Best Valheim Mods in 2026 (12 Thunderstore Picks)

Best Valheim Mods in 2026 (12 Thunderstore Picks)

Last verified: May 2026 — Ashlands stable + modded Deep North

Valheim's modding ecosystem is one of the most mature in survival gaming. The mods that anchored 2024-2025 modlists (PlantEverything, ValheimPlus / ValheimEnhanced, EpicLoot, Jewelcrafting) all received Ashlands compatibility updates and continue to anchor 2026 modlists. The r/ModdedValheim "Azoth's modlist" post from April 2026 (15 upvotes, 17 comments) explicitly documents an 80+ mod stack working on Ashlands + modded Deep North — proof that the ecosystem stayed healthy across Iron Gate's major content drops.

This guide covers 12 mods that survived the Ashlands + Deep North churn and that an active r/ModdedValheim or r/valheim thread will name as default-install.

QoL Essentials (Install Every One)

1. PlantEverything (Advize)

Type: Server + client. Why install: Most-installed Valheim mod overall.

Lets you plant every flower, shrub, fern, and tree species in the game rather than just the vanilla farming subset. The reference Valheim QoL mod — featured in literally every Reddit "what mods do I need" thread as the obvious first pick. Vanilla Valheim's farming is functional but limited; PlantEverything makes biome decoration and resource cultivation actually feel complete.

2. ValheimEnhanced (formerly ValheimPlus)

Type: Server + client. Why install: Dozens of toggleable QoL improvements in one mod.

The successor to the original ValheimPlus mod, rebooted under new maintainership post-Ashlands and re-released as ValheimEnhanced (or equivalent naming on Thunderstore). Includes configurable stack sizes, faster smelting/cooking, inventory tweaks, automatic pickup, build-mode improvements, gathering bonuses, and dozens more — all toggleable per feature. The "I want vanilla Valheim but with fewer papercuts" mod. Each feature has its own config.

3. BetterUI

Type: Client. Why install: UI overhaul without removing information.

Modernizes Valheim's UI — better fonts, improved inventory readability, durability percentages on tooltip, named item rarity colors. Pure visual improvement; no gameplay change. Pairs cleanly with EpicLoot (which makes item rarity colors actually matter).

Content Additions

4. EpicLoot (RandyKnapp)

Type: Server + client. Why install: Turns Valheim into an ARPG.

Adds Diablo-style randomized magical loot to drops. Every drop has a chance to be enchanted with random magical affixes — increased damage, special abilities, set bonuses, legendary versions. Transforms Valheim's "kill, loot, craft" loop into "kill, loot, hunt for upgrades." Polarizing (some purists hate the ARPG flavor on Valheim's survival framework), but for the audience that clicks with it, this is THE mod. The most-cited content mod across r/ModdedValheim modlists.

5. Jewelcrafting

Type: Server + client. Why install: Adds gem-cutting and socketing systems.

Introduces gemstones as a craftable resource. You can socket gems into weapons and armor for stat bonuses, combine gems for advanced effects, and explore gemstone-specific dungeon variants. Adds about 15-20 hours of content depth to a Valheim playthrough. Compatible with EpicLoot (they layer rather than conflict). RandyKnapp is the same author as EpicLoot — the two mods are explicitly designed to coexist.

6. Wizardry (Therzie)

Type: Server + client. Why install: Magic system for Valheim's vampires.

Adds a proper magic / spellcasting system — staves, wands, learnable spells, mana mechanics, spell-based progression. Valheim's vanilla magic is limited to a few late-game tools; Wizardry makes it a full progression path equivalent to weapon-or-shield archetypes. Compatible with EpicLoot (which can roll magical-flavored items that synergize).

7. Valheim Cuisine (Xutz)

Type: Server + client. Why install: Cooking depth beyond vanilla's ~30 recipes.

Adds dozens of new cooking recipes, food preservation techniques, and ingredients. Late-game vanilla cooking gets repetitive once you've cycled through the same 8-10 buff foods; Valheim Cuisine extends the buff-food meta with new combinations. Compatible with most other mods.

Building Mods

8. PlanBuild

Type: Client. Why install: Save and paste entire structures.

Lets you save your built structures as "plans" and paste them elsewhere — a single button replicates an entire base layout. The mod that makes "I want to rebuild my base on the other continent" a 30-second operation rather than a 30-hour one. Pairs cleanly with BuildShare for cross-server plan sharing.

9. BuildShare

Type: Client. Why install: Import community-made build plans.

Lets you import .vbuild files (build plans shared in the community). Reddit and Discord have huge libraries of community-shared bases, ships, towers, and decoration sets — BuildShare lets you import any of them into your save. Pairs with PlanBuild.

10. Advanced Building Mode

Type: Client. Why install: Fine-grain piece placement.

Adds rotation precision, snap-to-grid, no-collision toggles, and piece-clipping options. Vanilla building is workable but coarse; Advanced Building Mode is what builders use for the impressive multi-level fortresses you see in r/ValheimBuilds.

Admin / Server

11. ServerCharacters

Type: Server-side. Why install: Per-server character isolation.

Forces each Valheim server to have its own character pool — players can't bring an over-leveled character from one server to PvP on another. Essential for community servers running progression-locked seasons or PvP brackets where bringing in an Ashlands-cleared veteran would break the experience.

12. ValheimRAFT

Type: Server + client. Why install: Buildable, drivable rafts and ships.

Lets you build custom watercraft from regular building pieces, then sail them as a coherent vehicle. The mod that turns Valheim's ocean exploration from "build a vanilla longship" into "build your own pirate galleon." Particularly popular for ocean-route servers that want to make naval combat or trade a real subsystem.

Modlist Recipes

Installation Walkthrough

1. Install Thunderstore Mod Manager (TMM) from thunderstore.io. Free, official-blessed by the Valheim community page.
2. Open TMM, navigate to Valheim, create a profile for your client (and another for your server, if hosting).
3. Browse Thunderstore inside TMM, click "Install" on each mod. TMM auto-installs BepInEx as a prerequisite if not present, plus all dependencies.
4. Launch Valheim through TMM (not directly through Steam) to load with mods.
5. For a dedicated server: copy the same Thunderstore profile to your server install path, or install BepInEx + the same mod .dll files manually into the server's BepInEx/plugins/ directory.
6. Restart the server. Every connecting client must have the same Thunderstore profile (or matching manual install) or they'll be rejected at handshake.

Full walkthrough at how to install Valheim mods and BepInEx troubleshooting at which mod broke my server.

Common Mistakes

• Mismatched client/server Thunderstore profiles. The #1 cause of "I can't connect" complaints. Use TMM's profile export to share a canonical profile across the group.
• Running multiple QoL framework mods. ValheimPlus, ValheimEnhanced, and similar frameworks overlap heavily — running two will produce silent feature-overwrites. Pick one.
• Auto-updates during an Iron Gate patch. Iron Gate's major patches (Mistlands, Ashlands, Deep North in the future) routinely break mod compatibility for 1-2 weeks. Pin Thunderstore versions on the server until you've verified the modlist works on the new patch.
• Forgetting BepInEx is the foundation. Without BepInEx installed, no mods load. Most "my mods aren't working" complaints trace to a botched BepInEx install. Use TMM, which handles this.
• Trying to play crossplay with PS5 while modded. PS5 doesn't support mods. Modded PC + vanilla PS5 in the same session produces divergent inventories and unpredictable behavior. Either go all-PC or all-vanilla for crossplay.

Server-side vs Client-side Quick Reference

Related Valheim Guides

• How to install Valheim mods
• BepInEx mod crash: which mod broke?
• Verify vanilla / no BepInEx mods
• Dedicated server setup
• Ashlands server update guide
• PS5 crossplay setup
• Is Valheim cross-platform?
• Server settings reference
• Valheim Wiki home

Running a modded Valheim server through Ashlands and into Deep North? Host a Valheim server with Supercraft — BepInEx + Thunderstore profile sync, version pinning across Iron Gate patches, and one-click rollback if EpicLoot breaks mid-session on a new content drop.