The Best Valheim Server Mods (and How to Install Them)

Vanilla Valheim is great, but mods take a dedicated server to another level — smoother inventory management, bigger builds, tweakable difficulty and more. Here are well-established mods worth running and how to install them without breaking your server.

First: how Valheim modding works

Valheim mods run on BepInEx, a plugin framework, with mods distributed through Thunderstore. The critical rule: server and every client must run the same mods at the same versions. A mismatch causes connection failures. Keep a written list of your exact mod set and versions so players can match it.

Installing BepInEx on the server

1. Download BepInExPack Valheim from Thunderstore.
2. Extract it into your server's install folder (where valheim_server.x86_64 lives).
3. Add mods by dropping their DLLs into BepInEx/plugins/.
4. Restart the server; BepInEx loads the plugins at boot.

A mod manager like r2modman makes this far easier — it handles dependencies and lets you export your exact profile for players to import.

Quality-of-life mods

These make everyday play smoother without changing the game's balance much:

• Valheim Plus / a modern config mod — a huge configurable tweak pack: adjust stamina, carry weight, build limits and dozens of other values server-wide.
• Equipment and Quick Slots — adds hotbar slots for tools and equipment.
• PlantEverything — lets you plant and farm more of the world's flora.
• AAA Auto Repair — auto-repairs gear at crafting stations so you stop clicking the hammer.

Building and storage mods

For creative players, these expand what you can build:

• Build camera / advanced building mods — free-place pieces, finer rotation and snapping for ambitious builds.
• More storage / larger stacks — increases stack sizes and chest capacity to cut down on inventory tetris.

Balance these against difficulty — bigger stacks and free building make the game easier, so agree with your group on how far to go.

Server-wide config mods

The most valuable server mods are the ones that let you tune the whole experience from a config file: portal rules (allow ores through portals), raid frequency, resource drop rates and enemy difficulty. Set these once on the server and everyone gets the same tuned world.

Keeping clients in sync

This is where most modded Valheim servers stumble. The clean workflow:

1. Build your mod profile in r2modman locally.
2. Test it works, then export the profile as a code or file.
3. Copy the same mods to the server's BepInEx/plugins.
4. Share the exported profile with players so they import an identical set.

When a mod updates, update it everywhere at once — server and all clients — or players will be locked out until they match.

Handling updates

Valheim game updates can break BepInEx and mods until they're updated. After a patch, either wait for mods to update before relaunching, or keep the server on a version that matches your mods until the ecosystem catches up. Back up your world before any update.

Backups are non-negotiable with mods

Mods occasionally corrupt saves, especially after updates. Back up your world's .db and .fwl files before installing or updating any mod:

cp ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/Midgard.* ~/backups/

Start light and add gradually

The temptation with a fresh modded server is to install everything at once. Resist it. Start with a small, stable core — a config mod and a couple of quality-of-life additions — get everyone synced, then add mods one or two at a time. When something breaks, you'll know exactly which mod caused it instead of untangling twenty at once. A lean, well-chosen mod list also stays compatible through game updates far more easily than a sprawling one.

Where hosting helps

Modded Valheim adds CPU and memory overhead on top of the base game's single-threaded simulation, so fast cores and headroom matter. Nxeon's NVMe VPS gives you full root to install BepInEx, drop in plugin DLLs over SFTP and script backups — no locked-down panel to fight. Set your mod list, sync your players, and your Viking world gets a serious upgrade.