Skyrim offers a lot when it comes to vanilla weapons and armor, but with such a strong modding community, there's reason to go a step further. Talented mod creators have cranked out some truly spectacular weapon and armor mods that can personalize one's play experience for the better.

The following list breaks down each mod based on the overall value they add to Skyrim. As such, it focuses less on mods that affect single items in the game and more on sets of weapons and armor that have more to offer.

Updated November 30, 2023 by Quinton O'Connor: Time marches on, and modders march forward, enhancing The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim in so many ways. We've added a handful of newer mods to this ever-expanding list, and we hope you'll give them a try.

Unique Uniques

Unique weapons, armor, and equipment are often found at the end of difficult side quests, and while their effects make them well worth using, Skyrim doesn't always give them much flair. Fortunately, the Unique Uniques mod is here to ensure that unique items stand out as much as they should.

So, whether it's the legendary Red Eagle's Bane or the Shield of Solitude, this is the perfect mod for people who want a little more flair without risking their immersion or breaking with the lore of the game. In this regard, it's a simple yet effective mod.

Unique Uniques alters the appearances of these weapons:

Aegisbane

Angi's Bow

Bloodthorn

Bolar's Oathblade

Dragonbane

Kahvozein's Fang

Pale Blade

Red Eagle's Bane/Fury

The Longhammer

Valdr's Lucky Dagger

Windshear

Shield of Solitude

Aetherium Armor And Weapons

Ever found yourself wishing that Skyrim had power armor that didn't break your immersion? If you have, then the Aetherium Armor and Weapons mod is the mod for you; if not, maybe give it a go anyway and see what this equipment is capable of.

The mod adds a questline that will lead you to the Aetherium Forge, where you will be able to craft this mighty equipment. And whether you craft the Aetherium equipment or its enchanted equivalent: Aetherial equipment, you'll be ready to take on anything Skyrim has to throw at you, all with an amazing Dwemer aesthetic.

You won't be able to craft these sweet slashers anyplace other than the Aetherium Forge. Just FYI!

Cathedral Armory

Cathedral Armory offers a gigantic upgrade to all meshes and textures for a myriad of Skyrim's base weapons and armor. It's a combination package of some 40 or so individual mods from a variety of authors, a compendium of tweaks that will surely enhance your experience.

By installing Cathedral Armory (or a similar vanilla mesh overhaul) alongside the next mod on our list, you'll have a grand time in ways both new and old.

Warmonger Armory

Warmonger Armory adds a nice assortment of weapons and armor reflective of both base Skyrim and both story expansions. From the Nord Hero Cuirass to the Vigilant Hood, to Dragon Priest Masks that fit snugly upon your belt like war trophies, this mod's got it all.

The mod creator has even grouped some of their sets thematically - Telvanni Apprentice, Shadow Warlock, Wandering Knight, and so forth. It's a full-blown role-play gear experience, and as evidenced by the above image, it provides some very rad results.

Oblivion Artifact Pack

Skyrim is great, but for fans of high fantasy, Oblivion was the Elder Scrolls game that really met their needs. Now though, you can bring back a little bit of Oblivion's magic in Skyrim through the Oblivion Artifact Pack. Fans of the fourth Elder Scrolls game will have a ball of a time with the new items introduced by this mod.

This mod brings back classic unique items like the Blackwater Blade and the Ring of Transmutation to let you enjoy all the power you had when you were playing Oblivion all those years ago. Many of the artifacts even feature upscaled textures meaning they don't look out of place in the world of Skyrim.

If you're struggling to locate these and you don't mind being told outright, the mod's page has a (helpfully spoiler-tagged) list of all items and their spots within Skyrim's map.

Tribunal Robes And Masks

Playing a mage in Skyrim can be a difficult time. Whether you're running out of Magicka or just struggling to find good spells, it's a lot of work. On top of that, the mages' robes are all very similar and don't do a Dragonborn justice when it comes to standing out in the crowd. Fortunately, the Tribunal Robes and Masks mod is here to add some color and excitement to your mage builds.

With a combination of colorful robes and intimidating masks, you can go from looking like any other apprentice to the most feared mage in Skyrim with a simple outfit change. Plus, there are armored options available, meaning you don't have to sacrifice protection in the name of style.

Artifacts - The Tournament Of The Ten Bloods

For players who don't mind something a bit more outrageous, Artifacts - The Tournament of the Ten Bloods is a great choice. It brings a lot of weapons, rings, and shields into the game, many of which sport wild designs that still look pretty cool.

Each of the artifacts in question has a story behind it, and some even require quests to be completed to obtain them. It's perfect for those who don't mind going outside the realm of lore-friendliness, especially when it comes to their armor sets. Not all mods boast the highest level of quality, but this particular collection is worth checking out for sure.

Here's what's on tap in this mod:

Boethiah's Walking Staff

Eltonbrand

Fearstruck

Goldbrand

Lyrisius Dagger

Shashev's Ring

Immersive Armors

Immersive Armors is widely considered the base mod regarding protective gear. It expands greatly on Skyrim's existing armor sets with lore-friendly additions that integrate into the existing world in a realistic way. The sheer amount of visual variety and changes in strategy this mod brings into the big picture is something truly glorious.

The mod sports almost 2,700 individual items ranging from shields and armor sets to scarves, earrings, and capes. The MCM menu allows you to toggle everything from crafting ability to world distribution of said items, right down to which enemy types can use them. It's a top-notch mod that no Skyrim gamer should do without.

Immersive Weapons

Immersive Weapons takes the exact same approach as Immersive Armors by tossing in a total of 230 unique weapons into the base game. Again, this mod is critical to make the combat and gameplay of Skyrim feel all that fresh and engaging... which is a boon for people who are bound to spend upwards of 200 hours on the game.

The same MCM-style customization approach carries over as well, letting one set which weapons can be crafted and how they're to be distributed in the world. Enjoy the use of katanas, scimitars, battle staffs, claymores, and spears, to name just a few. When paired with Immersive Armors, it's a combination that can't be beaten.

Zim's Immersive Artifacts

There are many fabled objects of lore strewn throughout Skyrim, including weapons and armor that one can collect on special quests. Zim's Immersive Artifacts is an overhaul of these specialized items.

The mod alters such popular items as the Blade of Woe, the Staff of Magnus, Dawnbreaker, and Wuuthrad, but it also tackles Miraak's Dragonborn equipment, Nightingale weapons and armor, and the Thane items. Stats and enhancements have also been altered to better suit their legendary status.

Be sure to check out Zim's other mods, which are featured in conveniently clickable thumbnails on the mod's front page. They're pretty great.

Lore Weapon Expansion

Skyrim's base weaponry is fine, but there's room to broaden out. Lore Weapon Expansion does exactly that by focusing on lore-friendly weapons that one can find throughout the game world or crafting table.

Each weapon looks and feels like a genuine Skyrim creation, which is important for those who don't like to stray too far from established canon. A lot of talented modeling work went into this one, and it shows.

Talos Housecarl Armor Pack

On the other hand, if lore is your bag, you're going to love the Talos Housecarl Armor Pack. This mod adds 12 new items to the game that were used by the Housecarl of the legendary Talos during his prime, including a war hammer.

Each piece must be crafted and requires the Advanced Armors perk, which gives players something to strive for. It's a beautifully detailed set that adds a lot of immersion to the game.

Here is what you'll get in the Talos Housecarl Armor Pack:

Housecarl Cuirass

Housecarl Boos

Housecarl Gauntlets

Housecarl Helmet

Housecarl Stag Helmet

Housecarl Bear Helmet

Housecarl Shield

Housecarl Cape

Housecarl Bear Cape

Housecarl Shield Cape

Housecarl Hammer

Housecarl Warhammer

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