FramerateLimit=60, UIFramerateLimit=60, MaximumFramerate=60.
SSE Engine Fixes (skse64 plugin)
Download Part 1 through MO2. Download Part 2 manually and extract to your Skyrim SE directory.
Download the Main File matching your Skyrim version + the Optional INI File (merge). In po3_Tweaks.ini: set all "false" to "true" EXCEPT in [Experimental]. Set No Attack Messages=3, No Poison Prompt=3, etc.
Download the Main File.
SkyUI
Download the Main File. In SSEEdit, check only SkyUI.esp and Skyrim.esm. Right-click SkyUI.esp → Add Masters → Skyrim.esm. Flag SkyUI.esp as ESL.
SkyUI - Flashing Save Game Fix (Optional — if not using Nordic UI)
SkyUI - Rescaled MCM — download first Main File
SkyUI - Smaller Map Markers (Optional)
SkyUI - Survival Mode Integration (Optional)
DynDOLOD
Download the Miscellaneous File. Extract to your Tools folder. Add DynDOLOD64.exe and TexGen64.exe to MO2 with argument -SSE.
FOMOD:
DynDOLOD Resources Core Visual Options Whiterun Exterior, Whiterun Exterior Grass, Solitude Exterior, High Hrothgar Window Glow, DLC2 Vvardenfell 3D Plume Performance Options Low-Res LOD Textures Misc Options Desync Birds of Prey
Models & Textures
🔩 Mesh Improvements, Landscape Fixes & Mesh FixesMesh Improvements
SSE Parallax Shader Fix (Optional — NOT for ENB users)
SSE Particle Patch for ENB — delete the ESP after installation
Static Mesh Improvement Mod - SMIM
FOMOD: Main Installer Choice → Skyrim 2016 Special Edition: Everything
Landscape Fixes
Landscape Fixes for Grass Mods
Download Main File + merge Optional file zVanilla Military Camps.
Download but DO NOT install Patches for The Great Cities and Towns.
Skyrim Landscape and Water Fixes
FOMOD: Patches → Landscape Fixes for Grass Mods | Walkaway Wall FIX SMIM | Missing Lights Fix
No Snow Under The Roof - Cleaned — download Miscellaneous file No Snow Under the Roof - Cleaned
No Snow Under the Roof - Hall of the Vigilant Fix — also download Optional file NSUTR_Bug_fixes-static_objects_hotfixes
Better Dynamic Snow SE — download Miscellaneous File
Better Dynamic Snow - SLAWF Patch — 5th Main File
Mesh Fixes
Unofficial Material Fix - SMIM Patch — 8th Main File, rename to Unofficial Material Fix - SMIM Patch
Unofficial Material Fix - High Poly Project Patch — 1st Optional File
Assorted Mesh Fixes - ENB Particle Patch — 5th Main File, rename accordingly
Assorted Mesh Fixes - Parallax — Optional File, rename accordingly
Dlizzio's Mesh Fixes — Main File + Optional HD LODs Textures SE Mesh Fixes (merge)
Dlizzio's Mesh Fixes - BDS Patch — 3rd Main File
Dlizzio's Mesh Fixes - Parallax — 3rd Optional File
Weapons, Armor, Clothing, and Clutter Fixes
Armor Mesh Fixes — Main File + Update File (merge)
Other Bug Fixes
File Access Interface for SSE Scripts — 1st Optional File matching your Skyrim version
Hunters Not Bandits — 1st Main File
FOMOD: Yes USSEP → All in One → Skyrim Landscape and Water Fixes
User Interface
🖥 Menus, UI Improvements, HUD & World MapMain Menu & Loading Screens
Main Menu Design Replacer — 2nd Main File
Talos Main Menu Replacer — 1st Main File
Dramatic Main Menu — Manual install → Expand 01 Particles → Right-click snow → Set as data directory
TES General Loading Screen Replacer — FOMOD: Fullscreen
UI Improvements
JS Lockpicking UI — 1st Main File
Smaller Vanilla Cursors — FOMOD: select Right or Left
Sovngarde - A Nordic Font — 2nd Main File
SSE Skill Interface Retex — FOMOD: Background-Irradiant Stars, Perk Lines Option, Yellow, Constellations 3, Perk Stars 4, HD Masser, HDR Nebula
Vanilla Plus Writing Purity Patch
HUD Improvements
MoreHUD — 1st Main File
MoreHUD - Inventory Edition — 2nd Main File
MoreHUD - Murphy's Preset — Miscellaneous Files section
SkyHUD — Main + Update (merge). FOMOD: ESP Package, iHUD compatibility patch
Interface Utilities
JContainers — 1st Main File
Simple Activate — 1st Main File
World Map
A Quality World Map — 1st Main File
Pastel Map Markers — 2nd Main File
Weather of World — LOOT rule: Load After icepenguinworldmapclassic.esp
Sounds & Music
🔊 Audio ModsImmersive Sounds - Compendium
Dream of Me - a Vindsvept Music Mod — download only Optional file Dream of Me - No Vanilla Music
IHSS - Improved Horse Step Sounds
More Painful NPC Death Sounds SE
Reverb and Ambiance Overhaul UPDATED ESL — Main File + Optional RAO - Lux patch
Weather & Lighting
🌤 Weather, ENB Lights & Particle LightsVivid Weathers Definitive Edition
Wonder of Weather - WiZkiD Edition
Dynamic Volumetric Lighting and Sun Shadows — Main File + both Optional Files
Lux — Main File + Optional Brighter Templates if too dark
ENB Lights for Aetherium Shards
Rudy HQ - More Lights for ENB - Deathbells and Nirnroots
Rudy HQ - More Lights for ENB - Torchbugs and Moths
Rudy HQ - More Lights for ENB - Bthardamz
Rudy HQ - More Lights for ENB - Chaurus Eggs and Sacs
Rudy HQ - More Lights for ENB - Glowing Mushrooms
Rudy HQ - More Lights for ENB - Arrows
Rudy HQ - More Lights for ENB - Daedric Weapons and Armor
ENB Particle Lights - Dwemer Lanterns
Particle Lights For ENB - Bugs in a Jar
Particle Lights For ENB - Ingredients + compatibility patch for Retextured Pulsing Daedra Heart
Particle Lights For ENB - Undead Creatures
Particle Lights For ENB - Paragon Gems — file for Iconic's Paragon Gems
Particle Lights for ENB - Wisps - Witchlight
Particle Lights for ENB - Light Orbs - Motes
Particle Lights for ENB - Nordic Ruins Candles + Optional Lux Patch Parallax
Particle Lights for ENB - Staff Enchanter — Optional High Poly mesh by Saeva Veritas
Giant Campfires Cast Shadows - ENB Light Version
Torch Particle System Renewal And Lighting Refinement
Luminous Atronachs — ESPlite version
Rudification - Rudy Candles Expanded
Awesome Potions Simplified - ENB Lights + Optional ZUPA
Environment
🌲 Landscape, Flora, Water & AtmosphereEnhanced Landscapes — Main File + Update
Folkvangr - Grass and Landscape Overhaul
Origins Of Forest - 3D Forest Grass — file less saturated
Morning Fogs SSE — file Thick Fog
Volcanic Tundra - Heat Wave Effects
Supreme and Volumetric Fog SE — file Default Diversity Tweaked
Sepolcri — basic main file + DynDOLOD and The Great Cities patches
Rorikstead Basalt Cliffs — file No Farm Version
Tundra Berries — 2K version
Interesting Roads — ESM version
Ancient Land — Optional No Whiterun Doomstones
Alpine Forest of Whiterun Valley
Foggy Morthal and Swamp SE — ESP-FE version
Better Dwemer Exteriors SSE + patch for No Snow Under The Roof
More Flowers Near the Standing Stones
Mythical Tundra - Stonehenge and Hilltops
Supreme Rainstorms SE + patch Vivid Weathers - True Storms - Supreme Rainstorms
Supreme Blizzards SE + patch for True Storms
Lanterns Of Skyrim II + patch for Fortified Whiterun
Water for ENB — Miscellaneous + Optional Creeks Add-On (Shades of Skyrim)
Trees (choose one): My Own Tree Edit (Discord) OR Traverse the Ulvenwald OR The Jedi Trees
Models & Textures — Core
🎨 Core, Landscape, Flora, Cities, Buildings, Underground, Furniture, Clutter & GearCore
Unofficial Performance Optimized Textures (UPOT)
Enhanced Textures Detail (UV-tweaks)
Noble Skyrim Mod HD-2K — 2K version + 2 updates
Skyrim 2018 by Pfuscher + 2 bugfix files
Skyrim 2020 Parallax by Pfuscher — 2K + Blended Roads Retexture
Landscape
Septentrional Landscapes SE — 2K + Optional parallax
Rally's Solstheim Landscapes — 2K
Hyperborean Snow SE — 2K
Northern Shores SE — 2K
Glacierslab SSE — B-Bumpy-Chiseled + 2K textures + Experimental replacer for icefloe01
Majestic Mountains — Lightside + Mesh Tangent Space Fixes + DynDOLOD LOD pack
ETHEREAL CLOUDS SE — 2K
Rapid Rocks — basic main + update
Better Dirt Cliffs and Alphas — 2K + ENB Image-Based Lighting patch
Picta Series - Improved Sky Mesh
Flora
Rudy HQ - Falling Leaves and Needles SE — Intense ENB + Green Leaves 1K
Bent Pines II + Optional Navmesh .esp by CakeofHonor
High Poly Blackreach Mushrooms
High Poly Gleamblossoms — ENB Light version
Rally's Blackreach Mushrooms — 2K-2K
Dandelions - Realistic Dandelion Seeds — 2K
Cities
Spice of Life - Orc Strongholds SE
Rally's Riekling Outposts — 2K
The Streets of Whiterun in HD — Mossier 2K
Manhole Texture Upgrade by Pfuscher
WiZkiD Parallax Farmhouses — 2K parallax
Near Vanilla Project - Temple of Kynareth — 2K + Parallax Addon
Mrf's Riften — 2K + fix + LOD
Mrf's Markarth — 2K + meshes fixes
Mrf's Solitude — 2K + Optional files fomod
Illustrious Whiterun SE — 2K + Parallax Meshes + Update + Moss Alpha + Banners ESL
Cities & Towns
🏰 City Overhauls & Town ModsThe Great Cities - Minor Cities and Towns SSE — file Resources V1.0
The Great Town of Karthwasten SSE
The Great Village of Mixwater Mill SSE + Optional SMIM Rope TGCoMM by WiZkiD
The Great Town of Ivarstead SSE
The Great Town of Shor's Stone SSE
The Great Town of Shor's Stone Enhanced + patch Lanterns of Skyrim II
The Great Village of Old Hroldan SSE
The Great City of Rorikstead SSE + Optional TGCoR LOD
The Great Village of Kynesgrove
The Great City of Dragon Bridge SSE + Optional TGCoDB LOD
Cities of the North - Falkreath + Custom Doors + Water for ENB Patch
Cities of the North - Dawnstar + update + Better Dynamic Snow Patch + No Snow Under The Roof Patch
Cities of the North - Morthal + Skyrim 3D Signs Patch
Cities of the North - Winterhold + Enhanced Landscapes Patch + Skyrim 3D Signs Patch
Fortified Whiterun + Optional JKs Whiterun patch
Interiors
🏛 JK's Interiors & Nordic RuinsNordic Ruins of Skyrim SSE
JK's Arnleif and Sons Trading Company
Player & NPCs
👤 Character & NPC EditsCharacter Edit
CBBE — Main File + Optional CBBE ESL-flagged .esp
Fair Skin Complexion — CBBE v10.0
Expressive Facegen Morphs SE + Optional Racemenu plugin
Community Overlays 1 — CBBE 2K + Male Replacer 2K
Community Overlays 2 — CBBE and Male
Community Overlay 3 — CBBE and Male
KS Hairdos 1.7 Salt and Wind + RS Children/Elven Children patches
BeastHHBB - Khajiit and Argonian + Optional Kharjo Alt
Beards of Power + Optional Greybeards NPC replacer sample
NPC Edits
Realistic RS Children Overhaul — both main files
Northbourne NPCs of Whiterun Hold
Northbourne NPCs of Falkreath Hold
Northbourne NPCs of Winterhold
Realistic Elven Children + Alternate orc eyes + My names for the children
Beards of Power - Sons of Skyrim NPC Replacer + Guard Armor, Winking Skeever, Kynesgrove patches
Immersion & Overhauls
⚔️ Immersive Mods & OverhaulsGuard Dialogue Overhaul Redux
Immersive Patrols SE — main file only
Immersive Interactions - Animated Actions
Simple Dual Sheath + XPMSSE Left Hand Sheath Rotation Fix
NPC's Run and Walk at Your Pace
All Geared Up Derivative SE (AllGUD) + manually install xEdit scripts
PC Head Tracking and Voice Type SE + Optional MCM
Animated Tentacles for the Glowing Mushrooms
Farmhouse Chimneys SE + USSEP Patch
Footprints + Optional Footprints - ENB
zxlice's ultimate potion animation (ZUPA)
Animations
🏃 Skeleton, Movement & Combat AnimationsXP32 Maximum Skeleton Special Extended (XPMSSE)
Vanargand Animations - One Handed Mid Stance
Vanargand Animations - Sneak Archery
Vanargand Animations - Female Idle Walk and Run + CATA Addon
Vanargand Animations - Sneak Idle Walk and Run
Vanargand Animations - Sprint + CATA Addon
Vanargand Animations - Sneak Strike Attacks — SkySA Optional only
Vanargand Animations - Sneak Thrust Attacks — SkySA Optional only
Vanargand Animations - Male Idle Walk and Run + CATA Addon
TK Dodge RE - Script Free + Optional Weapon Sheathed Firstperson Dodge Animations
No Spinning Death Animation MERGED
Smooth Magic Casting Animation
Project New Reign - Nemesis PCEA
Take a Seat - New DAR Sitting Animations
Conditional Armor Type Animations
Jarl Sitting Animation Replacer
Easy Wind — Optional Easy wind
Sleeping Expanded - Animations and NPC Reactions
Combat
⚔️ Combat ModsVioLens - A Killmove Mod SE
Maximum Carnage (requires LoversLab account)
(SGC) SkySA - Combat Behavior Compulsion
Wildcat - Combat of Skyrim + Optional Realistic Damage Plugin
zxlice hitStop SSE - Script Free
zxlice BackStab and Parry SSE - Script Free
Vanguard - Bash Behaviors Overhaul
Simple Weapon Swing Parry - Scripts Free
Locational Damage (SKSE Plugin)
Simply Faster Arrows and Bolts
Deadlier Werewolf NPCs + Optional VioLens fix
Creatures & Animals
🐉 Mihail Packs & Creature ModsHigh Fantasy Pack - Mihail Monsters and Animals
Undead Pack - Mihail Monsters and Animals
Dwarven Automatons Pack - Mihail Monsters and Animals
Golem and Atronach Pack - Mihail Monsters and Animals
Morrowind Creatures SE + Optional Fixes by Xtudo
Sea of Spirits — file Sea of Spirits 1.2v BSA
Ogres SE + Optional Fixes by Xtudo
Armors & Weapons
🛡 Armor & Weapon ModsGuards Armor Replacer SSE + Optional Patches
Unplayable Faction Armors SSE — Standard Edition + WACCF Patch
ArteFakes - Unique Artifacts Replacer + update + aMidianBorn, Animation Replacer, USSEP patches
Vikings Weaponry SE - Johnskyrim
Armor Variants Expansion + update AVE-Hide normal fix
New Legion — Base + HD or Medium Textures
Leviathan Axe - Dwemer Artifacts SE
FurArmorSet SE (FrostFall Aware) + update 1.1.2 ESP only
Effects
✨ Visual EffectsTB's Revamped Sun Flares — With Glare
TB's Candle Flames Improver — 2K
TB's Atmospheric Moon Distortion
Post Processing For Candle Flames — version 4
TB's Improved Eye Reflection — Optional Less Reflective 2K
TB's Improved Smoke (Beta) — 2K + Water Wheel particle patch
Simple Block Sparks - Script Free
Fixes & Patches
🔨 ENB Fixes, Misc Fixes & Patch CollectionFixes
Bright Waterfall Fix for ENB — Water for ENB Particle Patch + Optional DynDOLOD fix
Word Wall Transparency Fix for ENB
Circlet USSEP Fixes — Gemling Queen Jewelry USSEP Circlet Fix
Deadly Spell Impacts Transparency Fix for ENB
Unique Border Gates Fixes + Point The Way Patch ESL-Flagged
Majestic Mountains-BDS With LOD Fix
Flickering Sunlight Shadows Fix
Maximum Carnage Essential Fix — file with disabled bears and wolves
Footprints Transparency Fix for ENB
Patches
RS Children Patch Compendium — RSC FOMOD Beta
JS Dragon Claws - Patches — Amethyst Patch
Immersive Sounds Compendium - PATCHES — Enhanced Blood + WACCF patches
JK's Interiors Patch Collection
Cities of the North - Dawnstar Patch Collection
Cities of the North - Morthal Patch Collection
The Great Town of Ivarstead Patch Collection
The Great Town of Shor's Stone Patch Collection
Cities of the North - Winterhold Patch Collection
The Great Town of Karthwasten Patch Collection
AllGUD + Guards Armor Replacer Patch
The Great Village of Old Hroldan Patch Collection
The Great Village of Mixwater Mill Patch Collection
The Great Village of Kynesgrove Patch Collection
WiZkiD Patches Compendium — ESL version
AllGUD - JS Purses and Septims Patch
Rorikstead Basalt Cliffs Patches
Cities of the North - Falkreath Patch Collection
The Great Town and Village - SMIM Patch — both main files
Fixed Mesh Lighting & Flickering Meshes
FOMOD: All in One — then select Flora, Trees, Ice and Creatures options relevant to your installed mods (Mari's, Assorted Fixes, Dlizzio's, SMIM, Aspens Ablaze, Arctic, Glacierslab, etc.)
FOMOD: Select city parallax versions + Farmhouses + Compatibility choices (Bright Waterfall Fix, Icy Windhelm, Majestic Mountains, SMIM, Water for ENB)
Q&A
If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments or on the Discord server. If you find incoherences, please report them.
Credits
Thanks to WiZkiD for allowing use of his unreleased mods in this modlist.
Thanks to TrevvSparXx for help with the constant editing.
Thanks to everyone who gave feedback to help improve this mod page.
Thanks to you for reading, downloading and supporting this page!
Instructions
Download and open the pdf for instructions or read the description.
No Snow Under the Roof - Cleaned
A cleaned version of PROMETHEUS amazing mod No Snow Under the Roof
INI Files
My personal INI settings
A Photorealistic Fantasy Tamriel - Modlist
The PDF containing the instructions/guide and each mods I used on the screenshots. Updated version - see changelod for details.
How To Create-Use LODs
A little guide/tutorial to show you how to create and use the LODs.
