Best Kenshi Mods for Solo Playthrough

Playing Kenshi solo? You absolute madman. I respect that. There’s something incredibly satisfying about surviving the wasteland with just your wits, a rusty sword, and maybe if you’re lucky both legs intact. But let’s be real here: vanilla Kenshi can be brutal for solo players. You’re basically a walking snack for cannibals, slavers, and every random beak thing that decides you look tasty.

That’s where mods come in. The right mod selection can transform your solo experience from constant death spiral into actual strategic gameplay. After spending way too many hours getting my character eaten alive (seriously, why did I think approaching those fogmen was a good idea?) I’ve collected the best kenshi mods for solo playthrough that’ll make your lone wanderer journey actually enjoyable.

Solo Combat Training Mods

Solo combat in Kenshi means you can’t rely on backup when things go sideways. These mods address the fundamental problem of training efficiently without a squad watching your back.

Martial Village

Sometimes you need structured training that actually makes sense in the world. This mod adds dojo-based solo combat training with proper quest integration for martial arts builds.

⭐ Key Features:

• Dojo-based training system
• Integrated quest system
• Designed for martial arts builds
• Solo-friendly training structure

✅ Gameplay changes: Provides immersive martial arts training with narrative context

Finally, a mod that treats martial arts training like the discipline it should be. No more randomly punching rocks to get better at combat now you can actually train like a proper warrior.

Strength Training

Forget the weight bench sometimes you need portable training. This mod adds heavy books of different weights that you can carry while walking around safe areas like The Hub.

⭐ Key Features:

• Portable strength training books
• Various weight options
• Safe area training
• Walk-and-train functionality

✅ Gameplay changes: Allows strength training during travel in safe zones without combat risk

Perfect for paranoid solo players who want to train strength without exposing themselves to danger. You can literally get stronger while window shopping in The Hub.

Gym Training Tools

Want a complete home gym for your solo warrior? This mod adds four pieces of gym equipment that turn your base into a proper training facility with actual animations that make sense.

⭐ Key Features:

• Four different gym equipment pieces (treadmill, chin-up bar, weight bench, Tesla coil)
• Covers athletics, strength, and toughness training
• Cheap to build and research (only 1 book needed)
• Proper training animations for immersion
• Chair and throne versions available for idle behavior

✅ Gameplay changes: Provides comprehensive physical training with visual feedback and realistic animations

Finally, training that actually looks like training. Watching your character properly lift weights or run on a treadmill beats the hell out of watching them mysteriously get stronger by carrying around iron ore. The Tesla coil for toughness training is chef’s kiss. Nothing says “getting tough” like voluntary electrocution.

Training Weapons

Trying to train weapon skills without getting your character killed is the eternal solo player struggle. This mod adds seven different training weapons that let you practice without the whole “death by bandit” situation.

⭐ Key Features:

• Seven training weapon types (katana, saber, blunt, hacker, heavy, polearm, martial arts)
• Safe skill training without mortality risk
• Level 1 research requirement
• Reduced material costs for crafting
• Both damage and non-damage versions available

✅ Gameplay changes: Enables safe weapon skill development for weak characters without combat risk

You can actually learn how to swing a sword without immediately getting your character turned into bandit chow. The martial arts bindings are especially clutch for solo players who want to go the unarmed route but need to actually survive long enough to get good at it.

Sensible Training – A Training Dummy Overhaul

The vanilla training dummies are basically useless decoration. This overhaul actually makes them functional for dodge, martial arts, and turret skills up to level 30.

⭐ Key Features:

• Expands training dummy functionality
• Covers dodge, martial arts, and turret skills
• Training available up to level 30
• Different training marks for various skills

✅ Gameplay changes: Provides comprehensive skill training when real combat isn’t feasible

When you’re playing solo, every combat encounter is a risk. Having reliable training options means you can actually prepare for those encounters instead of stumbling into them with level 5 dodge (we’ve all been there).

Base Building and Equipment Mods

Building alone means handling everything yourself. These mods reduce the tedium and expand your options.

Expanded Vanilla Armor

Solo players need to optimize their single character’s equipment carefully. This mod adds new armor that’s kit-bashed from vanilla pieces, fitting perfectly into Kenshi’s aesthetic without being overpowered.

⭐ Key Features:

• Kit-bashed armor from vanilla pieces
• Fits Kenshi’s aesthetic perfectly
• Balanced equipment options
• More variety for solo optimization

✅ Gameplay changes: Provides additional armor variety without breaking game balance

When you only have one character to gear up, having more armor options becomes crucial. This mod gives you choices without making you overpowered still gotta earn your survival.

Slopeless

Kenshi’s building system has this annoying habit of rejecting perfectly good locations because of minor terrain issues. This mod opens up previously impossible building spots.

⭐ Key Features:

• Allows building on steep terrain
• Removes most terrain restrictions
• Expands available base locations
• Perfect for strategic positioning

✅ Gameplay changes: Dramatically increases base location options, especially for defensive positioning

Solo players need every advantage they can get in base placement. Being able to build on that perfect hilltop or cliff face can mean the difference between a secure outpost and becoming someone’s lunch.

Copper Ore Drill

Manual mining when you’re solo is pure torture. This automated drilling equipment lets you establish bases in copper-poor areas without spending your entire playtime swinging a pickaxe.

⭐ Key Features:

• Automated copper mining
• Reduces manual mining requirements
• Allows bases in resource-poor areas
• Essential for solo base management

✅ Gameplay changes: Eliminates the mining grind, allowing focus on more engaging gameplay elements

I’ve literally fallen asleep at my keyboard while mining copper. Multiple times. This mod saves your sanity and your sleep schedule.

Better Building System

The vanilla building system is held together with duct tape and prayers. This overhaul fixes the majority of placement issues and interior problems.

⭐ Key Features:

• Fixes interior building problems
• Improved placement mechanics
• Reduces need for console commands
• More reliable construction overall

✅ Gameplay changes: Makes base building actually functional instead of an exercise in frustration

When you’re handling all construction personally, having a building system that actually works becomes critically important. No more watching your walls phase through the ground.

Economy and Trading Enhancements

Enhanced Shopping Economy

Solo players rely heavily on trading since you can’t field massive squads. This mod creates a more balanced and engaging economic system.

⭐ Key Features:

• More active NPC shopping behavior
• Expanded shop inventories
• Balanced economic gameplay
• Better trading opportunities

✅ Gameplay changes: Makes economic gameplay more viable and engaging for solo characters

Trading becomes your lifeline when you can’t just raid everything in sight. This mod ensures the economy actually supports that playstyle.

Hardcore Solo Challenge Mods

For the masochists among us who think regular Kenshi isn’t punishing enough.

The Lone Wanderer

The vanilla Wanderer start is decent, but this mod specifically reworks it for solo or small group play (up to four people), streamlining the narrative focus.

⭐ Key Features:

• Maximum of 5 faction members total (including your starting character)
• Ground-level construction completely disabled no building cities or outposts
• Modified structures can be built inside existing buildings or on rooftops
• Hydroponics becomes your only option for growing food and materials
• Four starting city options: Stoat, Bad Teeth, Shark, and The Hub
• Each starting location offers unique advantages and challenges
• Forces apartment-style living instead of traditional base building

✅ Gameplay changes: Provides a more focused and appropriate beginning for solo players

This mod understands that solo players need different narrative beats than massive squad leaders. It’s the Wanderer start, but actually designed with lone wolves in mind.

Solo Slave Start

The vanilla slave start gives you a companion, which defeats the purpose of solo play. This mod provides a true single-character slave beginning. I also added a link to Solo Slave Starts mod from steam that gives you an opportunity to select a faction.

⭐ Key Features:

• True solo slave start
• No unwanted companion
• Authentic bottom-tier beginning
• Perfect narrative setup

✅ Gameplay changes: Provides the intended solo challenge experience from the lowest social position

Starting as a slave without backup is the ultimate solo challenge. You’ll appreciate every small victory when you’re literally starting from nothing.

Enhanced Survival Challenge

Makes resource management actually challenging by reducing gains and increasing difficulty across the board.

⭐ Key Features:

• Reduced resource gain
• Increased overall difficulty
• Forces strategic thinking
• Perfect for experienced players

✅ Gameplay changes: Transforms casual play into genuine survival challenge

If regular Kenshi feels too easy (and honestly, who are you kidding?), this mod brings back that constant edge-of-death tension that makes victories meaningful.

Hardcore Ultra Realism

Vanilla Kenshi too easy for you? This complete overhaul transforms the game into a brutal, realistic survival experience where staying alive is an actual achievement and thriving becomes legendary.

⭐ Key Features:

• Complete combat system overhaul with realistic damage
• Faster leveling but drastically reduced life expectancy
• Realistic movement speeds (16mph max at level 99)
• Predators can literally eat you alive and are properly deadly
• No random recruit hobos – only unique characters can join
• Realistic item weights and pricing overhaul
• Faster healing that consumes nutrition

✅ Gameplay changes: Transforms Kenshi from time-wasting simulator into genuine strategic survival challenge

This isn’t just “make numbers bigger” difficulty, it’s a complete philosophical rework of how Kenshi should feel. Combat becomes genuinely deadly (expect real sword damage), stealth actually requires skill, and you can’t cheese your way to victory. The mod creator literally challenges you to kill every boss in the game without save-scumming. Only for players who think vanilla Kenshi is for weaklings.

Black Scratch Wanderer Start

Sometimes you want a different starting location without completely changing your character concept. This simple mod places you in Black Scratch instead of The Hub, offering alternative early game experiences.

⭐ Key Features:

• Alternative Wanderer start location
• Places you in Black Scratch
• Simple location change mod
• Different early game opportunities

✅ Gameplay changes: Provides variety in starting locations while maintaining the Wanderer experience

Black Scratch offers different trade routes, faction interactions, and early game challenges compared to The Hub. Perfect for experienced players who want familiar mechanics in unfamiliar territory.

Impossible Start

For the absolute maniacs who want the ultimate challenge: start with no limbs, massive debt ( -1000000000), and universal hatred. I recommend creating skeleton characters only, because you don’t have limbs 😀

⭐ Key Features:

• No arms or legs at start
• 1 billion cats in debt
• Hatred from all factions
• Spawns in cannibal territory

✅ Gameplay changes: Creates the most extreme challenge possible in Kenshi

This is less a mod and more a digital form of self-harm. But hey, if you can survive this start, you can survive anything.

Recommended Load Order

Getting your mods to play nice together is crucial. Here’s the load order that works:

1. Core Game Changes (race modifications, stat changes)
2. New Starts and Scenarios
3. Building System Improvements
4. Training and Combat Mods
5. Economic Modifications
6. Difficulty Adjustments
7. Quality of Life Improvements

Always test your mod combination with a throwaway character first. Nothing’s worse than discovering conflicts 20 hours into a playthrough.

Getting Ready For Solo Playthrough

Solo Kenshi is an entirely different beast from squad-based play. These mods don’t make the game easy they make it playable as a solo experience. You’ll still get your character’s limbs chewed off by beak things (it’s basically a rite of passage), but at least you’ll have the tools to train up and fight back effectively.

Remember to check out my Kenshi character name generator for creating the perfect wasteland wanderer, and don’t forget to grab some performance mods for Kenshi to keep your game running smooth during those epic solo adventures.

The wasteland is calling, lone wanderer. Time to answer.

Can you play Kenshi single-player?

Absolutely. Solo play is perfectly doable without mods, though I certainly wouldn’t recommend it for anyone new to the game. With the right mods, it becomes not just possible but genuinely enjoyable.

How long does a Kenshi playthrough take?

A solo playthrough can range from 150-300+ hours depending on your goals. Building a successful solo character takes longer than squad play since you’re doing everything yourself, but it’s incredibly rewarding.

What is the best race to start in Kenshi?

For solo runs, Greenlanders are the safest choice for beginners they’re accepted everywhere and have balanced stats. Scorchlanders offer speed and stealth advantages but face some discrimination. Skeletons are overpowered but only if you are experienced enough, making them challenging for new solo players.