Fallout 4 Mod Recommendations

This is a WIP list. Last update: July 6 2017

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UTILITIES
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The recommended mod manager is Nexus Mod Manager. Other managers do not work well with Fallout 4.

Nexus Mod Manager: Works well enough.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/modmanager/?

Mod Organizer 2: The original MO has been abandoned, and the fork does not play well with Fallout 4. Most people modding Fallout 4 use NMM. If you still want to use MO, some people have reported success by following this guide. Do it at your own risk.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/22732/?

F4SE: Not as necessary as it is for other games, but still good to have.
http://f4se.silverlock.org/

FO4 Hotkeys: Hotkey any piece of equipment / consumable to any key. Fallout 4 doesn't have a MCM, so most mods use holotapes for menus and consumables (that you're supposed to favorite) as hotkeys. Instead of doing that, use this mod and bind a function to a real key.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/11664/?

LOOT: This tool tells you about potential dirty edits and how to optimze your load order. Do not use the automatic sorting if you have too many mods though, it is prone to failure.
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/1918/?

Fallout 4 Configuration Tool: Allows you to easily tweak the .ini files.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/102/?

Fo4Edit: Useful for cleaning mods or tweaking values.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/2737/?

Merge Plugins: Allows you to merge esps. Only useful if you hit the 255 plugin limit. Watch the entire tutorial. Note: Don't merge plugins if the mod uses .BA2s instead of loose files.
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/69905/?

Load Accelerator: Disables VSYNC during loading screens to reduce load times. Only effective on SSDs.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/10283/?

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BUG FIXES
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Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch: Essential bug fixes, must have for everyone.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/4598/?

Lever Action Reload Fix: Fixes a bug where you would always load 5 bullets no matter how many times you had shot.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/22896/

Gatling Laser and Fusion Core Ammo Fix: Fixes an annoying behaviour of the Gatling laser.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/24225/?

Crimsomrider's Scrounger Perk With DLC Ammo: Adds Lever-Action Rifle and Handmade Rifle ammo to the Scrounger Perk so that you can find this ammo in the Commonwealth.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/22143/?

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USER INTERFACE
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DEF_UI: Aside from some useful UI tweaks, it allows you to sort your Pip-Boy items by category and adds icons to them. Requires a sorting mod. Install DEF_INV.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/10654/?

Valdacil's Item Sorting: The sorting mod with most compatibility out there. A must have if you want to actually find something on your Pip-Boy.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/3877/?

HUDFramework: Allows other mods to add new UI elements.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/20309/?

Companion Status HUD: Shows your companion's HP and AP on your HUD.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/20310/?

Full Dialogue Interface: Shows exactly what your character is going to say instead of a one word preview. A must have.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/1235/?

Rename Anything: Very useful mod for those that use sorting mods and want to recategorize something.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/22105/?

QuickTrade: Allows you to hit R on NPCs and open their trade/inventory window. Very useful in general, but also makes Automatron vendors work.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/16229/?

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WEATHER - PICK ONLY ONE
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Comparison between various weather mods:
http://imgur.com/gallery/NG0qj

Natural and Atmospheric Commonwealth: A true weather and lightning overhaul. Beware: some of the new radstorms and lightning effects are very over the top.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/7657/?

True Storms: Mostly a sound overhaul with some features like GhoulSwarm and weather control.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/4472/?

Vivid Weathers: More of a cloud overhaul than a "complete weather and climate overhaul".
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/15466/?

Gloomy Weather:Replaces the default weathers with several new weather types that are predominantly grey or cloudy, with no sun or sunlight.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/19811/?

Nuclear Weather: Simply adds 8 new over the top weather types.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/9063/?

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SURVIVAL
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Horizon: A total overhaul of Fallout 4 that rebalances and expands the gameplay from the ground up. This is currently the most complete overhaul of Fallout 4, and it is recommended that you play it on survival mode.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/17374/?

Survival Options: Allows you to customize pretty much every aspect of the Survival experience.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/14650/?

Survival Unlocker: Unlocks saving and quicksaving in Survival mode.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/23197/?

Lore friendly survival chems: Simply makes the Survival Chems look better.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/15275/?

Colorful survival icons: A simple UI tweak that goes a long way.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/12809/?

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COMBAT
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VAFS - VaultTec Accelerated Focus System - Manual Criticals AND Bullet Time: Does what it says. Basically it's a slow time alternative to VATS that's fully compatible with all VATS perks. Definetely download this if you're tired of VATS or just want a new combat experience.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/15875/?

Arbitration: A combat AI overhaul that tweaks several aspects of the AI to make it more challenging.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/2037/?

Search and Destroy: This mod increases the length of time enemies will hunt for you, and increases the range over which they will detect and follow you. Fair warning: this actually increases the difficulty of the game quite a bit.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/5852/?

Take Cover: Take cover behind objects and automatically lean out to shoot when you aim down sights.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/10875/?

Live Dismemberment: Sometimes enemies will get dismembered when you cripple a limb. Chance is configurable.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/16400/?

Weapon Disarm: Shoot hands to disarm enemies. There is a Live Dismemberment patch.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/18979/?

Below the Belt: Allows you to target the groin in VATS. Use the "only Groin" version if you want Live Dismemberment compatibility.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/12936/?

Critical Hits Outside of VATS: Self explanatory.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/12653/?

CROSS Crit Gore Overhaul: Adds new animations and ragdolls to deaths by energy weapons.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/23780/?

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WEAPONS
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Collection of Nexus Weapon Links: If you want to download a lot of new weapons, check these links out. Below are some mods NOT included in those pastebins.
https://pastebin.com/cmGEBGdc
http://pastebin.com/Gv5vnQi0

Broadsider Improved: Adds more mods to the Broadsider, aiming to turn it into a late-game weapon like a Fat Man or Missile Launcher.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/24708/?

Laser Musket Overhaul: Adds new mods from the Laser Gun to the Musket, to make it more viable at higher levels.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/4711?

Useful Crank - Laser Musket doesn't require ammo: You turn the hand crank to charge the musket, no ammo required. Has a patch for the Overhaul.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/24349/?

The P-113 - A highly moddable heavy Plasma Caster: A Plasma Caster.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/24324/?

Alien Assault Rifle: An Alien Assault Rifle.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/12347/?

RedRocketLauncher: A Red Rocket themed Missile Launcher that launches toy rockets.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/16262/?

ArmLaserGun: A Mega Man style arm-mounted laser gun.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/21312/?

10mm Revolver Colt 6520: The classic 10mm pistol from Fallout 1 and 2.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/16129/?

M2045 Magnum Revolver Rifle: A very interesting weapon based on a concept for Fallout Online.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/17170/?

Better Automatron Weapons: Makes the weapons added by the Automatron DLC actually worth their weight.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/11238/?

YonaTaku's DefenseGun replacer for pipe-guns: Replaces the ugly pipe guns with the better looking DefenseGun by YonaTaku. Obviously requires the original DefenseGun mod.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/20725/?

AmmoTweaks: This mod brings back different ammo types, weapon condition, throwing weapons and other tweaks for weapons that were present in past games but aren't in Fallout 4. A significant downside is that weapon condition/ammo switching does not work with mod-added weapons.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/4036/?

Extended weapon mods: Adds new mods to several weapons.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/8276/?

Laser Weapons 1st Person Reposition: Reduces the size laser weapons occupy on screen.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/23102/?

Love to Craft - Legendary: Allows you to craft legendary effects as modifications. There are a few of these mods but this is the most recently updated.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/13605/?

Visual Reload: Ejected magazines are left on the ground when you reload.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/15118/?

Shell Rain: Spent casings are left on the ground when you shoot.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/870/?

Gun Smoke: Adds a smoke effect to firing weapons.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/20872/?

Long Range Bullet Holes: Bullet impact effects and decals appear at long ranges.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/1075/?

Lowered Weapons: In first person, your character will have their guns downed when not firing (this already happens in third person).
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/522/?
Lowered Weapons DLC Addon:
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/13842/?
Button Lowered Weapons:
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/6364/?

Unique Uniques: Replaces all "unique" weapons (those weapons that are just renamed versions of normal weapons) in game with unique appearances and effects.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/15139/?

More Uniques: Roughly doubles the number of unique weapons (with unique appaearance) in the game.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/18357/?

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MISC MODS
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Improved Map with Visible Roads: This mod simply makes the roads brighter on the default map.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/1215/?

PipBoyShadows: Makes the PipBoy light cast shadows.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/281/?

Eliminate Stupid Lines - Immersive Generic Dialogues: Similar to Guard Dialogue Overhaul in Skyrim, this mod improves the immersion of generic dialogues.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/14108/?

Safe and Trunk Contents REWORKED: Overhauls the leveled lists for Safes and Trunks.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/13286/?

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POWER ARMOR
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Movable Power Armor: Allows you to move Power Armor frames as if they're woskshop furniture.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/5393/?

Power Armor Delivery: Allows you to craft beacons that teleport your Power Armor to you.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/7809/?

PAMS - Power Armor Movement Sounds: Overhauls the Power Armor movement sounds.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/1544/?

Power Armor Animation Changes: Changes the Power Armors empty stand idle to a "Heroic" idle, allows you to enter and exit Power Amor faster.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/4408/?

Restore Power Armor Frames: Allows you to restore power armor frames from dead bodies, separating the frame from the body.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/20890/?

Car Sounds for Power Armor: Self explanatory.
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/2920/?

Craftable Armor Size
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/4550/?

Concealed Armor <- do NOT override ArmorKeywords.esp
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/6434/?
Automatron Patch
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/12003/?

Visible Companion Affinity
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/10660/?

Where Are You Now - Companion Tracking
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/7903/?

Worthwhile Cap Stashes
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/23464/?

Unbogus Lunchboxes (Stingy version)
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/24681/?

X-01 invisible flashlight remove
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/13794/?

Journal of the Sole Survivor
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/13462/?

Locky Bastard
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/13380/?

Remote Hacking
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/18358/?

Better Wait Menu
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/9437/?

Faster Terminal Displays
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/937/?

Loot Detector - Scrapper Corpse Highlighting
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/4380/?
DLCRobots Fix
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/11516/?

Salvage Beacons
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/18757/?

BS Defence
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/20137/?

Uncapped Settlement Surplus
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/12430/?

Capsafe
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/23425/?

Shaikujin's Better warning for settlements being attacked
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/4106/?

Place Everywhere
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/9424/?

Scrap Everything
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/5320/?

Settler Sandbox Expansion
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/20442/?

Quieter Settlements
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/2819/?

Where Are My Provisioners
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/7835/?

Sim Settlements (also look at its addons)
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/21872/?

Craftable Castle Wall Patches REDUX
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/18927/?

Ground
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/17691/?

Placeable Grass and Dirt
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/8855/?

Build Your Own Pool
http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/13316/?