Manor Lords is a city planning simulator set in the Middle Ages. The game remains in early access, yet it has already attracted more than two million buyers. Judging by user feedback, the project has been remarkable from the start, and with a few adjustments it can become even stronger. This piece gathers the most compelling tweaks and how they can affect your playthrough.
The available mods so far do not radically alter the game’s core systems. Still, they offer practical improvements: boosting performance, swapping standard weapons for those from popular fantasy worlds, or letting a settlement be managed by a familiar hero. Several adjustments also tip the balance—speeding up construction and resource gathering, hardening enemies or units, and giving quick access to high-tech buildings.
Procedure for installing mods
- Download the archive with the change and unzip it.
- Copy the contents to the Paks folder, located in the game folder. By default it is at C:Program FilesSteamSteamAppscommonManor LordsManorLordsContentPaks.
- Launch the game.
- To locate the game folder, follow these steps.
If the Steam version sits in a different location, follow these steps to find it quickly:
- Open the Steam library and search for Manor Lords.
- Right-click the game and choose Properties.
- Open the Installed Files menu and click Browse on the right.
- That opens the folder where the game is stored. Note the path for future reference.
Manor Lords is in early access and has already set a record for concurrent players among city-building strategy games on Steam. At one time more than 170 thousand players launched the title simultaneously.
ML SPF and Anti-Stutter — Improved gaming performance
This tweak increases frame rates, reduces latency, and speeds up loading without compromising visuals. It includes optimized settings for better CPU usage and smoother streaming. Two options are provided to suit different system configurations.
Option 1 and Option 2 provide choices for users who want to experiment with performance gains while preserving the game’s aesthetic quality.
FreeSkills — free access to all skills from the very beginning
This mod makes each skill in the skill tree instantly available, eliminating progression limits and letting players tailor their approach from the start.
Build Everything — access to all buildings from the start
This adjustment removes the need to unlock buildings step by step. With it installed, every building in the game is immediately accessible, allowing rapid city development from day one.
Do you enjoy city planning simulators?
Increased Garrison Limit — more towers and troops
After installing this mod, players can construct four garrison towers instead of one. This enhances defensive options against advancing foes, and the number of troops in the escort rises to sixty.
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More sources — additional tweaks
A simple adjustment that yields more materials at every production stage. It can significantly speed up city construction and expansion.
Storage Plus Plus — expanded storage across buildings
This mod increases the capacity of all buildings, reducing the number of structures needed for efficient growth.
Increased tree growth rate — faster forest yields
Designed to accelerate development, faster tree growth means resources arrive sooner for expansion and defense planning.
Sonic Hoe — faster field processing
Plowing fields becomes dramatically quicker with the Sonic Hoe, helping settlements progress at a steadier pace.
Eco Rebalance — new resource balance
The author suggests a revised balance that makes basic items easier to craft while more complex items become relatively harder, shifting early-game priorities.
Better archers — more accurate and deadly
Archer effectiveness in the base game is improved, increasing damage and range to make ranged units a viable core component of armies.
Faster volleys — more frequent archery volleys
Archers fire more often, creating a dynamic that pairs well with higher damage and longer range to redefine battlefield tempo.
Adaptive Bandit Difficulty — raiders scale with growth
Bandit pressure increases as the settlement grows, ensuring that late-stage players face meaningful threats and strategic decisions.
Hildebolt’s Vanguard Army — tougher allied troops
This modifier lets a named commander hire unique troops with enhanced attributes, demanding careful defense and seasoned leadership.
Game of Thrones Coat of Arms — noble heraldry
Fans of the series will appreciate updates to heraldry for major houses, aligning the visual style with familiar lore while staying within the medieval theme.
Dramatic Portraits — refined noble portraits
Portraits on noble icons become more detailed, with improvements driven by modern image techniques.
Film Star Portrait Pack — celebrity portraits
Characters such as Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie appear in-game as noble figures, offering a playful visual twist.
GoT character portraits and bonus GoT region names — Game of Thrones visuals
Portraits feature familiar GoT figures, and place names are renamed after Westeros regions for a themed atmosphere.
Geralt from The Witcher 3 — play as Geralt
The game offers a third-person perspective, and this mod replaces the hero model with Geralt the Witcher, adding a recognizable fantasy touch.
Henry from Skalitz — play as Henry from Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Players can roam their settlement as Henry, the central character from Kingdom Come: Deliverance, which resonates with fans ahead of the sequel’s release in late 2024.
Will modding be part of your Manor Lords experience, or do you prefer the vanilla game? Share thoughts in the comments.
Will you be installing mods on Manor Lords?
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