Source-checkedQuality of life & UI

ZenPortal

by ZenDragon · for Valheim

Enhanced portals: Highly immersive, Improved QoL, Progression-based, 100% gamepad support.

9.6KDownloads
1d agoLast updated
BepInExLoaders
ThunderstoreSource

About ZenPortal

From Thunderstore

Enhanced portals: Highly immersive, Improved QoL, Progression-based, 100% gamepad support.

ZenPortal

!!! WARNING FOR EXISTING WORLDS !!!

If you are applying this to existing worlds:
- The default for the config option: "Requires Heavy Support" is DIFFERENT from vanilla.
- The default requires heavy support for Wood Portals. 
- EXISTING Wood Portals on wooden platforms will collapse with the default values.
- To protect Wood Portals on existing worlds adjust the option "Requires Heavy Support".
- NEW WORLDS ARE NOT AFFECTED since no portals exist yet.

Portals Enhancement.

Designed to make portals into a challenging and rewarding experience. Reduce the over-use of them by keeping ships relevant but still being able to cross the world with portals when needed after investing in the creation of a portal network.

Extends the portal system to make it more immersive with improved QoL and balanced progression-based gameplay. Start with no portals. Unlock them as you adventure throughout the game. Highly configurable.

Full gamepad support. No typing portal tags required.

  • Link portals using Rune Shards, which are collected from the Runestones found throughout the world.
  • Fuel is required for portal activation. This means the portal is in the "off" state most of the time. No more falling in by accident. No more constant portal sound effects when you are standing near them. (Both ends are fueled simultaneously)
  • Biome & Altitude restricted construction. (Admin can override in god mode by holding Alt)
  • Option: The player becomes sick when they use a portal and receives a temporary debuff. Sleep to cure sooner. (Configurable)
  • Option: Restrict travel to known biomes only.
  • Option: Wood portals cannot connect to Stone portals and vice versa.
  • Portals with no portal tag do not connect.
  • Existing portals on existing worlds will still work.
  • Backwards compatible, if the mod is removed, the portals will still work.

TIP: You can copy the shard symbols to your clipboard by holding shift when you click on the shard.

Screenshots

Runeshard Tooltip Runeshard Inventory Runeshard Pickup Runestone Interaction Portal Shard Attached

Advanced Admin Overrides

Normally the player will interact with all portals via the Runeshards mechanism. However, the admin may want to setup explicit portals that are always locked and can not be changed by the player. This is possible:

Explicitly set portal tags:

  • Open the portal tag text editor by holding the left alt key while being in admin god mode when interacting with a portal.
  • The tag text will be the portal tag name and display on the hover text.
  • Hide name: Prefix with a . and the name will be hidden from the player's view.
  • Prevent change: Suffix with ! and then the portal tag will be locked and cannot be changed by the player with a Runeshard.
  • Letter case matters, so locked! is not the same as Locked!
  • The tag name will be visible unless prefixed with dot: .hidden

Console commands:

  • zen_portalrune Create a pair of Runeshards at your current position.
  • zen_portalcure Remove portal sickness from yourself.

Extend Functionality with Additional ZenMods

  • ZenHoverItem : View item icons when hovering over objects.
  • ZenUseItem: Interact directly from your inventory without using your 1-8 hot bar.
  • ZenMap: Perfect pairing with ZenPortal and ZenCompass for a low-map experience with limited access to navigation data.
  • ZenSign: Assign items to signs and view the total available in nearby chests.

Improve Your Experience

CORE MODS

The full collection of all Zen MODS:

  • Radically improved QoL
  • Incredible performance
  • Pre-configured
  • 100% Gamepad support
  • Spectacularly immersive

Enjoy!

Sample Config File:

## Settings file was created by plugin ZenPortal v1.2.0
## Plugin GUID: ZenDragon.ZenPortal

[Build - Cost]

## [Admin] These portals are required to have heavy support. Build them on a strong foundation or they will collapse.
## [WARNING: If you have an exiting world with wood portals on wood platforms they will collapse!
## The default is to require a stone tower to be built before a portal can be placed for added challenge, wood tower is easy
## Turn off PortalWood if you want wooden portals to be built on wooden platforms.
## For new games the defaults are correct, stone towers required everywhere
## Heavy support mats are ground/stone/iron/etc. Light support mats are woods]
## (Vanilla: PortalWood = off, PortalStone = on)
# Setting type: PortalType
# Default value: PortalWood, PortalStone
# Acceptable values: None, PortalWood, PortalStone
# Multiple values can be set at the same time by separating them with , (e.g. Debug, Warning)
Requires Heavy Support = PortalWood, PortalStone

## [Admin] Crafting station required to build the wood portal
# Setting type: String
# Default value: Workbench
# Acceptable values: None, Workbench, Forge, Stonecutter, Cauldron, ArtisanTable, BlackForge, GaldrTable, MeadKetill, FoodPreparationTable
Portal Wood - Station = Workbench

## [Admin] List of resources required to build a Wood Portal (Vanilla: GreydwarfEye:10, FineWood:20, SurtlingCore:2)
# Setting type: StringList
# Default value: GreydwarfEye:10, ElderBark:20, SurtlingCore:2

Read the full description on Thunderstore →

Highlights

From source data

Loaders

Runs on BepInEx.

Footprint

Rated a light load on a server.

Last update

Its author last shipped an update 1d ago.

ZenPortal on Nxeon

From our catalogue
One-click install
Supported on Nxeon Valheim servers, for BepInEx servers. We download it from Thunderstore, place it, and restart the server.
Server side
Optional on the server
Server type needed
BepInEx
Server load
light
Smallest plan we suggest
Valheim — 4 GB (4 GB RAM). This follows our own load rating above, not a benchmark.
Latest build
1.2.0, released 2026-10-15

Game versions by loader

LoaderGame versionsNewest
BepInEx

From 27 recorded builds of ZenPortal.

Recent builds

BuildReleasedGame versionsLoaders
1.2.02026-10-15n/aBepInEx
1.1.52026-10-15n/aBepInEx
1.1.42026-09-30n/aBepInEx
1.1.32026-09-29n/aBepInEx
1.1.22026-09-26n/aBepInEx
1.1.12026-09-24n/aBepInEx

Dependencies

Declared by the newest build that lists any. Required ones are installed with it on one-click installs.

Run ZenPortal on a Valheim server

Pick a server or deploy a new one above; it is installed in one click.

What kind of mod it is

From the catalog
Listed on Thunderstore as “Content”

Quality of life & UI

Small conveniences, tweaks and interface improvements players notice straight away.

Works on a server

From source side support

Thunderstore lists server-side support for ZenPortal as optional: it can run on a server, but isn’t required there.

Compatibility

Game
Valheim
Loaders
BepInEx
Runs on
Serveroptional on the server
Requires
One-click install needs a BepInEx server.

Verified at the source

  • ✓ThunderstoreOfficial listing, checked 2026-10-16Open ↗
  • ✓AuthorZenDragon, as published on Thunderstore
  • ✓LicenseNot published by the sourceFree

ZenPortal, answered

Generated from the mod’s own source data.

Do my players need to install ZenPortal?

Thunderstore lists server-side support for ZenPortal as optional: it can run on a server, but isn’t required there.

Which loaders does it support?

BepInEx.

Is it free?

Yes. ZenPortal is free to download from Thunderstore.

How do I add it to my Nxeon server?

Use “Add to a server” on this page, or open NxLabs from your dashboard. We install it, restart your server and switch it on.

NxLabs

Run ZenPortal on a Valheim server.

Deploy in about a minute from $9.99 a month, then add ZenPortal in one click.