So I have a patch for a mod, specifically the Jaysus Swords patch included with SkyRe.

This file has 3 masters:
[00] Skyrim.esm
[01] JSwords.esm
[02] Update.esm

2 issues I don't like about this though.
1. The patch file doesn't really need the Update.esm
2. It's masters don't respect the natural order of Skyrim.esm, Update.esm , *other stuff* ordering

What I want to do is remove the dependency on the Update.esm.

How can I do that? Saw someone suggesting TESVSnip but apparently that has a tendecy to corrupt files.

Open it up in TES5Edit.
Go over the file to make non dependant on update.esm with a fine toothed comb to be absolutely sure it does not need it, before removing it from the file's master list in its header.

Keep a backup of the file handy just in case

If someone else wrote the mod, go visit the site where you got it, and make a post requesting it be fixed or looked into.

Wait, I just noticed the Clean Masters option. Now I feel silly >_>

Careful though as VMAD's (Virtual Machine Adapter) not done yet, so properties' FormIDs' load indices in the patient pointed to anything in itself or JSwords.esm will be displaced until TES5Edit is ready, at which point such stuff will be auto-updated. You can do it now, but you'll need to double check and refill properties in the CK as required.

Yeah, I checked afterwards to see if everything still points to where it should. I checked through the entire patch plugin and there was no usage of any Update.esm assets (even those it modifies from Skyrim.esm). The Clean Master command only eliminates unused masters from what I understood and it did just that. Theoretically if it removed the Update.esm from the master list it means that the plugin doesn't really need it.

Cool. Yeah, most mods don't need Update.ESM dependency. I never add it unless overriding/referencing a form it introduces in favor of checking for conflicts with TES5Edit. Can't wait 'til VMAD's done as I intend to go on a "Clean Masters" spree.