Phobia Mode (No Spiders Chaurus or Hoppers)
🟡 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.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 1.9% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #49 of 113 Immersion mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
Finally, I've finished my no bugs mod, based on Arachnophobia by Twin Crows, but expanded and improved on. This is a standalone, no longer requiring any other mod. Let's keep Skyrim insect (and arachnid) free!
Changes:
-
[]Spiders are wolves. [/]
[]Chaurus/fledglings/hunters are bears or skeevers. [/]
[]Ash hoppers are wolves. [/]
[]Falmer wall pods and egg sacs are removed. [/]
[]Webs are removed or where they are needed, retextured with friendly polka dots. [/]
[]Frozen chaurus statues changed into falmer statues and then into skeevers, if you fight them.[/]
[]Spider scrolls on Solstheim are replaced and no one should be throwing any spiders. [/]
[]Loading screen changes from my Less Scary Loading Screens mod included.[/]
[]Changed spider and chaurus eggs, chitin, and antenna models into eggs, pelts, and butterfly wings for extra phobia safety. [/]
[]Bleak Falls Barrow is the same, but the spider is a wolf and Arvel is in a polka dot web. [/]
[]Death items are from the original creature. [/]
[]Optional file - No Shellbugs - removes them completely. [/]
[]Optional file - No Dwemer spiders - this is still in testing, but the spiders should be wolves. Please let me know of any crashes or problems. [/]
I want to be as respectful as possible of people's phobias, so please use this with caution if Skyrim causes anxiety. I do plan on making more patches; polite requests are welcome (no LL or otherwise NSFL mods). Please don't use this mod as a place to give your opinions on phobias or who should or should not play Skyrim. It's not the place.
You can request patches for house mods or anything else, but time and permissions might limit what I can do - feel free to ask.
Patches for other mods (so far):
Apothecary 1. 3. 9
CACO 3. 0. 1
Gourmet 1. 2
INeed Continued (Extended version) 1. 95
Survival Mode
Juniper's House for Golldir 1. 2
USSEP 4. 3. 8a
One with Nature 2. 0
Beyond Skyrim:Bruma 1. 6. 4
Mods not patched:
Creation Club: Use Insects Begone Redux, they have you covered.
Vigilant: Use Vigilant - Arachnophobia I was going to do my own version, but TBH, those leeches just creeped me out too much.
Compatibility
Made in 1. 6. 1170, not tested on other versions.
Anything that adds new or changes creatures may conflict. Many mods use custom meshes.
Anything that retextures or changes alchemy ingredients may conflict. I'll patch more if asked.
Location overhauls may conflict. I tried to remove clutter on various levels but some locations use custom meshes.
ESL flagged.
Bruma patch works with Beyond Skyrim - Bruma - Unofficial Fixes.
Phobia Mode removes spiders, chaurus, hoppers, dwemer spiders, and bug clutter from Skyrim, catering to players with arachnophobia or insect aversion. With 113 endorsements and recent updates, it's a niche but active immersion mod for those who want a bug-free experience.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Directly addresses arachnophobia and insect fear—no more panic attacks when entering caves.
- Active maintenance (updated August 2026) means it's likely compatible with current game versions.
- Community-trusted with 113 endorsements and nearly 6k downloads.
⚠️ Cons
- Removing creatures might break quests or leave empty spawn points, potentially affecting immersion.
- Only covers specific bug types—other creepy crawlies might still appear.
- Compatibility with other creature mods or overhauls is unverified, so conflicts could arise.
For Skyrim players who have a genuine fear of spiders or bugs and want to enjoy the game without those encounters. Also for those who prefer a cleaner, less insect-filled world. Skip if you're fine with bugs or want a more comprehensive creature overhaul.
💡 Beginner Tips
- If you're using a mod manager, just download and activate—no extra steps needed.
- Check if any quests rely on the removed creatures; you might need to use console commands to progress.
- Pair with other immersion mods that add alternative creatures to fill the gaps.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- StarRiseShine
- Version
- 1
- Downloads
- 5,887
- Endorsements
- 113
- Category
- Immersion
- Created
- 2/25/2024
- Updated
- 8/9/2026
🔧 How to Install Skyrim Mods
Download from Nexus.
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Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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