Best Valheim Mods for 2026 (BepInEx/Thunderstore)

Valheim's modding scene is thriving in 2026, and a dedicated server with the right mods turns a good Viking co-op run into something you'll play for months. Here are the mods we recommend, plus the one rule that trips everyone up: your clients must run the same mods as your server.

The golden rule: clients must match the server

Unlike Rust or CS2, most Valheim mods are not server-side only. Because the mods change game content, items, and mechanics, every player connecting to your server generally needs the *same* mods installed locally, at compatible versions. Some mods enforce this and will reject mismatched clients outright.

The clean way to keep everyone in sync is a modpack: assemble your mod list on Thunderstore, and have players install the same pack with r2modman or the Thunderstore app. One click, everyone matches.

The loader: BepInEx

Nothing loads without it. BepInEx is the mod framework every Valheim mod depends on. It installs into the server's root directory, and mods go into its plugins folder. Install BepInEx first, always.

The best Valheim mods for 2026

Jotunn (the Valheim Library)

A modding *library* that many other mods depend on. It's rarely something you notice in-game, but install it — countless content mods list it as a requirement.

ValheimPlus (Grantapher revival)

The all-in-one tweaks mod. The original ValheimPlus was picked up and kept current by Grantapher, and it remains the go-to for quality-of-life: adjustable stack sizes, build limits, stamina, gathering, and dozens of toggles in one config.

EpicLoot

Adds an ARPG-style loot system — magic item rarities, enchanting, and set bonuses. The single most popular way to add long-term progression and loot-chasing to a server.

PlantEverything

Lets you plant and grow trees, berry bushes, and crops that vanilla won't let you cultivate. A must for base builders and farmers.

AzuCraftyBoxes

Pulls crafting materials directly from nearby chests, so you don't have to keep resources in your inventory to build and craft. A massive quality-of-life upgrade.

Warfare (from the Monster mods)

Adds new enemies, factions, and combat variety to keep the world dangerous once you've out-geared vanilla threats.

Monstrum

More creatures and biome variety, expanding the bestiary for players who've cleared the base game and want fresh threats.

Quick Stack / Store / Sort / Trash

Inventory management done right: quick-stack into nearby chests, sort containers, and trash junk with a keybind. Once you play with it you won't go back.

A balanced starter modpack

For a co-op server that adds depth without breaking vanilla balance:

text BepInEx (loader - required first) Jotunn (library dependency) ValheimPlus (quality-of-life tweaks) AzuCraftyBoxes (craft from chests) Quick Stack Store Sort Trash PlantEverything (farming) EpicLoot (progression + loot) Warfare / Monstrum (extra threats, optional)

Add content mods gradually and test after each one. A mismatched or outdated mod is the usual cause of a server that won't boot after an update.

Keep the pack in sync

When Valheim or BepInEx updates, mods may need updating too, and every client has to update in step with the server. Pin your modpack version on Thunderstore so your players pull the exact same set — mismatched versions are the number-one reason someone can't connect.

Install them in one click

You don't need to unzip BepInEx and hand-place DLLs. On Valheim server hosting from Nxeon, the Mods manager installs BepInEx and each Thunderstore mod with a single click, dropping them into BepInEx/plugins for you, and gives you a shareable mod list so your friends can match with r2modman instantly.

Start a server from our game servers lineup and have a modded Valheim world online in minutes. For the exact manual workflow behind the one-click button, read our guide on how to install Valheim mods.