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Can You Max Level Every Weapon in Elden Ring? A Tarnished’s Guide

The Lands Between are vast and filled with peril, but also brimming with an array of weapons that would make any medieval armory blush. As a seasoned Elden Ring veteran, I get asked this question constantly: Can you max level every weapon in Elden Ring? The simple answer is no, not in a single playthrough. While you can max out a limited number of weapons, the constraints on upgrade materials make fully upgrading every armament an ambitious undertaking that requires multiple New Game Plus cycles and a significant time investment. Let’s dive into the gritty details of weapon upgrading in Elden Ring and explore the limitations you’ll encounter.

Understanding Weapon Upgrade Mechanics

Before we delve deeper, let’s establish the fundamentals. Elden Ring features two primary types of weapons: normal armaments and special armaments.

Normal armaments are upgraded using Smithing Stones (1-8) and Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones. They can be upgraded to a maximum of +25.
Special armaments, often boss weapons or those found in unique locations, are upgraded using Somber Smithing Stones (1-9) and Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones. They max out at +10.

The core issue lies with the finite number of Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones available in each playthrough. These are the ultimate upgrade materials needed to reach the maximum level for any weapon.

The Bottleneck: Limited Endgame Upgrade Materials

Elden Ring provides plenty of lower-level Smithing Stones and Somber Smithing Stones, especially after you unlock the ability to purchase them from the Twin Maiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold by giving them specific Bell Bearings. These Bell Bearings are acquired by defeating certain bosses and exploring key areas, enabling you to buy unlimited quantities of stones 1-8 and somber stones 1-9.

However, the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones remain a significant bottleneck. In a single playthrough, you can find approximately 13 Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and 8 Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones. This means you can only fully upgrade 13 normal weapons to +25 and 8 special weapons to +10 per playthrough.

To upgrade every weapon in the game, you would need a ludicrous amount of these endgame upgrade materials, requiring multiple New Game Plus (NG+) cycles. Some calculate that to upgrade every single weapon, you’d need to go to NG+18 to collect all of the necessary materials. This would require roughly 19 playthroughs to upgrade all normal weapons.

How to Efficiently Upgrade Your Weapons

While you might not be able to max every weapon, here are some tips for efficiently upgrading those you use most:

Explore Thoroughly: Scour every corner of the Lands Between. These stones are often hidden in challenging areas or rewarded for completing difficult tasks.
Prioritize Your Build: Focus on upgrading weapons that complement your build and playstyle. Don’t spread your resources too thin on weapons you rarely use.
Plan Your NG+ Cycles: If you are aiming to upgrade many weapons, strategize which stones you’ll acquire in each subsequent playthrough.
Utilize Bell Bearings: Unlock the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings and Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearings to purchase lower-level Smithing Stones, saving valuable time.
Consider Trading: While not officially supported, some players engage in trading via online communities to exchange weapons or upgrade materials. Proceed with caution.

The Allure of Maxing Out: Understanding Weapon Scaling

Upgrading your weapons isn’t just about increasing their base damage; it also significantly enhances their scaling. Weapon scaling refers to how a weapon’s damage increases based on your character’s stats (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane).

Each weapon has scaling grades (S, A, B, C, D, and E) for different stats. The higher the grade, the greater the damage bonus you’ll receive from investing points into that stat. Upgrading a weapon improves its scaling grades, making it deal significantly more damage as your stats increase.

Normal weapons gain roughly 2% of their scaling per upgrade level by default.
Special weapons upgraded with Somber Smithing Stones gain approximately 8% of their base scaling per upgrade level.

Reaching +25 or +10 on a weapon unlocks its full potential, maximizing both its base damage and scaling. For many builds, this can be the difference between struggling and dominating in the late game.

Community and Further Learning

For further in-depth discussions on weapon upgrading strategies, build optimization, and general Elden Ring tips, consider joining online communities and forums dedicated to the game. You can also find valuable resources on websites like GamesLearningSociety.org, which explores the educational and engagement aspects of gaming. The Games Learning Society studies how games, including those as challenging and complex as Elden Ring, can be leveraged for learning and skill development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding weapon upgrades in Elden Ring:

1. Can you buy Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones?

No, you cannot buy Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones or Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones from any vendor in the game. They must be found in the world.

2. Where can I find Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones?

Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are located in various late-game areas, often guarded by powerful enemies or hidden within secret locations. Some notable locations include Mohgwyn Palace, Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, and Crumbling Farum Azula.

3. What enemies drop Smithing Stones?

Various enemies throughout the Lands Between drop Smithing Stones. For example, Godrick Soldiers and Raya Lucarian Soldiers may drop Smithing Stone 1.

4. Do Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones respawn in New Game Plus?

Yes, Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones respawn in each New Game Plus cycle, allowing you to acquire them again.

5. How many weapons are there in Elden Ring?

Elden Ring boasts a massive arsenal of weapons, with over 300 different armaments to discover.

6. What is the max level in Elden Ring?

The maximum level a character can achieve in Elden Ring is 713, which requires all stats to be at 99.

7. What is the hardest weapon to get in Elden Ring?

Some of the rarest weapons, with extremely low drop rates, include the Noble’s Estoc, Noble’s Slender Sword, and various Celebrant’s weapons.

8. Where can I farm Runes in Elden Ring?

Mohgwyn Palace is widely considered the best Rune farming location, offering multiple methods for quickly accumulating Runes.

9. Can you get infinite Smithing Stone 7 and 8?

Yes, you can acquire unlimited Smithing Stone 7 and 8 by obtaining the relevant Bell Bearing and giving it to the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold.

10. What is the longest range weapon in Elden Ring?

The Lion’s Greatbow, especially when paired with Radahn’s Spear Greatarrows, offers exceptional range and damage.

11. Do weapons scale with level in Elden Ring?

Yes, upgrading weapons increases their scaling values, enhancing the damage bonus based on your character’s stats.

12. What is the weapon level limit in Elden Ring?

Normal Armaments can be upgraded to +25, while Special Armaments max out at +10.

13. How many Smithing Stones does it take to upgrade everything?

To upgrade every weapon and shield fully, you would need an enormous amount of Smithing Stones, and multiple playthroughs to acquire enough Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones.

14. Is there a bell bearing for Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones?

No, there is no bell bearing that grants unlimited access to Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones. These must be found in the game world or acquired in New Game Plus.

15. What is the fastest Strength weapon in Elden Ring?

The Beastman’s Cleaver is considered one of the faster Strength-type weapons due to its relatively low equip load.

Final Thoughts

While the prospect of maxing out every weapon in Elden Ring might seem daunting, focusing on a select few that complement your build and playstyle is a more practical and rewarding goal. Remember, the journey through the Lands Between is about more than just raw power; it’s about exploration, discovery, and overcoming challenges. So, venture forth, Tarnished, and forge your legend, one upgraded weapon at a time.