Cisterns of Skyrim - A Rain Barrel and Blood Barrel Replacer
🟡 Updated this year⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
🖼️ Gallery (12 images)
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 2.4% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #111 of 401 Models and Textures mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
A model and texture replacer for the vanilla rain barrels and blood barrels, with a few optional bonus features:
-
[]An addon that replaces the static rain barrels with functional activators that have pouring water, animated handles and optional needs/bathing mod integration[/]
[]A clean ESP-FE that places 16 rain barrels and 6 blood barrels at appropriate locations in Skyrim (there's only 2 rain barrels and 4 blood barrels in vanilla)[/]
[]Occasional water/blood drips from rain barrel and blood barrel spigots for a touch of immersion[/]
[]2D or 3D blood barrel puddles that use your installed blood spatter decal (screenshots show textures from Sanguine Symphony)[/]
Disclaimer: The extra features were intended as an exercise / crash course for me in embedded NIF animation and rudimentary scripting, so be sure and let me know if anything isn't working so I can fix it and learn! :)
The Functional Rain Barrels addon replaces rain barrel statics with functional activators, complete with animations and pouring water. A lightweight script triggers on activation which checks for supported mods and adds options to refill bottles and waterskins, drink straight from the spigot, wash up, all of the above or none of the above depending on which mods are in your LO. With no supported mods it just turns the handle and pours water on the ground for a bit, to the consternation of farmers everywhere :) Supported mods currently include SunHelm, Last Seed, iNeed, Realistic Needs and Diseases, Drinking Fountains of Skyrim, Complete Alchemy and Cooking Overhaul, Edmond's Immersive Needs, Waterskin, Keep it Clean, Dirt and Blood and Bathing in Skyrim - Renewed. No requirements except either Base Object Swapper or the Cisterns of Skyrim Distribution ESP-FE.
Note: It has been brought to my attention that drinking rainwater might not be the most health-conscious option, but the Dovahkiin of legend should at least have the freedom to make poor decisions, right?The Functional Blood Vats addon replaces blood barrel statics with functional activators that pour you a Potion of Blood on activation. You're limited to 3x per in-game day in the interest of sorta balanced gameplay. No requirements except either Base Object Swapper or the the Cisterns of Skyrim Distribution ESP-FE.
The Cisterns of Skyrim Distribution ESP-FE adds 16 rain barrels and 6 blood barrels to appropriate farms and vampire lairs, respectively - there's only 2 rai
A model and texture replacer for vanilla rain barrels and blood barrels in Skyrim, with optional bonus features like functioning spigots and needs/bathing mod support. Highly popular with over 5,200 endorsements and 213,000 downloads, last updated in July 2026.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Huge community approval (5,200 endorsements) and over 213,000 downloads—this is a must-have for visual overhauls.
- Adds working spigots, which is a clever touch that makes barrels feel functional, not just pretty.
- Plays nice with needs/bathing mods, so it fits into survival-style playthroughs without extra hassle.
⚠️ Cons
- Only covers rain and blood barrels—if you want matching visuals for other containers, you'll need other mods.
- The optional spigot feature might conflict with mods that alter barrel interactions or add new container mechanics.
- Since it's a texture/model replacer, it won't change gameplay—if you're after new barrel types, this isn't it.
For Skyrim players who want their world to look more lived-in, especially those using needs mods like iNeed or Frostfall. If you're a visual purist who loves subtle immersion boosts, this is for you. Skip if you want gameplay changes—this is purely cosmetic with a few functional extras.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Use a mod manager like Vortex or Mod Organizer 2 to install—it's a simple drag-and-drop, but the manager keeps your load order clean.
- If you use needs mods, check the mod's optional files for compatibility patches—they might be separate downloads.
- Test the spigot feature in a small area first to ensure it doesn't conflict with other barrel mods you have.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- sothasimp
- Version
- 1.4.11
- Downloads
- 213,477
- Endorsements
- 5,200
- Category
- Models and Textures
- Created
- 7/30/2025
- Updated
- 7/26/2026
🔧 How to Install Skyrim Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Skyrim →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
🎮 Need cheat codes or console commands? Check ur gaming wiki for Skyrim commands, item IDs, and more.
Keep browsing — more Skyrim mods await