




Essentials
Welcome to the essential guide for Skyrim Special Edition. This guide is currently maintained by Snakestone and Baloney Pony with previous work done by "New Guy".
Use this tutorial on how to convert mods from LE to SE while I procrastinate on making a video tutorial on how to do it >>>Click Here<<<
NOTE: IF YOU RUN WRYE BASH AND IT COMPLAINS ABOUT "OLD/OUTDATED" FILES, AND SHOWS YOU A MOD ".ESP/.ESM", THAT MEANS THAT MOD HASN'T BEEN PORTED PROPERLY, OR IS A LEGENDARY EDITION MOD, IF SO, YOU NEED TO UPDATE THAT SHIT YOURSELF, AND GIVE THE MOD AUTHOR A STERN TALKING-TO.
Just follow the tutorial mentioned above to update the mod yourself, skip everything, and just re-save the ".esp" on the Creation Kit.
In this section, we will discuss:
-Mod Organizing
-Essential Mods
-Tools and Utilities
updated December 24th, 2022
Quick Questions
Q: Is is time to start playing SE yet?
A: Depends on your priorities, check the main Special Edition page for a detailed breakdown.
Q: I heard that VR uses the same mods as SE, is it true? Can I follow this guide?
A: It is true that VR is built on top of SE, but as I don't have a VR headset, I wouldn't be able to tell you if the mods on this list won't crash and burn your game or your device. Check the SSE information page for a list of mods tested on VR.
Q: I don't like this guide, are their any other guides that are similar to this one?
A: We have a list of various other modding sites with their own guides and mod lists. Click on the Skyrim Guide section to check them out! And while I wouldn't normally indicate a modding guide, I have to give a shoutout to the YASHed Guide, it is incredibly well organized, up-to-date and in-depth, I highly recommend anyone to check out their guide even if just for mod recommendations.
Q: I don't like guides like these, are there any overhauls that are quick and easy?
A: There's an automated modpack installer on the Nexus, never used it, don't think I ever will, check it out if you really don't want to mod the game yourself.
Q: I don't like you, is there anything?
A: No.
Q: I-is there anything, seriously?
A: No.
Q: I don't like that, this game sucks!
A: Then go mod something else, like Kingdom Come Deliverance, I heard its a Skyrim-killer.
Mod Organizing
Mod Organizer 2
Nothing has really changed from Legendary Edition, with a few exeptions.
Mod Organizer is now under new management and is being constantly updated, with some new features and a few missing, it is the best Mod Manager right now, everything mentioned on the Skyrim LE page still holds up, better organized interface, tons of options, conflict warnings, LOOT integration.
It also has features that are pretty much necessary if you want to make your own mod conversions if you want to delve into that, such as the built in BSA extractor.
Major missing feature: automatic .bsa management
Nexus Mod Manager
If you want to torture yourself, feel free to use Nexus Mod Manager.
Again, everything said on the LE page still holds up, as the manager hasn't been updated since then, heck, even the Nexus people think the NMM isn't good, as they hired the original Mod Organizer programmer to work on a new Manager called Vortex.
NOTE: If you plan on porting mods for yourself, using NMM is just pure torture.
The Bethesda.net
It's something, I guess...
The only option available for console players, the Bethesda.net is built into the game, one could say a pro is easy access, but the cons are too numerous, it's basically the equivalent of Legendary Editions Steam Workshop, but with prettier interface.
NOTE: A thing to keep in mind is the fact that there may be some mods that are on Bethesda.net and NOT on the Nexus. If you're looking for a mod and can't find on the Nexus, check Bethesda.net as there might be a slim chance of it being there.
Vortex
Vortex is the new manager developed by the Nexus people, who hired the original MO dev to do it. It has an Alpha release open to the public.
Now, I'll be very sincere here, I was disappointed when I first saw and used Vortex.
It being developed by the same person as the original Mod Organizer gave me hope that we would be getting something equal if not better than Mod Organizer, but when I first used it, I realized that Vortex is just a re-skin of the Nexus Mod Manager.
Gopher has a video series where he explores all the features in Vortex.
Essential Mods
This is a list of mods that are a MUST HAVE for anyone. These mods don't go too in-depth and work with any kind of rig. You'll see some major and significant changes in your game because these mods fix a lot of things that Bethesda STILL left out or were too lazy to properly fix.
SkyUI
BONUS MODS TO GO WITH SKYUI
These mods fix a couple of issues that SkyUI has on SE:
Flashing Savegames Fix
Stay at the System page
A complete overhaul of the UI in Skyrim. This changes the console like user interface into a clean and PC friendly one. This also overhauls the favorites and hotkeys with outfits and lists you can swap on the fly! It even includes MCM which many mods use now. MCM is a short for Mod Configuration Menu, this allows you to customize mods even more with an in-game menu that automatically changes your settings in an instant.
SkyUI SE has a bug on the save menu where is constantly selects and deselects your saves, it is known, just deal with it for now.
Another thing, if you try to install SkyUI with MO2, it might not work, if you don't see the MCM in-game, install it manually. Newer versions of MO2 should've fixed this tho, check to see if your MO2 installation is up-to-date.
If you don't use this mod, then I suggest you question your existence on this kalpa.
SSE Engine Fixes
Basically SE's version of Crash Fixes
This fixes multiple problems that other plugins fixed, making the others obsolete, install this and remove SSE Fixes and Double Perk Apply Fix, and for fucks sake READ THE MOD PAGE.
Tools and Utilities
These are programs that are not mod managers or anything of the sort, but required tools that are needed for some mods.
Now not all of these tools are "required" for the user, such as the save game cleaner, but we recommend you look at all of these.
Extra UI
SkyUI not enough for you? Try out these UI mods.
Conclusion
Use Mod Organizer 2, don't even think about using NMM, Vortex is bad and Bethesda.net is for consoles. Use Wrye bash to organize mods and make bashed patches, but doing things manually is the best way to learn faster. Manually install graphics mods and ENB. Download all of the essential mods and run them in LOOT. Run FNIS anytime you add a new animation mod. Always use SKSE to run and play your game. Use TES5Edit to fix dirty edits and clean old mods. Use DyndoLOD when you want to make your LODs look better. DO NOT INSTALL DOZENS OF MODS AT ONCE AND ASSUME THEY WILL ALL WORK TOGETHER. Install mods in small groups so you can test for any conflicts, requirements, or incompatibilities.
And that's all your basic needs for Skyrim Modding. Be sure to follow the rest of the guide or check out each individual section for something that interests you!
FAQ
Q: Why isn't this or that mod in the guide?
A: Probably because it hasn't been ported to SE yet. If a mod has been ported to SE and isn't on this list, tell me on the general or send me a message (see contact page) and i'll see about adding it.
Q: Will you be adding more to these guides?
A: Of course! We'll try to keep all the guides up to date and will notify everyone if something has changed or has been added on. We also accept submissions if the mod is good enough!
Q:Where is that tutorial on how to convert mods you said would be at the end of the page?
A: Here:
PS: I removed my old guide as new tools have come out that make porting mods easier, instead I'll link to the YASHed Guide tutorial on how to port mods
minor update: Well fuck, YASHed Guide went down for update and hasn't come back yet, changed the tutorial for now to Langeston Guide for Dummies
HUGE FUCKING NOTE: CONVERT THE MODS FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL USE, DO NOT CONVERT THEM AND UPLOAD THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE WITHOUT THE ORIGINAL MODDER'S PERMISSION, THAT'S MOD THEFT, WHICH IS BAD HMMKAY?
Q: Can I make Sexlab mods work using this tutorial?
A: Yes, yes you can.






