Modding Tutorials
Below is an assorted list of tutorials on how to do various Souls modding related things. If you have a tutorial that you would like to add, feel free to ping a wiki contributor or a staff member on the modding discord server.
*Note: The majority of tutorials for Dark Souls Map Studio should apply to Smithbox, albeit some UI changes among other things.
*Note: Older tutorials use Yabber, which is now outdated and can lead to problems. Users should now use WitchyBND, which functions almost identically for most users.
Beginner Tutorials
| Games | Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | Basics | JeNoVaViRuS | First steps to do before trying to do anything related to modding. |
| All | General Troubleshooting for Mod Issues | Challenger Andy | Mod not working? This document provides some steps to try before you ask for help. |
| All | Downpatching Your Game | Geeeeeorge/King Bore Haha | Instructions for how to downpatch your game version. Written for DS3 but can be useful for all games. |
| All | Identifying the Game Version that a Mod Uses | Challenger Andy | Instructions for how to identify the game version (patch) a mod was made for or supports. |
| All | Cheat Engine: The Basics | Challenger Andy | How to install, setup, and operate Cheat Engine for FromSoftware games. |
| All | Learning to Mod FROMSOFT Games ft. Grimrukh | LobosJr & Grimrukh | Series of two-hour streams that serve as a pretty comprehensive crash course for beginners to FromSoft mod making. Please use DS Map Studio instead of "Yapped". |
| DS1 | Modding Dark Souls 1 with Soulstruct (Basic Setup and Map Editing) | Grimrukh | Introduction to modding Dark Souls 1 (either version) using Soulstruct, an almost-all-in-one editor program by Grimrukh. Find out how to load a Soulstruct project, the different map entry data types, and basic character edits. |
| DS1 | Modding Dark Souls with Soulstruct (Player Characters) | Grimrukh | Learn how to modify "player characters" like Solaire, Siegmeyer, and the Crestfallen Warrior in Dark Souls 1, including an introduction to talk scripts (ESD/EzState). |
| DS2, All* | Cheat Engine: Common Functions | Challenger Andy | Common Cheat Table functions for Dark Souls 2. Similar to other FromSoftware games as well. |
| DS2: SOTFS | Modding sotfs with ParamStudio (basic setup, tools required, general development workflow) | TalkSickWaist | Introduction to modding Dark Souls 2 (sotfs only) using ParamStudio v .5+, a parameter editor with handy meta links and powerful search capabilities. Find out how to start modding sotfs from scratch by unpacking your game, creating a ParamStudio project compatible with MapStudio that uses loose params, using ParamStudio to decrypt your regulation file, navigating MapStudio, and even how to clone bosses onto other maps as regular enemies. |
| ER | Basics of Modding Elden Ring | Rainer | Learn how to use ModEngine 2 and Map Studio's parameter editing features |
| ER | Metis Mod Launcher Tutorial | Rayan | How to use Metis Mod Launcher. |
| Meta | Writing Better Modding Tutorials | Challenger Andy | A tutorial on tutorial writing. How to write better Souls Modding Tutorials. Includes formatting, advice, styles, and more using Google Docs. |
Models & Textures
| Games | Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | Editing Dummy points on flver models | Halvard | Learn how to edit Dummy points. |
| All | .dds: Determining Compression / Export Settings for Image Files | Challenger Andy | How to figure out compression / export settings for image or .dds files. |
| All | Export Settings for .dds | Challenger Andy | Commonly used image export settings for .dds files across games. |
| All | Making Weapons Invisible | Challenger Andy, Dylan Alexander | How to make your weapons (and probably armor) invisible. |
| DS1 | How to port DS2 weapon models to DS1 PTDE | Cyanic | How to port weapon models (from DS2) to Dark Souls PTDE, add new weapon, itemlots |
| DS1 | How to Make Object Textures Load in Any Map | Thegreatgramcracker | Learn how to make an object that normally only appears in one map have its textures load in any map. Otherwise the textures will be pure black in other maps. |
| DS2 | Modding Custom Objects in DS2 | Moonlight Ruin | A video tutorial on how to move map pieces, turn them into objects, and add an existing collision to an object. |
| Sekiro | SEKIRO Modding Tutorial - How to Import 3d Models (FLVER Editor 1.42) | Skymoon | This video tutorial will teach you how to do a model swap in Sekiro using FLVER Editor. |
| ER | Adjusting UI Elements | Nymic_Razor | How to move, scale, rotate, mirror, and skew UI elements using JPEXS. May also apply to other games. |
| ER | Modifying AEGs Tutorial | The King | How to modify AEGs (environmental assets) in Elden Ring. |
| ER | Creating Standalone, Retextured Assets Using AEGs and AETs | Evanlyn | Quick breakdown of how to create new, standalone versions of existing assets with new textures. |
| ER | Custom Havok Cloth in Elden Ring - Quick Overview | Dylan Alexander | A video detailing custom cloth creation for armor using Havok Content Tools 2018 and 3ds Max 2019. Not a proper tutorial, but enough to get some progress. |
| ER | Custom Loading Screens | Challenger Andy | How to create custom loading screen images in Elden Ring. |
| ER, AC6 | Material & Matbin Editing | Challenger Andy & Vee | How to find and edit material / matbin files, commonly used in textures. |
| ER | Recoloring/Retexturing Models Guide | Honor Knight | Learn how to edit textures in Elden Ring using Photoshop or Paint.net (Use WitchyBND instead of Yabber) |
| ER | How to Recolor and Edit Textures | Rainer | A short video series on how to edit textures with Photoshop. |
| ER | Tattoo Editing | Challenger Andy | Short tutorial on editing tattoos. |
| AC6 | Fixing "Model Lag" | Archivist2 | Tutorial for using 'replacer' model for new parts instead, fixing a problem where they can cause model and texture problems with the new part and the one they were meant to replace. |
| AC6 | Part Making Guide for ACVI | Archivist2 | Tutorial on how to make new parts in Armored Core VI, particularly the intricacies of weapons. |
Visual Effects (SFX, VFX, FFX, FXR) & Bullets
| Games | Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | SFX (and Spell) Recoloring Basics and Guide Directory | Challenger Andy | Serves as a first stop for recoloring SFX (visual effects, FFX, FXR) and spells in any game. |
| All | Viewing & Opening Video Files | Thegreatgramcracker | How to open video files in FromSoftware games, like .pam files. |
| All | Viewing & Identifying SFX | Challenger Andy | Multiple methods to view and identify SFX (visual effects, FFX, FXR) in any game. |
| DS1 | FFX files for sfx explained | JeNoVaViRuS | Layout of .ffx files for sfx explained |
| DS2 | Changing the Characters & Objects in Cutscenes | Challenger Andy | Mostly details how to change the player character in cutscenes, but also how to change other characters and objects. |
| DS2 | Changing SFX used by Objects | Challenger Andy | A short tutorial on how to change SFX that are directly linked to a map object. |
| DS3 | FXR Editing: Combining FXR | Challenger Andy | Combining multiple SFX into a single FXR. |
| DS3, Sekiro, ER, AC6 | JavaScript FXR Library | CCCode | JavaScript library for creating and editing FXR (SFX) files. An alternative to XML editing. Link includes tutorials for use. |
| ER | Bullet Editing Guide | Rusty. | A definitive video guide on bullet editing, which is mostly useful for spells. |
| ER | Creating Fake UI Using SFX | Seagoingnote1 | Basic walkthrough to creating and positioning SFX to look like UI elements. |
| ER | FXR Notes (Elden Ring) | Challenger Andy, The12thAvenger, Rayan, ivi, Cccode | Essential for SFX / FXR editing. Contains all Action IDs, EffectAs & EffectBs, Properties, and explanations of what all of that stuff does. |
| DS3, ER, AC6 | FXR Editing: Creating a New Functional FXR ID (with a New Texture) | Challenger Andy | Essential knowledge on how to create a new FXR ID along with a new texture and how to pack it into the game to be used. Includes a huge troubleshooting guide. |
| ER | FXR Editing: Identifying (& Removing) Parts of an FFX | Challenger Andy | Details how to identify constituent parts of an FFX/FXR through a variety of methods. Also details how to remove parts of an FFX. |
| ER | FXR files for sfx explained | JeNoVaViRuS | Layout of .fxr files for sfx explained [WIP] |
| ER | SpEffect Visuals Editing | Challenger Andy | How to change the visuals related to SpEffects (buffs and related mechanics). |
| ER | XML Recoloring Tutorial | Slendahmon | Tutorial on how to recolor spells in ER by editing XML. |
Animations and Behaviors
| Games | Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | TeamTypes: Character Targeting and Damage | Challenger Andy, Dark Matter, MyMaidisKitchenAid | How to change TeamTypes, which determine which characters can target/damage other characters. Includes list of known TeamTypes |
| DS1 | DS1 Custom Animation Rig & Tutorial | InfernoPlus | Animation rig for the player character and a tutorial |
| DS3 | Adding Havok Variables | Vawser | Learn how to implement a new Havok variable, allowing behavior fields such as playbackSpeed to be adjusted within a .hks file. |
| DS3 | Anatomy of a Boss Fight: Iudex Gundyr (DS3) | Katalash | Learn the inner workings of how a boss fight is setup in DS3 (also applicable to other souls games). |
| DS3 | Modding Movesets 101 - Basics of the Basics (DS3) | WhurDaMuffinsAt | If you're looking to get into modding DS3 weapon movesets, this tutorial is your starting point. It guides you through setting up all the necessary applications, gives some helpful tips, and provides resources for your next steps. Note: Outdated due to use of Yapped |
| DS3 | Modding Movesets - Muffin's Knowledge Compenium (DS3) | WhurDaMuffinsAt | A compendium of all my Dark Souls 3 moveset modding knowledge. I explain processes ranging from very simple to highly complex across all the relevant applications. Ongoing project, feel free to message me with contributions. Note: Outdated due to use of Yapped |
| DS3 | DS3 Animation Editing (Actual Animations) | forsakensilver | How to edit DS3 animations (not TAE animation events) |
| DS3, Sekiro, ER | HKS for Fun and Profit | F Wang | A beginner's guide for editing HKS from movesets to microtransactions! |
| ER | Dodge Stutter Fix | PossiblyShiba | A tutorial to fix a dodge stuttering problem that can occur with movesets with custom dodges. |
| ER | Animation Editing Workflow with Blender | nomad | This video tutorial demonstrates how you can import Elden Ring animations into Blender, edit them, and re-import the edited version back into Elden Ring. This is achieved without having to use 3D Studio Max, thus allowing use of (mostly) free and open source tools to complete this workflow. |
| ER | Elden Ring Animation Retargeting | Rainer | Learn how to retarget animations from enemies and NPCs onto the player |
| ER | Introduction to Moveset Modding | Themyys | This Tutorial is about starting from 0 to creating your own Moveset, Sword art or Idle TAE using DsAnimStudio, ERClipGenerator and Smithbox. |
| ER | How to Add an Already Retargeted Animation to Elden Ring | Law | Short tutorial on how to add already retargeted animations. Use WitchyBND instead of Yabber. |
| ER | Basics of Dark Souls Animation Studio | Rainer | Learn how to set up and utilize DSAS before more advanced editing |
| ER | Creating New Spellcasting Animations in Elden Ring | Wëiss & Challenger Andy | A guide in creating unique spellcasting animations using various modding tools, and pairing said animations with bullets/attacks to create new sorcery/incantation in Elden Ring. |
| ER | Understanding Attacks, Bullets, and Behaviors for PC and NPC | Themyys | Everything you need to know about BehaviorParam and creating new Attacks/Bullets for Moveset editing. |
Scripting
| Games | Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | Learning How To Use EMEVD | Geeeeeorge/King Bore Haha | Tutorial on the basics of EMEVD. |
| All | ESD tutorial with an example | JeNoVaViRuS | ESD tutorial to add custom covenant rewards |
| All | Advanced ESD tutorial | JeNoVaViRuS | ESD tutorial to implement a full warping system |
| DS1 | Dark Souls Event Scripting: Intro, Making a Mod p1, Making a Mod p2 | HotPocketRemix | Video tutorials for EMEVD. Uses older tools but is still a good high-level intro. |
| ER | Custom Shops in Elden Ring | PositronCannon | This tutorial will walk you through the steps required to modify existing shops in Elden Ring, as well as creating new custom shops. |
| ER | Intro to Elden Ring EMEVD | thefifthmatt | Guide to setting up modding tools needed for event editing, and a walkthrough of important concepts from both simple and complex event scripts |
Text & Language
| Games | Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | Basic Text Editing Guide | Challenger Andy | Short tutorial to get you started on editing text and fmg in FromSoftware games. |
| ER | Text Formatting Guide | Challenger Andy, TKGP, ivi | Tutorial/reference sheet on how to change the formatting of text. Make different sizes, colors, bullet points, and more. |
Equipment
| Games | Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| DS1 | Spell System Overview for New Spells in DS1 | George/King Bore Haha | Basic overview of systems required to make a new spell in DS1 |
| DS1 | How To Create New Spells In DS1 | JeNoVaViRuS | Overview of steps to create new spells in DS1 |
| DS2 | Altering A Specific Weapon's Damage for a Specific Move | Challenger Andy | A short tutorial on altering weapon damage. |
| DS3 | Adding a Weapon | Vawser | Learn the basics of implementing a new weapon. |
| DS3 | Adding a Moveset | Vawser | Learn the basics of implementing a new move for a weapon. |
| DS3 | Creating a New Moveset in DS3 | Halvard | Creating a new moveset for weapons (focuses on TAE and HKX) |
| DS3 | DS3 How to Create a Trick Weapon | Anonim01 | Consolidation of info and discussions regarding the creation of trick weapons |
| ER | Creating New Spirit Ashes in Elden Ring | Steven Dragonblade | Short tutorial on creating new Spirit Ash Summons in Elden Ring, without replacing existing ones |
| ER | How to make Replenishable Items (Refills at Grace points) | Jorb | How to find create items that refill when resting at a grace. |
| ER | Porting Weapons & Standalone Weapons | WrathfulMantis | A video tutorial on how to port weapons to Elden Ring. |
| All | Export, edit and import models | JeNoVaViRuS | How to find equipment models, export and import them |
Maps
| Games | Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | Placing SFX on a Map | Challenger Andy | How to create and place an SFX (visual effect) on a map. |
| DS1 PTDE | Dark Souls Custom Map Tutorial | InfernoPlus | Start to finish process for creating a map for DS1: PTDE. Partial Transcription |
| DS1 | Adding Enemies (and making their AI work on different maps) | Cyanic | Adding enemies to a different map and making their AI work by editing the luainfo. |
| DS1 | How to Generate New .breakobj Files | Geeeeeorge/King Bore Haha | Tutorial on generating new .breakobj files for maps with modified object placement (this fixes broken objects looking weird when save/quitting) |
| DS2: SOTFS | A Note on Spawn Limits in Dark Souls 2 | Challenger Andy | Some behavior to be aware of when editing how many times an enemy spawns in Dark Souls 2. |
| DS2: SOTFS | How to Create a New Bonfire | Desgeras | Tutorial for creating a new bonfire in Dark Souls including a name and image |
| DS3 | Dark Souls 3 Map Lighting Tutorial | Abyss1ne | Understanding the basic knowledge of DS3 lighting system, the GPARAM |
| ER | Elden Ring Mapping Mini-Tutorials | Evanlyn | Brief tutorials for adding various, specific map features, like doors, traps, and elevators. |
| ER | Modifying GParams (WORK IN PROGRESS) | Rainer | Comprehensive tutorial regarding GParams, what they do, and how to modify them. |
| ER | Skyboxes: Identifying and Changing | Challenger Andy | A very questionable tutorial on how to identify the skybox textures and how to change them. |
Parameters
| Games | Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| DS1, BB | Special Effects and Terrains | Grimrukh | How Special Effects work, how to modify them, and how terrains use them. Focused on DS1, but also applies to Bloodborne. |
| DS2 | Custom Dialogue Modding | Moonlight Ruin | How to add custom dialogue and new shops, as well as how to edit talk esds. |
| DS2 | Dark Souls 2 disable cutscene effects | O Nobre Babuino | How to disable the cutscene effects. |
| DS3 | Adding New Starting Classes to DS3 | Anonim01 | In this tutorial you will learn how to add new starting classes to DS3. It's recommended to take a look at the "Changing Starting Classes and Class Names/Descriptions in DS3" tutorial beforehand, since this video expands on it. |
| DS3 | Creating a bonfire | Evellyn | Every step to create a new bonfire. Recommended as an introduction to understand modding. |
| DS3 | Dark Souls III Modding Tutorial - How to edit Stayparam | Anonim01 | This is a tutorial on the topic of editing Stayparam. It's on Brazilian Portuguese, but there is English captions so everyone can understand it, I hope. |
| ER | Creating a New Gracesite | Lucy | How to add a new Grace |
| DS3, Sekiro, ER | Create Bullets Using spEffects | F Wang | Small, 2-minute guide on the creation of bullets through SpEffects. |
| ER | How to Make a New Class with MapStudio | Jorb | Short tutorial on how to create a new starting class in Elden Ring. |
| ER | How to make buffs cast on both hands at the same time | Syyyke | Shows how to duplicate and edit spEffects to apply a buff to both hands at the same time. |
| ER | Apply an sfx permanently to a weapon | JeNoVaViRuS | Shows how to duplicate and edit spEffects and apply spEffect and an sfx to a weapon permanently |
| ER | Editing an Ash of War | JeNoVaViRuS | Where to find Ash of War params, tae, IDs and more |
| ER | Create a paired weapon | Rainer | How to create a new paired weapon |
Sound & Audio
| Games | Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ER | Soundbank Editing | Themyys | An introduction to sound modding and showcasing basic soundbank editing in the .json format, like using NPC sounds for the player |
| ER | Adding Custom BGM and Looping It | Lucy | How to replace existing BGM (Backgroundmusic) and loop it properly. A condensed and slightly expanded version of the tutorial by Mr. Gaiety found immediately below. |
| ER | Elden Ring Audio Extraction | Jax | Quick guide to extract and convert audio from Elden Ring. |
| ER | How to Implement & Loop Custom Music Tracks in Elden Ring | Mr. Gaiety | Initially done as a series of questions regarding implementing + looping custom Boss tracks in-game, this tutorial attempts to guide the user on how to take your piece of music (usually .mp3), and convert + implement into a format that ER plays in-game for certain bosses/events/scenarios. May change over time as tools mature. |
Hardcoded Systems
| Games | Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | Crash Course in x86 Assembly | SensePost | Learn how assembly language works. Crucial when modifying hardcoded systems. |
| DS1 | DS1 Loading Screen Items | Grimrukh | How to change the pool of items that randomly appear on loading screens in DS1 (both versions). |
| DS3 | Debugging DS3 | sfix | How to allow debugging DS3 (Anti-anti-debug). |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: Animation Viewer | Challenger Andy | How to quickly and manually play animations with a desired character using the Debug Menu. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: Attunement Slot Adjustment | Challenger Andy | How to equipped spells, miracles, and pyromancies without needing to rest at a bonfire. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: "Cheating" | Challenger Andy | How to perform actions that fall under the general umbrella of "Cheating" using the Debug Menu. Invincibility, One-shotting, parrying every attack, etc. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: Changing Debug Menu Formatting and Layout | Challenger Andy | How to change the color, scale, position, and font size of the Debug Menu window itself. Also includes information on how to open multiple windows and change list sorting. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: Control Guide | Challenger Andy | Details general debug controls, debug dash controls, free cam controls, and GUI controls. Essential knowledge for Debug Menu. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: Cutscene/Remo Viewer | Challenger Andy | Manually play and dissect cutscenes (remo). Useful for SFX/FXR editors in identifying what IDs are in the cutscene, as well as those editing or creating original cutscenes. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: Foot Effects & Decal Viewer | Challenger Andy | How to change (temporarily) and view Foot Effects and Decals using Debug Menu. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: FXR / SFX Viewer | Challenger Andy | How to spawn and view FXR / SFX in Dark Souls 3 using the Debug Menu. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: Display Hitboxes & Damage Statistics | Challenger Andy | Display character hurtboxes, damage hitboxes, and some damage statistics. Also allows identification of Bullet IDs, BehaviorParams, and other stuff. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: Inventory Manipulation / Item Gib | Challenger Andy | Useful for quickly adding (or removing) entire classes of weapons, armors, items, etc. at once to the player's inventory. Also includes how to spawn specific items. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: Playing as Enemies/NPCs | Challenger Andy | How to "play as" and control enemies, bosses, or NPCs. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: Player Stat & Covenant Rank Adjustments | Challenger Andy | Change stat levels; HP, SP, and MP amounts; Covenant Points and Rank amounts; and debuff resistance stats. Also includes information for manipulating enemy/NPC HP amounts. |
| DS3, DS1* | Debug Menu Transcription | Challenger Andy | Transcription, Translations, and Explanations of DS3's Debug Menu. *Also helpful for DS1 |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: Troubleshooting | Challenger Andy | Troubleshooting steps for common problems when using DS3's Debug Menu. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: Save/Load Debug Workspace | Challenger Andy | Details how to save and load your current cursor positions in debug windows as bookmarks/loadable layouts, even between sessions. Fully describes SubWindow functions. |
| DS3 | Debug Menu: SpEffect Spawner | Challenger Andy | Details how to spawn and view SpEffects (and SpEffectVfx) using debug menu. |
Merging
| Games | Name | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ER, All* | How to Merge Mods | Dylan Alexander, Challenger Andy, Angel Dasha, Clevererraptor, Rainer | How to resolve conflicts between multiple mods in order to play them. Includes how to merge animations, FXR (SFX), MsgBnds, params, regulation.bins, and TAEs. Written for Elden Ring but somewhat applies to other games. |
| ER | Seamless Co-op and Mods | Lucy | How to merge the popular Seamless Co-op Mod with other mods. |