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The Best Valheim Mods 2026 for Your Server
The best Valheim mods 2026 from Thunderstore: EpicLoot, PlantEverything & co. — with author, downloads, the BepInEx base and a crucial crossplay warning.
Last updated July 20, 2026 · RespawnHost
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Which Valheim mods are worth it in 2026?
The short answer: EpicLoot for loot progression, PlantEverything for farmers, Warfare for new weapons and CreatureLevelAndLootControl for scaling enemies — all of them run on the BepInEx mod loader, which is mandatory on both server and clients. Here’s the Thunderstore best-of list with author and download numbers, plus the two things you need to know before installing: the Valheim Plus situation and the crossplay trap.
What is BepInEx and why do I need it?
BepInExPack Valheim (by denikson, 6.3M downloads) isn’t a gameplay mod but the mod loader — the base practically every Valheim mod builds on. It belongs on the server and on every client. Without BepInEx, none of the mods on this list will load. On top of that there’s Jotunn (ValheimModding, 3.9M downloads): a library many mods require as a dependency — just install it whenever a mod asks for it.
The step-by-step server installation is covered in Installing Valheim mods.
Warning: crossplay and BepInEx are mutually exclusive
Valheim's crossplay runs via PlayFab — and that is incompatible with BepInEx. A modded server has to run with crossplay=false; console and crossplay players then can't join. So you have to choose: mods or crossplay. Details in the crossplay guide.
The best Valheim mods 2026 (Thunderstore)
All figures: author and downloads on Thunderstore. All mods require BepInEx.
| Mod | Author | Downloads | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| BepInExPack Valheim | denikson | 6.3M | Mod loader — mandatory base (server + client) |
| Jotunn | ValheimModding | 3.9M | Library, dependency of many mods |
| PlantEverything | Advize | 2.3M | Plant everything: berries, mushrooms, trees and more |
| EpicLoot | RandyKnapp | 1.8M | Magic items & loot progression (server + all clients) |
| AzuCraftyBoxes | Azumatt | 1.4M | Craft straight from nearby chests |
| AzuExtendedPlayerInventory | Azumatt | 1.3M | Bigger inventory with equipment slots |
| Warfare | Therzie | 1.3M | New weapons & combat content (companion: Monstrum, 892K) |
| CreatureLevelAndLootControl | Smoothbrain | 1M | Fine-tune enemy levels, stars and loot |
| Server devcommands | JereKuusela | 994K | Admin/dev commands — server-side only |
| OdinArchitect | OdinPlus | 842K | New build pieces & decoration |
| Quick Stack Store Sort Trash Restock | Goldenrevolver | 791K | Inventory comfort: quick stacking, sorting, trash |
Which mods go on the server AND the client?
Rule of thumb: the BepInEx loader belongs on both sides. For gameplay mods like EpicLoot it’s explicit: server + all clients must have the mod installed (in the same version), otherwise you get errors or invisible items. The exception on this list is Server devcommands by JereKuusela — it’s purely server-side, your players don’t need to install anything. Each mod’s Thunderstore page states where it belongs — when in doubt: install it everywhere.
What about Valheim Plus?
The original Valheim Plus has been abandoned since December 2022 and is no longer maintained. Today’s de-facto standard is the fork “ValheimPlus_Grantapher_Temporary” by Grantapher, who took over development. So whenever you read “install V+” somewhere: in 2026 that practically always means the Grantapher fork, not the original.
Tip
Start small: BepInEx + two or three comfort mods (PlantEverything, Quick Stack), then test the server. Only add big gameplay mods like EpicLoot or Warfare afterwards — that way you spot conflicts immediately instead of digging through a 15-mod stack.
Frequently asked questions
Do my friends need the mods too? BepInEx: yes, always. Gameplay mods like EpicLoot: yes, server and all clients on the same version. Only purely server-side mods like Server devcommands work without a client install.
Can I combine mods and crossplay?
No. BepInEx and PlayFab crossplay are mutually exclusive — a modded server needs crossplay=false. If you want to play with Xbox players, you have to skip mods.
Is Valheim Plus dead? The original, yes (abandoned since December 2022). The community uses the fork “ValheimPlus_Grantapher_Temporary” by Grantapher as its successor.
Where do I download the mods? On Thunderstore — every mod on this list is there, including dependencies. Installation via file manager or SFTP is explained in the mod installation guide.
Related guides
- Rent a Valheim server — online in under 90 seconds
- Installing Valheim mods — BepInEx & co. step by step
- Setting up crossplay — or deliberately disabling it
- RAM recommendations — enough memory for modded servers
Your own Valheim server?
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