10. Dual Wield Parrying
Starting out, we have Dual Wield Parrying. This mod does as the name suggests by allowing you to block even while using both hands. Unlike in the vanilla Skyrim, where you’d need one hand free or holding a shield, this mod allows you to defend if you are using a secondary weapon, casting spells with your free hand, or even holding a staff. The mod works well for adding a bit of logical realism to the game by designating a secondary button to block.
Despite its simple nature, depending on the difficulty (as well as many of the other mods on this list and beyond), being able to block despite holding another item not only makes logical sense but can be a lifesaver.
9. Battle Fatigue & Injuries
Next up is Battle Fatigue & Injuries. This mod takes realism to a whole new level, forcing you to treat every combat experience with extreme caution and care before engaging.
When in combat, if you take a large amount of damage in a relatively short amount of time, this mod will cause you to suffer additional debuffs to your character. Such as reducing your ability to perform Pick-pocketing, Archery, or use a one-handed weapon if, for example, your arm is injured. As you continue to fight, even if you are using potions, your character will slowly become more and more fatigued, suffering slower movement and reduced Stamina. Thankfully, this ability works on opponents as well.
Ultimately, while certainly an exhausting gameplay mechanic, this adds a level of realism and difficulty to the combat that it’ll feel oddly lacking when playing the standard version again.
8. Violens
This next mod, Violens, is pretty cool overall. It unlocks all of the kill moves throughout the game for both ranged as well as melee combat. This mod will allow you to determine how often you get to see the killing move during combat. You can have it range from every single time you kill an opponent, only after the last opponent in a group is killed.
All in all, it’s just a super wholesome mod that everyone can enjoy.
7. Combat Behavior Improved
An exciting mod that greatly improves the overall enjoyment and fluidity of combat gameplay. The Combat Behavior Improved mod allows for both the player and the NPCs to interrupt their melee attacks, opening up several different options for feints, fast blocks and quick parries, to name a few.
This is particularly great as it allows enemy NPCs to come across as considerably smarter without using complicated scripts or fully installed character animations.
If you want an easy and fun way to add complexity to combat, this is a must-have mod to get.
6. Action Combat
An excellent mod that adds numerous small immersive bonuses and, seemingly, complete combat prefigurations, Action Combat helps make every battle considerably more exciting and fun.
With this mod in place, many things taken for granted in vanilla Skyrim will be brought into reexamination. Things like dodging and blocking are more realistic, with the attacker being slightly pushed back and virtually all direct hits resulting in the person getting staggered. There are many, many additions to this mod, but you get the point.
5. ASIS
Without a doubt, one of the more essential mods on this list, ASIS, removes all of the unfair advantages that the player has over the NPC. Now, random enemies will be able to use potions to regain their health in combat, have a wider variety of spells based on their class, and even have access to the same additional spells you may have installed from other mods.
Essentially, it turns every battle with an opponent into a mini PVP matchup, where you will have to “be better” than them.
Again, it may seem a bit daunting initially, but you honestly won’t want to play the standard version ever after playing it.
4. Revenge of the Enemies
Revenge of the Enemies is a combat mod that ultimately makes every situation a much more challenging and difficult one. Enemy combatants will use everything they have to beat you in a fight, including changing their fighting stance, using all the spells in their arsenal, and using any items they may have in their inventory.
If ASIS made enemies comparable to PVP matchups, Revenge of the Enemies makes all your opponents Boss-level. For those that want a real kick into high gear, consider combining the two and seeing if you deserve the title of Dragonborn.
3. Combat Evolved
Coming in at #3 is the mod, Combat Evolved. This mod is another powerful addition towards indeed increasing the NPC enemies’ skills and abilities around you. They will now fight much more strategically, whether in groups or on their own. As an example, whereas in vanilla Skyrim, the enemies will often lower their guard after swinging, almost asking for you to kill them, in Combat Evolved, they will treat their own life as if it’s essential, keeping their guard up at all times.
Not only does this further make enemies much more intelligent fighters, but it does so on its own as well as in addition to any of the other mods listed. If, for example, you had both ASIS and Revenge of the Enemies installed as well as Combat Evolved, your opponents would work in tandem with one another. You were using their abilities whenever your flank was open while always being willing to down a health potion to stay alive in the fight.
If you feel you cannot perform under stressful combat scenarios or don’t like for an opponent to fight you with the same intelligence as you have, you’re probably not going to like this mod.
2. Archery Gameplay Overhaul
Suppose you’ve always enjoyed playing an Archer but felt that there were a few critical points about Skyrim’s gameplay that held the experience back. In that case, Archery Gameplay Overhaul is the perfect mod for you.
As the name states, this mod completely overhauls gameplay for Archers, making the animations much more exciting and visually appealing. Now, you’ll feel like a ranged hunter as the method for drawing, walking, and even bashing with a bow have been completely reworked. Also, third-person gameplay has been refigured as well, with the camera moving over the shoulder rather than directly behind the player.
There are many different and exciting aspects to this mod overhaul that ultimately make an Archer more fun than it’s ever been. You really will need to get it for yourself to find out.
1. Deadly Combat
And taking the top spot as the #1 combat mod is Deadly Combat. This mod completely overhauls many of vanilla Skyrim’s most significant combat flaws and instead revamps them entirely. For one, the game rebalances many of the vanilla’s stats, making it all-around a more rewarding experience for skilled players. Attacks now do more damage to both you and the NPC as well as stagger when hit. To accommodate this, players are encouraged to master blocking (like in actual combat) while punished for merely holding the block button indefinitely through a Stamina cost.
Enemies are the smartest with this mod and will become just about high-tier player level when used in conjunction with the other earlier mentioned mods.
The mod does so much that it’s challenging to do it justice. The best way I can describe it is that if you’re looking for a true “Dark Souls” type of experience, you’ll get this mod and supplement it with ASIS and a few of the others.
