diff --git a/src/main/java/info/partonetrain/botaniacombat/BotaniaNerfConfiguredValues.java b/src/main/java/info/partonetrain/botaniacombat/BotaniaNerfConfiguredValues.java
index b9c10c3..0184e9a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/info/partonetrain/botaniacombat/BotaniaNerfConfiguredValues.java
+++ b/src/main/java/info/partonetrain/botaniacombat/BotaniaNerfConfiguredValues.java
@@ -3,6 +3,14 @@
 import me.shedaniel.autoconfig.AutoConfig;
 import net.minecraft.world.entity.ai.attributes.AttributeModifier;
 
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.nio.file.Files;
+import java.nio.file.Path;
+import java.nio.file.Paths;
+
+import static java.lang.System.getProperty;
+
 public class BotaniaNerfConfiguredValues { //have default values loaded so mixins don't classload config
     public static boolean conformSoulscribe = false;
     public static int daggerDamageModifier = -3;
@@ -30,4 +38,23 @@ public static void init(){
         babylonDamage = AutoConfig.getConfigHolder(BotaniaCombatConfig.class).getConfig().botaniaNerfsConfig.babylonDamage;
         missileDamage = AutoConfig.getConfigHolder(BotaniaCombatConfig.class).getConfig().botaniaNerfsConfig.missileDamage;
     }
+
+    public static void readFromFileDirectly() {
+        //this is necessary because Botania may register Soulscribe before config is read and conformSoulscribe is set
+        //however, mixin is always applied first; SoulscribeItemMixin calls this method
+        if (!conformSoulscribe) { //if it's false then it might not have been set
+            BotaniaCombat.LOGGER.info("Reading from config file directly to confirm conformSoulscribe option");
+            final String configFileLoc = System.getProperty("user.dir") + "\\config\\botaniacombat.json5";
+            Path configFilePath = Paths.get(configFileLoc); //converts to correct path regardless of platform
+            try {
+                String conformSoulscribeLine = Files.readAllLines(configFilePath).toString();
+                if (conformSoulscribeLine.contains("\"conformSoulscribe\": true")) {
+                    conformSoulscribe = true;
+                }
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                BotaniaCombat.LOGGER.error("config error:" + e);
+                BotaniaCombat.LOGGER.info("Don't fret! Above error is most likely one-time occurrence from config file not existing yet");
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/info/partonetrain/botaniacombat/mixin/nerf/SoulscribeItemMixin.java b/src/main/java/info/partonetrain/botaniacombat/mixin/nerf/SoulscribeItemMixin.java
index 0bd048c..7c41196 100644
--- a/src/main/java/info/partonetrain/botaniacombat/mixin/nerf/SoulscribeItemMixin.java
+++ b/src/main/java/info/partonetrain/botaniacombat/mixin/nerf/SoulscribeItemMixin.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package info.partonetrain.botaniacombat.mixin.nerf;
 
+import info.partonetrain.botaniacombat.BotaniaCombat;
 import info.partonetrain.botaniacombat.BotaniaNerfConfiguredValues;
 import org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.Mixin;
 import org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.injection.At;
@@ -11,9 +12,11 @@
 public class SoulscribeItemMixin {
     @ModifyArgs(method= "<init>(Lnet/minecraft/world/item/Item$Properties;)V", at = @At(value = "INVOKE", target = "Lvazkii/botania/common/item/equipment/tool/manasteel/ManasteelSwordItem;<init>(Lnet/minecraft/world/item/Tier;IFLnet/minecraft/world/item/Item$Properties;)V"))
     private static void botaniacombat$conformSoulscribe(Args args){
+        BotaniaNerfConfiguredValues.readFromFileDirectly();
         if(BotaniaNerfConfiguredValues.conformSoulscribe){
             args.set(1, (int)args.get(1) + BotaniaNerfConfiguredValues.daggerDamageModifier);
             args.set(2, BotaniaNerfConfiguredValues.daggerSpeed);
+            BotaniaCombat.LOGGER.info("BotaniaCombat conformed Soulscribe to dagger stats");
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/info/partonetrain/botaniacombat/mixin/ranged/ManaBlasterMixin.java b/src/main/java/info/partonetrain/botaniacombat/mixin/ranged/ManaBlasterMixin.java
index 444d8eb..549d424 100644
--- a/src/main/java/info/partonetrain/botaniacombat/mixin/ranged/ManaBlasterMixin.java
+++ b/src/main/java/info/partonetrain/botaniacombat/mixin/ranged/ManaBlasterMixin.java
@@ -21,11 +21,10 @@
 @Mixin(ManaBlasterItem.class)
 public abstract class ManaBlasterMixin extends Item {
     @Unique
-    float damage = BotaniaNerfConfiguredValues.dmgLensDamage;
+    float damage;
     @Unique
-    AttributeModifier mod1 = new AttributeModifier(UUID.fromString("60dfc4ff-de55-4f4f-8b4b-a7748c26ec4d"), "Blaster mainhand modifier", damage, AttributeModifier.Operation.ADDITION);
-    @Unique
-    AttributeModifier mod2 = new AttributeModifier(UUID.fromString("2c9b7180-d04f-4b1f-9574-174969759856"), "Blaster offhand modifier", damage, AttributeModifier.Operation.ADDITION);
+    AttributeModifier mod1, mod2;
+
     public ManaBlasterMixin(Properties properties) {
         super(properties);
     }
@@ -33,6 +32,9 @@ public ManaBlasterMixin(Properties properties) {
     @Inject(method = "inventoryTick", at = @At("HEAD"))
     public void botaniacombat$setDamageLensNBT(ItemStack stack, Level world, Entity entity, int slot, boolean selected, CallbackInfo ci){
         if(ManaBlasterItem.getLens(stack).is(BotaniaItems.lensDamage)){
+            damage = BotaniaNerfConfiguredValues.dmgLensDamage;
+            mod1 = new AttributeModifier(UUID.fromString("60dfc4ff-de55-4f4f-8b4b-a7748c26ec4d"), "Blaster mainhand modifier", damage, AttributeModifier.Operation.ADDITION);
+            mod2 = new AttributeModifier(UUID.fromString("2c9b7180-d04f-4b1f-9574-174969759856"), "Blaster offhand modifier", damage, AttributeModifier.Operation.ADDITION);
             if(!stack.getAttributeModifiers(EquipmentSlot.MAINHAND).containsKey(EntityAttributes_RangedWeapon.DAMAGE.attribute)){
                 stack.addAttributeModifier(EntityAttributes_RangedWeapon.DAMAGE.attribute, mod1, EquipmentSlot.MAINHAND);
                 stack.addAttributeModifier(EntityAttributes_RangedWeapon.DAMAGE.attribute, mod2, EquipmentSlot.OFFHAND);