For The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition on the Xbox One, a GameFAQs message board topic titled 'Favorite bow mods'. The best Skyrim mods let you tweak or overhaul nearly every part of the game. There are options available whether you want to improve graphics, make your companions better company, turn the dragons into something silly, or play a whole new adventure as good as the original story. It’s been nine years, but Skyrim modding.

Archer playthroughs are always a super fun thing. Especially when you install so many mods in your game that firing arrows feels much more realistic and wandering around with your bow becomes much more fun.

As such I’ve made a list of the best archery mods that I’ve found to enhance the archery experience of Skyrim as much as possible.

Bear in mind that the mods I’ve compiled are exclusively meant to enhance archery per se.

You may find other mods that further enhance your experience (for example, customizable camera mods) but the main goal of my list is to provide you with a set of mods that focus on improving arrows, bows, and archery-related stuff only.

15. Difficult Archery

The description of this mod couldn’t have said it better – everyone is a master marksman in Skyrim except you.

It seems like every single NPC in the game always has the edge on the player as they never seem to miss a single shot.

With Difficult Archery, however, you’ll be able to see your enemies fire with the same level of inaccuracy as you. Specifically because it adds a higher error margin for the shots of all NPCs in the game.

This mod also makes archery a true challenge – you will need to find cover if you are to survive enemy attacks, as the higher inaccuracy is also accompanied by higher damage (both with your bow and your enemies’ bows).

14. Better Archery Eagle Eye Perk

The Eagle Eye perk is basically the equivalent of sniping in Skyrim, but it makes it quite difficult to use the fact that it drains stamina too quickly.

Also the zoom doesn’t feel quite as good.

Well this mod kills two birds with one arrow and fixes just that – you’ll be able to zoom in much more when using the Eagle Eye perk and your stamina will drain much more slowly as well.

13. Better Archery

Better Archery aims to reduce the unrealistic effects of arrows in the game.

Do you know how arrows seems to float in Skyrim when you fire them? Well install this mod and that will happen no longer.

The speed of all arrows will be increased and the effects that gravity has on each of them isn’t as bad. That means that they have better accuracy thanks to improved trajectories.

Shoot your enemies across higher distances and eliminate all of your foes without batting an eye thanks to this amazing mod.

12. Proper Aiming

Proper Aiming makes your arrows go straight to the center of your crosshair.

If you’ve had enough of arrow inaccuracy then this mod is the one you’ll want to try.

It allows your shots to go exactly where you’re aiming, which surprisingly isn’t the case in the vanilla game. Oh well, thankfully we have modders to fix what Bethesda didn’t.

11. Insane Armory – Archery Bows and Crossbows

This mod is a visual change to the game, but the difference is noticeable and bows and crossbows look much better.

Insane Armory makes bows look much less thick than they do in the game.

I know you don’t think this is a necessary change, but please take a look at the mod page and see how the mod alters the look of bows. They just look much more realistic.

The mod makes it feel like your character is truly holding a comfortable bow and not just some massive weapon that seems too difficult to handle.

10. Whiterun Archery Pro Shop

Whiterun Archery Pro Shop is a new store that just opened in Whiterun, which is owned by Les The Hunter.

As one of the most skillful archers in Skyrim, he’s open to sharing his knowledge of archery if you’re keen to hire an instructor.

The shop sells everything you need to buy as a skilled or newcomer in the world of archery, including weapons and ammunition.

Also as the creator of the mod states, Les is a marriable character.

If you want a hunting companion for the rest of your days or simply someone that has your back with the bow, Les is a good option.

9. Ultra Realistic Bow Shooting Sounds

The creator of this mod took time to record the sounds of actual bows being shot on YouTube and simply made sound files for the game with said recordings.

A fantastic mod indeed, using quite a simple yet super effective concept.

It makes shooting a much more enjoyable experience!

8. Extended Archery Skill Tree

This mod is meant to be used together with other difficulty-enhancing mods, but it basically allows arrows to do much more damage as you progress through levels in Skyrim.

Many issues with archery in the game come from the fact that arrows become less effective against high-level foes, which causes problems to the player more often than not.

7. Spinning Arrows

This mod makes arrows spin when you shoot them, much like they do in real life!

In Skyrim whenever you shoot a bow, the arrow simply moves in a straight direction without any sort of rotation movement whatsoever.

But with this mod you will notice how every arrow moves as you shoot them, enhancing the way it looks by a landslide. Highly recommend this one for any serious archery users.

6. Scoped Bows

Scoped Bows is a mod that adds scopes in the most lore-friendly way possible.

The design of these bows looks very much like any other creation made by the Dunmer, so it does fit quite nicely into Skyrim.

The mod adds a total of 32 bows into the game, which gives you plenty of variety and many more options to complement your archery experience.

If you’ve been playing the game for as long as me, you’ll probably look at this mod with a lot of enthusiasm – and rightly so. Aiming with these weapons is extremely fun!

5. Auto Unequip Ammo

This mod makes ammo get automatically unequipped from your character’s active slots as soon as you unequip the ranged weapon that you’re using.

For that purpose, the mod remembers exactly which type of ammunition you were using with any bow in the game. Which means that it will get automatically equipped back whenever you use that bow again.

It’s a QOL mod more than anything else.

If you’re like me and you hate that ammo stays when your weapon isn’t in your hands, then this mod is exactly what you need.

4. Nock to Tip

Nock to Tip overhauls the archery system by basically making smithing and archery independent from one another.

Gone are the days of you having to craft random crap to improve your smithing skill and gain access to better arrows.

Now with this mod you’ll be able to fletch your own arrows without having to use grindstones of any sorts.

Instead nocks are now attached to most arrows in the game thanks to the complete rework done by the creator of this mod.

That’s right – this mod changes the way every single arrow in the game looks.

It adds a nock to the tip of every arrow plus it gives arrows a more realistic and elongated look. They will also now be able to penetrate further into the skin and organs of your foes, making them deadlier.

3. Closer Quivers and Longer Arrows

This is another mod that shows how short arrows are in vanilla Skyrim.

It makes every single arrow in the game longer, but it also makes the quivers more attached to the body of your character.

Plus it makes n sense for the quiver to be floating in the air, and this is one of the things that has irked Skyrim players the most ever since the release of the game.

2. ABT – Arrow and Bolt Tweaks

This mod makes a lot of subtle changes to the arrow and bolt system of the game, but they all add up to create a much more enjoyable archery experience.

The arrows move better, ammunition is far more useful, progressive damage is introduced to the game, and the overall quality of archery improves by a landslide.

A fantastic mod that compiles many of the best features of other mods on this list. I would recommend trying this one (and the mod that took the first place on this list) before the rest!

1. Archery Gameplay Overhaul

AGO changes the way your character moves when using a bow. Sounds small but it gets into a lot of detail.

It has basically a full rework of a bunch of the game’s animations to make everything look better and smoother.

Bows are also drawn much faster, cutting the time it takes for you to fire in half, and it even adds the ability for you to enchant arrows and improve your strength as a bowman even further.

There’s bleeding, better crosshairs, progressive damage, and even arm fatigue to make archery a much more pleasant and a tad more challenging activity.

Everything about this mod makes archery a lot more fun.

This is the ultimate guide to the best Skyrim VR mods. Find out how to install working virtual reality mods for Skyrim.

Skyrim VR has more than 28,000 mods available in Steam and 60,000 in Nexus. The list of mods can be confusing for VR enthusiasts to choose the best. In this guide, we’ll show you the 12 best Skyrim VR mods you need to install today.

Once you’ve downloaded a few Nexus mods, go and check out our how to install Skyrim VR mods guide. It contains step-by-step instructions and pictures on how to get started.

If you have any other customization for Skyrim that you recommend, comment down at the bottom of this post.

Don’t own the game yet? Check out our VR deals page for sales and discounts on top VR games.

Use the table of contents below to jump down to the best Skyrim VR mods section you want.

RELATED: Check out the best Blade and Sorcery VR mods and Tabletop Simulator games too (link will open in a new window)!

What is Skyrim VR?

Skyrim VR is a virtual reality role-playing game in which players assume the role of Dovakin. Dovakin is a prophesied figure with the power to combat dragons in the fictional world of Skyrim.

As players traverse through mountainous open-world environments, they complete missions and quests that impact the eventual fate of their character.

Players use swords, bows and arrows, axes, and magic attacks to kill various enemies like wolves, dragons, human bandits and soldiers.

It is one of the most ambitious games of all time and has been adopted for virtual reality play. Because of its large fan base, there are thousands of mods to add weapons, change gameplay, and improve textures. They can completely overhaul and improve the game for you.

What are Skyrim VR Mods?

Skyrim VR Mods are user-created add-on modules that replaces or extends existing content in the game. Modders use Skyrim VR mods to autonomously keep Skyrim fresh and interesting over time. In fact, the sheer amount of things you can do in Skyrim VR with mods is astounding.

Categories and styles of Skyrim VR mods that are available to install, include graphics mods, sounds mods, and immersion mods. Others are followers mods, armor and weapon mods, as well as content and gameplay mods.

Most mods simply extend the functionality of the game. However, there are mods that inject into the executable and modify what is there existing. To install these mods, you need the Skyrim Script Extender. Don’t worry though, we will show you how to install that.

All the best mods listed below are for VR players and the VR version of the game.

12 Best Skyrim VR Mods

#1. Skyrim VR Tools

Best Bow Mods In Skyrim

Skyrim VR Tools is on the top of our list because of the possiblities it opens up. At its very core, the Skyrim VR tool is a framework that a bunch of other mods use. With Skyrim VR Tools, modders have access to three powerful APIs:

1. PapyrusVR APl
2. SKSE event-based API
3. Raw OpenVR API

A number of other Skyrim VR mods use VR Tools as a dependency. Don’t worry too much about what it does and just make sure you have it installed today.

#2. Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE)

Another framework that other mods use is Skyrim Script Extender. This mod is used by modders to expand scripting capabilities and also add additional functionality to the game.

Once you successfully install this mod, you won’t require additional steps to launch the game because of the added functionality the mod comes with.

It is a stable and common platform that you can use to build suites of survival mods. SKSE ensures a deep level of integration between these survival mods while still allowing them to stand on their own.

#3. Campfire

The Campfire mod is about creating an immersive and enjoyable camping experience. Through the use of some new survival spells, you begin by gathering materials like deadwood, branches, and stones.

You don’t have to manually hunt around for materials, but you can select the items you want to gather. And then you’re told how much you found.

This mod comes with some camping gear, like tents and tanning racks. Campfire also has backpacks that dynamically represent your camping gear. For instance, if you have a bedroll, cooking pot, and axe, you’ll see these items on your back.

You can use Campfire without SKSE and SkyUI. But as always, those two mods will enhance your experience and allow you to customize your settings.

#4. VR Configuration Tool

The VR Configuration Tool is a Skyrim VR mods you install on your PC. With this mod, you can easily edit or tweak the initial version of Skyrim. To edit the initial version, all you need is to type any letter of the command and you are good to go. You don’t need to know which file or section to put it.

One amazing feature of this mod is that the moment you edit a value, the value saves automatically to the right file. Meaning, there is nothing to manually save.

When you launch Skyrim VR, your modded value will take effect in the game. There are hundreds of different options to adjust in the tool including texture size, light properties, and other graphical adjustments.

#5. True 3D Sound for Headphones

If you play in virtual reality, you need the True 3D Sound for Headphones Skyrim VR mod. This mod leverages Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) technology to provide complete immersion in Tamriel’s environments.

This mod will give you an advantage over regular surround headphones by simulating how real physical sound is perceived by your brain through a HRTF. Something normal surround like 7.1 can’t do is sound that comes from above or below. This Skyrim VR mod makes your audio experience in the game the best it can be.

Coupled with the right headphones and the fourth-wall-shattering abilities of VR, you’ll feel like you’re actually there even more than before.

#6. No Stagger Mod

The No Stagger Mod is a lifesaver that may prevent motion sickness and make the overall experience more consistent and less frustrating. It’s designed specifically for VR players.

Once you successfully install this mod, it smoothens some rough edges that the game developer left when porting it from the traditional experience. The No Stagger Mod comes with a highly intuitive interface for Skyrim VR modifications.

Skyrim VR is a marathon of a game, over 100 hours worth of content. If you plan on finishing it, get No Stagger and reduce motion sickness.

#7. Bandolier – Bags and Pouches Classic

Another great Skyrim VR mod is Bandolier. This mod is very important if you want to manage your inventory without hassle.

Whether you’re playing in VR or not, one of the game’s biggest challenges is managing your inventory. Bandolier adds a whole slew of bags, book holders, pouches, and bandoliers to remedy this problem.

Skyrim Best Bow Locations

Maximize your potential carry weight and never make the agonizingly slow walk back to the nearest town ever again.

#8. 2020 Parallax – Improved graphics

The Skyrim 2020 Parallax Mod gives the game’s textures the overhaul they need to shine in VR! The texture pack goes over all the environments, layering on the polish and TLC as only a modder can.

Everything from the wilderness to the cities starts to shine after applying this mod. If you have a high-resolution HMD and the rig to run the game at the highest settings, this is a must-have.

With 2020 Parallax, the entire game feels like it was released in 2020.

#9. Onyx – VR Weathers

Weather can greatly impact the immersion and illusion of reality in a cinematic experience. And that’s exactly what makes the Onyx Skyrim VR mod an absolute masterpiece. It creates an environment different from anything you’ve ever seen, even if you’ve played this game a thousand times.

This mod revamps the graphics of almost all circumstances of the world through the following features:

• More than 500 new weather systems for rain, snow, or whatever else you may encounter in your journey
• Completely revamped and adjustable color system that changes how you see the world around you
• Enhanced God Rays and lens flare

#10. Enhanced Lights and FX

Enhanced Lights and FX is an interior and exterior lighting Skyrim VR mod. It aims to add lighting to all light sources and remove any excessive lighting. The mod offers two options while installing – interior and exterior, so you can choose where you want the effects to be added.

Everything from candles to water are adjusted with the Enhanced Lights mod. Each inn in the game has its own set of lights based on its local weather.

This mod provides better aesthetics with also almost no issue with performance. Some other mods, such as RealVision ENB, require Enhanced Lights and FX to be installed.

#11. Spellsiphon Immersive Combat

Spellsiphon Immersive Combat takes your attacks and spells to the next level. This mod adds combos, systems for changing weapons and spells without menus or hotkeys, and much more. Certain weapons now work in conjunction with your spells in natural and lore-friendly ways.

Magic mods normally add tons of spells, where each one has a single specific purpose. This mod takes a different approach. Spellsiphon has a smaller set of valves with a variety of mechanics while minimizing the amount of buttons you need to remember.

It’s a fantastic magic add on, very intuitive and cool, can also be used in conjunction with archery and melee play styles.

#12. MageVR

MageVR is a gesture extension for virtual reality players. This is a combination mod and application with one goal: keep you from having to pause the game and go through menus whenever possible.

It uses an overlay to let you draw glyphs to cast and equip spells. It also has a very immersive hand-pose magic feature and (invisible) holsters.

The best thing about this mod is the new backpack inventory and immersive looting feature. This feature lets you loot via drag and drop and without pausing the game.

However, you must run the game via SteamVR and require SKSE and SkyUI VR.

Which of these Skyrim VR mods is your favorite? Let us know in the comment box below.