If you have ever felt like Silksong was just a little too punishing when enemies land a hit, the Damage Reduction mod might be exactly what you need. It is designed to smooth out the harsher parts of combat by lowering how much damage Hornet takes. Instead of bosses or regular foes dishing out heavy punishment, most hits are softened into a manageable single point of damage. This small change makes a huge difference in how the game feels without stripping away its challenge or intensity.
How it works
The mod changes the default damage system so that most attacks from enemies and bosses only deal one damage. The beauty of it is that you still have to dodge, parry and play carefully, but the consequences of a mistake are no longer devastating. There are some exceptions though. Certain attacks in Silksong trigger multiple hits in quick succession, and those can still result in what looks like a double hit. This is more a quirk of how the game engine handles those moves rather than a shortcoming of the mod itself. For the vast majority of fights though, you will feel a clear reduction in the punishment you take.
Why players love it
One of the main reasons people reach for DamageReduction is to cut down on frustration. Silksong is built to test your reflexes and your patience, and sometimes dying from one or two bad hits can feel unfair. By reducing incoming damage, the mod lets you focus on improving your movement and strategy rather than constantly worrying about losing all progress to one mistake.
It also creates a better learning curve. If you are new to the world of Silksong, getting comfortable with combat can be overwhelming. The mod acts like a training tool, giving you a little more breathing room to understand patterns, timings and strategies before the full brunt of the game hits you.
Another perk is its adjustability. The default value is one damage per hit, but if that feels too forgiving or still not forgiving enough, you can edit the configuration file and set the number yourself. This makes it appealing for both new players and veterans who just want to fine tune their experience.
Installing and tweaking
To get started with Damage Reduction you will need the modding framework BepInEx set up for your copy of Silksong. Once that is ready, installation is as simple as dropping the mod file into the plugins folder inside the BepInEx directory. From there, the mod loads automatically when you launch the game.
Inside the configuration folder you will find a line that lets you adjust the DamageValue. By default it is set to one but you can change it to any number you want. Some players even experiment with setting it to zero for a totally carefree exploration run, while others bump it up slightly higher for a balanced feel.
Community experiences
Players who have tried this mod often describe it as a game changer for enjoyment. It makes boss fights less stressful while still keeping them engaging. Some have noticed that certain attacks still seem to do more than one damage but that usually happens in cases where the game is registering two separate hits. Most agree that the overall experience is smoother and fairer.
Another common question is whether using the mod affects achievements. The answer is no, achievements still work as normal, which is great news if you are aiming to collect everything while keeping the difficulty manageable.
Things to keep in mind
There are a few quirks worth remembering. Because the game sometimes treats environmental hazards differently, spikes or traps might not always follow the reduced damage rule. Also, changing the DamageValue too drastically can tilt the balance in unexpected ways. If you set it too low, the thrill of overcoming tough battles might disappear. If you set it too high, you might not notice much difference from the base game. It is best to experiment until you find a sweet spot that makes the game fun for you.
Download
Damage Reduction is not about making Silksong easy. It is about creating a fairer experience where mistakes are lessons rather than brutal setbacks. By softening the blow of each hit, it allows you to focus on exploration, movement and strategy while still enjoying the thrill of tough encounters. Whether you are new to the series or a seasoned player who just wants to enjoy Pharloom without constant frustration, this mod offers a balanced and customizable way to play at your own pace.