Always.Stable.Skyrim is a HUB PAGE dedicated to one thing. To help save people A LOT OF TIME.

Did you ever wish the modding community could really come together and create one huge Texture, Weapon and Armor, Monsters and NPC's graphics and weather and gameplay MOD that's the best of everything and literally fixes everything wrong with Skyrim? 

Well My friends, this will never happen. So forget it. I am here to Dash your hopes and dreams upon the rocks. And they are sharp and Jagged, and covered by a Moldy, slimy green growth.....Like my teeth. So I am bringing you the next best thing. A complete guide to Modding Skyrim completely and utterly without headaches, stress, wasted downloads, textures you don't like, and CTD's, or broken saves... that's right..I have decided to give you ALWAYS.STABLE.SKYRIM

I decided to create ALWAYS.STABLE.SKYRIM for every player out there like me who spends more time Modding Skyrim than playing it. To help them find and download the Mods from a tried and tested list that I have thoroughly played without issue all in one place, to both save time, and allow for the most Stable Modded Skyrim experience you may have ever had.

The goal here is simple, to come to a new standard of what Skyrim Special Edition can be and provide a baseline for all Skyrim players across the Nexus, to pick and choose what they want from this list, whether it's all or some of the mods listed, they will know these mods are Totally STABLE and worth the download, and their time investment.

This HUB PAGE will include>

-Links to every STABLE MOD I use with references to the Authors as well.
-New Mods tested and added on a regular Basis.
-Suggestions in the Comments and helpful tips by the authors if they would like to make them.

NOTE:

-I am not using any resources, nor are there any MOD files to download here.
-This is a Hub page to Help you find Excellent Stable Mods Faster That's It.
-If your MOD is listed here it is because I respect your work enough to put it here. It means I have tested it, played through it, and it caused no incompatibilities with my must have mods or game breaking scenarios.


The MODS LIST is broken into Categories for easier searching of the mods I currently use.

As an Example: My Environmental Weather, Landscape, Textures and Lighting install process 
Of course this is purely my opinion, you can use whatever mods you like out of this list, and others as well, these are what I have found work best for me. I will warn you that I run a pretty Beefy Rig (Dual GTX 1080's, 32 GB of Ram, and a Intel 4770k Running @ 4.2GHZ on Raided SSD's) this allows me to play @ 4k at 50+ FPS at all times in both interior and Exterior, with Fully Loaded Mods + A LOT of 4k textures + max settings +TSAA. If I add ENB to this it drops FPS by 20-30 FPS outside, so if using ENB I usually use 2560x1440p, and max settings, to maintain 50+ FPS at all times. It still Looks AMAZING even at 2560x1440.

1. Static Mesh Improvement Mod<-----this gets a lot of things fixed and looking cleaner)
2. Skyrim Flora Overhaul Will overwrite some SMIM<--- (Optional here to Use Simply Bigger Trees instead of SFO if you want to use HQ Tree Bark, HQ tree bark will Remove SFO Trees Completely and turn them all Vanilla(Not Compatible)
3. A Noble Skyrim <--This overwrites SFO ground and Landscape Textures, Cities, Forts, bridges, Ruins etc. Also Vanilla mountains as well as many other things included in SMIM.
4.Realistic Water Two (Water Replacer texture) <----Must have
5.RW2 LOD fix (Fixes Ugly LOD's from RW2)<-----Important
6.Verdant (replaces SFO grass with a different Grass, and more of it every where) <--- Preference
7. Verdant RW2 patch (makes the shore line grass work better with RW2) <----Important if choosing Verdant.
8.Superior Rock Textures 4K (Amazing) <---Overwrites Nobles Rocks and Mountains.
9. HD LODs Textures(Excellent)
10. Nordic Snow <---- Overwrites SFO and Noble Files for Snow and ICE and Snow around Trees.
11. HQ tree Bark <--- Only Use if you chose Simply Bigger Tree's Instead of SFO and want to Change the Tree Bark Textures
12. LANTERNS of Skyrim (Adds Lanterns)<---- Once they are there you will wonder why they weren't in the Original
13. All other Textures mods Many of the ones below will be Overwriting SMIM, NOBLE SKYRIM files, this is fine.
14. Realistic Lighting Overhaul, ( in my experience it is best to install this after almost everything else so it can over write all SMIM, Noble Skyrim, Ruins Clutter, Candles, Lighting Fixtures, fire, lighting, Spells etc.
15. Vivid Weathers (Absolutely Last in your Entire Installation Process)

You can then move on to User Interface, creatures, NPCs, Weapons and Armor.



ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES (In Order as I install Them)
================================================>
NOTE: Some of these require overwriting Each other, and this basically comes down to preference.
If you install and overwrite something, and you don't like the new version, simply Uninstall the new texture. You can also install the one you liked again, and it will overwrite as well what you don't like, but its best to have a plan prior to doing this, because you can start a nasty cycle of uninstalling and reinstalling mods all to find out your overwriting things you do like. If you follow the below steps, I'm pretty confident you will like the look of your Skyrim. 

Static Mesh Improvement Mod - SMIM at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus ...BY Brumbek (Everybody Uses it, you should too)
Skyrim Flora Overhaul SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ...by vurt
Simply Bigger Trees SE - (formerly SkySight SBT) at Skyrim Special ... by fadingsignal  (Alternative Option, use instead of SFO)
NobleSkyrimMod HD-2K at Skyrim Nexus - mods and community   BY Shutt3r (Overwrite SMIM with this) Wow, just wow..
Realistic Water Two at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by isoku
Realistic Water Two LOD Fix at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ... by mfcfbro 
Verdant - A Skyrim Grass Plugin at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus ... by Preeum (Optional Overwrite of Skyrim Flora Overhauls grass)
Verdant - A Skyrim Grass Plugin at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus ... NOTE: Get the Patch for Realistic Water Two as well
Superior Rock Textures - Hiqh Quality HD 2K and 4K and 1K replacers ...by skyrimaguas  (Works perfectly for SSE) I use 4k.
HD LODs Textures SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ...- Abendaron
Fluffy Snow at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community by Metalsaber (My Favorite Snow Option)
Nordic Snow (aka HQ Snow Texture) at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus ...- Erik1988 (Alternate Snow Option)
HQ Tree Bark at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community by Some_Random_Guy_83 (Use only with Simply Bigger Trees, not SFO)
Lanterns of Skyrim SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by MannyGT
(All other Texture Mods, Overwriting as appropriate from the list below)
Realistic Lighting Overhaul SSE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus ... by The Realistic Lighting Team
Vivid Weathers Special Edition - a complete Weather and Visual ... by Mangaclub - Doodlezoid 

BODY FACE AND HAIR: in this Order
=================>
WICO - Windsong Immersive Character Overhaul at Skyrim Special ... by Windsong
Superior Lore-Friendly Hair - HD textures at Skyrim Nexus - mods and ... by skyrimaguas (works perfectly in SSE)
Beards at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community by Hvergelmir 

ADDITIONAL TEXTURES (IN THIS ORDER)
======================================>

Enhanced Blood Textures SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ... By dDefinder (Doesn't have any competition and looks great)
High Quality Food and Ingredients SE at Skyrim Special ... - Nexus Mods- BY Eraitico (Optional Overwrite of Some of Noble Skyrim)
RUSTIC WINDOWS - Special Edition at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus ...- By Gamwich (Optional Overwrite of Some of Noble Skyrim)
RUSTIC COOKING - Special Edition at Skyrim Special ... - Nexus Mods BY Gamwich (Optional Overwrite of Some of Noble Skyrim)
PELTAPALOOZA - Special Edition at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus ... BY Gamwich (Optional Overwrite of Some of Noble Skyrim)
Ruins Clutter Improved at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... BY RaiserFX (Optional Overwrite of Some of Noble Skyrim)
RUSTIC CLUTTER COLLECTION - Special Edition at ... - Nexus Mods- BY Gamwich (Optional Overwrite of Noble Skyrim and Ruins Clutter Improved)
RUGNAROK - Special Edition at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ... BY Gamwich (Optional Overwrite of Some of Noble Skyrim)
RUSTIC CLOTHING - Special Edition at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus ... BY Gamwich (ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE :)
RUSTIC SOULGEMS - Special Edition at Skyrim Special Edition ... BY Gamwich and Saerileth
RUSTIC ANIMATED POTIONS and POISONS at Skyrim Special ... BY dailyplanet and Gamwich
Book Covers Skyrim at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... By Daniel Coffey

CREATURE TEXTURES (when asked to overwrite select "Overwrite All" and do so for all the below Mods)
===============================================================================>
Bellyaches Animal and Creature Pack SSE at Skyrim Special Edition ... by Wrig675 modified by Kelsenellenelvian 
DRAUGR at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community -BY Kajuan
TROLL at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community- BY Kajuan
SABRECAT at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community -BY Kajuan
MAMMOTH at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community - BY Kajuan 
HAGRAVEN at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community -BY Kajuan
WISPMOTHER at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community -BY Kajuan
GIANT at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community -BY Kajuan
DRAGON PRIEST at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... -BY Kajuan
SKELETON at Skyrim Nexus - mods and community -By Kajuan (works for SSE)
FALMER at Skyrim Nexus - mods and community -BY Kajuan (works for SSE)

MISC TEXTURES: Overwrite "A Noble Skyrim" with these (or Don't it's up to preference here)
=======================================================================>
CC's Enhanced Ore Veins SSE Edition at Skyrim Special Edition ... - BY ClearanceClarence
CC's HQ Teeth at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community - BY ClearanceClarence
CC's HQ Firewood at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... -BY ClearanceClarence
CC's HQ Guard Shields SSE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ...- 4K -BY ClearanceClarence
CC's HQ Barset at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community- 4K - BY ClearanceClarence
CC's HQ Banners at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... - 4K - BY ClearanceClarence
CC's HQ Buckets at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ...- 4K - BY ClearanceClarence
CC's HQ Roadsigns SSE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ...- AIO - BY ClearanceClarence
CC's HQ Alduins Wall at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ...- ClearanceClarence
Footprints at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and Community- BY jonwd7
Stormcloak Armor Revival - HD and 4K textures at ... - Nexus Mods by skyrimaguas (Works perfectly for SSE) I use 4k.
Beautiful Honey Signs - 2K Overhaul - 1K Optional at ... - Nexus Mods by mherp 
HD Torch remaster at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by LupusHegemonia (Fantastic Torch Texture re-texture)


USER INTERFACE
==============>
A Quality World Map at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by IcePenguin
Better MessageBox Controls at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ... by ecirbaf
Map Markers Complete with DLC and OCS at Skyrim ... - Nexus Mods by SarthesArai  


Added Creatures/NPC Variety
=======================>
NOTE: To Get all of these to work together you will need to create a Bashed Patch, so they show up as they all should and Items from the other mods distribute properly to be found on their corpses via the leveled list.

Diverse Dragons Collection SE (DDCse) at Skyrim Special Edition ... by opusGlass
Enhanced Mighty Dragons V4 at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ... Presented by Sands of Time Team (Diverse Dragons Patch)
Enhanced Mighty Dragons V4 at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ... Presented by Sands of Time Team
Splendor - Dragon Variants SE at Skyrim Special ... - Nexus Mods by opusGlass
Diverse Werewolves Collection SE at Skyrim Special ... - Nexus Mods by opusGlass
More Werewolves SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by opusGlass
More Werewolves SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by opusGlass When Vampires Attack patch *makes NPCs run from werewolves too*
Old Gods of the Hunt- Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE) - Nexus Mods -BY Mihail Romanov
Flesh Atronachs- Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE) - Nexus Mods - BY Mihail Romanov
Ancient Nordic Sentinel- Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE)(mihail . - BY Mihail Romanov
Foglings- Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE) (mihail immersive add ... -By Mihail Romanov
Lurchers and Briarheart Trees- Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE ... -BY Mihail Romanov
Bolgans- Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE) (Mihail immersive add ... -BY Mihail Romanov
Draugr Patrols - Elements of Skyrim pt.3 (SSE) (Mihail ... - Nexus Mods -BY Mihail Romanov
Mammoth Expansion - Elements of Skyrim pt.2 (SSE ... - Nexus Mods -BY Mihail Romanov
Land Dreughs- Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE) (mihail immersive ... -BY Mihail Romanov
Drakian Hydra- Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE) (mihail immersive ... -BY Mihail Romanov
Giant Wasps- Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE ... - Nexus Mods  -BY Mihail Romanov
Fiendish Keepers- Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE) (mihail ...  -BY Mihail Romanov
Harvesters - Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE) (mihail immersive ...  -BY Mihail Romanov
Gravelords- Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE) (mihail immersive add ...  -BY Mihail Romanov
Dwarven Colossus - Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE) - Nexus Mods  -BY Mihail Romanov
Minotaurs - Mihail Monsters and Animals (SSE) - Nexus Mods  -BY Mihail Romanov
Guars - Dunmer Culture pt.1 (SSE) (Mihail Immersive ... - Nexus Mods  -BY Mihail Romanov
Creepy Zombies at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by futoshi 
Travellers of Skyrim - Travelers SSE at Skyrim Special ... - Nexus Mods Make sure to grab Dragonborn Addon v120 
OBIS SE - Organized Bandits In Skyrim Special Edition - Nexus Mods GRAB THIS>>OBIS - NoticeBoard - Addon
Immersive Patrols SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by Scrabbulor
Populated Skyrim HELL EDITION at Skyrim Special ... - Nexus Mods Presented by Sands of Time Team
 
 ADDED SPAWNS and Difficulty
=========================>

Increased Enemy Spawns SSE No Scripts at Skyrim ... - Nexus Mods- by chimpoforevah (Funny KungPOW GIFS too)
High Level Enemies at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by Dalquist

WEAPON PACKS 
=============>
NOTE: These are the best Weapons and Armor "Packs" Available for SSE at this time. (There are more in Oldrim but haven't been ported or tested by me). I stress the word "Packs" because I don't typically run one off Armors. I just don't. So feel free to download what you want, these are what I have tested. Needless to say that this collection of weapons and Armor Packs is Glorious, and gives you so many weapons and Armors that you will most likely not see them all even through 2 complete play throughs. A bashed patch is required to have all of these blend seamlessly into the leveled lists, and show up for crafting.

Improved Daedric Artifacts SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ... by Prothescar
Heavy Armory - New Weapons at Skyrim Special ... - Nexus Mods by PrivateEye
Weapons of the Third Era SSE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ...by 747823
More Weapons Please SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ... by Relinquish
Elemental Arrows By Fuma at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ...by Fuma - Darkjesusmn
Kyne's Breath - Weapon Pack at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ... by ZunaSW
Lore Weapon Expansion SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ... by InsanitySorrow
BillyRo Ultimate Swords Anthology at Skyrim Special ... - Nexus Mods by Billyro lice23 L3st4t (Get Both Old Swords and Weapons DL's)
Dragon Age Series Weapons at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ...by Rand0mNumbers
Skyrim SE Expanded Skyrim Weaponry at Skyrim Special Edition ... by Lrsamways
InsanitySorrow Weapons Pack at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ... by InsanitySorrow and Calthrop
Unique Uniques SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by InsanitySorrow
Draugr Weaponry SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by Destero
More Silver Weapons Special Edition at Skyrim Special ... - Nexus Mods by Anordil87

ARMOR PACKS
============>

Immersive Armors at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by Hothtrooper44

Tera Armors Collection - Special Edition at Skyrim Special Edition ... by Asianboy345 and PoptartJuniper

Cleric Armours of the Nine Devines - Credo StandAloneMod SSE at ... by ActusReus

Witcher Armor and Shields SSE port at Skyrim Special ... - Nexus Mods by Afrotoast42-Lordofwar-Redxavier-TH3WICK3D1

uo Warmonger Armory SSE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ...by batmanna

Volcanic Crimson Glass Standalone at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus ...by nerad137


Bug Fixes/Quest Fixes/Quests
=======================>
The Paarthurnax Dilemma at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods ... by Arthmoor
Even Better Quest Objectives - EBQO at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus ...  by whickus with fixes and expansions by William Imm
The Notice Board SE at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by MannyGT
The Forgotten City at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ... by Nick Pearce
Modern Brawl Bug Fix at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus - Mods and ...by Enai Siaion
Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch - Nexus Mods by Unofficial Patch Project Team