Cosmetic addons are nothing new to Skyrim, being some of the most popular mods of the thousands released in the game's 10-year lifespan. One addon, though, adds something sorely missing from the frozen northern homeland of the Nords: heroic-looking long cloaks.
The Cloaks of Skyrim mod is an old one but a good one. Originally released in 2013, the mod has since been updated by fans for Special Edition and is one of the most popular fan-made cosmetic addons ever made. It appears to work with Skyrim Anniversary Edition, though be careful as the upgrade has been known to cause conflict with older mods.
How To Install Cloaks of Skyrim
Cloaks of Skyrim is available for both Special Edition and normal Skyrim. Neither is available through Bethesda's in-game modding platform, though, and thus the addon is only available for PC players.
- Vanilla Skyrim: Extract the contents of the file to your Skyrimdata folder, usually located in Steam/Steamapps/Common/Skyrim. Select one of the three included ESP files in the launch menu.
- Special Edition: Comes with a self-installer, but can also be installed and managed with Wrye Bash, a third-party TES modloader.
Both versions of the mod are downloaded through the Skyrim Nexus, but make sure to download the version associated with your game as Special Edition mods don't usually work with vanilla Skyrim, and vice versa.
It Adds Nearly A Hundred Cloaks To The Game
If you've ever wanted to run around Skyrim in a snazzy cape or a regal foot-length gown, Cloaks of Skyrim has you more than covered. It boasts almost 100 new cloaks to Skyrim including everything from hardy burlap and leather to multicolored, regal fine linens.
Cloaks take up their own new equipment slot, too, so they won't take up the space of a player's armor, headpiece, or otherwise. It's compatible with mods that don't take up "Slot 46" so be sure to check with other cosmetic addons to ensure there is no overlap before installing.
Every Faction Has A Cloak, Including Dragon Priests And Guards
Every playable faction in Skyrim, and even some unplayable ones, have their own unique cloaks in the Cloaks of Skyrim mod. This means that players can finally don a Stormcloak Cloak or an Imperial Cape, and even find cloaks for each of Skyrim's holds being worn by guards in major cities.
Interestingly enough, Dragon Priests also don a new wearable cloak which can be picked up only from the remains of the game's named Dragon Priests (or found nearby in their burial chambers). A member of the Thieves Guild can don a cloak fit for a cutpurse, for example, and members of the Companions can display a bit more warrior flair when taking on new challenges.
Cloaks Are Crafted or Found in Hand-Placed Locations
There are two major ways to find every new item in Cloaks of Skyrim: by crafting them, or by finding them in a variety of specific locations throughout Skyrim. Crafting a cloak is performed at the Tanning Rack and the Spinning Wheel, a new crafting facility included in the mod. Players must read a book titled "Fryssa The Wide's Nordic Tailoring" to gain this crafting skill.
If crafting isn't one of your character's skills, just about every cloak included in Cloaks of Skyrim can be found somewhere in the world. Dragon Priest cloaks are found in the depths of Nordic Ruins, Hold Guard cloaks are found in Barracks, and a variety of other cloaks, capes, and coverings can be found in dungeons, towers, and as part of specific loot tables.
Expect Clipping And Glitches
As with all cosmetic addons for Skyrim (and indeed the game itself), glitches are something everyone should expect and be prepared for. Be sure to keep a backup copy of your game's data folder in case anything goes awry, and make multiple hard saves in every session to give yourself options if a file gets corrupted.
The most common glitch Cloaks of Skyrim players experience is clipping, where the cloak will go through the character's legs and back. Nazenn, the mod's developer, recommends installing the mod 360 Walk And Run Plus to help fix some of the visual issues. If you don't look too closely, though, it's not a glitch that's likely to impede you in any meaningful way.
Skyrim Special Edition is available for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S