What are the best texture mods for Skyrim Special Edition?

[Papi]

What are the most downloaded and famous texture mods for: Animals and creatures textures, Lighting, weather, enviroment and races and facial features?

[Warm Fuzzies™]

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/?BH=0

On the sort by drop down, select downloads.

Click on the arrow for "refine results", then click on any check box to filter by mods that have those tags.

Though, most of the top 100 downloads of all time will be for what you are looking for.

[Papi]

Thanks! But i cannot download nexus mods on the computer, are they also available in skyrim and not nexus?

[Warm Fuzzies™]

Publicado originalmente por Stëbyyy:

Thanks! But i cannot download nexus mods on the computer, are they also available in skyrim and not nexus?

What do you mean by "in skyrim"?

And why are you unable to download nexus mods?

[Magicktech]

Publicado originalmente por Stëbyyy:

Thanks! But i cannot download nexus mods on the computer, are they also available in skyrim and not nexus?

You're going to be severely limited if all you use is Bethesda.net. Also, most downloaded is not always the best. That is like saying the best music is what they play on the radio.

[Papi]

Publicado originalmente por Warm Fuzzies:

Publicado originalmente por Stëbyyy:

Thanks! But i cannot download nexus mods on the computer, are they also available in skyrim and not nexus?

What do you mean by "in skyrim"?

And why are you unable to download nexus mods?

This isnt my computer and i was told not to download anything that isnt steam or spotify or that kind of stuff, the owner is in california and i have way to communicate with him lol

[Papi]

Publicado originalmente por ∞Phantasm:

Publicado originalmente por Stëbyyy:

Thanks! But i cannot download nexus mods on the computer, are they also available in skyrim and not nexus?

You're going to be severely limited if all you use is Bethesda.net. Also, most downloaded is not always the best. That is like saying the best music is what they play on the radio.

Yeah thanks! But dont you guys know like which one is the most critically acclaimed? idk i dont involve myself much with mods and stuff

[Magicktech]

Publicado originalmente por That ♥♥♥♥ kid from whiterun:

Publicado originalmente por ∞Phantasm:

You're going to be severely limited if all you use is Bethesda.net. Also, most downloaded is not always the best. That is like saying the best music is what they play on the radio.

Yeah thanks! But dont you guys know like which one is the most critically acclaimed? idk i dont involve myself much with mods and stuff

There is a top download/endorsed sorting option on Special Edition Nexus if you just want a list of "critically acclaimed". You'll miss out on some better options without researching and testing.

[Warm Fuzzies™]

Publicado originalmente por That ♥♥♥♥ kid from whiterun:

Publicado originalmente por ∞Phantasm:

You're going to be severely limited if all you use is Bethesda.net. Also, most downloaded is not always the best. That is like saying the best music is what they play on the radio.

idk i dont involve myself much with mods and stuff

That right there is your first biggest mistake as a potential mod user.

All mods, and whether you should use them or not, hinge 100% on whether or not they fit your play style.

I use to say this all the time in the Oldrim forums to people asking for advice on which mods to dl.

That is a decision that you, and you alone, need to make for yourself based on your own preferences. Otherwise, it is highly likely that you will end up not liking the mods.

On top of that, if you are going to use mods, any mods, it would behoove you to "involve" yourself with mods.

Learning about mods and modding will go a very long way in yours, or anyone's, modding experience to help you know what you are doing, and how to fix things if and when they go wrong.

[Papi]

Publicado originalmente por Warm Fuzzies:

Publicado originalmente por That ♥♥♥♥ kid from whiterun:

idk i dont involve myself much with mods and stuff

That right there is your first biggest mistake as a potential mod user.

All mods, and whether you should use them or not, hinge 100% on whether or not they fit your play style.

I use to say this all the time in the Oldrim forums to people asking for advice on which mods to dl.

That is a decision that you, and you alone, need to make for yourself based on your own preferences. Otherwise, it is highly likely that you will end up not liking the mods.

On top of that, if you are going to use mods, any mods, it would behoove you to "involve" yourself with mods.

Learning about mods and modding will go a very long way in yours, or anyone's, modding experience to help you know what you are doing, and how to fix things if and when they go wrong.

Yeah thats completely true, you could say im trying to involve myself with mods and learn something but let me ask you guys a better question, What like, texture mods do you like to make the game look better?

[Magicktech]

Publicado originalmente por That ♥♥♥♥ kid from whiterun:

Publicado originalmente por Warm Fuzzies:

That right there is your first biggest mistake as a potential mod user.

All mods, and whether you should use them or not, hinge 100% on whether or not they fit your play style.

I use to say this all the time in the Oldrim forums to people asking for advice on which mods to dl.

That is a decision that you, and you alone, need to make for yourself based on your own preferences. Otherwise, it is highly likely that you will end up not liking the mods.

On top of that, if you are going to use mods, any mods, it would behoove you to "involve" yourself with mods.

Learning about mods and modding will go a very long way in yours, or anyone's, modding experience to help you know what you are doing, and how to fix things if and when they go wrong.

Yeah thats completely true, you could say im trying to involve myself with mods and learn something but let me ask you guys a better question, What like, texture mods do you like to make the game look better?

First download SMIM: Static Mesh Improvement Mod. The best "base" texture mod is NobleSkyrimMod, which is on original Skyrim Nexus but has a download in the file section for Special Edition. From there you can further improve little details like rugs for example, where you have two options... RUGNAROK or Detailed Rugs. For creatures get these by Kajuan https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/users/6781714?tab=user+files ... and on and on and on. Also get Vivid Weathers and Enhanced Lights and Effects (ELFX) for better color, weather, and lighting. Read the descriptions as the mods have options when you install.

[JoJo]

These ones should get you started and they have very little performance impact:
• Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch
• Improved Vanilla Water
• Realistic Lighting Overhaul
• Static Mesh Improvement Mod
• SSE Texture Pack - Osmodius
• Skyland - Landscape Texture Overhaul
• Veydosebrom - Grasses and Groundcover Environmental
• A Quality World Map
• Footprints
• skyBirds SSE

Let later mods overwrite former.

Very nice visuals provides "Skyrim Flora Overhaul", but this one has quite a performance impact = less fps.

[Magicktech]

Publicado originalmente por JoJo:

These ones should get you started and they have very little performance impact:
• Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch
• Improved Vanilla Water
• Realistic Lighting Overhaul
• Static Mesh Improvement Mod
• SSE Texture Pack - Osmodius
• Skyland - Landscape Texture Overhaul
• Veydosebrom - Grasses and Groundcover Environmental
• A Quality World Map
• Footprints
• skyBirds SSE

Let later mods overwrite former.

Very nice visuals provides "Skyrim Flora Overhaul", but this one has quite a performance impact = less fps.

This is all personal preference. People like to recommend what they use and like so here is my two cents on these.... Skybirds (causes crashes, has issues), Realistic Lighting Overhaul (ELFX looks better), Improved Vanilla Water (Realistic Water Two is better), Osmodius (NobleSkyrimMod is better), Veydosebrom (Verdant is better, especially for performance).

[JoJo]

Publicado originalmente por ∞Phantasm:

Publicado originalmente por JoJo:

These ones should get you started and they have very little performance impact:
• Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch
• Improved Vanilla Water
• Realistic Lighting Overhaul
• Static Mesh Improvement Mod
• SSE Texture Pack - Osmodius
• Skyland - Landscape Texture Overhaul
• Veydosebrom - Grasses and Groundcover Environmental
• A Quality World Map
• Footprints
• skyBirds SSE

Let later mods overwrite former.

Very nice visuals provides "Skyrim Flora Overhaul", but this one has quite a performance impact = less fps.

This is all personal preference. People like to recommend what they use and like so here is my two cents on these.... Skybirds (causes crashes, has issues), Realistic Lighting Overhaul (ELFX looks better), Improved Vanilla Water (Realistic Water Two is better), Osmodius (NobleSkyrimMod is better), Veydosebrom (Verdant is better, especially for performance).

My recommendations are suited to keep the original look just with improved quality, while being performance-friendly. Which is not what your recommendations do.

"Enhanced Lights and FX has the goal to create a more dramatic and realistic mood to the Skyrim lighting. "
=> Yeah, no I don't want more "dramatic".
=> Not better.

"NobleSkyrimMod will give you a younger Skyrim architecture."
=> Yeah, no I don't want younger architecture.
=> Not better.

"Realistic Water Two - with this mod creek, lake, marsh, pond, river, and ocean water are once again visually and aurally distinct from one another."
=> Yeah, no I want vanilla style, just with better textures.
=> Not better.

The claim that "Verdant" is better for performance is flat out wrong, numerous statements on the interwebs say the exact opposite, while there is hardly anyone, who supports your claim.
=> Not better.

In conclusion: One can test different mods and choose the preferred ones, but to flat out say those are "better" does not reflect an educated mind.

[Magicktech]

Publicado originalmente por JoJo:

Publicado originalmente por ∞Phantasm:

This is all personal preference. People like to recommend what they use and like so here is my two cents on these.... Skybirds (causes crashes, has issues), Realistic Lighting Overhaul (ELFX looks better), Improved Vanilla Water (Realistic Water Two is better), Osmodius (NobleSkyrimMod is better), Veydosebrom (Verdant is better, especially for performance).

My recommendations are suited to keep the original look just with improved quality, while being performance-friendly. Which is not what your recommendations do.

"Enhanced Lights and FX has the goal to create a more dramatic and realistic mood to the Skyrim lighting. "
=> Yeah, no I don't want more "dramatic".
=> Not better.

"NobleSkyrimMod will give you a younger Skyrim architecture."
=> Yeah, no I don't want younger architecture.
=> Not better.

"Realistic Water Two - with this mod creek, lake, marsh, pond, river, and ocean water are once again visually and aurally distinct from one another."
=> Yeah, no I want vanilla style, just with better textures.
=> Not better.

The claim that "Verdant" is better for performance is flat out wrong, numerous statements on the interwebs say the exact opposite, while there is hardly anyone, who supports your claim.
=> Not better.

In conclusion: One can test different mods and choose the preferred ones, but to flat out say those are "better" does not reflect an educated mind.

I don't care what other people think and say on the internet and I know people say otherwise. Veydosebrom drops more framerate than Verdant. All it takes is a quick look at both's .ini settings to see why. Don't believe everything that you read. Test them both. The other stuff you are saying about the other mods is dumb. That is like saying, "it looks too much better, I want it to look just a little better". Anyway, as I said its all personal preference and takes actually trying the mods and combinations to determine what you like the best. Not everyone does that.

[Papi]

Thanks to all!