Could really use help on shrinking and merging my plugins (and just general modding help)

[TaizerBeam]

I've decided to get back into Skyrim and started modding it using a mod guide my friend sent me. What I didn't realize or remember is the plugin limit and that this guide gives you a lot of options, more than you can ever come close to using without merging, ESL etc. I'm new to merging and editing files and have tried to google and search for answers but can't find the exact answers I'm looking for. A big one is my weapon and armor mods. I'd like to just merge them into one but I heard that can screw up leveled lists. Any help would be great as I've already started putting mods on the chopping block and still have a good number that I'd like to install. I've been at this for the better part of the weekend and feel I hit a wall.

Here is the mod list guide I'm using. My goal is just to have a really nice looking Skyrim and great immersion/gameplay options so I don't have to mod it again for awhile. I am at the Creatures & Factions portion and still have a few more sections to skim through, so you see my dilemma. I am also using NMM and Merge Plugins exe.
Right now I have 221 active plugins and 311 active mods. Would like to get below 200 if possible from here (obviously the lower the better). Here is the current plugin list/order:

 

 

GameMode=SkyrimSE



Skyrim.esm=1

Update.esm=1

Dawnguard.esm=1

HearthFires.esm=1

Dragonborn.esm=1

Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch.esp=1

MajesticMountains_Landscape.esm=1

Resources - The Great Cities.esp=1

Paradise_City_RESOURCES.esm=1

LegacyoftheDragonborn.esm=1

Forgotten DungeonsSSE.esm=1

MajesticMountains_Moss.esp=1

RealisticWaterTwo - Resources.esm=1

WinterholdDestruction.esm=1

HammetDungeons.esm=1

Vigilant.esm=1

FloraRespawnFix.esp=1

Hearthfires Houses Building Fix.esp=1

SkyUI_SE.esp=1

GQJ_DG_vampireamuletfix.esp=0

SkyrimImprovedPuddles-DG-HF-DB.esp=1

UnlimitedBookshelves.esp=1

TrueStormsSE.esp=1

Obsidian Weathers.esp=1

SMIM-SE-Merged-All.esp=1

Better Harvesting.esp=1

AutoHideAmmo.esp=1

iHUD.esp=1

RaceMenu.esp=1

RaceMenuPlugin.esp=1

BlendedRoads.esp=1

EnhancedLightsandFX.esp=1

Weapons Armor Clothing & Clutter Fixes.esp=1

Differently Ebony.esp=0

LTAJC_LightElvenArmor.esp=1

ELFX - NoPlayerHomes.esp=1

Dark_Forests.esp=1

Distinct Interiors.esp=1

The Forts of Skyrim-Rebuilt.esp=1

FlowerFields.esp=1

fortdawnguardimmersive.esp=1

The Great Cities - Minor Cities and Towns.esp=1

dD - Enhanced Blood Main.esp=1

EBT - IC PATCH.esp=1

EBT - skyBirds Patch.esp=0

dD-Larger Splatter Size.esp=1

DeadlySpellImpacts.esp=1

DeadlySpellImpacts - Two Fire.esp=1

DustEffectsSSE.esp=1

Frost Meshes Patch.esp=1

SRG_aspen_replacer.esp=1

EVT_LightSnowTrees_Replacer (For Vurts).esp=1

Landscape Fixes For Grass Mods.esp=1

S3DRocks.esp=1

MajesticMountains.esp=1

NorthernGrass.esp=1

SkygazerMoonsSize.esp=1

Supreme and Volumetric Fog for Obsidian Weathers and Seasons.esp=1

Obsidian Weathers MCM.esp=1

Obsidian Weathers for Vigilant.esp=1

mintylightningmod.esp=1

True Storms - Obsidian Weathers - Patch .esp=1

TrueStorms_Wet&Cold_Patch.esp=1

Obsidian_TS_Wet&Cold_Patch.esp=1

TrueStorms_MintyLightning_Patch.esp=1

Wet&Cold - WaterFix - Addon.esp=1

WondersofWeather.esp=1

ELFX Fake Light Remover.esp=1

Enhanced Solitude SSE.esp=1

Skysan_ELFX_SMIM_Fix.esp=1

ELFX Fixes.esp=1

The Great Town of Ivarstead.esp=1

Dawn of Skyrim.esp=1

The Great Town of Shor's Stone.esp=1

Unique Flowers & Plants.esp=1

Undriel_QuaintRavenRock.esp=1

The Great City of Solitude.esp=1

Skyrim Bridges.esp=1

FDIELnFXPatch.esp=1

Weathered Road Signs.esp=1

Windhelm Exterior Altered.esp=1

Particle Patch for ENB SSE.esp=1

The Great Village of Mixwater Mill.esp=1

MLQ_EnhancedSolitude_Fixes.esp=1

Settlements Expanded SE.esp=1

Vigilant Voiced.esp=1

Nordic Ruins of Skyrim.esp=1

cliffs.esp=1

Guards_Armor_Replacer.esp=1

Snowy AF Windhelm.esp=1

AncientLand2.esp=1

Quaint Raven Rock - SFCO Patch.esp=1

MLQ_EnhancedSolitude_CoWusesBrumaAssets.esp=1

MLQ_EnhancedSolitude_ImperialPhysicianMedicines.esp=1

MLQ_EnhancedSolitude_MysticDivineOctavo.esp=1

MLQ_EnhancedSolitude_SolitudeBank_Keys.esp=1

JS Barenziah SE - Johnskyrim.esp=1

Potions.esp=1

ORM-Arvak.esp=1

Apophysis_DPM_SE.esp=1

OdahviingReplacer_Ancient.esp=1

Hothtrooper44_ArmorCompilation.esp=1

Hothtrooper44_Armor_Ecksstra.esp=1

WarmongerArmory_SSE.esp=1

Common Clothes and Armors.esp=1

AMB Glass Variants Lore.esp=1

Legendary Skyrim Crossbows.esp=1

Runed_Nordic_Weapons.esp=1

Lore Weapon Expansion - Goldbrand.esp=1

Lore Weapon Expansion.esp=1

Lore Weapon Expansion - Relics of the Crusader.esp=1

Lore Weapon Expansion - Daedric Crescent.esp=1

InsanitySorrow Weapons Pack.esp=1

PrvtIRoyalArmory.esp=1

AyleidCrystalSword.esp=1

Cloaks.esp=1

HD Quill of Germination - Dark.esp=1

AVExpansion.esp=1

Rudy Nordic Pottery SSE.esp=1

Kala_Eyes.esp=1

KS Hairdo's.esp=1

KaliliesBrows.esp=1

SVBeardsSE.esp=1

Dalish_Vallaslin.esp=1

PAN_NPCs.esp=1

Metalsabers Beautiful Orcs of Skyrim.esp=1

Metalsabers Elegant Elves of Skyrim.esp=1

PAN_NPCs_DG.esp=1

Bijin_AIO-SV 2018.esp=1

Bijin AIO.esp=1

Bijin_CWBattleRikke_Patch.esp=1

Serana Renewal.esp=1

DBM_HallOfHeroesLight.esp=1

KRI_TemperableReplicasForLOTD.esp=1

AKSkyrimUnderground.esp=1

SMIM-RatwayChandellierFix.esp=0

Palaces Castles Enhanced.esp=1

ExpandedWinterholdRuins.esp=1

MLQ_EnhancedSolitude_CopperDragonMead.esp=1

Dwarfsphere.esp=1

Morning Fogs SSE.esp=1

Dr_Bandolier.esp=1

WACCF_Armor and Clothing Extension.esp=1

Armor Variants Expansion - WACCF Patch.esp=1

WhiterunDefenses.esp=1

Skyrim Better Roads - All In One - Merged.esp=1

Paradise_City_Merged.esp=1

CBBE.esp=1

RaceMenuMorphsCBBE.esp=1

BandolierForNPC.esp=1

ELE-ELFX Patch AIO.esp=1

fallentreebridgesSSE.esp=1

EmbersHD.esp=1

This_is_Riverwood.esp=1

Foggy Morthal and Swamp.esp=1

RoriksteadBasaltCliffs.esp=1

Quaint Raven Rock - Better Docks Patch.esp=1

Quaint Raven Rock - ELFX Patch.esp=1

Dustmote_Ruined_Old_Gardens_1.1.esp=1

MLQ_EnhancedSolitude_EnhancedSewers.esp=1

MLQ_EnhancedSolitude_Thalmorphanize.esp=1

FDILOTDPatch.esp=1

FDILOTDBPatch.esp=1

OldHroldanRuins.esp=1

Retirement.esp=1

Fredas_Night_Fashion.esp=1

Windhelm Lighthouse.esp=1

MLQ_EnhancedSolitude_StaticLedgers.esp=1

Darkend.esp=1

stendarrsbeaconenhancedRv4sse.esp=1

notice board.esp=1

Northern Marsh Bridges SE.esp=1

The Paarthurnax Dilemma.esp=1

BentPines.esp=1

[pPatch] Bentpines_Navmesh.esp=1

Quaint Raven Rock - USSEP Patch.esp=1

BetterSolstheimLocations.esp=1

middenexpandedlitesse.esp=1

Settlements Expanded SE - Skyrim Better Roads Patch.esp=1

CFTO - The Great City of Solitude Patch.esp=0

IFDImmPatrolsIIPatch.esp=1

FortifiedWhiterun-BellsofSkyrimPatch.esp=1

Fortified Whiterun - Full Version - Dawn of Skyrim 1.4 patch.esp=1

WiZkiD Signs - No Snow Under the Roof patch.esp=1

Whiterun Defenses - Immersive Cit.-full version patch.esp=1

EmbersHD - RLO Patch.esp=0

Men of Winter.esp=1

PAN_NPCs_DB.esp=1

Quaint Raven Rock - AI Overhaul Patch.esp=1

Men of Winter - Skills&Perks Module.esp=1

FishHatchery_LoDB_Addon.esp=1

fallenbridgesSSE-Patch.esp=1

USSEP - The Great City of Solitude Patch.esp=1

Darkend Balance Patch.esp=1

Notice Board MCM.esp=1

radovar's revenge.esp=1

RabbitHole.esp=1

AK- Boethiah Alternate.esp=1

VigilanceReborn.esp=1

Enhanced Solitude Cherry Trees SSE.esp=1

WiZkiD Signs - BirnasOddments Addon.esp=1

AK- Namira for Good Guys.esp=1

StrangeRunes.esp=1

aMidianborn_Skyforge_Weapons.esp=1

Cloaks - Dawnguard.esp=1

Cloaks - USSEP Patch.esp=1

BandolierForNPC - Cloaks of Skyrim Patch.esp=1

BandolierForNPC - Realistic Enchantements.esp=1

BandolierForNPC - Weapons Armor Clothing Clutter Patch.esp=1

Armor Variants Expansion - ACE Patch.esp=1

Armor Variants Expansion - CCAA Patch.esp=1

ImprovedCompanionsBoogaloo.esp=1

ICBLydia_BijiinAIO_USSEP.esp=1

Complete Crafting Overhaul_Remastered.esp=1

Alternate Start - Live Another Life.esp=1

notice board - better solstheim quests.esp=1

nwsFollowerFramework.esp=1

FollowersDeathChance_NFFv2.esp=1

ELFX - Hardcore.esp=1

Alternate Start ELFX Fix.esp=1

RealisticWaterTwo.esp=1

RealisticWaterTwo - Solitude Expansion Patch.esp=1

Realistic Water Two - Landscape For Grass Mods Patch.esp=1

ELFX Fixes Ragged Flagon Fix.esp=1

WACCF_BashedPatchLvlListFix.esp=1

Bashed Patch, 0.esp=1

Atlas Map Markers.esp=1