Getting Started with Elden Ring Modding

Elden Ring modding lives entirely in offline play. Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) is the game's online gatekeeper, and mods are incompatible with it. The community's workaround is launching via a non-EAC executable; once you do that, online multiplayer is off the table until you switch back.

This guide walks the standard offline mod install on current Elden Ring (Shadow of the Erdtree present).

Step 1 — Understand the offline-only rule

Elden Ring with mods:

Loads through Mod Engine 2's launch script.
Skips EAC initialization.
Cannot connect to FromSoft's servers.
Co-op and PvP via official servers: unavailable.

To return to online play, exit Mod Engine 2's launcher and start Elden Ring normally via Steam.

Step 2 — Install Mod Engine 2

Mod Engine 2 is the community mod loader for Elden Ring.

Download the latest release. Extract to a location of your choice (not necessarily inside Elden Ring's install). Mod Engine 2 contains its own launch script and configuration.

Edit Mod Engine 2's config_eldenring.toml to point at your Elden Ring install directory.

Step 3 — Install your first mods

Three popular first picks:

Seamless Co-op — persistent peer-to-peer multiplayer with friends. The community's online-substitute.
Elden Ring Reforged — comprehensive overhaul. Rebalances classes, weapons, enemy behaviour.
The Convergence — substantial content addition with new classes, spells, and items.

Each mod's installation differs:

Seamless Co-op typically goes directly into Elden Ring's install (its own loader, EAC bypass).
Mod Engine 2 mods go into Mod Engine 2's mod/ folder.

Read each mod's README carefully.

Step 4 — Launch through Mod Engine 2

Run Mod Engine 2's launchmod_eldenring.bat (or equivalent script). This:

Starts Elden Ring with EAC disabled.
Loads mods from Mod Engine 2's configuration.

The game's main menu shows mods are active. The bottom corners may show Mod Engine 2's version readout.

Step 5 — Save handling

Elden Ring saves are at %AppData%/EldenRing/<steam_id>/. Mod-modified saves can technically be loaded in vanilla Elden Ring, but:

Online servers detect modification and may flag the account.
The community recommends keeping a separate modded save backup.

Don't switch back to online play with a modded save loaded.

Common gotchas

EAC error on launch. Mod Engine 2's launch script wasn't used. Launch via launchmod_eldenring.bat, not Steam.
Mod doesn't appear. Confirm the mod files are in Mod Engine 2's mod/ folder (or the mod's own location for non-Mod-Engine mods).
Seamless Co-op disconnects. Check that all players have the same Seamless Co-op version.
Save game refuses to load. A mod added content the save references; mod is now missing. Re-enable.
DLC content not affected by mod. Some mods only support base game. Check the mod's compatibility note for Shadow of the Erdtree.

The Souls modding community shares much architecture across Elden Ring, Dark Souls 3, Sekiro, and Dark Souls Remastered. The Mod Engine 2 workflow is largely consistent across them.