Shogun 2 Total War remains one of the most celebrated titles of the Total War franchise. Set in a swooping map of one of the most brutal periods in Japanese history, the Sengoku Jidhai. Shogun 2 immerses you in the period of playing a clan in which you compete with other rival clans to become the Shogun of Japan. This is one of the most fascinating Medieval Periods in the History of Japan itself.
The mods for Shogun 2 are legendary ranging from simple battlefield maps to huge overhauls covering Japanese History and different eras such as Pike and Shot and the 19th century, We even have a Lord of the Rings Mod set in the 2nd Age. There are over 2000 mods, and it would be impossible for me to go through all of them. I’ve collected the top twenty mods that every player should use for Shogun 2. These are the top best twenty mods you need to download now for Shogun 2!
20) Darthmod For Shogun 2
Darthmod, or the series of popular overhaul mods has been around in Total War since the start of Rome's Total War. Made by the now-retired Darthmod, his mods focus on overhauling the gameplay mechanics, having bigger unit sizes, and changing the AI and campaign focus so that they are more challenging to play against.
The battles themselves are overhauled to reflect the period and plenty of new units are added. As a Total War player myself, I would recommend trying Darthmod for Shogun 2 myself to a newcomer. This is a mod that changes so many areas of Shogun 2 that it feels like a new game, and that’s what makes it fun to play with.
Features:
- Enhances diplomacy so that trade agreements prosper more often
- AI-enhanced in many areas of campaigns and battles if you need a challenge
- Includes multiple sub-mods of unit sizes, variations and looks, including the highly popular Alternate Clan Colours mod that gives each clan a different and distinctive look
- A complete overhaul of mechanics and battle AI that will make you want to keep playing forever
19) Pike and Shot Mod
This is by far, one of the most ambitious mods coming to Shogun 2. It transforms the entire game into a Pike and Shot setting. Perfect for historical strategy gamers who desire to play in this time frame.
The Pike and Shot era is one of the most technologically innovative periods in which the transition from plated armour to gunpowder and the formations of how soldiers fought led to a big technological leap in European Warfare.
It is a setting ripe for video game settings, and this mod seizes on the chance to represent it into a brilliant mod. A campaign is currently in development while there is an active multiplayer section to play and try out and that’s what makes it fun.
Features:
- Features a historically accurate representation of 17th-century Europe to 18th-century Europe.
- Covers the wars of the 30-year War to the Spanish Wars of Succession
- Factions such as Bavaria and France are added in
- Formations modelled on historical accuracy to showcase the battles of the period
- 40 Unit MP battles
- A single-player campaign in development.
18) Shogun 2 10th Remastered Campaign
This mod is part of the 10th Anniversary collection that changes the look of the campaign and units. Including overhauling many other areas of Shogun 2 in terms of weather. However, this focuses on a standalone mod that changes the look of your campaign to give it a greater and more authentic feel.
If you have never liked the vanilla aspect of Shogun 2’s campaign map, then this feels like the best mod out there right now as someone who has played this, it is by far one of the most recommended mods needed out there to enhance your Shogun 2 campaign, and it makes playing Shogun 2 more fun!
Features:
- New dynamic campaign
- Playable with Historical 10th Anniversary Mods
- The campaign map looks gorgeous
- Visual enhancements.
17) The Last Alliance
Exciting times are ahead for this mod inspired by the 2nd Age of Lord of the Rings. This is one of the best interpretations of the LOTR Universe and allows you to play the Numeronans and rewrite the history of Middle Earth.
Currently, the mod has a campaign but is still a work in progress. There’s still a lot of work to be done. But if you ever wanted to relive the moments of the Second Age and see the downfall or rise of Numenor, then this is ample fun in so many ways.
Features:
- Focuses on wars between Elves and Dunedain
- Campaign map expansion and being worked on
- A good depiction of the world of Tolkien and the 2nd Age
- Huge campaign map that has the Dwarves and Orcs of the North
- New technology trees
- New unit models
16) Old World Overhaul
Old World Overhaul is the biggest campaign map expansion for Shogun 2 ranging from England to India. It presents the most exciting modding potential as it gives new ideas for modders to create any period of history within Shogun 2’s engine. The modders have done an outstanding job.
This is considered to be a template upon which existing mod teams within the Shogun 2 sphere can build. You can play the existing Shogun 2 clans within this campaign map. It will become an excellent template for new mods to come in the future which will provide hours of countless fun for players for years to come.
- All-expanding map from England to India
- Possible expansions of the new historical period
- Foundation for a Pike and Shot Campaign
- New Overhauled Campaign
15) Strongholds of the Samurai
Strongholds of the Samurai is perhaps one of the best and most underrated overhauls for Shogun 2. It provides 36 new battle maps, and each of them has a different tier depending on what buildings you provide on the campaign map. These then appear and are shown visually on the battle map of Shogun 2.
Many of these maps are historically accurate and are based on the actual castles of this period. These provide a fresh experience compared to the vanilla maps and are one of the most fun and recommended mods that I would personally use.
- Historically accurate battle maps
- New gameplay mechanics/pathfinding
- New variations of battle maps
- See the amazing castles of the period being brought to life
14) Total FOTS
Total FOTS is a series of mods being developed for the Victorian era. The Fall of the Samurai DLC could be said to be the farthest Total War has ever gone in terms of technological advancement and the advancement for WW1. Modders found a unique experience in which to turn this into something unique.
The mod is available for download for multiplayer use. There is a Carlist Wars campaign in the works which showcases an entire map of Spain in this period with new factions. There is progressive work being ramped up behind the scenes in terms of getting a new single-player campaign up.
This is a mod to watch out for in the future! Especially as there was another campaign also being made between Korea, Japan and the Ming Empire in the 19th century. These mods will revolutionise Total War for years to come.
New campaign map overhauls coming representing the unique dilemmas of the Victorian Period- New city maps including new battle maps being overhauled
- New custom steam-style ships and dreadnoughts are being added
- New campaign map for the Far East
- New Units, animations and more.
13) The Sekhigara Campaign
This mod is perhaps another underrated mod, setting you in the final climax as the Sengoku Jidhai, or the brutal Medieval Civil War that has occurred in Japan for a decade is now finally settling down. A beautiful gorgeous campaign has been retextured with new UI updates.
Many eras of Japanese history still could have been made into DLCs but Creative Assembly unfortunately never carried it forward. The Total War Modding Community always steps up to the plate, whereas Creative Assembly doesn’t.
Features:
New UI- New Units
- Reworked Campaign set in one of the most famous eras of Japanese History
- Rewrite the history of Sekhigara to become the Shogun of Japan.
12) Unofficial Shogun 2 Patch
It also adds occupation resistance to AI, making sure that AI can now challenge you with certain technologies. It also fixes another crucial issue where arrows being fired will sound like cannons.
Features:
- Adds new unit abilities
- Adds new challenges to AI
- Fixes a ton of issues relating to audio and sound
- Bug-Free Gameplay
11) Morning Sun Mod
In the coming years, Shogun 2 is going to become one of the best modded total wars to date. And I bring you this mod, Morning Sun! Made by Korean modders, this may be one of the most ambitious mods to date. This is the mod based on the Imjin Wars, which focuses on the Japanese Invasion of Korea during its Medieval Period. For now, what you’re seeing here on the screen is just amazing.
This is what Shogun 2 should have had in the first place. It still shocks me we’ve not had a Korean/Ming Empire expansion. But it does have custom unit rosters, custom maps (only 2-3 at the moment) and factions ranging from Josean to the Jurchens and Mongols.
Need I mention that there are new custom ship models for Korea, new custom unit models, and Korean voice acting? There’s also unique Korean architecture! And this is all for free. I have to say it, Total War’s mods have enlivened and given the ability to replay total war for decades to come.
Features:
- Adds Korea, and Ming Empire to the Shogun 2 time period
- Roleplay your alternate history, be Admiral Yi and stop the Japanese
- New units and new city battle maps are being added all the time
- Currently playable, but will be getting more updates in the future
- Custom Korean ships, architecture and units and unique battle maps.
10) Vastator Unit Style
Vastator Unit Style greatly overhauls many of the units in-game to provide a new visual aesthetic look. Many of the units feel more akin to the era. Units don’t feel the same, and a ton of visual variation between units has been added in.
Elite Units now have unique colour designs and set pieces to make them feel more unique on the battlefield. And they are strong in melee too. Also, new warrior monk units have been added. This is a mod that is compatible with many of the big overhauls including Darthmod and is multiplayer compatible. Another great reason to download this mod.
Features:
- Clans in Shogun 2 now have unique-looking units
- No more-copy paste units
- More variation between units
- Samurai look and feel more awesome
9) The Shogun Samurai’s Elite
This mod completely overhauls the look of the elite and hero units to make them appear more fearsome and visually awesome on your battlefield screen as you play Shogun 2. Using in-game assets, the modder has done an amazing job in making elite units of clans even more distinct. There’s a unique variation used from the Avatar Campaign assets, and new helmet crests and armour. This is a thoroughly recommended mod.
Features:
- New armours and new set designs
- Visually awesome-looking units
- Will provide an immersion to the battlefield unmatched
8) Princess Mononoke - Irontown
If you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli movies, then this map is a devoted tribute to the movie Princess Mononoke. This is based on the siege of Irontown from the movie and is a faithful adaptation. Shogun 2 has this amazing ability to allow modders to create amazing battle maps which can be downloaded from the Steam workshop. This is worth it.
Features:
- New battle map
- True to the Princess Mononoke Movie
- Huge map in which there are areas to defend and attack
7) Additional Units Pack
The Additional Unit Pack is a limited unit roster overhaul, but it adds unique units with Samurai with longer spears, more warrior monks, and matchlock units. There are 5 unique units for custom battle and the Sengoku Jidhai campaign. If you’re not a fan of big-unit roster mods and would prefer a limited set of units for your campaign, then this is the perfect one for you.
Features:
- Five New Units
- New armour sets
- New cosmetics
- Easy to download and use
6) Tax Refined
This means that the idea of tax has to be raised with additional threats in order. Instead, you get increased growth for tax which is locked. And there is no option to auto-manage taxes. This is a realism mod more or less. If you want to play your Shogun 2 campaign with realism and economic factors, then this is the mod for you and it will provide hours of fun.
Features:
- Discourages the idea of raising taxes to simply lower public order
- Allows taxes to be capped at two turns
- No option to auto-manage taxes
5) "Flying Thunder" Super Samurai
The Flying Thunder Super Samurai Mod may be a bit of an odd choice, but it is a recent mod release. It's a bit of a cheat mod combined with an overpowered Samurai that will give you hours of fun. How you might ask? It costs 3200 gold to recruit him, and the upkeep is 500 per turn. Good luck with recruiting him while you struggle to maintain your expensive Samurai stacks!
You’ll have intense fun using him in the thick of battles to destroy the enemy and though it may turn out to be fantasy style, who doesn’t like a bit of cheating in their games to have some pure fun? Especially in a game like Shogun 2 which is the ultimate fantasy Samurai strategy simulation game.
Features:
- He’s the type of Samurai you need in your battles!
- Super fun and super overpowered
- 3200 to recruit and upkeep 500 per turn
- Good luck using him in your campaign!
4) Unlimited Movement (Land Only)
Unlimited movement feels awesome!
This mod does what it says on the tin. Tired of the restrictive limited movements on the campaign map? This will allow you to march long distances to lead your armies battling throughout the heart of Japan as you march to ride to conquer Kyoto and declare yourself Shogun.
Sure, it’s a bit of a cheat mod, but then I’ve never enjoyed total war’s limited movements. I always feel we need more of this. What’s more, there’s an entire collection of cheat mods if you need them for Shogun 2 which you can find on the Steam workshop page of this mod which you can utilise to your heart’s content!
Features:
Unlimited movement via campaign- More ability to spread armies
- Player Only
- Save game compatible
- Excludes agent
- Works with FOTS and ROTS
3) 12 Turns Per Year
One of the more legendary mods on this list, 12 turns per year works for Shogun 2 and Rise of the Samurai. It allows more turns per year so you can play your campaign with more strategic depth. Combine this with the tax-refined mod, and you will be playing a strategy game in no time that is different from vanilla gameplay. An amazing mod.
Features:
- Compatible with big DLCs such as ROTS and FOTS
- Compatible with Darthmod
- Works with map packs and unit mods
2) Ultimate Immersive Mod
Ultimate Immersive Mod intentionally puts the player more to the era of the game, allowing for new skill trees, and new unit variations that are closer to the period. There is not much of a steep learning curve to be added for new or veteran players.
You have 12 turns per year, along with an expanded Japan map with new settlements. Diplomacy is such that even if you trigger a realm divide, you have to be careful not to rush. Your allies won’t betray you as they would in Realm Divide in Vanilla. There’s a lot more to come!
Features:
- Tweaks to diplomacy
- New rework of technologies and buildings
- New units
- 12 TYP
- Revamp Skill Trees for Agents
- A comprehensive overhaul
1) Jaki's Unique Factions
A complete overhaul of the campaign map for Shogun 2 as this fantastic mod demonstrates to the player; giving each clan bonuses within construction, military training, and new unit cards. The Hojo get -20 in construction for castles, while the Date Clan get an 8% bonus charge in attacking. There are a lot of new changes to factions and the way they are operated within the game. There are also some changes to the unit variations.
New balances to unit changes- New buffs and new bonuses to each clan
- Reduced construction costs for units and clans
- Clans now feel unique and more varied
