The Elder Scrolls: Skyrimremains one of the most popular games of all time despite coming out over a decade ago, thanks to the efforts of its vast modding community. Modders continue bringing new life to the game by adding features and tweaks.Weapons mods are some of the most essential, especially in a game where so much of the experience relies on a surprisingly mundane combat system.
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Over the years, theNexushas seen a length of player-created weapons that are simply meant to make you feel like a god. But the most effective weaponmodstake both canon lore and long-term enjoyment in mind, bringing us cool daggers, bows, and warhammers without diminishing the challenge of combat.
10Unique Uniques
Considering this is a third-party port of a base game mod by creator InsanitySorrow, its fairly basic changes are easy to forgive.Unique Uniquesdoes as the title implies, remodeling all the unique weapons in base Skyrim with fun new designs more fitting the context in which you get them. The textures are pretty low compared to some of the other community-made upgrades, and some of them look like Skyrim assets Frankensteined together into something new.
Don’t get me wrong, the redesign for The Pale Blade is very cool, a definite improvement from the vanilla version that looked like a regular old sword. This classic mod ranks last due to its simple changes, but it’s no doubt inspired a number of other mods that carry InsanitySorrow’s torch.
9Praedy’s Staves AIO - SE
If you’re using a magic staff in Skyrim, trying desperately to feel more like Gandalf, it takes a little bit of imagination to make it look cool. WithPraedy’s Stavesby PraedythXVI, feel like the powerful stave-wielding wizard you truly are. This mod completely reworks every type of stave, and with various alternatives for crystals and particle effects, there are over 45 staff variations. It’s kinda like a lightsaber that sparkles!
The redesign for every type of staff, from alteration to illusion, is lore-friendly and incredibly beautiful, far more fantastical than their vanilla counterparts. Again, Praedy’s Staves is just a cosmetic change, and sometimes the particle effects and the game’s lighting don’t get along super well, which is why the mod ranks ninth.
8Iron Weapons Redone SE
Amongthe best open-world RPGs of all time, Skyrim’s updated version doesn’t up the quality much and leaves us with iron weapons that look like they’re made of aluminum foil. Mod creator ElSopa doesn’t believe these weapons should get the shaft just because they have the lowest stats.Iron Weapons Redonecompletely reworks the designs and meshes for every iron weapon as well as new sheaths for each one.
These redesigns not only have higher-res textures, but they’re also far more historically accurate. The standard sword, for instance, has a much narrower, longer blade and a rounder pommel that takes from real weapons of the Norse age. These weapons are beautiful and lore-friendly, but the mod ranks eighth for being a mere cosmetic upgrade for base game weapons.
7JaySuS Swords SE
Back in the early days of Skyrim modding, there were a few notable modding legends that put blood, sweat, and tears into their incredible intricate mods. JaySuS was one such creator, designing, modeling, and painting fifty unique swords for Skyrim.JaySuS Swordswere inspired by real-world historical equivalents, varying based on the lore of their origins. For example, JaySuS' Akaviiri short saber is curved backward with a rectangular grip similar to a katana.
Each weapon has its own unique attributes that make it more than just a nice decoration; but, let’s be real, they’d look awesome on your wall, too. Thanks to zekanapain, this mod has been ported over to Special Edition as well. This mod remains in seventh since most of the weapons are fairly similar looking, given their realistic design.
6Scoped Bows SE
Sometimes, the most ingenious inventions are the ones staring you right in the face. This applies best toScoped Bows, which does exactly as advertised. You can now loot and craft bows with two sights, one for quickshots and the other for precise shots. This tactical enhancement not only makes every bow look better, but it also removes aim assist and allows your arrows to fly faster and farther.
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I’m not sure about creator OutLaw666’s insistence that the scope’s adherence to each bow’s design keeps them lore-friendly. But the fact that they’re designed this way looks extremely cool, and not having to use the UI reticle certainly earns the mod immersion points. The effect on gameplay is minimal, however, and arguably makes the sneaky archer build even more OP, leaving it in sixth.
5Skyrim Recycling
Here’s a mod based on a seemingly simple concept that changes the game entirely. TWGorilla’sSkyrim Recyclingallows you to recycle any non-enchanted weapon into various crafting materials instead of packing them onto your anime-wife companion. Burned books, glass bottles, Dwemer gold and other junk can be transformed into vital materials.
TWGorilla has put so much thought into what the materials can be crafted into in both a realistic and lore-friendly way that doesn’t feel like you’re breaking the game. This mod stays mid-rank for having little actual influence on combat, as it doesn’t add weapons for you to forge.
4SkySA - Combat Behavior Compulsion
Everyone plays Skyrim and thinks, “Darn, I wish this was likeElden Ring.” Well, it should be no surprise that there’s a mod for that. Creator distar66 is responsible forSkySA, an animation framework made to modernize Skyrim’s combat. With this mod, you’ll be able to perform combos that flow naturally, with realistic three-dimensional movement.
These features vary depending on your weapon of choice, as well as the movesets you download. NPCs also get their animations upgraded, requiring you to adapt to enemy movement. What keeps it in fourth is the very intensive download commitment. Careful attention to load order and incompatibility means making this work can be a headache.
3Zim’s Immersive Artifacts
Modders remain dedicated to keeping things lore and gameplay friendly where it counts, and Zimmermjaz is no different.Zim’s Immersive Artifactshave new powers that don’t deplete like regular enchantments, but they make sense according to the item. For example, Nettlebane, a dagger you’re liable to get pretty early, just makes Spriggans scared of you.
Dawnbreaker, however, now behaves more like the Sword of Night and Flame,one of the best straight swords in Elden Ring. Its 40 points of burn damage amplified by the damage multiplier to undead makes this a Draugr’s worst nightmare. The mod’s few downsides: some artifacts lack new meshes, it only works to make combat easier, and the number of items affected is limited.
2Immersive Weapons
If you have to choose one weapon mod, let it beImmersive Weaponsby hothtrooper44, due to the sheer mass of additions made by this single mod. Ported by its creator to SE, IW adds 230 new weapons and 21 new weapon archetypes to the game. Every weapon has beautiful designs and high-texture models that fit seamlessly into the lore and are placed purposefully throughout.
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NPCs are programmed to use certain types of weapons according to who and where they are. New archetypes function a bit like sub-genres based entirely on their stats. It’s no doubt a crazy amount of content in one mod. Hothtrooper44’s attention to maintaining immersion and integrating each weapon into vanilla locations is the highlight of this mod.
1Wildcat - Combat of Skyrim
From the creator ofOrdinator, the legendary skill tree mod comes another comprehensive overhaul that completely changes how you play Skyrim.Combat of Skyrimtakes into account every component of combat and tweaks it to be more realistic. If you’re sick of mowing down enemies, this mod can fix it. Improved AI makes enemies relentless, and with attack damage relative to your HP, each battle feels more like you’re fighting for your life.
Various additional mechanics such as timed blocks and attacks, weapon specialization, and limb crippling require you to actually use your brain during combat. Imagine that! EnaiSiaion’s animation mod is exceptional since it’s light on your LOD. This endlessly-customizable mod is perfect for anyone looking for a little excitement.
