Smithing Stones Made Easy: Your Ultimate Elden Ring Upgrade Guide
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The Lands Between are rife with challenges, but your journey doesn’t need to be hindered by a lack of upgrade materials. The easiest way to get Smithing Stones in Elden Ring is by acquiring Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings. These coveted items, when given to the Twin Maiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold, unlock the ability to purchase unlimited quantities of specific Smithing Stones directly. This eliminates the need for tedious farming and ensures you always have the resources you need to keep your weapons sharp.
Smithing Stone Acquisition: A Deep Dive
While Bell Bearings are the most efficient long-term solution, understanding other methods is crucial, especially early in the game. Let’s explore all the avenues available to the Tarnished.
Early Game Options: Exploration and Farming
In the initial stages, exploration is your best friend. Smithing Stones are scattered throughout the open world, often found on corpses in relatively safe areas. Thoroughly explore Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula, checking behind structures, inside ruins, and near Sites of Grace.
Farming can also be productive, particularly in specific locations. The Miners in Limgrave Tunnels (near Agheel Lake) are a reliable source of Smithing Stone (1) and (2). Similarly, the Soldiers and Miners in Gael Tunnel (connecting Limgrave and Caelid) drop Smithing Stone (3) and (4). While the drop rates aren’t guaranteed, consistent farming in these areas can yield a steady supply.
Bell Bearings: The Key to Unlimited Upgrades
The true game-changer is acquiring Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings. Here’s a breakdown of each one and where to find them:
- Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing (1): Found in the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel, located in the northeastern part of Liurnia of the Lakes. This dungeon is relatively short but contains challenging enemies.
- Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing (2): Obtained from the Sealed Tunnel in Altus Plateau. The tunnel is located just south of the Minor Erdtree.
- Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing (3): Located in a chest in the underground section of the Zamor Ruins in the Mountaintops of the Giants.
- Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing (4): Dropped by the Godskin Duo boss in the Dragon Temple area of Crumbling Farum Azula.
Once you obtain a Bell Bearing, return to the Roundtable Hold and present it to the Twin Maiden Husks. This will add new Smithing Stones to their inventory, allowing you to purchase them infinitely, limited only by your rune supply.
Merchant Options: Limited Supplies, Early Access
Several Nomadic Merchants and Smithing Master Iji sell a limited number of Smithing Stones. These are useful for early upgrades, especially before acquiring Bell Bearings. While their stock is finite, they offer a convenient way to obtain a few stones without delving into dungeons or farming enemies.
Somber Smithing Stones: Upgrading Unique Armaments
Somber Smithing Stones are used to upgrade unique weapons. Similar to regular Smithing Stones, you can find them scattered throughout the world, farm them from specific enemies, and purchase them from merchants after acquiring Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearings.
Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearing (1) can be found in Sellia Crystal Tunnel in Caelid.
Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearing (2) can be found in the Altus Tunnel in Altus Plateau.
Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearing (3) is dropped by Black Knife Assassin in Crumbling Farum Azula.
Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearing (4) can be found in the Great Waterfall Crest area of the Mountaintops of the Giants. Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearing (5) is obtained by defeating Godefroy the Grafted in the Stormveil Castle area.
FAQ: Smithing Stones and Elden Ring
Here are some frequently asked questions to further enhance your understanding of Smithing Stones in Elden Ring:
1. Where is the earliest Smithing Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing?
The earliest accessible Bell Bearing is Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing (1), found in the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel in Liurnia of the Lakes.
2. How many Smithing Stones do I need to fully upgrade a weapon?
To fully upgrade a standard weapon to +25, you’ll need a total of 12 Smithing Stone (1) through (8) and a single Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. For unique weapons upgraded with Somber Smithing Stones, you need one of each Somber Smithing Stone (1) through (9) and one Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone to reach +10.
3. Do Smithing Stones respawn?
Dedicated Smithing Stone pickups do not respawn after being collected. However, enemies that drop Smithing Stones do respawn, allowing for farming. Bell Bearings are the best long-term solution as they allow you to buy infinite Smithing Stones from the Twin Maiden Husks.
4. Where can I farm Smithing Stone (5)?
A good farming location for Smithing Stone (5) is Leyndell, Royal Capital. The soldiers patrolling the area have a decent drop rate.
5. What is the best early-game weapon to upgrade?
This depends on your build, but weapons like the Uchigatana (for Dexterity builds) or the Lordsworn’s Straight Sword (for Strength builds) are excellent choices for early upgrades.
6. Can I trade Smithing Stones with other players?
No, Smithing Stones cannot be traded with other players.
7. Are Somber Smithing Stones harder to find than regular Smithing Stones?
Somber Smithing Stones are generally less abundant than regular Smithing Stones, especially in the early game. However, finding the Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearing is crucial for getting a continuous supply of Somber Smithing Stones.
8. How much do Smithing Stones cost from the Twin Maiden Husks?
The cost of Smithing Stones from the Twin Maiden Husks varies depending on the level of the stone, but expect to pay between a few hundred to several thousand runes per stone.
9. What happens if I accidentally kill a merchant who sells Smithing Stones?
Killing a merchant permanently removes them from the game. However, their Bell Bearing (if they had one) can be retrieved from their location and given to the Twin Maiden Husks, allowing you to purchase their former inventory.
10. Can I duplicate Smithing Stones?
There are no legitimate methods to duplicate Smithing Stones in Elden Ring. Any claims of duplication exploits should be treated with skepticism as they may violate the game’s terms of service.
11. Are there any enemies that are immune to certain types of damage when farming Smithing Stones?
Yes, some enemies, like the Crystalians, are highly resistant to physical damage. Consider using weapons that deal striking damage or elemental damage when fighting them.
12. Do Smithing Stones carry over into New Game Plus?
Yes, any Smithing Stones you have in your inventory will carry over into New Game Plus. However, you will still need to re-acquire the Bell Bearings to unlock the ability to purchase unlimited stones.
13. Where can I find Smithing Stone [8]?
You can purchase Smithing Stone [8] from the Twin Maiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold for 3600 runes each after obtaining the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [4] from defeating the Godskin Duo in Crumbling Farum Azula.
14. Is it possible to fully upgrade multiple weapons in a single playthrough?
Yes, it is possible, especially if you focus on farming runes and acquiring the necessary Bell Bearings early on. However, fully upgrading a large number of weapons will require significant time and effort. Each play through you can upgrade 8 special and 13 normal weapon to the maximum level (level 10 for special and 25 for normal). Though you can eventually upgrade to the previous level (level 9 for special and 24 for normal) any number of weapon in each play-through.
15. Does character level affect the drop rate of Smithing Stones?
Character level does not directly affect the drop rate of Smithing Stones. The drop rate is determined by the enemy type and your character’s Item Discovery stat. Increase your Item Discovery by using items like the Silver Scarab talisman or consuming Silver-Pickled Fowl Foot.
Mastering the acquisition of Smithing Stones is vital for success in Elden Ring. By understanding the various methods available, from early-game exploration to the long-term benefits of Bell Bearings, you can ensure your weapons are always ready for the challenges ahead. The Games Learning Society explores the educational potential of gaming, reflecting the deep engagement and problem-solving required to master a game like Elden Ring. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about the intersection of gaming and education.