18 ESSENTIAL Skyrim Mods EVERYONE should have in 2025!

[@CaptPanda]

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[@samuelmwangi4715]

what is your system's specs?

[@NapLegends]

isnt it annoying how they keep updating skyrim so you go to gog and turns out theres like 5 mods compatible with gog.

[@NapLegends]

ok so i went to gog bought sse not ae, and yet in my folders its called anniversary but when modding sometimes ae mods and sometimes sse mods are correct, when in the game menu it says upgrade for blah, which would indicate i have sse not ae, like wtf?!

[@hiss9989]

Raid is literally just a casino. It's not even a real game. Please stay as far away from that garbage as possible. I'm glad that they're paying out though.

[@horridfuture3835]

You know of a better mobile game?

[@futrecacao]

@@horridfuture3835 It sounds like troll hate, but literally any mobile game is better, any

[@ByrgenworthGraduate]

@@horridfuture3835 I play Morrowind using OpenMW on my phone, I also played Minecraft PE and the MDickie games Though I only ever play mobile when I'm either traveling, there is a power outage or I have nothing better to do and don't have access to my laptop

[@noonenowhere877]

@horridfuture3835 I mean all mobile games are trash but some mobile games are more trash than others.

[@horridfuture3835]

@@noonenowhere877 I’d say as far as quality raid is pretty up there, yeah they’re greedy but that’s kind of what all mobile games are. No need to spend money at all to have a good time.

[@SirKingWest]

I didn't realize Raid Shadow Legends was an essential bug fix. Interesting.

[@sibinpaul2003]

@@SirKingWest 😭😂

[@EASTWYCK2]

It's a bug fix for people that have too much money.

[@HorrorshowEU]

Just wanted to thank you for making my glorious return to Skyrim sooo much better & nearly pain free with your wonderful modlist and videos letting me experience a heavily modded but stable game, my first ever comprehensive overhaul, I'm truly blown away.

[@CaptPanda]

Glad you came across my channel! :) hoping my older videos (even though some are cringe voice overs) will be useful to you too!

[@JaySerpa]

Thanks for the shoutout!!! Love the showcase as always, your video editing skills keep getting better and better. Amazing job! ❤

[@CaptPanda]

Hey JaySerpa!! Thanks for stopping by as always! I wanted to put your new mod in here, but I want it to be in another showcase that I plan to release! 😂

[@robbypodobinski824]

Jay serpa u the man

[@ronniebattle6756]

I will never stop supporting skyrim mods.Never.

[@CaptPanda]

Same! :)

[@LionMob]

Unread Books Glow is an essential QOL mod for me, one of my favorite mods ever!

[@zonule_]

"The mod's MCM menu" is our version of "ATM machine"

[@EASTWYCK2]

The M stands for machine.

[@huffinLeeroy]

For me, a roll back to 1.6.640 is essential. I find that any mod list is unstable on later versions, whereas .640 is solid as a rock.

[@futrecacao]

I play on 1.6.1170 with more than 250 mods and the game never crashed even once, without loss of fps, I never got that with any previous version, and my PC is very basic

[@CaptPanda]

Currently more mods work with 1.6.640 and below. So I personally agree! Though, maybe after 6 months or so, most mods would have already moved to 1.6.1170 except the old old mods that were abandoned already

[@SKYKLF]

I literally can't find a single mod that I consider essential that doesn't work on 1.6.1170. I have only about 350 mods currently but it has it all. The ONE thing that doesn't work for me is SSE Engine Fixes Part Two. It breaks my game for some reason.

[@huffinLeeroy]

​@SKYKLF there are a lot of ui or engine based mods that don't support the newer patches. I run a gameplay overhaul heavy list, and I'd say about half of the core requirements for those mods are 1.6.640 max, and 2 or 3 of the main combat mods (e.g. mco, maxsu block, hell, not even POISE is propely supported/functional on 1.6.1170). It is common for a particular mod to be updated, but the main mod you actually need is not. And it's not that they don't all work perse, but more that they become VERY temperamental. Once you start getting away from the visual mods, they become VERY version dependent it seems. Oh, and the engine fixes are as core to any gameplay mod as the Skyrim.exe is.

[@huffinLeeroy]

​@@CaptPanda tbh, my 1.6.640 list is solid, and I have blocked updates, so I don't actually think I'd be updating for quite some time anyway. And going back to 1.6.640 kind of ensures that the list will remain solid and unchanged, even if mods update or Skyrim does.

[@Kaoson]

Somehow I've never seen that "Console Commands Extender" mod but, as soon as you showcased It I installed it instantly hahaha. Amazing video as always lad

[@CaptPanda]

Hey bro!!! Nice to see you again!! I just saw the armor vid you posted. Hoping you will get back and start uploading more!

[@Erwintauler]

I hope npc battle channels will use actor limit fix to create epic battles

[@CaptPanda]

I have something special for Actor Limit Fix :)

[@Erwintauler]

@@CaptPanda That's cool, please tell me when you upload video about it

[@aquulei3193]

So here I am listening to this as a podcast at work and I hear, ".. you need to rethink your life decisions." I burst out in laughter and everyone around me thinks I'm nuts. Yeah.... Thanks man! =)

[@ChilisauLP]

Don't forget to revert the more ambitious of USSEP's 'fixes' with an extra mod :)

[@willmark7032]

What extra mod should I use?

[@CaptPanda]

😂😂

[@Pietro_MS]

@@willmark7032 Purist's vanilla patch and vanilla plus writing purity patch

[@gaming2000-xh7xu]

I guess that climbing mod basically turn Skyrim into Assasins creed: Tamriel

[@ErMarietto]

Which retexture and enb are you using?The game looks so clean and clear. EDIT: Sorry, found the link in description.

[@CaptPanda]

Fantasia and Cabbage ENB!! :D

[@ErMarietto]

Thank you for answering. And for the architecture? Only Skyland AIO or also something else?@@CaptPanda

[@mrthages]

What map mod is that at 4:35?

[@CatharticGaming]

Know what would be cool? If these mods came in a good-looking mod pack. Maybe name it Eldergleam?

[@CaptPanda]

Hahahahah!! Most of these are already in Eldergleam

[@AvatarV]

That weather changer is clutch

[@CaptPanda]

I agree bro!! Hahahaha

[@swastik2807]

I just came back after years of skyrim and the nostalgia ..wow I missed this

[@eliiaha]

00:3:44 what's the name of this mod that changes the animation of combat

[@denniswade4998]

I was just thinking a few days ago about how crazy it it that Bethesda has released sooo many updates and versios for a game that is over 10 years old, and the VERY FIRST mod we need to use is USSEP in order to fix bugs that hinder the game from working properly! I think Bethesda is the one who should be examining their life choices!!! thanks for another great video, and for your Eldergleam modlist also!

[@CaptPanda]

Hahahhahaha! I probably should have said that! It makes more sense if I did 😂 Thank you so much!!

[@RUBIKA666]

Just when I deleted all my mod and my game to starting fresh new this vid is perfect thank you

[@CaptPanda]

You’re welcome!!

[@gggg-e5h9l]

hello so i want to know in 10:37 what is the mod that zoom in/out when you talk to ppl?

[@CaptPanda]

Improved alternate camera :D

[@diamat3159]

Great As always, a great presentation from you. I have now reached 1100 mods and am satisfied. I've only managed that because great streamers like you and others put so much effort into presenting and filtering the mods. Without you, I would be lost after the mod search. Thank you !

[@CaptPanda]

Glad to be one of your “go-to” mod showcase content creator! :) hoping my other videos will be as interesting as this

[@iso_Bandit]

the mod requirements for the first mod is insane... idk where to start

[@CaptPanda]

Worth getting those requirements 😂

[@DavidJG242]

These mods made my Skyrim next-level - better than that Dragon Dogma lol. great list.

[@CaptPanda]

Hahahahha! Glad to share mods for you all!!

[@han-zo521]

I love your modlist bro. It looks hella realistic and vibrant

[@CaptPanda]

Hahaha thanks bro!

[@Runescape99]

Tried making a Bethesda account but became enraged. I will try again in 6 months

[@ladyfox6705]

Haven't played since the update, but here to leave my Like 😊

[@CaptPanda]

Thank you so so so much! I hope you can sort your mods soon to start playing once again! update broke a lot of personal load order :/

[@ladyfox6705]

@@CaptPanda no worries 😀 Been playing my backlog and reading a lot, so allgood. Finished Oblivion for the first time and loved it! Will no doubt return to Skyrim at some point, though.

[@SKYKLF]

​@@ladyfox6705 The ending of oblivion is slept on. It was lit lol

[@ladyfox6705]

@@SKYKLF I really enjoyed the MQ!

[@HTPZ]

Having some issues with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th mod so far, it says I need the library mod which I’ve downloaded as well as the other requirements I need but can’t get the mods to download to Mod organisers2.0 how do I fix this?

[@SAdams8782]

Great video, thanks!

[@CaptPanda]

Wow seeing you in most videos! Thank you very much :)

[@69Vide0S]

the key hold seems not needed since there are spells that shows that

[@houndreviews]

Love the mods bro, great video!

[@CaptPanda]

Thanks bro!!

[@ParadoxAMV]

10:37 what mod did you use to make the camera zoom in on the character like that?

[@presidentialsystemenjoyer]

Is eldergleam your current mod list? I mean is it same mods as showcase video mods like we now watch?

[@CaptPanda]

Yes it is! Most mods I showcase time to time (the special themed ones) are already in Eldergleam since I wanted to honor the mod authors’ work. I also showcase new mods and themed specific mods that would 100% work with the Eldergleam mod list so people who uses the list can know the mods I showcase 100% works with no problem

[@TeoSaint1212]

using these for my new Skyrim Together run, thanks

[@THE_CHOAS_ENGINE]

essential mods in my opinion should focus on graphics,,, that's the main reason people mod to begin with. So for a new person to Skyrim this video is not essential.

[@Dropdead343]

dude hasnt played vanilla skyrim in so long he thought you had to sit like in fallout 4

[@JackCornell-zq1my]

I must ask, are there any problems with mods after the update? Have the issues been resolved because I'd really like to get back to modding skyrim again?

[@igavinwood]

Love what you do Capt. Keep up the good work and thank you for Eldergleam. There's a lot of players saying QUI causes CTD on v1.6.1170. If you have it working perhaps you could do them all a favour and drop a comment to explain :) My own experience is that BEES caused my game to crash, so I down graded to 1.6.640 and now I'm rebuilding a new modlist. That's why I'm here; to learn from an actual modder.

[@orfanclub6288]

DOOT DOOT, Panda's gonna be able to have a 3 meals a day for the next week, cheers!

[@CaptPanda]

Hey! Thanks for watching orfanclub! 😂

[@bhris5053]

Are these including in eldergleam? Or should we add them?

[@CaptPanda]

Most are in Eldergleam already〜 gameplay mods definitely aren’t in Eldergleam :)

[@Kallozar]

Where can I find a list of all the mods you used at the time of filming this video? Does the "Mods Showcased" list in the description include all of them? Including the ones not mentioned in the video but are on display?

[@CaptPanda]

The ones I did not mentioned I did not list them. Let me know what mod are you finding and I’ll see if J can remember it

[@skylarwidener1215]

That mod I'm currently wondering about is the swimming mod at 5:49. That looks awesome

[@I_am_N0body]

Anyone miss the old days where you drag and drop BSAs in your data folder and meshes/textures folders? Also invalidate the archives?

[@jacobboucher777]

Looking for a mod that adds skills to level up mining, farming, harvesting, and hunting. Something like New World. Skyrim's lets you level smithing, arcane, your magic, armor, etc. But not the other important parts that I named.

[@CaptPanda]

That’s interesting! 🤔 I think there is a mod like this but I cannot remember! Or probably none

[@silentslayergaming8469]

What mod is that that allows you to read books in first person? @7:19

[@Sarah-yk4ym]

What UI mod is Capt. Panda using in this video? That's the mod I'm most interested in!

[@ramboturkey1926]

better dialog box control and stay at system page are two of my picks

[@HeldIntegral]

I believe they're built into DDDM/THUD

[@VooshSpokesman]

Love from a HeavyBurns and Vaush fan!

[@robertobellino2877]

What is the criteria to install more than one mod? How do I know if they'll work or if they are too many\incompatible?

[@thelegendarydarthvader9361]

Hey a request in upcoming videos keep the pleasant elder Scrolls background music throughout the video it's feels so good

[@DatingTV]

The UI mod he's using is called *Untarnished UI*

[@vipsignlive]

Hello Capt Panda, your videos are awesome. Can you tell me your graphical mods that you are using in this video specifically, please. The game looks amazing, from your character (physical appearance, armor, movement) to the world itself(textures, effects, etc) and even the NPCs look different. I installed some of the mods from your previous videos but my game doesn't look anything like yours. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@BloodMoon6000]

Unofficial skyrim special edition patch went a~wall once new update came along partner "couldn't update or enable, any ideas on how to fix it?" partner has a Xbox Series X console.

[@primevalyautja1305]

What enb are you using? I. Looking for an enb preset that is strictly realism

[@CaptPanda]

cabbage ENB!!

[@deathspider950]

what ui mod are you using in this video? it looks really good

[@DatingTV]

Untarnished UI

[@mardocchino]

Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch. it is written: Requires Skyrim Special Edition 1.6.1130 or greater. NOT SUPPORTED ON OLDER VERSIONS! question: there is also for 1.5.97 SE version?

[@Midgetalien]

What’s the mod that adds the saints and seducers plants around Skyrim?

[@eden.twin1]

What enb and weather mod do you use?

[@Patrick_whittaker1]

What map mod do you have installed ?

[@PizonRogel]

how can i access 4:02

[@Jzjax]

what is your compass mod

[@konradszkalski8999]

How do you open this this 4:12?

[@reinstark]

Great video ! though I wanna know what mod you are using for the great sword sheath, cause I'm looking for one and can't find it anywhere

[@PizonRogel]

what is that environmental preset or weather

[@sanomanjiro3451]

bro which enb u use?

[@dsdsd9955]

How do you used console commands to fixes bugs. I have this weird bug that is like green blood spray from the ground at my players feet. Its easy to ignore but when I'm crouching it looks like i have constant diarrhea. Its like the draugr eyes or spriggan leaves bug but idk what cause it.

[@hayzofthereach]

What is your compass mod? its beautiful!

[@Arky_lee]

what is that bag interface ?

[@chuckpeterson8374]

Now can you get these on nexus or do you do all the crazy file work? Loving the mod videos though 😆

[@yungnblessed1445]

Download only like half these mods now my game doesn’t work even when I uninstall them 👍 thanks

[@CaptPanda]

Either you have bad load order or you got the wrong versions for your game. I have all of these in my modlist and when showcasing this lol There are over 50k people who are using my modlist btw, so each and everyone have these mods already installed too. You also mentioned that it still does not work even when you uninstalled them clearly tells me that it's your load order.

[@lenol0315]

I greatly appreciate your videos

[@CaptPanda]

And I appreciate you all for watching them! :)

[@GreekIrish]

Where is this music from? It's like a remake of Oblivion music

[@fablewisp]

your skyrim looks so pretty!! i love the reshade and the camera blur !! so pretty T ^ T what mod do you use for your in game compass and dialogue? it looks so clean!! sorry if you've said this in another video, i'm new to your channel (,,>﹏

[@CaptPanda]

Thank you very much! :) I have a video tackling UI mods if you don’t mind checking it out〜 but in summary, the compass is Compass Navigation Overhaul. Then for dialogue, it’s part of Untarnished UI.

[@fablewisp]

@@CaptPanda oh nice! i'll definitely check out that video then c: thank you so much for the reply and help! i appreciate it a lot! :D

[@ViggoAlmroth]

Any update on the Eldergleam CC edition?

[@CaptPanda]

Doing my best!! :)

[@wobinich2009]

USSEP contains a lot of unnecessary changes that it calls fixes, and refuses to listen to the community, hampering its bugfixing. It can and often should be skipped, many mods that say they require it don't *really* need it, and if you intend on rolling back your Skyrim it's difficult to use USSEP because Arthmoor, one of the authors, is very anti-community.

[@abilawaandamari8366]

I installed SSE engine fixes mid playthrough because it was required for some mod I wanted with my 300+ plugins, and I spent half the day trying to fix everything and having every single one of my save files corrupted. The irony of it being called "fixes" while it breaks literally everything. Just a heads up, when u try to install SSE Engine fixes, make sure to backup your saves and read the entire mod page and every corresponding reddit post you see. So many things can go wrong, and unlike other mods, u can't just fix it by deleting it once its installed, if you fuck up in some way the damage is persistent.

[@CaptPanda]

I don’t trust the autosave to manual save feature that much.. so I still always manual save and manual load to avoid the save file from being corrupted

[@SoulOfJustice1994]

I am a simple person. I see Raid Shadow Legends, I fast forward. I am avoiding it out of spite at this point...

[@SarahNelsen]

i love the concept of skycimb but cant for the life of me get the mod to work even with the dll offsite. i play on 1.5.97 and would love to get this mod to work on my game.

[@CaptPanda]

I also play on 1.5.97 and it works perfectly fine. I also did not do anything extra and just installed it and the required mod for it to work

[@SarahNelsen]

@@CaptPanda i still cant seem to get this mod to work. do you have a modlist text file i can cross reference? i am running stuff like JBO, better jumping, adxp-mco, and mid air shouts as well as open animation replacer. i dont know if OAR or mid air shouts would conflict but maybe they do.

[@SarahNelsen]

omg derp. i thought this was about paragliding lol. im very sorry

[@rapax2916]

Can use club creators with you modlist???

[@Cwronaga216]

Can I find a NON-Wabbajack version of your modlist??

[@snowrider6669]

What if someone added a Raid Shadow Legends mod to Skyrim

[@brettpeacock9116]

FFS, You Tube! Right in the middle of the ADVERT for Raid-Shadow legends (The sponsor) you squeeeezed in 2 more ADVERTS. That makes ADVERTS BEING INTERRUPTED BY MORE ADVERTS!!!!- And, that Ladies and Germs is Sooo Effed up. But it STILL won't make many people pay you to be free of them... and how long would that little trick last, anyway?

[@dodgerpatrol]

what enb is this

[@beaawsome2211]

Engine fixes is built into unnoficial...also its so broken you have to do many manual fixes for it to even work. AND on a mid pc youll find a 20-30fps dip. Not good when you only run around 50 FPS with your modpack already

[@Ppppooiiuuyytrree]

mods are a silly name for elder scrolls 6

[@ramboturkey1926]

um you dont have to sit down to wait in vanilla skyrim thats fallout 4 or am trippin

[@ebsmith1102]

It would be great if you removed. Experience by zax, I understand the desire for a leveling system based on exploration, but this just seems like a way to make you want to play the story line.... when has a bethesda story line been worth looking at?

[@xande5345]

How do I make my game look as good as yours tho

[@CaptPanda]

Eldergleam modlist! :)

[@Sabini13]

5:43 First person mod plz

[@ngolanov]

Comprehensive First Person Animation Overhaul - CFPAO But the legs are animated by the Improved Camera mod. It had some clipping issues, but now patch for CFPAO is available

[@RXTRUX1]

B keeps messing with the game but the unofficial patch is as needed as ever. Why?

[@NapLegends]

Climb dont work with GOG reguardless of what the trolls say.

[@cristobaldastres3684]

Gracias por la lista

[@CaptPanda]

Gracias!!! :)

[@exceligence]

Thumbs down! Seriously multiple issues with extremely vague information. Does not seem to know what essential means. Extremely vague about Actor Limit. Keeps talking about mods adding NPCs. Like who cares? Does it fix any actual problems in the game or not? Furthermore, completely incoherent explanation of Extended ESL mod. Nobody understands what anything being said here means. Just mentions you can have more mods to install without reaching an already ludicrous limit. So wtf is this actually for if you only need a handful of mandatory mods to play vanilla? Same exact problem as the rest when referring to Weather Changer. Then the only thin mentioned is using it for testing mods. WTF does that mean? Once again, another one that falls under essential. But cannot trust this video if it actually is essential. No whatsoever explanation on what it is essential actually for. When essential means only mods needed for vanilla to function properly. Then has a section for essential qol. This is a complete and utter contradiction. There is no such thing as essential qol. It is contradictory to what qol means. Which is nonessential (completely unnecessary), but there only for qol. From going through this entire incoherent video, the only ones that seem to be essential is the first two. It's so bloody incoherent that it's impossible to tell if anything else is actually essential.

[@kentpachi143]

console mods are not essential, that is for veteran modders and not for beginners and new players, it encourage cheating to new players too.

[@multilod8974]

new grass mod, soon to be released on Nexus, still WIP kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZDIg3SkfZiKnpI

[@peacefusion]

unofficial fix mod is way overrated. completely useless and causes more problems with mods.

[@jasonxvon7758]

no thanks guess I'm skipping this game XD

[@jacksonjacoby295]

First!

[@CaptPanda]

Thanks Jack! :)

[@djuraster]

Fail