diff --git a/osu.Game.Benchmarks/BenchmarkRuleset.cs b/osu.Game.Benchmarks/BenchmarkRuleset.cs
index aa59cb7fa3..2835ec9499 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Benchmarks/BenchmarkRuleset.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Benchmarks/BenchmarkRuleset.cs
@@ -38,25 +38,25 @@ namespace osu.Game.Benchmarks
         [Benchmark]
         public void BenchmarkGetAllMods()
         {
-            ruleset.GetAllMods().Consume(new Consumer());
+            ruleset.CreateAllMods().Consume(new Consumer());
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         public void BenchmarkGetAllModsForReference()
         {
-            ruleset.GetAllModsForReference().Consume(new Consumer());
+            ruleset.AllMods.Consume(new Consumer());
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         public void BenchmarkGetForAcronym()
         {
-            ruleset.GetModForAcronym("DT");
+            ruleset.CreateModFromAcronym("DT");
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         public void BenchmarkGetForType()
         {
-            ruleset.GetMod<ModDoubleTime>();
+            ruleset.CreateMod<ModDoubleTime>();
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Gameplay/TestSceneAllRulesetPlayers.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Gameplay/TestSceneAllRulesetPlayers.cs
index b7dcad3825..8487eecdfa 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Gameplay/TestSceneAllRulesetPlayers.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Gameplay/TestSceneAllRulesetPlayers.cs
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.Gameplay
             var working = CreateWorkingBeatmap(rulesetInfo);
 
             Beatmap.Value = working;
-            SelectedMods.Value = new[] { ruleset.GetAllMods().First(m => m is ModNoFail) };
+            SelectedMods.Value = new[] { ruleset.CreateAllMods().First(m => m is ModNoFail) };
 
             Player = CreatePlayer(ruleset);
 
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneAdvancedStats.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneAdvancedStats.cs
index 40b2f66d74..5e22bde1d5 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneAdvancedStats.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneAdvancedStats.cs
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.SongSelect
             AddStep("select EZ mod", () =>
             {
                 var ruleset = advancedStats.Beatmap.Ruleset.CreateInstance();
-                SelectedMods.Value = new[] { ruleset.GetAllMods().OfType<ModEasy>().Single() };
+                SelectedMods.Value = new[] { ruleset.CreateAllMods().OfType<ModEasy>().Single() };
             });
 
             AddAssert("circle size bar is blue", () => barIsBlue(advancedStats.FirstValue));
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.SongSelect
             AddStep("select HR mod", () =>
             {
                 var ruleset = advancedStats.Beatmap.Ruleset.CreateInstance();
-                SelectedMods.Value = new[] { ruleset.GetAllMods().OfType<ModHardRock>().Single() };
+                SelectedMods.Value = new[] { ruleset.CreateAllMods().OfType<ModHardRock>().Single() };
             });
 
             AddAssert("circle size bar is red", () => barIsRed(advancedStats.FirstValue));
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.SongSelect
             AddStep("select unchanged Difficulty Adjust mod", () =>
             {
                 var ruleset = advancedStats.Beatmap.Ruleset.CreateInstance();
-                var difficultyAdjustMod = ruleset.GetAllMods().OfType<ModDifficultyAdjust>().Single();
+                var difficultyAdjustMod = ruleset.CreateAllMods().OfType<ModDifficultyAdjust>().Single();
                 difficultyAdjustMod.ReadFromDifficulty(advancedStats.Beatmap.BaseDifficulty);
                 SelectedMods.Value = new[] { difficultyAdjustMod };
             });
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.SongSelect
             AddStep("select changed Difficulty Adjust mod", () =>
             {
                 var ruleset = advancedStats.Beatmap.Ruleset.CreateInstance();
-                var difficultyAdjustMod = ruleset.GetAllMods().OfType<OsuModDifficultyAdjust>().Single();
+                var difficultyAdjustMod = ruleset.CreateAllMods().OfType<OsuModDifficultyAdjust>().Single();
                 var originalDifficulty = advancedStats.Beatmap.BaseDifficulty;
 
                 difficultyAdjustMod.ReadFromDifficulty(originalDifficulty);
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneBeatmapMetadataDisplay.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneBeatmapMetadataDisplay.cs
index 66ac700c51..f91d3f595b 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneBeatmapMetadataDisplay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/SongSelect/TestSceneBeatmapMetadataDisplay.cs
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.SongSelect
         {
             AddStep("setup display", () =>
             {
-                var randomMods = Ruleset.Value.CreateInstance().GetAllMods().OrderBy(_ => RNG.Next()).Take(5).ToList();
+                var randomMods = Ruleset.Value.CreateInstance().CreateAllMods().OrderBy(_ => RNG.Next()).Take(5).ToList();
 
                 OsuLogo logo = new OsuLogo { Scale = new Vector2(0.15f) };
 
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/UserInterface/TestSceneModFlowDisplay.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/UserInterface/TestSceneModFlowDisplay.cs
index 8f057c663b..10eab148de 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/UserInterface/TestSceneModFlowDisplay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/UserInterface/TestSceneModFlowDisplay.cs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.UserInterface
                 Width = 200,
                 Current =
                 {
-                    Value = new OsuRuleset().GetAllMods().ToArray(),
+                    Value = new OsuRuleset().CreateAllMods().ToArray(),
                 }
             };
         });
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/UserInterface/TestSceneModSelectOverlay.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/UserInterface/TestSceneModSelectOverlay.cs
index 9e253e089d..28e5644998 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/UserInterface/TestSceneModSelectOverlay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/UserInterface/TestSceneModSelectOverlay.cs
@@ -158,8 +158,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.UserInterface
             var mania = new ManiaRuleset();
 
             testModsWithSameBaseType(
-                mania.GetAllMods().Single(m => m.GetType() == typeof(ManiaModFadeIn)),
-                mania.GetAllMods().Single(m => m.GetType() == typeof(ManiaModHidden)));
+                mania.CreateAllMods().Single(m => m.GetType() == typeof(ManiaModFadeIn)),
+                mania.CreateAllMods().Single(m => m.GetType() == typeof(ManiaModHidden)));
         }
 
         [Test]
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tournament.Tests/Components/TestSceneTournamentModDisplay.cs b/osu.Game.Tournament.Tests/Components/TestSceneTournamentModDisplay.cs
index b4d9fa4222..cc1568f429 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tournament.Tests/Components/TestSceneTournamentModDisplay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tournament.Tests/Components/TestSceneTournamentModDisplay.cs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tournament.Tests.Components
         private void success(APIBeatmap apiBeatmap)
         {
             beatmap = apiBeatmap.ToBeatmap(rulesets);
-            var mods = rulesets.GetRuleset(Ladder.Ruleset.Value.ID ?? 0).CreateInstance().GetAllMods();
+            var mods = rulesets.GetRuleset(Ladder.Ruleset.Value.ID ?? 0).CreateInstance().CreateAllMods();
 
             foreach (var mod in mods)
             {
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tournament/Components/TournamentModIcon.cs b/osu.Game.Tournament/Components/TournamentModIcon.cs
index b8486b5b2d..7c4e9c69a2 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tournament/Components/TournamentModIcon.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tournament/Components/TournamentModIcon.cs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tournament.Components
             }
 
             var ruleset = rulesets.GetRuleset(ladderInfo.Ruleset.Value?.ID ?? 0);
-            var modIcon = ruleset?.CreateInstance().GetModForAcronym(modAcronym);
+            var modIcon = ruleset?.CreateInstance().CreateModFromAcronym(modAcronym);
 
             if (modIcon == null)
                 return;
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/API/APIMod.cs b/osu.Game/Online/API/APIMod.cs
index 5514ce5e40..5e552dac09 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/API/APIMod.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/API/APIMod.cs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.API
 
         public Mod ToMod(Ruleset ruleset)
         {
-            Mod resultMod = ruleset.GetModForAcronym(Acronym);
+            Mod resultMod = ruleset.CreateModFromAcronym(Acronym);
 
             if (resultMod == null)
                 throw new InvalidOperationException($"There is no mod in the ruleset ({ruleset.ShortName}) matching the acronym {Acronym}.");
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/API/Requests/Responses/APILegacyScoreInfo.cs b/osu.Game/Online/API/Requests/Responses/APILegacyScoreInfo.cs
index d1c6f0a55a..567df524b1 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/API/Requests/Responses/APILegacyScoreInfo.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/API/Requests/Responses/APILegacyScoreInfo.cs
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.API.Requests.Responses
 
             var rulesetInstance = ruleset.CreateInstance();
 
-            var mods = Mods != null ? Mods.Select(acronym => rulesetInstance.GetModForAcronym(acronym)).Where(m => m != null).ToArray() : Array.Empty<Mod>();
+            var mods = Mods != null ? Mods.Select(acronym => rulesetInstance.CreateModFromAcronym(acronym)).Where(m => m != null).ToArray() : Array.Empty<Mod>();
 
             // all API scores provided by this class are considered to be legacy.
-            mods = mods.Append(rulesetInstance.GetMod<ModClassic>()).ToArray();
+            mods = mods.Append(rulesetInstance.CreateMod<ModClassic>()).ToArray();
 
             var scoreInfo = new ScoreInfo
             {
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/BeatmapSet/LeaderboardModSelector.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/BeatmapSet/LeaderboardModSelector.cs
index 517da11c8c..2683d7bc6d 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/BeatmapSet/LeaderboardModSelector.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/BeatmapSet/LeaderboardModSelector.cs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.BeatmapSet
                 return;
 
             modsContainer.Add(new ModButton(new ModNoMod()));
-            modsContainer.AddRange(ruleset.NewValue.CreateInstance().GetAllModsForReference().Where(m => m.UserPlayable).Select(m => new ModButton(m)));
+            modsContainer.AddRange(ruleset.NewValue.CreateInstance().AllMods.Where(m => m.UserPlayable).Select(m => new ModButton(m.CreateInstance())));
 
             modsContainer.ForEach(button =>
             {
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/IncompatibilityDisplayingModButton.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/IncompatibilityDisplayingModButton.cs
index 8d0746f24d..0f51439252 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/IncompatibilityDisplayingModButton.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/IncompatibilityDisplayingModButton.cs
@@ -107,9 +107,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Mods
 
                 var incompatibleTypes = mod.IncompatibleMods;
 
-                var allMods = ruleset.Value.CreateInstance().GetAllModsForReference();
+                var allMods = ruleset.Value.CreateInstance().AllMods;
 
-                incompatibleMods.Value = allMods.Where(m => m.GetType() != mod.GetType() && incompatibleTypes.Any(t => t.IsInstanceOfType(m))).ToList();
+                incompatibleMods.Value = allMods.Where(m => m.GetType() != mod.GetType() && incompatibleTypes.Any(t => t.IsInstanceOfType(m))).Select(m => m.CreateInstance()).ToList();
                 incompatibleText.Text = incompatibleMods.Value.Any() ? "Incompatible with:" : "Compatible with all mods";
             }
         }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Mods/IMod.cs b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Mods/IMod.cs
index a5e19f293c..ac17e49e60 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Mods/IMod.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Mods/IMod.cs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // See the LICENCE file in the repository root for full licence text.
 
 using System;
-using Newtonsoft.Json;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Sprites;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mods
 {
@@ -11,7 +11,22 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mods
         /// <summary>
         /// The shortened name of this mod.
         /// </summary>
-        [JsonProperty("acronym")]
         string Acronym { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The icon of this mod.
+        /// </summary>
+        IconUsage? Icon { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Whether this mod is playable by an end user.
+        /// Should be <c>false</c> for cases where the user is not interacting with the game (so it can be excluded from multiplayer selection, for example).
+        /// </summary>
+        bool UserPlayable { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Create a fresh <see cref="Mod"/> instance based on this mod.
+        /// </summary>
+        Mod CreateInstance() => ((Mod)this).DeepClone();
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Mods/Mod.cs b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Mods/Mod.cs
index 1199d8a956..fedee857c3 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Mods/Mod.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Mods/Mod.cs
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mods
         /// </summary>
         public abstract string Acronym { get; }
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// The icon of this mod.
-        /// </summary>
         [JsonIgnore]
         public virtual IconUsage? Icon => null;
 
@@ -106,10 +103,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mods
         [JsonIgnore]
         public virtual bool HasImplementation => this is IApplicableMod;
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Whether this mod is playable by an end user.
-        /// Should be <c>false</c> for cases where the user is not interacting with the game (so it can be excluded from mutliplayer selection, for example).
-        /// </summary>
         [JsonIgnore]
         public virtual bool UserPlayable => true;
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Ruleset.cs b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Ruleset.cs
index 34e4606133..82707ad382 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Rulesets/Ruleset.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Rulesets/Ruleset.cs
@@ -39,45 +39,48 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets
     {
         public RulesetInfo RulesetInfo { get; internal set; }
 
+        private static readonly ConcurrentDictionary<int, IMod[]> mod_reference_cache = new ConcurrentDictionary<int, IMod[]>();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// A queryable source containing all available mods.
+        /// Call <see cref="IMod.CreateInstance"/> for consumption purposes.
+        /// </summary>
+        public IEnumerable<IMod> AllMods
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                if (!(RulesetInfo.ID is int id))
+                    return CreateAllMods();
+
+                if (!mod_reference_cache.TryGetValue(id, out var mods))
+                    mod_reference_cache[id] = mods = CreateAllMods().Cast<IMod>().ToArray();
+
+                return mods;
+            }
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Returns fresh instances of all mods.
         /// </summary>
         /// <remarks>
         /// This comes with considerable allocation overhead. If only accessing for reference purposes (ie. not changing bindables / settings)
-        /// use <see cref="GetAllModsForReference"/> instead.
+        /// use <see cref="AllMods"/> instead.
         /// </remarks>
-        public IEnumerable<Mod> GetAllMods() => Enum.GetValues(typeof(ModType)).Cast<ModType>()
-                                                    // Confine all mods of each mod type into a single IEnumerable<Mod>
-                                                    .SelectMany(GetModsFor)
-                                                    // Filter out all null mods
-                                                    .Where(mod => mod != null)
-                                                    // Resolve MultiMods as their .Mods property
-                                                    .SelectMany(mod => (mod as MultiMod)?.Mods ?? new[] { mod });
-
-        private static readonly ConcurrentDictionary<int, Mod[]> mod_reference_cache = new ConcurrentDictionary<int, Mod[]>();
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Returns all mods for a query-only purpose.
-        /// Bindables should not be considered usable when retrieving via this method (use <see cref="GetAllMods"/> instead).
-        /// </summary>
-        public IEnumerable<Mod> GetAllModsForReference()
-        {
-            if (!(RulesetInfo.ID is int id))
-                return GetAllMods();
-
-            if (!mod_reference_cache.TryGetValue(id, out var mods))
-                mod_reference_cache[id] = mods = GetAllMods().ToArray();
-
-            return mods;
-        }
+        public IEnumerable<Mod> CreateAllMods() => Enum.GetValues(typeof(ModType)).Cast<ModType>()
+                                                       // Confine all mods of each mod type into a single IEnumerable<Mod>
+                                                       .SelectMany(GetModsFor)
+                                                       // Filter out all null mods
+                                                       .Where(mod => mod != null)
+                                                       // Resolve MultiMods as their .Mods property
+                                                       .SelectMany(mod => (mod as MultiMod)?.Mods ?? new[] { mod });
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Returns a fresh instance of the mod matching the specified acronym.
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="acronym">The acronym to query for .</param>
-        public Mod GetModForAcronym(string acronym)
+        public Mod CreateModFromAcronym(string acronym)
         {
-            var type = GetAllModsForReference().FirstOrDefault(m => m.Acronym == acronym)?.GetType();
+            var type = AllMods.FirstOrDefault(m => m.Acronym == acronym)?.GetType();
 
             if (type != null)
                 return (Mod)Activator.CreateInstance(type);
@@ -88,10 +91,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets
         /// <summary>
         /// Returns a fresh instance of the mod matching the specified type.
         /// </summary>
-        public T GetMod<T>()
+        public T CreateMod<T>()
             where T : Mod
         {
-            var type = GetAllModsForReference().FirstOrDefault(m => m is T)?.GetType();
+            var type = AllMods.FirstOrDefault(m => m is T)?.GetType();
 
             if (type != null)
                 return (T)Activator.CreateInstance(type);
@@ -179,7 +182,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets
         }
 
         [CanBeNull]
-        public ModAutoplay GetAutoplayMod() => GetMod<ModAutoplay>();
+        public ModAutoplay GetAutoplayMod() => CreateMod<ModAutoplay>();
 
         public virtual ISkin CreateLegacySkinProvider([NotNull] ISkin skin, IBeatmap beatmap) => null;
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Scoring/Legacy/LegacyScoreDecoder.cs b/osu.Game/Scoring/Legacy/LegacyScoreDecoder.cs
index 010f33e3ed..2e1a29372d 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Scoring/Legacy/LegacyScoreDecoder.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Scoring/Legacy/LegacyScoreDecoder.cs
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Scoring.Legacy
 
                 // lazer replays get a really high version number.
                 if (version < LegacyScoreEncoder.FIRST_LAZER_VERSION)
-                    scoreInfo.Mods = scoreInfo.Mods.Append(currentRuleset.GetMod<ModClassic>()).ToArray();
+                    scoreInfo.Mods = scoreInfo.Mods.Append(currentRuleset.CreateMod<ModClassic>()).ToArray();
 
                 currentBeatmap = workingBeatmap.GetPlayableBeatmap(currentRuleset.RulesetInfo, scoreInfo.Mods);
                 scoreInfo.Beatmap = currentBeatmap.BeatmapInfo;
diff --git a/osu.Game/Tests/Beatmaps/LegacyModConversionTest.cs b/osu.Game/Tests/Beatmaps/LegacyModConversionTest.cs
index 54a83f4305..b7803f3420 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Tests/Beatmaps/LegacyModConversionTest.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Tests/Beatmaps/LegacyModConversionTest.cs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Beatmaps
         protected void TestToLegacy(LegacyMods expectedLegacyMods, Type[] providedModTypes)
         {
             var ruleset = CreateRuleset();
-            var modInstances = ruleset.GetAllMods()
+            var modInstances = ruleset.CreateAllMods()
                                       .Where(mod => providedModTypes.Contains(mod.GetType()))
                                       .ToArray();
             var actualLegacyMods = ruleset.ConvertToLegacyMods(modInstances);
diff --git a/osu.Game/Tests/TestScoreInfo.cs b/osu.Game/Tests/TestScoreInfo.cs
index 8ce71ace69..5ce6aae647 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Tests/TestScoreInfo.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Tests/TestScoreInfo.cs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests
             RulesetID = ruleset.ID ?? 0;
 
             Mods = excessMods
-                ? ruleset.CreateInstance().GetAllMods().ToArray()
+                ? ruleset.CreateInstance().CreateAllMods().ToArray()
                 : new Mod[] { new TestModHardRock(), new TestModDoubleTime() };
 
             TotalScore = 2845370;
diff --git a/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/PlayerTestScene.cs b/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/PlayerTestScene.cs
index a31a6433ea..b34f7e2d5f 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/PlayerTestScene.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/PlayerTestScene.cs
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
 
             if (!AllowFail)
             {
-                var noFailMod = ruleset.GetMod<ModNoFail>();
+                var noFailMod = ruleset.CreateMod<ModNoFail>();
                 if (noFailMod != null)
                     SelectedMods.Value = new[] { noFailMod };
             }