Open Faced Guard Helmets - Special Edition
⚪ Last updated 2016⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 3.7% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #95 of 148 Immersion mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
====================== Open Faced Guard Helms v 1. 0 ======================
Always wondered what the guard complaining about an Arrow in their knee looks like? Now you can find out! This mod changes all of the Guard Helms and Stormcloak Helmets to open face versions, so now you can see their pretty face!
If you like it, please endorse!
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=9514 http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=11210
If you downloaded this outside of those two pages, please let me know at those websites! I only will be updating on these pages, so if you don't visit you might miss out on new updates!
====================== Description ======================
I had this idea for a while, to make open face guard helms. There was a model that had the open face, but it wasn't on a human model. So I rigged it to the human skeleton and here we are!
I will perhaps add more variations of the helmet, if/when I get a chance. This was a quick mod, since the mesh already existed in the game. Variations are a bit more involved, but when the time comes I'll add more.
I was planning variations from the beginning, since it would be nice to have different versions of the helm dependent on the climate. A warmer climate would have someone suffer from wearing a closed helmet all the time; they would benefit more from this open version. Colder climates could have more bundled up kits...and stuff like that. But since that takes longer to do, I figured I would just release this first.
Anyway, hope you guys like it!
====================== Installation Instructions ====================== It's just one mesh and one esp, so you just drop then in your data folder and you're done!
====================== Removal Instructions ======================
Delete 'Data\meshes\armor\stormcloaks\helm_open.nif' and 'Data\OpenFaceGuardHelms.esp'. That's it!
====================== Issues: ======================
1) Some long beards clip with the mesh, not sure how to fix this. 2) A few guards are copy-pasta'd by Bethesda, can be a bit of an immersion breaker, but this might be fixed in future versions or other mods by me. 3) Some clipping when guards turn their head too much in one direction, but not too noticeable. Not sure how to fix either. Maybe I'll scale the helmet? But I like how it looks right now.
====================== Version History ====================== v 1. 0 - Initial Release (2/13/2012)
Open Faced Guard Helmets - Special Edition is a simple cosmetic mod for Skyrim Special Edition that replaces the standard closed guard helmets with open-faced versions, allowing you to see the faces of guards. It has 3,806 endorsements and over 100k downloads, indicating popularity. Last updated in 2016, it remains a stable choice for immersion-focused players.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Community favorite with 3,806 endorsements and over 100k downloads—clearly a go-to for face-revealing helmets.
- Simple, focused change that boosts immersion without altering gameplay.
- Lightweight mod that's easy to install and unlikely to conflict with most setups.
⚠️ Cons
- Last updated in 2016, so it may not be compatible with the latest Skyrim SE patches or other mods that modify guard armor.
- Only affects guard helmets—if you want open-faced variants for other factions, this won't cover them.
- Potential conflicts with mods that overhaul guard armor or add new helmet meshes.
For Skyrim SE players who want to see the faces of guards for a more personal, immersive experience. It's perfect for roleplayers and those who dislike the anonymity of closed helmets. Skip if you're looking for gameplay changes or broader armor overhauls—this is purely cosmetic.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Use a mod manager like Vortex or Mod Organizer 2 to install and manage this mod easily.
- Place this mod early in your load order to ensure other armor mods don't overwrite the helmet meshes.
- If you're using Skyrim SE, make sure you have the latest game patch to avoid mesh issues.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- ShinGouki
- Version
- 1.0
- Downloads
- 103,939
- Endorsements
- 3,806
- Category
- Immersion
- Created
- 11/25/2016
- Updated
- 11/25/2016
🔧 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