Best Valheim Mods in 2026 (12 Thunderstore Picks)
Short answer: install via Thunderstore Mod Manager (handles BepInEx automatically). The 12 picks below cover QoL essentials, content, building, and admin/server tools. Treat every Valheim patch as a compatibility checkpoint: pin the current profile, launch vanilla first, and restore mods only after each author confirms the new build.
Launch rule: keep a clean vanilla baseline and a copy of your profile from before each patch. The Valheim 1.0 server-admin checklist covers staging, backups, and restoring mods safely after the update.
Valheim's modding ecosystem is broad, but compatibility is release-specific. A mod that works on the current stable build may need an update when a patch changes the game. Check the author's release notes and dependency list instead of treating a familiar mod name as a guarantee.
This guide covers 12 practical mods and flags whether each one belongs on the server, the client, or both.
QoL Essentials (Install Every One)
1. PlantEverything (Advize)
Type: Server + client. Why install: The most-downloaded Valheim mod on Thunderstore, about 2.8 million downloads (counting only actual mods, not the loader and libraries).
Lets your cultivator plant berry bushes, thistle, dandelions, mushrooms, tree types the vanilla game will not let you plant, and other decorative flora. The reference Valheim QoL mod and the usual first pick in "what mods do I need" threads. Vanilla Valheim's farming is functional but limited; PlantEverything makes biome decoration and resource cultivation actually feel complete.
2. ValheimPlus (Grantapher's fork)
Type: Server + client. Why install: Dozens of toggleable QoL improvements in one mod.
The original ValheimPlus package is deprecated on Thunderstore. The one people run today is Grantapher's fork, listed as ValheimPlus_Grantapher_Temporary, whose 1.0 build is 10.2.0 (20 September 2026). It includes configurable stack sizes, faster smelting/cooking, inventory tweaks, build-mode improvements, map sharing between players, and dozens more, all toggleable per feature. With its server section switched on, every player who joins receives the server's settings, and every player needs the mod. The "I want vanilla Valheim but with fewer papercuts" mod. Each feature has its own config.
3. MyLittleUI (shudnal)
Type: Client. Why install: Small UI tweaks that add information.
Tooltips for production timers, player status and items, custom chest names, a buff list and more, each one switchable. It changes what you see, not how the game plays, and its 1.0 build is 1.2.31 (13 October 2026). It replaces BetterUI on this list: the original BetterUI and its ForeverMaintained fork are both deprecated.
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: about 2.3 million downloads, with a 1.0 build (0.14.13, 24 September 2026).
5. Warfare (Therzie)
Type: Server + client. Why install: 107 new weapons and 8 shields.
Fills the weapon and shield gaps in vanilla Valheim: by its author's count 107 weapons, 8 shields and 13 arrow and bolt types. About 1.5 million downloads, and its 1.0 build is 1.9.5 (13 October 2026). It takes the place of Jewelcrafting, which its author Smoothbrain has deprecated, so it has no 1.0 build.
6. Wizardry (Therzie)
Type: Server + client. Why install: A full magic path from the same author as Warfare.
Adds 5 elemental and 2 blood magic staffs, 5 mage sets, new magic enemies, eitr food, potions and scrolls. Valheim's vanilla magic starts late, in the Mistlands; Wizardry makes it a full progression path next to the weapon builds. Its 1.0 build is 1.2.3 (13 October 2026). Compatible with EpicLoot (which can roll magical-flavored items that synergize).
7. Valheim Cuisine (Xutz)
Type: Server + client. Why install: More than 300 food recipes, against the 97 foods in vanilla 1.0.17.
Adds more than 300 recipes inspired by Nordic dishes, with their ingredients. Its 1.0 build is 2.3.2 (26 September 2026). 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: Server + 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. It also loads BuildShare's .vbuild saves, and a server running it can share blueprints with every player through PlanBuild's own blueprint market, with server-enforced settings such as whether blueprints can be placed without materials. 1.0 build: 0.20.0 (1 October 2026).
9. OdinArchitect (OdinPlus)
Type: Server + client. Why install: More building pieces, and bigger ones.
Adds structures vanilla does not have and larger versions of familiar pieces, for building on a bigger scale. The author says server and clients must both have it. About 1 million downloads; 1.0 build 1.8.5 (12 October 2026). It replaces BuildShare here, which is no longer on Thunderstore; PlanBuild above opens BuildShare's .vbuild files.
10. Gizmo (ComfyMods)
Type: Client. Why install: Fine-grain piece rotation.
Rotates pieces around every axis, not just the vertical one, with the snap angle set anywhere from 2 to 256 steps per half turn and a local-frame mode for rotating around a piece's own axis. Vanilla building is workable but coarse; this is the precise-placement job Advanced Building Mode used to do inside ValheimPlus. 1.0 build: 1.16.0 (14 September 2026).
Admin / Server
11. Server devcommands (JereKuusela)
Type: Admin client, plus the server for full features. Why install: Admin tools on a dedicated server.
Lets server admins use devcommands and a set of admin utilities on a dedicated server. The author says to install it on the admin's client and, for the full feature set, on the server too, and to put the admin's ID in adminlist.txt. About 1.2 million downloads; 1.0 build 1.115.0 (26 September 2026). It replaces ServerCharacters on this list, which its author has deprecated.
12. ValheimRAFT (zolantris)
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. The maintained version is zolantris's, which also builds land vehicles; its 1.0 build is 5.0.9 (5 October 2026).
Modlist Recipes
| Server style | Modlist | Why this works |
|---|---|---|
| First modded playthrough | PlantEverything + ValheimPlus + MyLittleUI + PlanBuild | Pure QoL stack; no ARPG flavor; vanilla progression intact |
| ARPG / loot chase | EpicLoot + Warfare + Wizardry + ValheimPlus + MyLittleUI + PlantEverything | Full ARPG transformation; loot, gems, magic all stack |
| 4-8 player dedicated server | PlantEverything + ValheimPlus + EpicLoot + Warfare + PlanBuild + OdinArchitect + Valheim Cuisine + Server devcommands | Full content stack + admin tools + build sharing; the canonical group server |
| Builder / aesthetics | PlanBuild + OdinArchitect + Gizmo + PlantEverything + MyLittleUI + ValheimPlus | Builder toolkit + variety; content stays vanilla-ish |
| Naval / exploration | ValheimRAFT + PlantEverything + ValheimPlus + EpicLoot + Server devcommands | Naval as a real subsystem + loot economy + season isolation |
Installation Walkthrough
- Install Thunderstore Mod Manager (TMM) from thunderstore.io. It is free.
- Open TMM, navigate to Valheim, create a profile for your client (and another for your server, if hosting).
- Browse Thunderstore inside TMM, click "Install" on each mod. TMM auto-installs BepInEx as a prerequisite if not present, plus all dependencies.
- Launch Valheim through TMM (not directly through Steam) to load with mods.
- 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. - 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 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 can break mod compatibility for days or weeks. Pin Thunderstore versions on the server until you've verified the modlist works on the new build.
- 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, or follow our BepInEx install guide for a manual setup.
- 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
| Mod | Type | All clients + server need it? |
|---|---|---|
| PlantEverything | Server + client | Yes |
| ValheimPlus (Grantapher) | Server + client | Yes |
| MyLittleUI | Client | No |
| EpicLoot | Server + client | Yes |
| Warfare | Server + client | Yes |
| Wizardry | Server + client | Yes |
| Valheim Cuisine | Server + client | Yes |
| PlanBuild | Server + client | Yes |
| OdinArchitect | Server + client | Yes |
| Gizmo | Client | No |
| Server devcommands | Admin client, server for full features | No, only admins |
| ValheimRAFT | Server + client | Yes |
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 and Switch 2 crossplay setup
- Server settings reference
- Valheim Wiki home
Running a modded Valheim server through Ashlands and into the Deep North? Host a Valheim server with Supercraft: BepInEx and 1-click Thunderstore mods in the panel, popular modpacks to switch between, and backups to roll back to if a patch breaks your mod list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Valheim mod in 2026?
If you mean 'install this first', PlantEverything (Advize) is the most-installed Valheim mod overall, lets you plant every flower, shrub, and tree species rather than just the vanilla farming subset. If you mean 'mod that changes everything', EpicLoot (RandyKnapp) adds Diablo-style randomized magical loot to drops and turns Valheim into a loot-chasing ARPG. For QoL, ValheimPlus, now maintained as Grantapher's fork, bundles dozens of toggleable improvements.
Where do I download Valheim mods?
Thunderstore (thunderstore.io/c/valheim) is the canonical mod platform and dependency-aware. Use the Thunderstore Mod Manager (TMM) to install, it handles BepInEx (the mod loader prerequisite) and dependencies automatically. Nexus Mods has some Valheim content but most active development moved to Thunderstore years ago. Manual install (drop .dll into BepInEx/plugins/) works but skip it unless TMM doesn't fit your workflow.
Do Valheim mods work in multiplayer and on dedicated servers?
Yes. BepInEx + most content mods (PlantEverything, EpicLoot, Warfare) need to be installed on both the server and every connecting client with the same versions. Some mods are server-only (admin tools, world tuning); some are client-only (visual tweaks, UI). The Thunderstore page for each mod flags which side(s) it runs on. For dedicated servers, copy the same Thunderstore profile to the server install path or install BepInEx + the same mods manually into the server's BepInEx/plugins/ folder.
Are Valheim mods compatible with Ashlands and Deep North?
Mostly, but check each one. Valheim 1.0 and the Deep North shipped on 9 September 2026, and in our tracker's 11 October sweep 27 of the 30 most-downloaded live mods had a build published on or after launch day. Check each author's current Thunderstore notes, pin known-good versions, and launch the server vanilla first before restoring the mod stack after a patch.
Will mods work on Valheim PS5?
No. Valheim's PS5 build does not support mods. The entire Valheim modding ecosystem depends on BepInEx, which is a PC-only Mono/IL injection framework. A console player cannot install mods, so a server running content mods that every client must have is closed to PS5, Xbox and Switch 2 players. Client-only mods on a PC player's own game do not affect them. See our /wiki/valheim/ps5_crossplay_setup for the PS5-specific crossplay rules.
What is the difference between BepInEx and Valheim mods?
BepInEx is the mod loader, a framework that hooks into Valheim's runtime and lets other mods (DLLs) attach. Without BepInEx installed, no Valheim mods load. With BepInEx installed, each mod author writes their content as a BepInEx plugin. Thunderstore Mod Manager installs BepInEx automatically as part of the first mod install; you don't have to handle it yourself.
Can I run too many Valheim mods?
The game sets no limit. Every mod adds load time and one more thing a patch can break, and for each mod that runs on both sides the clients must match the server's version. A list your group can keep updated after every patch beats the longest possible list.