The Holy Nation in Kenshi: you either love them or hate them. They're human supremacists with, shall we say, very specific views on women, Skeletons, and technology. Playing for them, against them, or simply trying to survive nearby is always a unique experience. But what if you could make that experience more intense, more engaging, or simply better?
We'll look at some of the best Holy Nation mods for Kenshi, capable of transforming your playthrough whether you want to serve Phoenix, bring him to his knees, or simply make Holy Nation territory feel more alive.
The Holy Nation Ascended
Feel the Holy Nation could be more developed? This mod addresses that by expanding the faction with small but meaningful touches, adding depth and making it a more serious threat.
- Adds Holy Crossbowmen to patrols and armies, finally giving them ranged attacks.
- Introduces light and medium versions of Holy Chest Plate for more armor variety.
- Adds new domestic animals to Holy Farm traders, including River Raptors and Pack Beasts.
- A grander, more impressive armor set for Phoenix himself.
✅ Gameplay changes: Fighting the Holy Nation becomes a different game once they have crossbows. You can no longer simply kite their patrols with your ranged fighters. More varied armor and unique animals give their territory a stronger identity. It's an excellent foundation that strengthens the army and the faction's character without breaking the lore.
Holy Nation Expanded Plus
If you've wandered through Okran's Pride and thought it felt a little… empty, this mod is for you. It fills Holy Nation territory with new locations, making their lands densely settled and alive.
- Two new major towns: Watermouth, an agricultural center, and the Hammer of Okran, a weapons and armor production center.
- Two new small towns, four additional Holy Farms, two Holy Mines, and a military base.
- The "Holy Academy of Okran," where you can watch Holy Servants training.
- Military checkpoints in Rebirth, making escape much harder.
✅ Gameplay changes: The world feels much more populated and coherent. The Hammer of Okran gives their military power a clear in-game source, while the academy provides a place for soldiers to train. The extra checkpoints in Rebirth turn escaping from the slave start into the challenge it probably should be.
This mod adds so much that a new playthrough is worthwhile just to see everything. Think about how you want to begin your journey: a fresh start in an expanded world can feel like a completely different game.
Stronger Holy Nation
If you want the Holy Nation to be a truly frightening force, this mod is for you. It significantly strengthens their soldiers, adds new units, and makes their presence much more intimidating.
- A small stat increase for most soldiers, with bigger boosts for weaker units.
- Better armor for all troops, including helmets and footwear for servants.
- Adds a new "Inquisition Agent" unit to patrols, actively checking your inventory for heretical items.
- Priests now have decent hand-to-hand combat skills, so they can beat you into submission before lecturing you.
✅ Gameplay changes: The Holy Nation becomes a force to reckon with. Patrols are tougher, raids are more dangerous, and Inquisition Agents add another layer of paranoia when traveling through their territory. This makes war with the Holy Nation feel like a war rather than a string of skirmishes.
Lore-Friendly Holy Nation Buff
For a subtler upgrade, this mod strengthens the Holy Nation in a way that feels faithful to the original game. Its small, targeted changes aim to make their army more believable.
- Minor stat increases (roughly +) for most Holy Nation soldiers and leaders, such as Seta and Valtena.
- Better equipment for high-level troops; High Paladins are more likely to wear chainmail and carry Catun-grade weapons.
- Basic units such as Holy Servants and Holy Chosen receive better basic gear, including boots and vests.
✅ Gameplay changes: The difference is noticeable without upsetting the balance. The Holy Nation performs better in battle, especially against the United Cities in Bast, without feeling impossibly strong. It's ideal if you want to give them a slight edge without a complete overhaul.
Faction Upgrade: Holy Nation
This is a huge compilation designed to improve almost every aspect of the faction. It brings changes to towns, units, equipment, and dialogue together in one package.
- Integrates other mods that overhaul towns, add settlements, and introduce new social mechanics.
- Adds Holy Surgeons who can be found in bars or traveling with patrols.
- Ranged warriors are added to every paladin squad.
- A new "retired paladin" game start.
- Distinctive, varied armor and weapons for every troop rank, and even civilians.
✅ Gameplay changes: Essentially, it's a mod pack with a comprehensive, cohesive vision of the faction. Their army is more varied, their lands more populated, and their society feels more developed.
Holy Nation Brides — Recruit by Marriage
Always wanted to settle down in service to Okran? This mod lets male Holy Citizen characters marry and recruit female Holy Citizen NPCs through a proper ceremony.
- You need at least +10 relations with the Holy Nation to propose.
- Speak to a Holy Priest at a temple to get a wedding ring and begin the process.
- Once the woman agrees, return to the priest for the ceremony, after which she joins your squad.
✅ Gameplay changes: This offers a lore-friendly recruitment method while role-playing a devout follower of Okran. It adds a unique social dynamic that feels right for the faction's patriarchal society.
Holy Nation Extra Dialogue
This mod adds a huge amount of new dialogue for the Holy Nation and related factions, matching the vanilla tone and making the world less repetitive and more alive.
- Adds lore-friendly dialogue for many situations, including trading and fights with guards.
- The new text is designed to blend seamlessly with the original writing style.
✅ Gameplay changes: The world simply feels more responsive. Hearing new lines from guards, priests, and civilians after hundreds of hours is incredibly refreshing. It's a simple change with a huge effect on long-term replayability.
PURITANS!!
This mod offers a unique game start as traveling Holy Nation pilgrims. It is designed for a role-playing playthrough with a clear narrative focus.
- A unique "Wandering Pilgrim" game start.
- Includes special items and a story premise.
- Ideal for an immersive Holy Nation playthrough from the beginning.
✅ Gameplay changes: Instead of beginning without a backstory, you start with a clear identity and purpose. It changes your initial motivation and how you interact with the world. It's a great way to commit to a specific role and experience Kenshi from a completely different perspective.
Idle Stands
A simple but effective mod that adds prayer animations and lets characters interact with prayer mats and other religious furniture.
- NPCs will now pray in designated areas.
- Your own characters can use prayer mats for atmospheric role-playing.
✅ Gameplay changes: Although purely cosmetic, this dramatically improves immersion. Building a church at your outpost finally has a purpose when squad members actually use it to pray.
Which Holy Nation Mods Are Right for You?
The Holy Nation is one of Kenshi's most iconic and controversial factions (not my favorite: I love the Shek), and these mods show how much untapped potential its fanatical society has.
Whether you want to face a more intimidating army, explore richer and more detailed territory, or dive into deeper role-playing, there's a mod for you here.
If you have trouble getting mods to run, see the detailed installation guide for common errors and their solutions.
If I've missed any mods or you know something interesting, share it. I'll test it and add it if it fits. I'm always ready to try something that works with the rest of the setup without conflicts.
