Sink Or Swim NG
⚪ Last updated 2022⚠️ Install Order · 7 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.3% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #87 of 104 Gameplay mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
This mod converts Sink Or Swim, a mod by LokiWasTaken, to CLIB-NG (aka VR and AE compatible now!). With her implicit and explicit permission, I have ported it for AE/VR and uploaded it here. All credit goes to LokiWasTaken, and 100% of DP earned on this modpage will go to LokiWasTaken. The original version is a hard requirement!! This is just the updated DLL, grab the original version here, and make sure this mod overwrites the original.
I will most likely not add any more updates to this other than maybe bugfixes or support for new Skyrim versions if there are more to come.
Forked Source Code
Original Description:
REQUIREMENTS:
Bug Fixes SSE - Needed to fix the speedMult bug
Address Library
INSTALLATION:
Just Install with MO2.
The Optional File is for if you'd prefer more realism, changing the condition from 4 pieces of heavy armour to 3.
COMPATIBILITY:
NOT COMPATIBLE with My Wade In Water due to the same hook points and .esp file. This is NOT an update to Wade in Water, this is a standalone mod.
NOT COMPATIBLE with TDG's Wade In Water due to it doing similar things my mod does.
All water mods are compatible.
Mod-added Actors will work with this.
This mod is script-less, so no papyrus 'lag'
Should be safe to install/uninstall/update mid-playthrough. Do make sure no one is in water when you do, though.
Unintended problems stem from Frostfall and its conditional checks for kIsSwimming, this has been graciously fixed by revenant0713 in their mod here
ABOUT:
A simple SKSE plugin that brings a little more "existence" into Skyrim's
water, and also recreates a system that FO4 uses by utilizing power
armour to walk underwater.
SLOW-DOWN AND SPEED-UP:
this works by applying one of 4 spells (contained in the .esp) of which have
different magnitude depending on how deep you are in water. 0 is Not in
water at all, 1. 00 is full submerged. The small slow down begins at
0. 18, about upper shin level in order to avoid waterwalking issues and
ankle-keep water getting in the way. The big slow down begins at 0. 43,
at waist level. Swimming begins at 0. 69 which is (hilariously) the
minimum value needed to enter the swimming animation. Underwater walking
also begins at 0. 69, you can read below
UNDERWATER WALKING:
There's no power armour in Skyrim, so we use
Sink Or Swim NG is an SKSE plugin that overhauls water interaction in Skyrim, slowing you and NPCs down while adding a Fallout 4-style Power Armor system that lets you walk underwater in full heavy armor. Converted to CLIB-NG for AE/VR users, this gameplay mod has 472 endorsements and was last updated in November 2022.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Community-approved with 472 endorsements and over 159k downloads.
- Unique mechanic that changes underwater traversal in a way no other mod does.
- Works for both AE and VR thanks to CLIB-NG conversion.
⚠️ Cons
- Requires SKSE and CLIB-NG, so it's not for console players or those avoiding script extenders.
- Last updated in 2022, so it may have compatibility issues with newer Skyrim updates.
- Heavy armour requirement means it's useless for light or mage builds.
For Skyrim players who want a more realistic and challenging water system, especially those who enjoy heavy armour builds and want to feel like a walking tank. Also great for VR users who want immersive underwater walking. Skip if you prefer fast swimming or don't use script extenders.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Make sure you have the correct version of SKSE for your Skyrim edition (SE/AE/VR) and install CLIB-NG first.
- Use a mod manager like Vortex or MO2 to handle the plugin and ensure load order is correct.
- Test the mod in a small body of water first to see how the slowdown feels before committing to a playthrough.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- LokiWasTaken
- Version
- 1.9
- Downloads
- 159,587
- Endorsements
- 472
- Category
- Gameplay
- Created
- 11/12/2022
- Updated
- 11/12/2022
🔧 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