3655 Hours Later, 17 Skyrim Mods That I Can’t Play Without

[@redshift1]

Long hiatus! spent a lot of time on this video but either way been focusing on my other channel that I’m enjoying a lot at the moment, www.youtube.com/@redSIRIUS - it’s more true-crimey-disturbing-morbid-stuff - thanks for supporting me guys, coming up on this channel’s 2 year anniversary and without exaggeration it has completely changed my life, so thank you for watching.

[@daved1025]

it was wild. i was literally playing Skyrim when my girlfriend put on your video. it was driving me insane trying to figure out where i knew your voice from. your other channel is crushing it congrats

[@AzuriteGaming]

I knew that was you, very recognizable voice.

[@emmathepony1992]

I KNEW IT WAS YOU !!!! your voice sounded so identical lol

[@SilentProt]

that's hilarious boutta watch some of your other videos then

[@shiny1556]

Wait that’s you?? I watched a few videos before and I guess I just never connected the voices. Funny how I still end up watching you anyways lol

[@peddlefiend8062]

And when the world needed him most... he returned.

[@MLGFraggerFilms]

BRUH MY MIND SAID THIS RIGHT WHEN I SAW THE UPLOAD

[@taner873]

he’s busy with his other channel man

[@Daannm]

@@taner873what other channel?

[@taner873]

@ redsirius

[@Daannm]

@@taner873 thank you!!

[@GideonGrimmGaming]

Lemme give you one more: Spell Hotbar: allows you to assign spells to hotkeys to cast without having to equip them.

[@lordturtle8735]

Less times spamming the menu is always a W

[@GeeGe.]

Oh shit, that sounds like a complete gamechanger for mages.

[@GideonGrimmGaming]

@@GeeGe. for every build ngl. I’m doing a paladin-sorta run rn with a sword and shield, Stendarr’s aura, and King’s Heart (I wanna say that one is from Apocalypse, if not it’s from Odin) and it SLAPS. Stendarr’s aura is a cloak spell, but King’s Heart is just a buff spell (it fortifies most skills and heals 30 points per second), so you can use them at the same time. I also wanna throw out Enchanting Freedom. It allows you to put any armor enchantment on any piece of armor. For instance, resist magic enchants only went on jewelry without the mod. Now you can put them on anything. This includes modded equipment that doesn’t have the keywords to be enchanted, so no one has to go into the CK or xEdit to fix it manually.

[@jeckjeck3119]

You can do that even without the mod. Just favorite it. And then assigned a hot key from the favorited.

[@jeckjeck3119]

Can do it with items too, I think. Like potions.

[@crownedcrow7745]

Finally, an alternate start mod where I can follow Hadvar and join the Imperials without the whole, "Sooooo, about almost cutting off my head just now."

[@imspiralsoul]

i hate how skyrim modding works, you end up going down a rabbit hole of required mods only to end up downloading 50 or so things because you want one mod you found to work correctly

[@DD-Tauriel]

And the worst part if those "required" mods use ESP slots 😩

[@Rex-qx2ko]

i do not miss the modding experience. Haven’t played in years, but seeing the other comments stating the many requirements these mods need, i’ll extend my break further…

[@thehighground4920]

@@Rex-qx2kowhen?

[@fehiy4269]

Yeah. That's too. But it could be even "better" than this. You modding the game for days and then won't even play it 💀

[@imspiralsoul]

@@fehiy4269 i feel this i spent days trying to get immersive equip displays to work and then got it

[@ZZ-sb8os]

After 1700+ hours myself, five of these were new to me and I'll be installing them in a minute. Thank you very much for your level of dedication and for making this video.

[@GeeGe.]

Hey, I know this is coming at ya out of nowhere, but just in case you feel like helping an internet stranger, I have a question about modding Skyrim when we have that many hours in the game. I love the game but I keep getting out of it and then back again, but the issue is every time I come back I gotta build that mod list again. Do you go through that as well? Any tips for dealing with long mod lists or do we really just gotta be patient and work at it for days at a time before playing?

[@M_Lars]

@@GeeGe. Use Mod Organiser 2(MO2) if your not already. Keeps your mods in a list that you can Add/Remove to whenever needed and launch the game through.

[@qtdw]

This is so overwhelming, I thought this was 17 mods, but a mod has requierments, and that has requierments, and that has requierments as well and so on

[@Orteguh]

It’s his list

[@Teil]

@@Orteguh ?

[@icgoldenice]

Womp womp

[@GoalOrientedLifting]

And?

[@kodex7265]

If you have never modded before, yeah, it seams overwhelming But every mod page has what you need Go with a bit of patience, check the requirements and compatibility on each mods main page (even the ones you are downloading as a requeriment) Don't download and install everything at once open the game and see if it is working every once in a while If you really get frustrated, there are discord servers from various channels with people that are kind enough to help This list is pretty good, but once you get the hang of things you can search mods and customize your experience Good luck boss.

[@dougdynamo9398]

6:18, so you're telling me that after 13 years, I was the one that killed Lydia and not the Dwarven Centurion in the cave across from Whiterun.... I was fourteen. I....I held a mini-funeral, man.

[@etem2006]

She died on the way up to High Hrothgar... I told myself it was the frost troll... IT WAS THE TROLL DAMNIT!

[@DakotaStJohn-jl7jn]

@@etem2006 lies, I was like 100 feet from Lydia for her first death by the frost troll while going to High Hrothgar. I kept trying to heal her while she fought it cuz I couldn't kill it easily at the time lol (yes, those were the days, experiencing Skyrim for the first time, what a time to be live back then *sigh*)

[@Johan511Kinderheim]

You’re just now figuring this out? Or are you this desperate for likes?

[@GeeGe.]

@@Johan511Kinderheim 1 - literally nothing wrong with figuring a game mechanic out at any point in time. 2 - your attempt at belittling just makes you seem little yourself.

[@Johan511Kinderheim]

@@GeeGe. Anyone who has played the game for more than 5 hours would know that a follower won’t be killed unless you inflict the death wound. This guy either hasn’t played the game much, never used followers after Lydia, is lying, or is regarded

[@Mash_Z]

I love your taste in mods, makes me want to revise my modlist all over again

[@jaimecastro3194]

I know the tempation but DON'T!

[@Donald_Duck777]

For those wondering what the Serana replacement mod is that appears in the thumbnail it is a mod called: "A Makeover for Serana" found on the Nexusmods page

[@lukeskywalkereu6107]

Thank you my good man

[@AceBurn90]

Very good mods. I am currently modding Skyrim for my "perfect" experience. Last time I played Skyrim was in 2018.

[@raexhii]

Randomly got this video on my home page and i can say, im super impressed with the quality. I really like the mod selection and the amount of time you use to explain the mod! You go straight into the subscription tab.

[@Pawpheus]

we need a full mod list of all your mods lol, the game looks amazing, from graphics to combat, lighting to weather..its all amazing. Honestly im really new to modding skyrim and often have issues by the way you have skyrim is 100% the way i would mod it if i could ^^ the third person combat, first person combat, the smarter enemy AI and even the HP bars floating on their heads are also all really cool.. man i wish i knew how to mod well (sobbing)

[@Spewb]

I would add Legacy of the Dragonborn. As someone who can't stop himself from hoarding everything, it's a lot of fun to complete the museum bit by bit and be able to go back and look over all your progress on that character. I haven't been able to play without it ever since I first downloaded it, throwing your daedric artifacts and whatever on random weapon racks and mannequins spread across a bunch of different houses just never feels right.

[@MrRealyLP]

Legacy is (For me) THE best mod ever, i love collecting everything and seeing my progress reflected back at me.

[@lukeskywalkereu6107]

I think people dont put it in videos luke this anymore cause damn near everyone knows legacy if you look at the top mods for skyrim

[@Celadonis-the-Lore-Seeker]

You are hands down the best at finding awesome vanilla friendly mods. I was also surprised to see that I watched your latest video on your 2nd channel without recognizing your voice ! 😅

[@rememberthefallen1970]

It's wild to me that Erandur is used more by people. He is one of the few companions that ACTUALLY has a pretty fleshed backstory. Such as Illia and Serana. Everyone else is plain, and you have no idea who they are or what their backstory is.

[@tonyhuttress7890]

this is the BEST mods list i have seen in a VERY long time. everyone uploads the same stuff over and over but this is NEW and FRESH

[@darrennew8211]

I can't believe how many "mods I can't live without" don't mention Inigo.

[@silverdisable]

follower mods are overlooked all the time, even though they're so good and people put so much time and effort into them. Inigo, Kaidan, Gore, etc + all the extensions for the hirable mercenaries, they make the world much for immersive and alive

[@Christian-u3d8y]

immersion breaking mf who won't shut up. Absolute nightmare of a companion

[@aboomer420]

literally unplayable without him

[@zanecarver2678]

Honestly been modding for years and never used him xD Bjorn has always been my main to use

[@aboomer420]

@@zanecarver2678 good time to try

[@denunciandohackers4225]

i love how many different options we have, fulfilling everyone's tastes. i have some mods i can't play without and only like 3 of yours is in my list.

[@JohnnyBravo655]

Great modlist! I just downloaded almost everything you recommended. Some of these mods led me to download 20 more, haha. Hopefully, I'll finally get a chance to play the game instead of just endlessly scrolling through Nexus Mods!

[@jaam1667]

Babe, wake up new redshift video just dropped!

[@john6833]

glad ur back!! i’ve always loved ur videos from the get go, they have that touch of quality that makes it enjoyable to watch

[@Viper1Zero]

*THE KING HAS RETURNED*

[@Aaron067]

Oh viper, nice to see you here ❤

[@Viper1Zero]

@ Hey man! Love Redshift’s style, and of course covering mods is a must watch!

[@silvercavaliere3831]

Bro i cant believe it , Honed Metal is THE think i was looking for a long time. tysm!

[@Fleepwn]

Man, I took a break from Skyrim modding recently, I forgot just how much there actually is in this game, my mind is blown once more.

[@artichoke116]

Another immersion mod that I've been using for years is Simply Knock. I mean, if a friendly NPC's door is locked, you can knock and ask them to let you enter.

[@rauggie9971]

I was just rewatching your videos for the sake of inspiring myself to redo my load order for the New Year. I know we all have our lives to live and our problems to face outside of this, but it is nice seeing you again. Best of luck on your endeavors.

[@thealphaoozaru7755]

YESSS! WE ARE SO BACK! You are the best modding showcaser on this platform and Im so glad youve returned. I’ve been coming back to your videos lately wondering where youve been lol

[@tgnm9615]

10:26 Omg I cannot stress enough about how you need to search for the npc who sell the correct school of magic items you're looking for

[@nohmadddd]

Thanks man, great video Also purple textures at 1:05

[@redshift1]

Didn't even notice - I'm colorblind so looks like normal snow to me

[@Bruddel]

great list, i use also almost permadeath, which add in even more tension. It give you 3 live, afterwards it´s over.

[@ArgelTal_]

every few years i wanna play skyrim i first check "current" mod videos ... and create a modlist for 2-7 days. :D Thanks for helping, great stuff.

[@hydecorner97]

Always loved your Skyrim videos, glad your expanding your horizons ^^ I'll happily support you whatever it is you do man have a great new year ^^

[@Ren-bv4md]

I love Alt Perspective but there is really one problem that I don't like. It's that the dev didn't do something about the Dragon dialogue of NPCs ex; Guards and the Khajiit merchants, so they will say "Dragons breathing fire in the sky" even if you haven't done Dragon Rising yet.

[@honinakecheta601]

For me it would load me into the inn no matter what options I chose

[@Ren-bv4md]

@@honinakecheta601 try using LOOT as it autosorts your loadorder, Alt perspective should be at the bottom

[@Naufal_Perangin-angin]

3600 hours... Bro has lived in this game

[@larsaskelsson9999]

thank you redshift i needed this since i recently bought skyrim (on pc, ive been playing this game for 7 years) and i need this thank you have a nice day 🙏

[@zitokeratin2643]

Magnificent content! I also like the font used. It feels more role and fantasy like.

[@redshift1]

Sovngarde font if you were wondering

[@Sea-Keith]

Welcome back!?! One thing that I never liked is Quests that you get locked out of because you are too high-level,when you may never encounter or realize they may need to be finished by A certain point,while others may be done at any point,or can only be done depending on the choices one makes... It would be nice to have some level type warning system,albeit the Courier or some other N.P.C.

[@flynnforgeau9750]

At your own pace, timing is everything & Alternate perspective are so appealing. Play Skyrim the way you want. If there's a Mod that stops Whiterun guards from triggering the dragonborn quest line it would be the icing on top.

[@Koro-998]

Finally you uploaded, your videos are the best in the modding community and happy new year❤❤

[@Kaganath]

Can't believe it's 2025 and I'm still watching Skyrim mods videos

[@BetaAlphaNuEpsilon]

It’s always nice to see an upload, great video. ❤

[@ladyfox6705]

I absolutely adore Alternate Perspective, genius mod, so simple and yet incredible! I usually ignore the little dragon and simply walk out the room door to begin my adventure. Our taste in mods is very similar 👌

[@roberthblake3794]

Please i need to know what the mod is the get the enemy health bars at 17:27

[@noobmaster7970]

Truehud

[@Mr.Anderson-101]

thanks brother that was a great modlist to add to my collection.

[@LieutenantGruber]

I've been using like 3/4 of those mods already but those that I haven't I think I'm installing now considering how closely our views on Skyrim clearly are :D Thanks :D

[@Granlusofc]

i'll keep this mod list in mind for my next game. since i prefer a lot of things you mentioned but not much so the overhauls for npcs (i forgot what i used 😂). but yeah, great video !

[@kolbynope3911]

there are so many good mods i have never heard of before this video, thank you!

[@Anonymous-ir3jb]

I have a suggestion: make a video about some builds you played with, as it would be a great way of showing how you use the mods you showcase as most of us have teouble in that regard. Anyways, I really enjoy you content and hope you keep at it

[@igavinwood]

Happy NY Redshift. Great to see another cracking vid from you on mods that actually make Skyrim a better game. I wonder if you'll be updating a mod list in the near future?

[@BONNATT]

thank you thank you thank you. this list is an absolute must!!

[@adannimpa]

My brother of Tamriel I was just starting modding skyrim again and this shows up lol thank you :D

[@yazui.i.9368]

I recently started playing Skyrim and I am having a blast. I need to try these mods out they look great and make it even better probably.

[@MisanThrope-cu1mw7fj3p]

Blade and Blunt - a very good way to spice up the combat system with actual resource management, injury chance and tactical choice of power attack use and blocks. Especially great when combined with a comprehensive talent overhaul like Ordinator (I also like Vokrii - and they can be combined into "Vokriinator") which adds more purpose to various power attacks, offers combo potential, extended timed block/parry mechanics, conditional damage, etc, etc. I also like Precision (although it's somewhat buggy). It adds physics-based combat instead of hitscan attacks. Basically, when you swing a sword, it generates a collision box, and the hit occurs when the weapon's collision box physically collides with the enemy's model. Enemies also flinch when damaged in the appropriate direction instead of just standing there like a mannequin. Dismembering Framework adds the much-needed "oomph" into melee combat. Destructible Skyrim is good for immersion. Just FUSRODAH'd en entire room, and everything's just the way it was, minus some clutter laying about? Not too satisfying, eh? Now most of the furniture, barrels, crates, pottery will be in pieces. If I play in VR, I just can't go without VRIK, PLANCK, HIGGS - the three mods that turn Skyrim into an actual VR game with a virtual avatar, the ability to grab items and people with your hands. Action-reaction is also good for immersion - NPCs react to being touched in VR. If touched inappropriately, and you're not in that kind of relationship, they might even pull a knife on you (adjustible in MCM)...

[@casablahca]

i have to say what i really really appreciate about your channel over other skyrim modders is the fact you’ve got no “female armours” if you know what i mean. if anything i’ve noticed you made some of the vanilla armours better. it’s always felt very objectifying to see and honestly it’s hard to find realistic armours. so thank you for that, and do you have a list of all the armour mods you use?

[@eliottdewitt893]

It would be awesome if everytime you went to class at the college you learn a random spell after a lecture or something, I'd love that. Okay the studying is cool lol I dunno if my idea would be better now lol That was a great list, now how many of those are on xbox 😱

[@tgnm9615]

This list is amazing. Ive been scrolling through nexus to find the mods to alter my game in a lorr friendly way

[@Mr.Perplexed]

What animation replacers are you using for the first person and 3rd person combat animations? Excellent video, glad you're back!

[@redshift1]

KG Animation & comprehensive first person animation overhaul

[@Mr.Perplexed]

​@redshift1 Thank you so much! I love the movement animations aswell but I don't think those are included with these

[@redshift1]

@@Mr.Perplexed pristine vanilla movement !

[@Mr.Perplexed]

@redshift1 you're the absolute greatest my man!

[@ChiliRaider]

Im using BruvRamm's Vanilla NPC Overhaul and its really good bc they still look almost exactly like vanilla but with high poly head + Vanilla Hair Remake SMP

[@kandle2507]

Living Skyrim and lore rim are both great mod lists that have majority of the top mods, feels like a brand new game tbh.

[@rega7ia]

man i remember when you had like 2 thousand subscribers. you've come a long way! also i'd like to ask what set of mods make the land look like that at 13:24 (is it just the morthal swamp or something)

[@redshift1]

yes it is the morthal swamp - rudy nat, freaks flora fields and water for enb are doing most of the work in that shot

[@rega7ia]

@ thank you goat

[@Shorkhan1]

Follower Death Chance I didn't even know about. Thank you!

[@SCSAsJorts]

I will say the mod Ezpg is a crazy dope aio mod especially for a different alternate start for a switch up feels like a totally different game.

[@kandul3372]

This is very nice! I really want to have graphics like u at 8:08. Its so amazing. Can you say something more about your graphics mod?

[@taupetoad]

check the description for link to his graphical mods :)

[@KalaamNozalys]

A lot of very good mods. Some I've also had for years. Also very much like all the weapon mods you have, some have a very beautiful glow

[@JaCrispy3060]

It's funny mods that remove the boring grinding from games in an attempt to make the game funner, and yet there's still always someone going "that's unbalanced!"

[@Raynor88]

19:05 What mod gives backpacks to the courier?

[@zandoe]

Amazing video, what are your conversation cam settings? And what mod colors your subtitles

[@90snetworkproductions79]

Man, it’s been 8 months! Let’s get a combat overhaul to ring in the new year!

[@guinness630]

There is a mod from LE that I love so much but very sadly hasn't received a port. This mod allows the player to shoot at empty wine bottles and they will break into shards which can be collected as a one handed weapon. This mod might not be a game changer but it's a welcome addition.

[@eminkilicaslan8945]

0:06 Shut up and take my money

[@Lilyofthevalley1888]

Thanks a lot for making this video. Ive been trying to find a mod that changes npcs appearance while still not looking uncanny or out of place in skyrim and this vid is like a blessing😭😭🩷🩷

[@theladybugduchess]

I'm definitely gonna consider some of these mods. I've only been playing Skyrim since 2020, and while I do love the base game, it'll be nice to change it up a bit slightly. I've been playing hardcore survival for an extra bit of challenge, so some of these mods are needed. I'm glad to have stumbled onto this video as we both have very similar tastes. (Also, your voice is immaculate. I'm a woman, but I'm so jealous)

[@Zwackelmann173]

Oh shit! You're gonna make me play Skyrim again.

[@antoineamelin244]

I really like how your conversation camera is set, it remind me TESO. How did you do that ? This is with Alternate Conversation Camera ? Great vid by the way !

[@Allicat]

All of these mods are really good, but I'm also interested in your casting animations. I can't figure out which ones they are. They look very nice in first person!

[@RicozSlayer]

THE RETURN OF THE KING 👑 We missed you man... ❤

[@HUYI1]

Thanks for posting the your mod list, i will look into it

[@TheTraveler980]

You know what I would really like? A load order centered around the Legacy of the Dragonborn.

[@furtherback6131]

It's a happy new year now

[@judgementjesus9079]

Hey! Love your videos, and your approach towards modding Skyrim without changing the game too much. Do you think one day you'll publish your entire modlist somewhere?

[@urbonx]

Ohhh man, nice to see you back!

[@Karl_Ranseier]

0:03 at 6.933,3 hours tight now, call me addict, Corona did a fine job at this mumber. Oh and that mumber is just the "Old Rim" version. This is from 06/2018 till the end of '22 when i installed the special edition.

[@BlackBirds93]

Redshift has returned, all hail his name

[@YakBat]

I knew starting up a new mod through last night was the right call.

[@Copperkaiju]

7:15 I think the issue for me here is that I don't think the AI is smart enough to justify this increase in difficulty. I already have to worry about my follower charging into open combat without my consent or getting stuck on a rock. Realistically I'd be able to give commands like "Hold Fire" or "Retreat" but without that level of precision, having to worry about perma death sounds even more tedious than it already is and I imagine would do little for my immersion. Btw I really appreciate your focus on mods that contribute to a "vanilla but updated" feel for the game.

[@Darren_117]

Been waiting for this guy to return

[@emillnones6074]

what are the first person combat animations you're using? The way you swing your weapons and cast your spells in the video are so clean!

[@AvatarV]

Alternate perspective is a very underrated starter mod

[@scalpingsnake]

I was testing out my modlist and had recently got Follower death chance. Due to the nature of adding so many mods and tweaking them, balance is... hard to come by so I thought I could roleplay to balance it out. I am basing this character around being a Werewolf so I figured how about when I transform I can't fully control myself. Combine that with a mod that has a chance for me to turn randomly and no one is safe lol. The idea that I can be travelling around with a companion and then I maul their face off is interesting xD Also by the same logic, I won't be using a horse unless I want a snack.

[@rojo676]

Love your modlist bro 💪

[@predatron4197]

2:42 What Depth of Field and UI mods are those? Same for the combat.

[@Ackeirz]

I believe alternate perspective is really the best way to play skyrim

[@verymelonman12]

Dude you were gone for months, I was starting to think you just left youtube. Seems I was worried for nothing. I already use some of these mods because they make things more convenient for me, adding some more is always welcome. In fact I recommended using Static Skill Leveling Rewritten with Experience to make gain levels with questing and level up skills via point allocation.

[@Albert_Riseal]

Thank you for the video. Useful 👍

[@riseagainstthemachine6079]

Cool Video. Im not sure how much you dive into stuff like that, but do you have certain mods you use on enderal?

[@redshift1]

Never played it so I'm not sure sorry!

[@maubraymzoma6616]

Good to have you back.

[@ryandavis4936]

Hey man your videos have helped with getting into modding. I want to know what face mods you actually use. I see you've recommended a few over time, vanilla faces, unique faces, high poly heads, but I'm worried about mod conflicts. Which ones do you actually keep on?

[@kingnarothept6917]

Use Immersive College of Winterhold and Obscure's (with the proper patches) for an AMAZING experience 😉

[@G3N3S1SG0D]

Do u have any collection form nexus mods to download and play? I would love to see one