How to Amass a Fortune in Smithing Stones in Elden Ring: A Tarnished Guide to Weapon Mastery

So, you’re looking to forge a path of destruction across the Lands Between, but your trusty blade feels about as sharp as a butter knife? You, my friend, have a Smithing Stone deficiency. Fear not, for I, a veteran Tarnished scarred by countless rune-farming expeditions, am here to illuminate the path to acquiring a veritable mountain of these precious upgrade materials.

The short answer: The most efficient way to get a lot of Smithing Stones in Elden Ring is by obtaining the various Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings and offering them to the Twin Maiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold. This unlocks the ability to purchase an unlimited supply of specific tiers of Smithing Stones, effectively removing the grind and allowing you to focus on, well, grinding those bosses! But getting to that point requires effort. So let’s dig in.

Early Game Smithing Stone Acquisition: The Humble Beginnings

In the early game, before you’ve stumbled upon any Bell Bearings, your primary source of Smithing Stones will be exploration and enemy farming. This is a crucial phase for experimenting with weapons and finding what suits your playstyle. Don’t be afraid to upgrade a weapon to +3 or +4, even if you aren’t sure it’s “the one.”

Limgrave Tunnels: A Miner’s Paradise

Limgrave Tunnels, located in West Limgrave, is a fantastic early-game location for acquiring Smithing Stone [1]. The miners within this dungeon frequently drop them, and the tunnel itself is relatively straightforward to navigate. Clear this dungeon repeatedly to amass a decent stockpile. Remember, the Smithing Stones found embedded in the walls of the tunnel do not respawn, so focus on the miner enemies.

Exploring the Open World

Don’t underestimate the power of exploration. Keep your eyes peeled for glittering deposits on cliff faces and in caves. These can yield valuable Smithing Stones. Also, many early-game areas, such as Stormhill, contain hidden nooks and crannies with Smithing Stones as loot.

Mid-Game Efficiency: Unlocking the Bell Bearings

As you progress, your focus should shift towards acquiring the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings. These are game-changers, transforming the arduous task of farming into a simple rune-spending exercise.

Bell Bearing Locations: A Treasure Map

• Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [1]: Dropped by the Crystalian boss in Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel. This unlocks the ability to purchase Smithing Stone [1] and [2]. This is a good early grab, as you will definitely be heading towards Raya Lucaria Academy anyway.
• Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [2]: Found in a chest in the Sealed Tunnel in the Altus Plateau region. Obtaining this allows you to purchase Smithing Stone [3] and [4]. This dungeon is a bit tricky, so use online resources if you get stuck.
• Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [3]: Located in a chest in the underground area of the Zamor Ruins in the Mountaintops of the Giants. Unlocks the purchase of Smithing Stone [5] and [6]. Make sure you have some cold resistance, as the area is quite chilly!
• Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [4]: Dropped by the Godskin Duo in Crumbling Farum Azula. This unlocks the ability to purchase Smithing Stone [7] and [8]. This is a late-game acquisition, obviously.

Once you have these, simply return to the Roundtable Hold and present them to the Twin Maiden Husks. Their shop inventory will expand, allowing you to purchase unlimited quantities of the corresponding Smithing Stones for runes.

Late Game Optimization: Rune Farming and Maxed-Out Weapons

Once you have access to the higher-tier Bell Bearings, your primary bottleneck becomes runes. Efficient rune farming is key to maximizing your weapon upgrades. There are many excellent rune farming spots throughout the game, depending on your level and progression. One popular early-game location is the sleeping dragon in Caelid. Later, the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum is considered one of the best farming locations in the game.

Understanding Upgrade Requirements

Remember that upgrading a regular weapon to +24 requires 12 of each tier of Smithing Stone. And to get from +24 to +25, you will need one Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, which are limited to 13 per playthrough. Plan accordingly.

Somber Smithing Stones: For Unique Armaments

Don’t forget about Somber Smithing Stones, used to upgrade unique weapons. While there are Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearings, the acquisition process is similar to regular Smithing Stones. The final upgrade to +10 requires a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, also limited.

Smithing Stone Farming Locations (If You Absolutely Must)

While Bell Bearings are superior, sometimes you need a few extra stones to get you over the hump. Here are some additional farming locations:

• Smithing Stone [3] & [4]: Dropped by Soldiers and Miners in Gael Tunnel, connecting Limgrave and Caelid.
• Smithing Stone [1]: The Morne Tunnel also contains this stone.

Consider Your Build

Think about what weapons you’re focusing on. Upgrading one weapon fully is often more effective than spreading your resources thinly across multiple weapons.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you farm Smithing Stones indefinitely in Elden Ring?

Yes, you can farm Smithing Stones indefinitely. While the fixed Smithing Stones found on walls don’t respawn, the stones dropped by enemies do respawn, allowing for repeated farming runs. The best way to farm efficiently, though, is to unlock the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings and purchase them from the Twin Maiden Husks.

2. Where is the easiest place to farm Smithing Stone [1] early game?

The easiest early-game location to farm Smithing Stone [1] is the Limgrave Tunnels. The miner enemies there have a high drop rate for this stone, and the dungeon is relatively easy to navigate.

3. Which Bell Bearing gives access to Smithing Stone [5] and [6]?

The Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [3] unlocks the ability to purchase Smithing Stone [5] and [6] from the Twin Maiden Husks. This Bell Bearing is found in a chest in the underground area of the Zamor Ruins in the Mountaintops of the Giants.

4. How many Smithing Stones are needed to fully upgrade a weapon to +25?

You will need a total of 12 of each Smithing Stone tier (1-8) to upgrade a regular weapon to +24. To reach +25, you’ll need one Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.

5. Are Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones limited in Elden Ring?

Yes, Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are limited to 13 per playthrough. If you want to fully upgrade more than 13 regular weapons to +25, you’ll need to enter New Game+.

6. Do Smithing Stones respawn in caves?

The Smithing Stones that are embedded in the walls and environment of caves do not respawn. However, the Smithing Stones dropped by enemies within the caves do respawn when the enemies respawn.

7. Where can I find Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [1]?

You can find Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [1] by defeating the Crystalian boss in the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel.

8. Can I buy unlimited Smithing Stones after finding a Bell Bearing?

Yes! Once you give a Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing to the Twin Maiden Husks, you can purchase an unlimited supply of the Smithing Stones associated with that Bell Bearing.

9. How do I upgrade unique weapons in Elden Ring?

Unique weapons are upgraded using Somber Smithing Stones, not regular Smithing Stones. There are also Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearings to collect to purchase them infinitely.

10. What is the maximum level for Somber Stone weapons?

The maximum level for weapons upgraded with Somber Smithing Stones is +10.

11. Where is the Sealed Tunnel located, where I can get the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [2]?

The Sealed Tunnel is located in the Altus Plateau region. It’s a somewhat hidden dungeon, so explore carefully!

12. What’s the best rune farming location for buying Smithing Stones?

The best rune farming location varies depending on your level and progress. Early game, the sleeping dragon in Caelid is a popular choice. Later in the game, the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum is considered one of the most efficient.

13. Do I need to be online to farm Smithing Stones?

No, you do not need to be online to farm Smithing Stones. Enemies respawn in both online and offline modes.

14. Are Smithing Stones rare?

Early-game Smithing Stones are fairly common. However, higher-tier stones and Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones become increasingly rare. That’s why unlocking the Bell Bearings is crucial.

15. What does GamesLearningSociety.org say about the Elden Ring?

While Games Learning Society or GamesLearningSociety.org primarily focuses on the educational aspects of gaming, including how game design principles can be applied to learning environments, they might not have specific articles about Elden Ring. However, the problem-solving, strategic thinking, and resource management skills developed while playing Elden Ring can certainly be seen through an educational lens. For more information about the intersection of gaming and education, visit their website: Games Learning Society.