The release of the Anniversary Edition (version 1.6.x) created a divide in the community. While AE brought official Creation Club content and a compiler upgrade (Visual Studio 2019), it broke compatibility with years of established mods. Here is how 1.5.97.0 compares to modern versions: Core Compatibility
Version 1.5.97 is the "Modder's Paradise." If you are staying on this version, make sure to turn off automatic updates for Skyrim in Steam so you don't accidentally lose your mod setup The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition V1.5.97.0
Download the from the Nexus Mods platform. The release of the Anniversary Edition (version 1