How Many Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones Can You Get in Elden Ring?
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You can acquire a total of eight Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones per playthrough in Elden Ring. These rare items are crucial for upgrading unique weapons to their maximum potential.
Understanding Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones
What are They?
Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are invaluable upgrade materials in Elden Ring. Unlike regular Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones, these are specifically used to upgrade unique weapons, also known as somber weapons, to their final upgrade level of +10. These weapons, often obtained from bosses, quests, or special locations, have fixed scaling attributes and cannot be altered with Ashes of War.
Why are They Important?
Reaching +10 with a somber weapon unlocks its full potential, maximizing its attack power, scaling stats, and potentially unlocking new abilities. This can be the difference between struggling in the late game and dominating challenging encounters. These stones are the final piece of the puzzle to truly master your chosen weapon.
Locations of Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones
Obtaining these stones requires thorough exploration and tackling some of the game’s toughest challenges. Here’s a breakdown of each location where you can find one per playthrough:
- Mohgwyn Palace: Located near the Palace Approach Ledge-Road Site of Grace, on a corpse guarded by a formidable Albinauric archer. You will have to progress Varre’s questline to get here, or defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood the hard way.
- Consecrated Snowfield: Dropped by a Stray Mimic Tear disguised as a rock. This is in the west of Consecrated Snowfield close to the Inner Consecrated Snowfield grace site.
- Dragon Temple Lift (Crumbling Farum Azula): After reaching the Dragon Temple Lift Site of Grace, take the lift up. You will find the stone on a corpse next to the lift platform. Be wary of surrounding enemies.
- Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree: Located in a chest within a gazebo at the Prayer Room Site of Grace. Proceed outside the room, and immediately turn left along the elevated walkway. The gazebo is located at the far end.
- Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree (Malenia’s Area): Following your encounter with Malenia, Blade of Miquella, continue exploring the area. Behind the waterfall located in the room that leads to Malenia’s boss arena, you’ll find a chest containing another Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
- Lake of Rot: From the Grand Cloister Site of Grace, navigate through the Lake of Rot until you reach the waterfall. Look behind the waterfall to find a chest containing the smithing stone.
- Ranni’s Questline: After completing Ranni the Witch’s questline, and obtaining the Dark Moon Greatsword, Ranni will grant you a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone after speaking to her at the Moonlight Altar.
- Leyndell, Ashen Capital: In the Ashen Capital, climb the giant dragon corpse in the center of the city. The stone is located at the top of the dragon.
Strategies for Acquiring the Stones
Planning Your Route
Consider which stones are most easily accessible to you based on your current progress and build. Mohgwyn Palace and Crumbling Farum Azula stones are often reached relatively early in a playthrough.
Combat Preparation
Some stones are guarded by challenging enemies. Ensure you have appropriate weapons, armor, and talismans to handle these encounters. Summons can be invaluable for distracting enemies and creating openings for attack.
Using Maps and Guides
Refer to detailed maps and online guides to pinpoint the exact locations of the stones. Many resources provide visual aids and step-by-step instructions, minimizing the chance of missing a stone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I farm Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones?
No, Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones cannot be farmed. They are limited to the fixed locations mentioned above per playthrough. This scarcity makes each stone incredibly valuable.
2. Can I get Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones in multiplayer?
While you can explore the world and fight enemies in multiplayer, the Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are tied to individual world progression. Meaning, if you collect a stone in your world, it will not be available for collection in another player’s world, and vice-versa.
3. Do Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones carry over to New Game Plus (NG+)?
Yes, your inventory, including Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones, carries over to NG+. This allows you to upgrade even more weapons to +10 in subsequent playthroughs.
4. What weapons can be upgraded with Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones?
Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are used to upgrade unique weapons that scale with Somber Smithing Stones. These weapons typically have unique skills and cannot have their Ashes of War changed.
5. Are there any other ways to obtain max-level somber weapons besides using the stones?
No, there are no alternative methods to upgrade a somber weapon to +10 other than using a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. They are an absolutely necessary requirement.
6. Can I duplicate Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones?
No, you cannot duplicate Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones. There are no glitches or exploits that allow for their duplication. This further reinforces their limited availability.
7. What is the difference between Somber Smithing Stones and Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones?
Somber Smithing Stones are used to upgrade unique weapons from +1 to +9. The Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone is required only for the final upgrade from +9 to +10.
8. Is it worth using a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone on a weapon I’m unsure about?
Given their limited quantity, it’s generally advisable to save your stones for weapons you are confident you will use. Experiment with different weapons to +9 before committing to the final upgrade.
9. Can I sell Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones?
Yes, you can sell Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones to merchants. However, you will only receive a small amount of runes for them, making it not worth it. These stones are much more valuable for upgrading weapons.
10. Are there any quests that reward Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones?
Yes, Ranni the Witch’s questline rewards you with a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. This is arguably the most straightforward way to guarantee getting one.
11. Does difficulty affect the number of Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones available?
No, the game’s difficulty setting does not affect the number of available Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones. Regardless of whether you play on easy mode or hard mode, you will still only find eight per playthrough.
12. Can I find Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones early in the game?
Yes, it is possible to obtain one relatively early by completing Varre’s questline and traveling to Mohgwyn Palace. This requires some effort but can be a significant power boost early on.
13. Do I need to defeat specific bosses to access Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone locations?
Yes, certain areas containing stones are locked behind boss battles. For example, reaching the Haligtree requires defeating several bosses along the way. Therefore, you will have to defeat these bosses.
14. Are Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones missable?
No, they are not. The locations are static and will remain the same regardless of your progress. However, reaching them may require completing certain quests, which may render some stone locations inaccessible if they are not completed before specific events happen.
15. What are some recommended weapons to upgrade with Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones?
Popular choices include the Rivers of Blood, Moonveil, Blasphemous Blade, and Dark Moon Greatsword. Your choice ultimately depends on your build and playstyle, so test different +9 weapons to find what suits you best.