Best Skyrim SE Mods

[nick5530]

What are the best mods to play Skyrim Special Edition with? Also, should I wait for more to come out?

[2FA]

Here is a good guide for all of the currently working mods and will almost certainly be updated once more mods are confirmed to work.

[typographie]

I had a few Skyrim mods in mind that seem to have been ported over to Skyrim SE that I was going to recommend, but most of them appear in the "Top files" section of Skyrim SE Nexus anyway. I'd recommend just keeping an eye on that list for a while.

 

In particular, I'm going to point out the Static Mesh Improvement Mod, which is #2 in Top files. It's an old classic, and apparently just as good in SE as ever.

[nick5530]

Just now, typographie said:

I had a few Skyrim mods in mind that seem to have been ported over to Skyrim SE that I was going to recommend, but most of them appear in the "Top files" section of Skyrim SE Nexus anyway. I'd recommend just keeping an eye on that list for a while.

 

In particular, I'm going to point out the Static Mesh Improvement Mod, which is #2 in Top files. It's an old classic, and apparently just as good in SE as ever.

Can I add mods into a game after I have already started it?

[typographie]

Just now, nick5530 said:

Can I add mods into a game after I have already started it?

You mean using an existing save file? Generally, yes. I can't think of any mods that I have personally encountered that required a new save file, though I'm sure there are a few out there. Just make sure you pay attention to the descriptions/install instructions.

[Ostwind]

There's no reason to not start modding now, there are already quite a few mods out that are really good. A lot of people are waiting for SKSE to be updated for SSE but I dont see any real reason to wait personally considering what's already available.

 

Here are the ones that I'm currently using

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3218/? The Notice Board SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3508/? HQ Towns and Villages

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3333/? HD LODs Textures SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1937/? RUSTIC WINDOWS - Special Edition

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3375/? Stunning Statues of Skyrim

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3144/? Real Bows SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3334/? Unique Uniques SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3532/? Frozen Electrocuted Combustion

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1653/? Summonable Voiced Ethereal Chest

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3675/? Dragonborn Enhanced Main Menu Overhaul SSE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2472/? True Storms Special Edition - Thunder Rain and Weather Redone

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3479/? Immersive Armors

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/266/? Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3460/? More Weapons Please SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2357/? Enhanced Blood Textures SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/173/? Immersive Citizens - AI Overhaul

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/3057/? Skyrim Unlimited Rings and Amulets SSE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2198/? Water Special Edition

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2017/? LeanWolf's Better-Shaped Weapons

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2149/? Ducks and Swans for Skyrim SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2458/? Transparent and Refracting Icicle and Frost Atronach

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2393/? ETHEREAL CLOUDS - Special Edition

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2429/? Lanterns of Skyrim SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2055/? Improved Daedric Artifacts SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/692/? Daedric Punishment for Insults Related to Sweetrolls

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/671/? Frostfall - Hypothermia Camping Survival

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/667/? Campfire - Complete Camping System

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2300/? Skyrim SE Expanded Skyrim Weaponry

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1763/? No BS AI Projectile Dodge (Magic and Arrows) - Immersive Projectiles Nondetection of Enemies

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/690/? Divine Punishment for Mention of Arrows in the Knee

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/701/? Reverb and Ambiance Overhaul

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/441/? Khajiit Speak - Complete Dialogue Overhaul (Special Edition)

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1184/? Northborn Fur Hoods

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2022/? Real Rain SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2154/? Skyrim Flora Overhaul SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1358/? Gold Septim - Coins Retex

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1443/? Male Dragonic Argonian Textures 4k - 2k (SOS and Vanilla)

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/277/? HD Werewolf Retexture

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1885/? Trees LODs with shadows

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/517/? Beast Skeletons

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1839/? Y.A.L.O SE - Yet Another Landscape Overhaul for Skyrim SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1462/? Skyrim SE Improved Puddles

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1269/? Beautiful Honey Signs - 2K Overhaul - 1K Optional - BETA

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1291/? Blacksmith Forge Water Fix - Special Edition

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1799/? Gecko's 4K Mountain Textures

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1185/? Lore-Based Loading Screens

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/2014/? ApachiiSkyHair SSE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1315/? Imperious - Races of Skyrim

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/694/? Darker Nights

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/706/? Realistic Death Physics - No Animations

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1782/? SSE Texture Pack - Osmodius

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1104/? SkyTEST - Realistic Animals and Predators

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/670/? Nordic Snow (aka HQ Snow Texture)

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1296/? Unread Books Glow SSE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/718/? Immersive Patrols SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/281/? Open Cities Skyrim

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/321/? Ars Metallica - Smithing Enhancement

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/352/? Point The Way

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/644/? Wet and Cold

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1037/? Total Character Makeover

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/272/? Alternate Start - Live Another Life

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/659/? Static Mesh Improvement Mod - SMIM

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/762/? YOT - Your Own Thoughts SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/160/? Covered Carriages

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/752/? Move it Dammit - for Skyrim Special Edition

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1182/? Belt-Fastened Quivers

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/719/? Companions and Followers SE

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1044/? No NPC Greetings (Special Edition)

[Misanthrope]

I personally recommend Immersive Armors and Static Mesh improvement, Wet and Cold and Frost Fall. 

[Techicolors]

I would add Wildcat. it doesn't work very well if you're a magic user, but the difficulty level feels a lot better compared to vanilla

 

And A Quality World Map by IcePenguin. IMO the vanilla map looks terrible and i kinda need the roads if i want to minimize using fast travel 

 

Amazing Follower Tweaks too, if you like having followers. 

[Eztrcfyu]

11 minutes ago, Technicolors said:

I would add Wildcat. it doesn't work very well if you're a magic user, but the difficulty level feels a lot better compared to vanilla

 

And A Quality World Map by IcePenguin. IMO the vanilla map looks terrible and i kinda need the roads if i want to minimize using fast travel 

 

Amazing Follower Tweaks too, if you like having followers. 

For new saves, don't use Wildcat, use Smilodon instead. Its by the same author, and has everything Wildcat does plus some more.