Where to Grind Smithing Stones in Elden Ring: A Tarnished’s Guide
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The Lands Between are a dangerous place, and a dull blade is a death sentence. To truly become Elden Lord, you’ll need to upgrade your weapons, and that means grinding for Smithing Stones. The most efficient answer: Early game (Smithing Stones 1-4) focus on mining locations like Limgrave Tunnels, Gael Tunnel, and Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel. Mid to late game you will be gathering Bell Bearings so you can purchase them from the Twin Maiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold. These can be acquired from specific mines and dungeons.
Understanding Smithing Stone Acquisition in Elden Ring
Upgrading your armaments in Elden Ring requires either Smithing Stones (for standard weapons) or Somber Smithing Stones (for unique weapons). While exploration yields a decent starting supply, relying solely on found stones won’t cut it. You’ll need to proactively farm these essential resources. There are two primary methods: Direct Farming and Bell Bearing acquisition.
Direct Farming: The Early Game Grind
This involves repeatedly killing enemies that drop the stones you need, or repeatedly clearing mines that have the stones for you to find. This method is most relevant early in the game, before you’ve collected many Bell Bearings. Remember, the Smithing Stones found on the walls of these caves will not respawn, but those dropped by the enemies within are unlimited.
- Limgrave Tunnels: A fantastic early location for Smithing Stone [1] and [2]. The miners here are plentiful and relatively weak, making it a low-risk, high-reward grind. The tunnel is located along the northern edge of Agheel Lake in Limgrave.
- Gael Tunnel: Connecting Limgrave and Caelid, Gael Tunnel offers Smithing Stone [3] and [4]. Be aware that the enemies here are tougher than those in Limgrave Tunnels, so level up a bit before diving in.
- Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel: Located northeast of the Academy in Liurnia, this tunnel is a good source of Smithing Stone [2] as well as the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [1].
When farming enemies, prioritize strike damage weapons. Many of these miners are highly susceptible to blunt force.
Bell Bearings: The Key to Unlimited Stones
The most efficient long-term strategy is to collect Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings and give them to the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold. This unlocks the ability to purchase unlimited quantities of the corresponding Smithing Stones. This method costs Runes, but is far faster than relying solely on enemy drops.
Here’s a breakdown of the key Bell Bearings and where to find them:
- Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [1]: Found at the end of the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel. This unlocks Smithing Stone [1] and [2] for purchase.
- Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [2]: Located in a chest within the Sealed Tunnel, a cave on the Altus Plateau. This unlocks Smithing Stone [3] and [4] for purchase. The chest is guarded by Vulgar Militia.
- Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [3]: Dropped by the Tibia Mariner boss in the Mountaintops of the Giants. This unlocks Smithing Stone [5] and [6] for purchase.
- Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [4]: Dropped by the Godskin Duo boss in Crumbling Farum Azula, specifically inside the Dragon Temple area. This unlocks Smithing Stone [7] and [8] for purchase.
Maximizing Your Smithing Stone Grind
- Optimize Your Route: Plan efficient farming routes through areas with high enemy density.
- Use Lures and Aggro Techniques: Group enemies together to kill them quickly.
- Prioritize Bell Bearings: Make acquiring Bell Bearings your main objective.
- Invest in Runes: Focus on increasing your Rune acquisition to afford buying stones from the Twin Maiden Husks.
- Consider Multiplayer: Co-op can speed up the farming process, but be mindful of Rune distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are Somber Smithing Stones used for?
Somber Smithing Stones are used to upgrade unique weapons, like those obtained from bosses or found in specific locations. These weapons typically have unique skills or scaling properties. Unlike regular Smithing Stones, you only need one of each Somber Stone level to upgrade your weapon.
2. Where can I find Somber Smithing Stone [1] and [2]?
Somber Smithing Stone [1] and [2] can be purchased from Smithing Master Iji in Liurnia of the Lakes, near the Road to the Manor Site of Grace. You can also find them in various locations throughout Limgrave and Liurnia.
3. Is there a way to get unlimited Somber Smithing Stones?
While you can eventually purchase Somber Smithing Stones up to level 9 via Bell Bearings, Ancient Somber Dragon Smithing Stones, used for maxing out weapons, are limited per playthrough.
4. How many Smithing Stones do I need to fully upgrade a weapon?
You need 12 of each Smithing Stone level to fully upgrade a regular weapon to +24. The final upgrade requires an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
5. Where is the best place to farm Smithing Stone [3] early in the game?
Gael Tunnel, which connects Limgrave and Caelid, is a good location for Smithing Stone [3], but be mindful of the increased difficulty compared to Limgrave Tunnels. A faster method is to acquire the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [2] and buy the stones from the Twin Maiden Husks.
6. Do Smithing Stones respawn in the open world?
No, Smithing Stones found as individual items in the open world (those sparkling on the ground) do not respawn. However, those dropped by enemies do. The Smithing Stones on the walls of the mines do not respawn.
7. What’s the difference between Smithing Stones and Somber Smithing Stones?
Smithing Stones are used to upgrade standard weapons, while Somber Smithing Stones are used to upgrade unique weapons. The upgrade process also differs; you need multiple of each level of Smithing Stone, while you only need one of each Somber Smithing Stone level.
8. How do I use Bell Bearings?
Bell Bearings are given to the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold. Doing so adds the items associated with that Bell Bearing (like Smithing Stones) to their shop inventory, allowing you to purchase them with Runes.
9. Are there any other items I should farm besides Smithing Stones?
Yes, you should also farm Runes, the game’s currency, which are needed to buy the Smithing Stones from the Twin Maiden Husks, and to level up your character stats to make farming easier. Also consider farming upgrade materials like Ghost Glovewort and Grave Glovewort used to upgrade Spirit Ashes.
10. Where can I find Smithing Stone [5]?
Smithing Stone [5] can be found in various locations, including the Academy of Raya Lucaria, Ravine-Veiled Village, Sellia Crystal Tunnel, Old Altus Tunnel, and Altus Tunnel. Farming enemies in these areas is also an option.
11. What is the fastest way to get Smithing Stone [7] and [8]?
The fastest way to get Smithing Stone [7] and [8] is to obtain the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [4], dropped by the Godskin Duo in Crumbling Farum Azula, and then purchase them from the Twin Maiden Husks.
12. Is it worth farming Smithing Stones in the late game?
While direct farming remains an option, it’s generally more efficient to focus on obtaining the later Bell Bearings and purchasing the stones with Runes. Late-game areas offer higher Rune rewards, making this approach more economical.
13. How many Bell Bearings are there in Elden Ring?
There are numerous Bell Bearings in Elden Ring.
14. What happens if I give the Twin Maiden Husks a Bell Bearing and then kill them?
If you kill the Twin Maiden Husks after giving them a Bell Bearing, you can give their Bell Bearing to another set of Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold and continue to purchase items.
15. How does my understanding of game mechanics evolve during the grinding process, and where can I learn more about game-based learning?
The grinding process in Elden Ring, like many games, teaches players valuable lessons in resource management, strategic planning, and perseverance. Players learn to optimize their strategies based on experience, adapting to challenges and celebrating small victories along the way. This reflects the core principles of game-based learning. To delve deeper into the educational benefits of gaming, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org to explore research and insights into how games can foster learning and skill development.