diff --git a/backend/app/main.py b/backend/app/main.py
index d4a130cc..516b59ea 100644
--- a/backend/app/main.py
+++ b/backend/app/main.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
     orbs,
     afflictions,
     modifiers,
+    mods,
     achievements,
     badges,
     epochs,
@@ -544,6 +545,7 @@ async def dispatch(self, request: Request, call_next):
 app.include_router(orbs.router)
 app.include_router(afflictions.router)
 app.include_router(modifiers.router)
+app.include_router(mods.router)
 app.include_router(achievements.router)
 app.include_router(badges.router)
 app.include_router(epochs.router)
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/mods.py b/backend/app/routers/mods.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fbdc53d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/routers/mods.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"""Mod asset directory.
+
+Curated list of community mods whose image repos supply entity art as the third
+fallback after main and beta on the run and live pages. Each mod's images are
+named by the in-game entity id (lowercased), so the frontend builds
+`<raw_base>/<paths[type]>/<id>.<ext>` for an id that resolves in neither the
+main nor beta catalog, and shows modded card/relic/potion art with no per-mod
+code. The directory lives in data/mods.json; only vetted repos go in.
+"""
+
+import json
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Request
+from slowapi import Limiter
+from slowapi.util import get_remote_address
+
+router = APIRouter(prefix="/api/mods", tags=["Mods"])
+limiter = Limiter(key_func=get_remote_address)
+
+_DATA_DIR = Path(
+    os.environ.get("DATA_DIR", Path(__file__).resolve().parents[3] / "data")
+)
+
+
+def _load_mods() -> list[dict]:
+    """The vetted mod entries from data/mods.json, or [] if absent/unreadable."""
+    path = _DATA_DIR / "mods.json"
+    if not path.exists():
+        return []
+    try:
+        with open(path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            return json.load(f).get("mods", [])
+    except Exception:
+        return []
+
+
+@router.get("", tags=["Mods"])
+@limiter.limit("120/minute")
+def list_mods(request: Request):
+    """The curated mod directory: each mod's repo art base and per-type
+    subpaths, so clients can fall back to modded entity art by id."""
+    return {"mods": _load_mods()}
diff --git a/data/mods.json b/data/mods.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d3041036
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/mods.json
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{
+  "_comment": "Curated directory of community mods whose asset repos supply entity art as the third fallback after main and beta. Each entry's images must be named by the in-game entity id, lowercased (e.g. relic DAMARU -> relics/damaru.png), matching the official convention. Only add vetted repos. The frontend builds <raw_base>/<paths[type]>/<id>.<ext>.",
+  "mods": [
+    {
+      "key": "watcher",
+      "name": "Watcher",
+      "author": "lamali292",
+      "url": "https://github.com/lamali292/WatcherMod",
+      "raw_base": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/lamali292/WatcherMod/main/Watcher/images",
+      "ext": "png",
+      "paths": {
+        "cards": "card_portraits",
+        "relics": "relics",
+        "potions": "potions"
+      }
+    }
+  ]
+}