Should You Hoard Smithing Stones in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide
The question of whether to hoard Smithing Stones in Elden Ring is a crucial one for any Tarnished traversing the Lands Between. The short answer? Yes, absolutely, you should hoard Smithing Stones, but with strategic consideration. These seemingly mundane items are the lifeblood of your weapon upgrades, and without them, you’ll find your journey significantly more challenging. However, simply stuffing them away isn’t the most efficient approach. Understanding the nuances of their usage and scarcity is key to maximizing their potential. This guide will help you understand why, how, and when to use Smithing Stones to make your Elden Ring experience smoother.
The Importance of Smithing Stones
Smithing Stones, and their rarer counterparts, Somber Smithing Stones, are essential for enhancing the power of your arsenal. They aren’t just another collectible; they are the primary way you increase the damage output and scaling of your weapons and shields.
Regular Smithing Stones
Regular Smithing Stones are used to upgrade the majority of weapons and shields, those that don’t have a unique name modifier, such as the Uchigatana or Claymore. These stones are numbered from 1 to 8, with each tier increasing in rarity and upgrade potential. You’ll need 12 stones of each type to reach the next upgrade tier (except for the final +25 tier) for regular weapons. The cost to fully upgrade a weapon to +24 is 129,000 Runes once you have acquired the necessary Bell Bearings to purchase Smithing Stones 1 to 8.
Somber Smithing Stones
Somber Smithing Stones are used to upgrade unique weapons, often those with special abilities or lore attached to them. These weapons generally level up in a smaller increment of 10, while regular weapons go to level 25. Unlike regular Smithing Stones, you only need one of each level to upgrade a Somber weapon. This makes Somber weapon upgrades a more straightforward process, though finding the higher-tier stones is still a challenge.
Why Hoarding is Key
The main reason to hoard Smithing Stones is their limited availability. While basic stones are relatively easy to find, higher-tier stones become progressively rarer. This is particularly true for Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones, which are required to max out weapons. These are incredibly scarce and require a New Game+ run to gather enough to max out all your preferred weapons. It’s crucial to think carefully about which weapons to upgrade, as materials do not carry over to your next playthrough.
Strategic Use is More Important Than Pure Hoarding
While hoarding is important, indiscriminate hoarding isn’t. It’s better to upgrade your weapons strategically. Focus on a few weapons that fit your playstyle rather than trying to max out everything. Don’t upgrade a weapon you’re unsure about and always try to find a viable replacement. Knowing the difference between regular and Somber weapons and their upgrade requirements allows you to better manage your resources. This prevents the regret of upgrading multiple weapons that you don’t use.
The Role of Bell Bearings
Bell Bearings are crucial for obtaining Smithing Stones consistently. When offered to the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold, they unlock the ability to purchase stones. The Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings unlock regular stones, while the Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearings unlock Somber stones. Acquiring these bearings will allow you to buy most of the stones, however, there are no bearings that will allow you to buy the very last upgrade stones, Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 FAQs to provide more insight into the nuances of Smithing Stones in Elden Ring:
1. Do Smithing Stones carry over to New Game+?
Yes, all Smithing Stones you have collected, as well as your weapons, armor, talismans, and other items, will carry over to New Game+. This allows you to continue upgrading existing equipment or try new combinations.
2. Can Smithing Stones run out?
Yes, higher-tier Smithing Stones are limited. Once you have exhausted the available stones in a playthrough, you will need to start a New Game+ to find more and fully upgrade your gear. This is especially true for Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones.
3. How many Somber Smithing Stones do you need to fully upgrade everything?
You would need 137 of each Somber Smithing Stone to fully upgrade all 127 weapons and 10 shields that utilize them. However, due to the limited number of Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones, you would need to reach NG+17 (18 playthroughs) to achieve this.
4. How many regular Smithing Stones do you need to fully upgrade everything?
You would need 2,880 of each numbered Smithing Stone and 240 Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones to upgrade all 182 weapons and 58 shields. Reaching this also requires NG+18 (19 playthroughs) due to the scarcity of the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones.
5. Can you get unlimited Somber Smithing Stones?
Yes, you can buy Somber Smithing Stone [3] in unlimited quantities from the Blind Maiden Husk once you have the Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearing [2]. However, you can also get Somber Smithing Stone 1 and 2 in unlimited quantities from a friendly giant located near the Road To The Manor Site of Grace.
6. What is the difference between Smithing Stone and Somber Smithing Stone?
Smithing Stones are used to upgrade standard weapons, while Somber Smithing Stones are used for special weapons. Regular weapons have a level of +25 whereas Somber weapons have a level of +10.
7. How many Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are there?
There are only 13 Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and 8 Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones in the base game. This is a very limited amount of items and should be used with care.
8. Do any enemies drop Smithing Stone 6?
Yes, a Somber Smithing Stone [6] is dropped from the Fallingstar Beast boss in Sellia Crystal Tunnel.
9. What should I spend Smithing Stones on?
Focus on upgrading weapons and shields you regularly use and that match your playstyle. Don’t waste resources on gear you don’t use. Make use of your Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings to be able to purchase the stones you need.
10. What should I do before starting New Game+?
Collect all Golden Seeds, Sacred Tears, Talismans, Remembrances, Crystal Tears, and Whetblades. Use all Walking Mausoleums, offer Bell Bearings to the Twin Maiden Husks, and purchase all upgrade materials.
11. How do I buy Smithing Stone 7 and 8?
You need to acquire the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [4] and give it to the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold. This will add Smithing Stones [7 and 8] to their inventory for purchase.
12. Are Smithing Stones rare?
Basic Smithing Stones are easy to find, but higher-level stones become increasingly rare. Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are especially rare. It is good to use the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings to alleviate some of the pressure to find these items.
13. How many of each Smithing Stone do you need per weapon?
You need 12 of each numbered Smithing Stone to upgrade a regular weapon to the next tier, whereas Somber Smithing Stones only require 1 per tier upgrade.
14. Where is the easiest Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone?
One can be found in a chest, starting from the Prayer Room Site of Grace at Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, by jumping down to the gazebo and hopping onto a branch.
15. What is the difference between Smithing Stone 1 and 2?
Smithing Stone [1] allows you to upgrade regular gear to +3, while Smithing Stone [2] upgrades them to +6.
Conclusion: Making the Most of Your Smithing Stones
In conclusion, hoarding Smithing Stones is beneficial, but not without strategy. Focus on upgrading the weapons you use most frequently and gather the Bell Bearings to allow for purchase options. Be mindful of the limited availability of the highest-tier stones, and plan accordingly for future New Game+ runs if you aim to max out all your gear. With thoughtful resource management, you’ll find your Tarnished more than capable of taking on all that the Lands Between throws your way.