Despite the inherent variety of equipment built into the game, sometimes you just want more. Maybe you just want to look really freaking cool with some heavy armor, but you can’t find what you need in vanilla… I feel your pain friends! So for this list I’ve compiled what I consider to be the best user-made heavy armor mods that you can download for Skyrim. All the mods listed are Unisex and applicable to any base character model, as well as compatible with Skyrim Special Edition, though many of these mods have different versions for the original version of Skyrim as well.
10. ESO Nord Heavy Armor Variant
Check Out This Mod I’m sure all of us have at one point stepped out of Whiterun and thought, “I kind of wish I was even more of a viking, but you know, a little rustic.” This mod is essentially a port of the Heavy Nord Armor from The Elder Scrolls Online. And it’s fantastic. This set comes with a dynamic red cape that fluidly moves in the wind, plus thickly plated and intricately carved armor, layered throughout with sheets of wrapped leather. Steel scale mail peers out from beneath the bottom of the fur-lined cuirass, just ready for battle. And from a lore standpoint, this design reflects what ancient Nords would wear while battling their shield-brothers and sisters during the 2nd era.
9. Resplendent Armor & Great Sword SE
Check Out This Mod Those familiar with the Dark Souls series will immediately recognize the inspired look of this darkly elegant armor (it’s inspired by the Faraam Knight!) Colorful cloth flows fluidly around engraved smooth steel plates, while dynamically rippling in the wind, creating some truly haunting scenes. Heck, it even comes with a nifty great sword to bonk things with. Give it a try and add a little bit of a “Dark Souls” flavor to your Skyrim adventures. And I mean come on, who doesn’t like capes?
8. Stormlord Armor
Check Out This Mod This is armor fitting even the mightiest warriors of Sovngarde. It features a long sky blue cloak that runs beneath carved, ancient Nordic steel right to your knees. Donning this armor gives the resemblance of an ancient Nordic warlord, ready for battle. You can even catch Ulfric Stormcloak wearing it himself after installing.
7. Gifts of Akatosh
Check Out This Mod Lore-friendly mods can be a whole lot of fun. They fit snugly into the universe’s overall mythos, while typically adding interesting bits of information to the world. The Gifts of Akatosh is more than just a visual mod you download and install; You actually have to find a new type of crafting material and create the armor in order to obtain it, which is a quest in itself. It’s not too much work, I promise, and it’s absolutely worth it. Thickly engraved Nordic-steel covers the wearer from head to toe, bearing ancient inscriptions written in dragon-tongue. Wear this armor to look – and feel – like a true Dovahkiin.
6. Morrowind Armor Compilation
Check Out This Mod Any veteran player of Morrowind will remember the intricately carved, albeit alien appearance of the various sets of armor found throughout the series. Well this mod brings all that glory into Skyrim. Featuring armor composed of new, exotic materials such as Trollbone, Gilded Ebony, and even Vvardenfell Glass, this lore-friendly mod further expands your experience while adding in some truly brilliant heavy armor sets. It even throws in a few new weapons to boot!
5. Dark Brotherhood Heavy Armor
Check Out This Mod “What is the music of Life?” “Silence, my brother” At least it was, until you put on this badass suit of Dark Brotherhood heavy armor and began stomping all over Tamriel! Ever start the Dark Brotherhood storyline, only to be shocked by the exclusion of heavy armor from your new faction’s armory, despite seemingly having several warriors amongst its ranks? Madness. Composed of a sleek black metal with the sign of the Black Hand emblazoned on the breast plate, you can strike fear in the hearts of your enemies by letting them know who sent you.
4. Medusa and Drakul Armors
Check Out This Mod Based on beings from Grecian mythology, the Medusa and Drakul armor sets are some of the coolest and most detailed pieces I’ve ever seen. Mask yourself with the smooth black steel, emerald socketed monstrous form of Medusa. Or don the intricately carved (and equally imposing) golden, crimson armor of the Drakul. No matter what set you choose, you’ll look like something that haunts (or causes) nightmares.
3. Dragonbone Ebonsteel Armor
Check Out This Mod Dragonbone Ebonsteel is the lovechild of Dragonbone and Ebony armor, and it’s freaking awesome. This takes the best aspects of both designs and combining them into one brutal looking set of dragon-slaying armor. It even comes with the option to toggle the added black fur and/or included visual accessories on and off! After using this set of armor, I can’t ever look at the standard set of Dragonbone armor the same way.
2. Resplendent Lich King Armor
Check Out This Mod Some may recognize the tragically evil Lich King from the World of Warcraft universe. Adorned in intricate, heavy black metal skull carvings and wreathed in freezing cold mist, this terrifying figure is the icy lord of the dead, attempting to destroy the lands with highly virulent cthonic plagues. Well this armor mod captures that same energy. And it also comes with the Lich King’s legendary blade Frostmourne, a two-handed sword.
1. Immersive Armors
Check Out This Mod Another lore-friendly mod you can install and enjoy without fear of breaking immersion. Immersive Armors adds inspired sets of armor from all over Nirn and Oblivion – from the thick, obsidian and crimson suit of the Daedric Lord, to the polished winged plates of the Imperial Knight. Tis mod has something for everybody! I can’t overstate how many awesome sets of armor this mod adds. Do yourself a favor and download it now.
