diff --git a/data/config/MODEMultivarConfig_default b/data/config/MODEMultivarConfig_default
index 66ab5dfdf3..8d4d7f8406 100644
--- a/data/config/MODEMultivarConfig_default
+++ b/data/config/MODEMultivarConfig_default
@@ -53,6 +53,11 @@ quilt = FALSE;
 //
 multivar_logic = "#1 && #2 && #3";
 
+//
+// MODE Multivar intensity computation flag
+//
+multivar_intensity_flag = [FALSE, TRUE, TRUE];
+
 //
 // Forecast and observation fields to be verified
 //
@@ -84,6 +89,8 @@ fcst = {
    filter_attr_thresh = [];
    merge_thresh       = >=3.5;
    merge_flag         = NONE;
+   multivar_name = "ALPHA_BETA_GAMMA";
+   multivar_level = "LO";
 }
 obs = fcst;
 
diff --git a/docs/Users_Guide/mode.rst b/docs/Users_Guide/mode.rst
index 98ab658ea4..2d304b21a1 100644
--- a/docs/Users_Guide/mode.rst
+++ b/docs/Users_Guide/mode.rst
@@ -197,6 +197,8 @@ mode configuration file
 
 The default configuration file for the MODE tool, **MODEConfig_default**, can be found in the installed *share/met/config* directory. Another version of the configuration file is provided in *scripts/config*. We encourage users to make a copy of the configuration files prior to modifying their contents. Descriptions of **MODEConfig_default** and the required variables for any MODE configuration file are also provided below. While the configuration file contains many entries, most users will only need to change a few for their use. Specific options are described in the following subsections.
 
+A second default configuration file for the multivar MODE option, **MODEMultivarConfig_default**, is also found in the installed *share/met/config* directory. We encourage users to make a copy of this default configuration file when setting up a multivar configuration prior to modifying content. The two default config files **MODEConfig_default** and **MODEMultivarConfig_default** are similar, with **MODEMultivarConfig_default** having example multivar specific content. 
+
 Note that environment variables may be used when editing configuration files, as described in the :numref:`config_env_vars`.
 
 _____________________
@@ -324,7 +326,7 @@ The **merge_flag** entry controls what type of merging techniques will be applie
 
 • **BOTH** indicates that both techniques should be used. 
 
-By default, the double thresholding merging technique is applied.
+By default, the double thresholding **THRESH** merging technique is applied in single variable mode.  The merging defaults to **NONE** with multivariate mode.
 
 _____________________
 
diff --git a/src/basic/vx_util/file_exists.cc b/src/basic/vx_util/file_exists.cc
index 6d007303a4..a51db6f164 100644
--- a/src/basic/vx_util/file_exists.cc
+++ b/src/basic/vx_util/file_exists.cc
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-
-
 // *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
 // ** Copyright UCAR (c) 1992 - 2023
 // ** University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)
diff --git a/src/libcode/vx_shapedata/mode_field_info.cc b/src/libcode/vx_shapedata/mode_field_info.cc
index 6cecb55d07..06311f5d47 100644
--- a/src/libcode/vx_shapedata/mode_field_info.cc
+++ b/src/libcode/vx_shapedata/mode_field_info.cc
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
+#include <string.h>
 
 #include "vx_config.h"
 #include "vx_data2d.h"
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@
 
 #include "mode_field_info.h"
 
+using std::string;
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
@@ -219,32 +221,87 @@ if ( dict->lookup(conf_key_conv_thresh) )  {
 
 }
 
-if ( dict->lookup(conf_key_merge_thresh) )  {
-
-   merge_thresh_array = dict->lookup_thresh_array(conf_key_merge_thresh);
-
-}
-
 if ( dict->lookup(conf_key_vld_thresh) )  {
 
    vld_thresh         = dict->lookup_double(conf_key_vld_thresh);
 
 }
 
-// for the multivar case, go without parent, and error out if merge flag is
-// not set for the individual field
+// For the multivar case, more complex logic regarding merge_flag and merge_thresh
+// If individual entry has a merge_flag, it must have a merge_thresh (unless merge_flag=NONE)
+// If individual entry has no merge_flag, check the parent and go with that flag and thresh
+// If individual entry has no merge_flag, but individual entry has a merge_thresh, it's an error
+
 if ( _multivar ) {
+   // set defaults to no merging
+   merge_thresh.clear();
+   merge_flag = MergeType_None;
+
+   // pull out the name
+   string name = var_info->name();
+   
    if ( dict->lookup(conf_key_merge_flag, false)) {
-      merge_flag         = int_to_mergetype(dict->lookup_int(conf_key_merge_flag));
+      // this individual entry has merge_flag
+      merge_flag         = int_to_mergetype(dict->lookup_int(conf_key_merge_flag,
+                                                             default_dictionary_error_out,
+                                                             default_dictionary_print_warning,
+                                                             false));
+      string merge_name = mergetype_to_string(merge_flag);
+      if (dict->lookup(conf_key_merge_thresh, false)) {
+         // the individual entry also has a merge_thresh, this is good
+         merge_thresh_array = dict->lookup_thresh_array(conf_key_merge_thresh, 
+                                                        default_dictionary_error_out,
+                                                        default_dictionary_print_warning,
+                                                        false);
+      } else {
+         // get the parent's merge_thresh, just to have something.  Error out if the merge_flag is not none
+         // because that is inconsistent
+         merge_thresh_array = dict->lookup_thresh_array(conf_key_merge_thresh);
+
+         if (merge_flag != MergeType_None) {
+            mlog << Error << "\nMode_Field_Info::set() -> "
+                 << "Field:" << name << ". "
+                 << " When 'merge_flag' is explicitly set, 'merge_thresh' must be explicitly set for multivariate mode\n\n";
+            exit ( 1 );
+         }
+         
+      } 
    } else {
-      mlog << Error << "\nMode_Field_Info::set() -> "
-           << "'merge_flag' must be explicitly set for all fields with multivariate mode\n\n";
-      exit ( 1 );
+      // individual entry does not have a merge_flag, try parent
+      if ( dict->lookup(conf_key_merge_flag, true)) {
+         // the parent does have a merge flag
+         merge_flag = int_to_mergetype(dict->lookup_int(conf_key_merge_flag));
+         string merge_name = mergetype_to_string(merge_flag);
+         if (dict->lookup(conf_key_merge_thresh, false)) {
+            // individual entry has a merge_thresh but no merge_flag, this is not good
+            mlog << Error << "\nMode_Field_Info::set() -> "
+                 << "Field:" << name << ". "
+                 << "When 'merge_flag' is not explicitly set, 'merge_thresh' cannot explicitly set for multivariate mode\n\n";
+            exit ( 1 );
+         } else {
+            // individual entry doesn't have a merge_thresh, parent has a merge_flag
+            // expect parent to have a merge_thresh
+            merge_thresh_array = dict->lookup_thresh_array(conf_key_merge_thresh);
+            if (merge_thresh_array.n() == 0 && merge_flag != MergeType_None) {
+               // parent has a merge_flag but no merge_thresh
+               mlog << Error << "\nMode_Field_Info::set() -> "
+                    << "Field:" << name << ". using parent merge_flag: " << merge_name
+                    << " Parent has no 'merge_thresh', not allowed in multivariate mode\n\n";
+               exit ( 1 );
+            } else {
+               string thresh_str = merge_thresh_array.thresh()->get_str();
+               mlog  << Debug(2) << "Field:" << name << ". Using parent merge_flag: "
+                     << merge_name << " and parent merge_thresh:" << thresh_str
+                     << "\n";
+            }
+         }
+      }
    }
 } else {
    if ( dict->lookup(conf_key_merge_flag, true)) {
       merge_flag         = int_to_mergetype(dict->lookup_int(conf_key_merge_flag));
    }
+   merge_thresh_array = dict->lookup_thresh_array(conf_key_merge_thresh);
 }
  
 filter_attr_map    = parse_conf_filter_attr_map(dict);
diff --git a/src/tools/core/mode/mode.cc b/src/tools/core/mode/mode.cc
index 079a5db734..88e18d0b40 100644
--- a/src/tools/core/mode/mode.cc
+++ b/src/tools/core/mode/mode.cc
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ const char * const program_name = "mode";
 
 
 static const char default_config_filename [] = "MET_BASE/config/MODEConfig_default";
+static const char default_multivar_config_filename [] = "MET_BASE/config/MODEMultivarConfig_default";
 
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -169,6 +170,12 @@ int met_main(int argc, char * argv [])
 
    if ( config.is_multivar() ) { 
 
+
+      // read again, this time with the mvmode defaults, which are slightly different
+
+      config.clear();
+      config.read_config(default_multivar_config_filename, user_config_filename);
+
       // exit inside this method if something is not implemented
 
       config.check_multivar_not_implemented();
diff --git a/src/tools/core/mode/mode_exec.cc b/src/tools/core/mode/mode_exec.cc
index b3f130c4ec..f927b637be 100644
--- a/src/tools/core/mode/mode_exec.cc
+++ b/src/tools/core/mode/mode_exec.cc
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ static const char * cts_str[n_cts] = {"RAW", "OBJECT"};
 static const char program_name [] = "mode";
 
 static const char * default_config_filename = "MET_BASE/config/MODEConfig_default";
+static const char * default_multivar_config_filename = "MET_BASE/config/MODEMultivarConfig_default";
 
 // took this out of the do_conv_thresh() method 
 static int local_r_index = -1;
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ void ModeExecutive::clear()
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
-void ModeExecutive::init(int n_files)
+void ModeExecutive::init(int n_files, bool isMultivar)
 
 {
 
@@ -152,7 +153,11 @@ void ModeExecutive::init(int n_files)
    R_index = T_index = 0;
 
    // Create the default config file name
-   default_config_file = replace_path(default_config_filename);
+   if (isMultivar) {
+      default_config_file = replace_path(default_multivar_config_filename);
+   } else {
+      default_config_file = replace_path(default_config_filename);
+   }
 
    // If the merge config file was not set, use the match config file
    if(merge_config_file.length() == 0)
@@ -226,7 +231,7 @@ void ModeExecutive::init_multivar(GrdFileType ftype, GrdFileType otype)
    R_index = T_index = 0;
 
    // Create the default config file name
-   default_config_file = replace_path(default_config_filename);
+   default_config_file = replace_path(default_multivar_config_filename);
 
    // If the merge config file was not set, use the match config file
    if(merge_config_file.length() == 0)
diff --git a/src/tools/core/mode/mode_exec.h b/src/tools/core/mode/mode_exec.h
index 89d0102d2a..547792c1c6 100644
--- a/src/tools/core/mode/mode_exec.h
+++ b/src/tools/core/mode/mode_exec.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class ModeExecutive {
 
    void clear();
 
-   void init(int n_files);
+   void init(int n_files, bool isMultivar);
    void init_multivar(GrdFileType ftype, GrdFileType otype);
 
 
diff --git a/src/tools/core/mode/mode_frontend.cc b/src/tools/core/mode/mode_frontend.cc
index 329bcaa0e7..a37bd89b0c 100644
--- a/src/tools/core/mode/mode_frontend.cc
+++ b/src/tools/core/mode/mode_frontend.cc
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ extern const char * const program_name;
 static ModeExecutive *mode_exec = 0;
 static int compress_level = -1;
 
-
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ int ModeFrontEnd::run(const StringArray & Argv, Processing_t ptype, int field_in
 
    process_command_line(Argv, false);
 
-   mode_exec->init(n_files);
+   mode_exec->init(n_files, ptype != SINGLE_VAR);
 
    ModeConfInfo & conf = mode_exec->engine.conf_info;
    if ( field_index >= 0 )  conf.set_field_index(field_index);
diff --git a/src/tools/core/mode/multivar_frontend.cc b/src/tools/core/mode/multivar_frontend.cc
index 087311dd67..c19a3ad0b0 100644
--- a/src/tools/core/mode/multivar_frontend.cc
+++ b/src/tools/core/mode/multivar_frontend.cc
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
-static const char mode_default_config [] = "MET_BASE/config/MODEConfig_default";
+// for multivar mode, this is the default file
+static const char mode_default_config [] = "MET_BASE/config/MODEMultivarConfig_default";
 
 static const int dir_creation_mode = 0755;       
 
@@ -68,6 +69,8 @@ static const char tab [] = "   ";
 
 static const bool do_clusters = false;
 
+static string default_out_dir = ".";
+
 static ModeConfInfo config;
 
 static string   mode_path;
@@ -394,6 +397,12 @@ void process_command_line(const StringArray & argv)
 
    CommandLine cline;
 
+   //
+   // Set the default output directory
+   //
+
+   outdir = replace_path(default_out_dir);
+
    mode_path = argv[0];
 
    cline.set(argv);
@@ -671,9 +680,6 @@ void process_superobjects(ShapeData &f_result, ShapeData &o_result,
    mode_argv.add(junk);
    mode_argv.add("-outdir");
    mode_argv.add(dir);
-   // mode_argv.add("-field_index");
-   // snprintf(junk, sizeof(junk), "%d", j);
-   // mode_argv.add(junk);
 
    mlog << Debug(1) << "Running superobject mode \n\n";