Part 1: The basics

The Morrowind Graphics Guide (MGG for short) is all about improving the game's visuals while still maintainting the vanilla game's aesthetics. In this first part you will find a list of mods that enhance the graphics with the least amount of effort. There are also necessary engine refinements and bug fixes included. Using a mod manager, such as Mod Organizer, is recommended for speeding up the process. Mods are listed in the best order of installation, mods overwriting each other is by design. Should you have any questions, then you're welcome to join the discord channel found here!

Some common questions:

Question: Why isn't there detailed instructions for all the mods?

Answer: While some of the mods require some extra step, most mods are installed the default way, which is covered by all mod managers.

If a mod have optionals and they're not mentioned here, then you are free to choose yourself.

Question: Where can I learn more about installing mods?

Answer: Youtuber Gopher has an excellent video series about modding with MO which is a good place to start.

Question: Why isn't mod X included in the guide?

Answer: MGG strives to be vanilla-friendly, and that means a replacer straying too far from the original might not make it into the guide.

In other cases more testing or even tweaks needs to be done before a mod can be added. There's also a wide array of mods that have been made

redundant by MET. Better clothes is an example of this.

Question: Is MGG compatible with Rebirth or Tamriel rebuilt? Answer: You can play with TR without any compatibility issues, Rebirth will require removing Patch for purists and .esps from this guide.

Question: OpenMW?

Answer: There's no major issues using OpenMW instead of the engine upgrades listed here.

You have to pick the non-bump mapped versions of mods and use a OpenMW-compatible grass mod.

MO will require an extra plugin to use it though.

Question: How does this look different from vanilla?

Answer: You can check out these comparison shots:

Ascadian Isles

Seyda Neen

Inside the lighthouse

Ald Ruhn

Azura's coast

Khuul

Clutter

Engine upgrades

As these modify the Morrowind engine, it's advised that you install these without a mod manager according to each mods' instructions.

[MGE XE] MGE XE

Description: Graphics and engine extender for Morrowind.





[Morrowind Code Patch] Morrowind Code Patch

Description: Patches bugs in the Morrowind engine, which cannot otherwise be fixed by editing scripts or data files.





Mesh and texture replacements

Mesh and texture replacers are usually quite safe and easy to install. The only thing to be careful with is the packing of the mod. Sometimes there's an extra layer or two of folders. That means that you can't auto-install them, you have to use the "set data folder" feature of mod organizer to get many of these mods installed right. Mods that can't be downloaded via Mod Organizer should still be installed with it by dragging the archive to the "downloads" tab. Luckily this doesn't take much time. You can see how it's done here.





[Morrowind Optimization Patch] [Morrowind Optimization Patch

Description: Greatly improves performance and fixes some mesh errors.









[Patch for Purists] [Patch for Purists

Description: Patch for Purists strives to be an all-in-one patcher for everything in Morrowind that is considerd a bug.









[Animation compilation] [Animation compilation

Description: Combines the Almalexia casting animations with Dirnae's running animations and fixes the errors.









[Morrowind Enhanced Overhaul] [Morrowind Enhanced Overhaul

Description: Contain most of the basic replacers and settings needed









[Remiros' Ascadian Isles Trees 2] [Remiros' Ascadian Isles Trees 2

Description: This mod replaces all of the trees in the Ascadian Isles region with much more detailed, relatively vanilla-friendly ones.









[Vanilla-friendly West Gash Tree Replacer] [Vanilla-friendly West Gash Tree Replacer

Description: Both a model and texture replacer for the West Gash trees.









[Westly's Pluginless Head and Hair Replacer] Westly's Pluginless Head and Hair Replacer

Description: Replaces the meshes for the original head and hair meshes for the NPCs of Morrowind, Tribunal and Bloodmoon









[Robert's bodies] Robert's bodies

Description: This plugin replaces meshes of the bodies of the eight humanoid races and khajiits. You only need the main file.





Part 2: Further enhancements

It's strongly suggested you play a bit with part one before starting on this part, as that can be enough of an improvement for many players.

Immersion





[Mines and Caverns] Mines and Caverns

Description: This mod improves several vanilla dungeons aesthetically and/or expands them.









[The Publicans] The Publicans

Description: Fixes several places in the vanilla game that are set up like inns, but in which Bethesda for some reason has forgotten to add the option to rent a room to.









[Half11's misc mods] Half11's misc mods

Description: Various fixes and improvements. Every mod here is recommended









[Subtle Magic Glow] Subtle Magic Glow

Description: Replaces the 'plastic wrap' around in-game magic items (those equipped by characters or on the ground) with less-obtrusive versions.









[Yet Another Guard Diversity] Yet Another Guard Diversity

Description: This mod replaces the generic, copy-pasted guards of Morrowind with different variations.









[Caldera Mine Expanded] Caldera Mine Expanded

Description: This mod expands Caldera Mine in every way possible.









[Spear-staff fix] Spear-staff fix

Description: This changes the position where Spears/Staffs are held, they are held closer to the end.









[Diverse Blood] Diverse Blood

Description: 8 new blood textures for NPCs and creatures. 1k quality.

Special Instructions: INI edits are optional









[Distinct Bound Stuff] Distinct Bound Stuff

Description: Conjured matter made transparent









[A strange plant] A strange plant

Description: Nirnroot added to the game









[Idle talk] Idle talk

Description: Adds over 100 new voice entries for male Dunmer, mostly using edited original voice files, split across greetings and idles.









[Seven graces shrines enhanced] Seven graces shrines enhanced

Description: Redesigns the shrines associated with the Seven Graces pilgrimage, making them look more important and like actual pilgrimage sites.









[Djangos dialogue] Djangos dialogue

Description: Hundreds of new lines of text dialogue for all NPCs, which helps to remedy the repetition and dialogue fatigue that came with the original game.









[glow in the Dahrk] glow in the Dahrk

Description: A modern, pluginless replacement of the old Windows Glow mods.





If you want to browse more immersive mods, then MorrowindNostalgia's list is highly recommended.

Architecture





[Aesthesia Hlaalu textures] Aesthesia Hlaalu textures

Description: This texture pack remakes all textures related to Hlaalu with base resolution 2048x2048. It is also atlased.









[Apel's Lighthouse Retexture] Apel's Lighthouse Retexture

Description: Texture and mesh replacer for the exterior and interior of imperial lighthouse in Seyda Neen.









[Imperial Houses and Forts Retexture - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell] [Imperial Houses and Forts Retexture - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell

Description: Full HQ and vanilla style retexture for houses and castles of imperial colonists in Vvardenfell.

Special Instructions: HQ version recommended









[Vanilla-Friendly Retexture without any bump-maps] Vanilla-Friendly Retexture without any bump-maps

Description: Full HQ and vanilla style retexture for houses, but more dirty

Special Instructions: Only the optional file is needed









[Shacks Docks and Ships - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell] Shacks Docks and Ships - Arkitektora of Vvardenfell

Description: ontains new textures for wooden shacks, docks and ships.









[Telvanni Bump Maps] [Telvanni Bump Maps

Description: Replaces the Telvanni exteriors and interiors with high-quality textures and bump maps.









[Velothi Retexture] [Velothi Retexture

Description: Retexture the Velothi architecture with 2k and 1K textures.

Special Instructions: 1K version recommended









[Aesthesia - Stronghold textures] [Aesthesia - Stronghold textures

Description: Vanilla friendly textures for strongholds. 2k resolution, handmade, friendly to game aesthetics.

















[Full Dwemer Retexture] [Full Dwemer Retexture

Description: Full retexture of dwemeri set - architecture, armor and weapon, robots, in a lore-friendly vanilla-like style.









[Ashlander textures] [Ashlander textures

Description: This is simple texture replacer for Ashlanders camps.









[Articus Mournhold 2K Retexture] Articus Mournhold 2K Retexture

Description: This mod adds High Quality (2048) textures for City of Mournhold.









[Articus Old Mournhold and Sewers Retexture 2K] Articus Old Mournhold and Sewers Retexture 2K

Description: This mod adds High Quality (2048) textures for Old Mournhold buildings and Sewers.









[Articus Clockwork City of Sotha Sil 2K] Articus Clockwork City of Sotha Sil 2K

Description: This mod adds High Quality (2048) textures for Clockwork City.









[Lazys Grand Solstheim] Lazys Grand Solstheim

Description: Raven Rock and Skaal texture in High quality (2048).









[Raven Rock HD] Raven Rock HD

Description: Completely retextures Raven Rock with vanilla-friendly textures.









[Guar Skin Banners] Guar Skin Banners

Description: This texture pack replaces almost all the guar skin banners thrughout Vvardenfell.

Special Instructions: Pick the non-normal mapped version





[Daedric Intervention - 2K retexture] Daedric Intervention - 2K retexture

Description: This big pluginless compilation adds High Quality (2048) textures for Daedric architecture, creatures, armor and weapons.

Special Instructions: Download each separate submod intead of the main file.





Clutter

[Dunmer Lanterns Replacer] [Dunmer Lanterns Replacer

Description: This mod replaces all of the Dunmer lanterns from the original game with smoother, more detailed versions.









[Ultimate Textures - Wood and Metal] Ultimate Textures - Wood and Metal

Description: Retextures wood types not touched by other replacers.









[HD Clutter] HD Clutter

Description: Replaces clutter in high resolution.









[Septim Gold and Dwemer Dumac] Septim Gold and Dwemer Dumac

Description: Replaces the gold coins in Morrowind with Textures based on actual photos of collectors edition coins.









[Long live the limeware] Long live the limeware

Description: HD Retexture for the Limeware of Morrowind.









[Long live the plates] Long live the plates

Description: 1024px Retexture of the 8 standard plates of Morrowind.









[Ket's potions and beverages retexture] Ket's potions and beverages retexture

Description: Vanilla-style texture replacer for potions and beverages.









[Ket's Swirlwood Furniture Retextrue] Ket's Swirlwood Furniture Retextrue

Description: Retexture for the fine dunmer furniture. Vanilla-friendly.









[Ket's Paper Lanterns retexture] Ket's Paper Lanterns retexture

Description: Retexture for dunmer paper lanterns









[HQ Bug Shells] HQ Bug Shells

Description: HQ meshes and textures for the Ashlander bug shells









[Soulgem Replacer] Soulgem Replacer

Description: This is a mesh and texture replacer for the soulgems.









[Dunmeri Urns - Aestetika of Vvardenfell] Dunmeri Urns - Aestetika of Vvardenfell

Description: Retexture of urn.

Special Instructions: Pick the bump-mapped version









[Better Crates] Better Crates

Description: Simple enhancement of the crate textures









[Skiff boat texture replacer] Skiff boat texture replacer

Description: A texture replacer for the small skiff boats.

Special Instructions: .









[FM - Unique items compilation] FM - Unique items compilation

Description: A compilation of mods that add unique looks to unique items that previously lacked them.





Enviroment

[Vanilla Land] Vanilla Land

Description: Upgrades every terrain texture in the game to a higher resolution.









[Epic Plants] Epic Plants

Description: Replaces textures and models of various flora with HQ quality.









[Pherim's Fire Fern] Pherim's Fire Fern

Description: A mesh and textures replacer for the Fire Fern plant and the Fire Petal ingredient.









[Hackle-lo Fixed] Hackle-lo Fixed

Description: A replacer for the hackle-lo plant with corrected meshes and improved textures









[Comberry Bush and Ingredient Replacer] Comberry Bush and Ingredient Replacer

Description: Replacer for the comberry bush with real 3D branches and berries.









[Scum Retexture] Scum Retexture

Description: Retexture of the scum in the Bitter coast.

Special Instructions: Download alternative 2









[Bitter Coast Sounds] Bitter Coast Sounds

Description: Adds dragonflies around the scum ponds.









[Scummy Scum] Scummy Scum

Description: Makes the scum green









[Lily Pad Replacer] Lily Pad Replacer

Description: With this lily pads uses a model instead of texture









[Apel's Asura Coast and Sheogorath replacer] Apel's Asura Coast and Sheogorath replacer

Description: This mode is retexture and mesh replacer for Asura Coast & Sheogorath Regions.

Special Instructions: Needs to be placed before Vanilla Land in the load order. Disable "meshes\f\Terrain_rock_AC_06.nif"









[Apel's Rain Replacer] Apel's Rain Replacer

Description: Replaces rain with more a heavy look.









[Vurt's Solstheim Tree Replacer II] Vurt's Solstheim Tree Replacer II

Description: Pluginless tree replacer for the Solstheim region.

Special Instructions: Also install the collision fix and this patch.





Creatures

[Guars Replacers - Aendemika of Vvardenfell] Guars Replacers - Aendemika of Vvardenfell

Description: Texture replacer of all Guars.









[Kagouti Replacer - Aendemika of Vvardenfell] Kagouti Replacer - Aendemika of Vvardenfell

Description: Does what is says on the tin.









[Alit Replacer - Aendemika of Vvardenfell] Alit Replacer - Aendemika of Vvardenfell

Description: New mesh and textures for Alit









[Cliffracer Replacer] Cliffracer Replacer

Description: This is a mesh and texture replacer for the Cliffracer creature.









[Nix-hound Replacer] Nix-hound Replacer

Description: This is a mesh and texture replacer for the Nix-Hound creature.









[Clannfear Replacer] Clannfear Replacer

Description: Remake of the Clannfear.









[Correct UV Mudcrab] Correct UV Mudcrab

Description: A fixed Mudcrab mesh, reducing distortion and other UV errors.

Special Instructions: Non-smoothed version recommended









[Netch Bump Mapped] Netch Bump Mapped

Description: Retexture with bump map of the Netch.

Special Instructions: Download the alternative texture too.









[Spriggan Bump Mapped] Spriggan Bump Mapped

Description: Retexture with bump map of the Spriggan.









[Kwama forager bump mapped] Kwama forager bump mapped

Description: Kwma forager redone.









[Divine Dagoths] Divine Dagoths

Description: Pluginless replacer for Dagoth Ur and his brothers.









[Pluginless Rat Replacer] Pluginless Rat Replacer

Description: Pluginless replacer for rats.









[Repleyser Silt-striderov] Repleyser Silt-striderov

Description: Pluginless replacer for Silt Striders.





Armor

[Hires armors-native styles patched] Hires armors-native styles patched

Description: Upgrades native armor types on Vvardenfell. Patched version









[Daedric Lord Armor Morrowind Edition] Daedric Lord Armor Morrowind Edition

Description: This mod replaces the daedric cuirass with new high-res textures and models.









[Armors Retexture - Outlander Styles] Armors Retexture - Outlander Styles

Description: High quality and detailed retexture for armors used by n'wah.









Dwemer Armoury textured and updated

Description: Replacer for dwemer armors and weapons.









More Realisitc Dwemer Armor

Description: Metallic retexture of dwemer armor.









[Orcish Retexture v1.2] Orcish Retexture v1.2

Description: A retexture for the Orcish Helmet Armor and tower shield.









[Royalguard better armor] Royalguard better armor

Description: This is simple armor replacer for Royal Guards









[Bonemold Armor Replacer] Bonemold Armor Replacer

Description: Bonemold Armor Replacer. And also adds bone gloves to the guards of Redoran.

Special Instructions: Disable the included esp file and download the english esp instead









[Improved Nordic Iron Helm Mesh] Improved Nordic Iron Helm Mesh

Description: Improved Nordic Iron Helm Mesh.









[Nordic Trollbone Helm Replacer] Nordic Trollbone Helm Replacer

Description: Replaces the Nordic Trollbone Helm.









[Redoran Watchman's Helm Replacer] Redoran Watchman's Helm Replacer

Description: Replaces the Redoran Watchman's Helm.









[Bear Armor Replacer] Bear Armor Replacer

Description: Replacer Bear armor from Bloodmoon addon.









[Glass Glowset] Glass Glowset

Description: Glowing glass armor, weapons and ore.

Special Instructions: The optional file should also be installed





Weapons

[Oriental mesh improvements] Oriental mesh improvements

Description: This replaces the meshes of the oriental styled weapons in Morrowind with slightly higher polycount versions.









[Smooth glass weapons] Smooth glass weapons

Description: These lightly smoothed glass weapons are as vanilla as possible, just less chunky and with translucent glass.









[Smooth orcish weapons] Smooth orcish weapons

Description: Includes mostly-vanilla smoothed meshes for orcish weapons and pauldrons.









[Silver mesh improvements] Silver mesh improvements

Description: Replaces the meshes of the silver weapons with higher quality ones.







