Best Valheim Server Mods in 2026: What Actually Works (and What Doesn't)

Valheim’s modding scene runs through BepInEx, a mod loader that hooks into the Unity engine. There’s no official mod API, and Iron Gate allows mods without officially supporting them, so compatibility after a game update is up to each mod’s author.

This guide is focused on server-side mods: the ones that affect multiplayer, not client-only texture packs or UI tweaks that only the installing player sees. If you’re running a server for friends or a community, these are the mods worth knowing about.

Before You Start: The BepInEx Requirement

Every Valheim mod runs through BepInEx. It’s the mod loader, and without it nothing else works. Think of it as Forge for Minecraft, but for Unity games.

If BepInEx isn’t on your server yet, open a ticket and we’ll install it. The install resets your Server Options to their defaults, so note your settings first. Our mods help guide has the full checklist.

Once BepInEx is running, adding mods is straightforward: download the .dll file from Thunderstore, Nexus, or Hexium, upload it to /BepInEx/plugins/, and restart the server.

Some well-known authors, including Azumatt and Smoothbrain, moved to Hexium around the 1.0 launch, and their Thunderstore pages are now marked deprecated. Get current builds of their mods from Hexium.

The Crossplay/Mods Tradeoff

This is the single most important thing to understand before modding a Valheim server:

Crossplay and BepInEx mods are mutually exclusive.

Turning crossplay on doesn’t remove BepInEx from the server, but mods can’t be used on a crossplay server. Crossplay is on by default on WinterNode Valheim servers, so turn off [REQUIRED] Enable Crossplay in Server Options before you add mods.

• All Steam group? Disable crossplay, use mods freely.
• Xbox, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, or Game Pass players? Keep crossplay on, no mods.
• Mixed group that wants mods? The console and Game Pass players will need to sit this one out, or everyone plays vanilla.

Console players can’t install mods on their own game, so don’t expect this to change.

What About Valheim Plus?

Valheim Plus was the go-to all-in-one mod for years. It bundles dozens of tweaks (inventory management, build camera, shared map, stamina adjustments) into a single configurable package.

The original project’s last release was in December 2022, and it does not run on 1.0. A maintained fork by Grantapher carries it on. It added Valheim 1.0 support on September 10, 2026, and its current release, 0.10.3.0 (October 16, 2026), is built for Valheim 1.0.20. That fork is the build WinterNode installs when you ask for Valheim Plus. Each release supports one exact Valheim version, so after a Valheim patch it can misbehave until a matching release is out.

If you only want a handful of Valheim Plus features, standalone BepInEx plugins cover most of them and let you pick exactly what you run. Either route works on 1.0.

Recommended Mods by Server Type

Chill Co-op (QoL Focus)

For groups that want vanilla Valheim with the rough edges smoothed out. These mods improve quality of life without changing the core experience.

Mod	What it does	Server/Client
AzuCraftyBoxes (Hexium)	Craft using materials from nearby chests	Both (server syncs config)
EquipmentAndQuickSlots	Extra equipment and hotbar slots	Client (server optional, syncs settings)
PlantEverything	Plant any gatherable resource	Both
ServerCharacters (Hexium)	Store characters on the server (prevents cheating)	Both

RAM impact: Minimal. These mods add almost no server overhead. 8GB is fine.

Building-Focused

For groups that spend more time building than fighting. These mods make construction less tedious and more creative.

Mod	What it does	Server/Client
Gizmo	Precision rotation and snapping for building	Client only
PlanBuild	Blueprints: design, save, and share builds	Both

PlanBuild also reads .vbuild files from the older BuildShare mod, so blueprints made with it still work.

RAM impact: Low. Large blueprints place a lot of pieces at once, but the mods themselves add little overhead. 8GB handles these well.

Hardcore/Combat

For groups that want Valheim to fight back harder. These mods add challenge, variety, and loot progression.

Mod	What it does	Server/Client
CreatureLevelAndLootControl (Hexium)	Star-level enemies with better drops	Both
EpicLoot	Magic items, enchanting, loot system	Both
Spawn That	Customize creature spawns by biome, time, and conditions	Both (server syncs config)
MonsterLabZ (MonsterLabZFix upload)	New enemy types and bosses	Both
Warfare	New weapons and combat mechanics	Both

RAM impact: Medium to high. Mods that add creatures and items increase entity count significantly. Start at 10GB, go to 12GB if stacking multiple.

Server-Side vs. Client-Side: How to Tell

Valheim mods fall into three categories:

• Server-side only: Install on the server, works for everyone. Players don’t need to do anything.
• Client-side only: Players install locally. Doesn’t affect the server at all (UI mods, graphics tweaks).
• Both required: Must be on the server AND installed by each connecting player.

Most gameplay mods fall into the “both” category. Check each mod’s page: the description or README usually says where it needs to be installed, and Thunderstore tags many mods as Server-side or Client-side. If a mod says “server-side” but players aren’t seeing its effects, they probably need it installed locally too.

For players, the easiest setup is a mod manager: r2modman or the Thunderstore Mod Manager (installed through Overwolf). Build a profile matching your server’s mod list, export it as a code, and have players import that code. If your list includes Hexium mods, use Gale, which can install Thunderstore and Hexium mods in one profile.

Which Mods Are Heavy? A Performance Guide

Not all mods are equal when it comes to server performance. Here’s what to watch for:

Lightweight (install freely):

• UI changes and keybinds
• Crafting convenience (AzuCraftyBoxes, etc.)
• Map and navigation mods
• Chat and communication mods

Medium (mind your RAM):

• Building mods with new pieces (each piece type is tracked)
• Mods that add items to the loot table
• Terrain modification mods

Heavy (budget extra resources):

• Creature mods (more enemies = more entities)
• Worldgen mods (fundamentally change how chunks generate)
• Automation mods (conveyor systems, auto-smelters)
• Total conversion modpacks

If you’re stacking mods from the “heavy” category, budget 10-12GB minimum. Our RAM guide has detailed breakdowns.

Installing Mods on Your Server

The short version:

1. Get BepInEx on your server (open a ticket if it isn’t installed yet) and turn crossplay off
2. Download mods from Thunderstore, Nexus, or Hexium
3. Upload .dll files to /BepInEx/plugins/ on your server
4. Restart the server
5. Have players install matching client-side mods if required

On WinterNode, you upload mods through the File Manager or SFTP. If a mod needs a config file, it generates one in /BepInEx/config/ on first server start, and you can then edit it through the File Manager.

Getting Started

If you’re setting up a modded Valheim server, start with a small mod list from the “Chill Co-op” category and add from there. It’s much easier to debug issues with a small mod list than to install 30 mods at once and figure out which one is causing crashes.

WinterNode game servers start at $1.99/GB with no extra charges for CPU, storage, or mod support. Get your Valheim server → Your first eligible game server has a 48-hour refund window. Our Valheim help center has step-by-step guides for BepInEx, Valheim Plus, and general server management.