You're standing in front of a boss. Maybe it’s Malenia, or maybe it’s some random Erdtree Avatar that’s been kicking your teeth in for the last hour. You look at your sword. It’s +12. It should be +24. You realize you need more stones, but the thought of farming miners in a dark, cramped tunnel for a 2% drop rate makes you want to delete the game. Stop. There is a better way, and honestly, if you aren't using the Elden Ring all smithing stone bell bearings system, you're playing the game on a self-imposed "hard mode" that nobody asked for.
Getting these items isn't just a convenience. It’s a fundamental shift in how you experience the Lands Between. Once you hand these bearings over to the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold, you can simply buy your upgrades with Runes. It changes everything. You can experiment with different weapons without feeling like you're "wasting" resources.
The Reality of the Smithing Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings
Most players stumble upon their first one by accident. You kill a boss in a cave, you get a weird ball of metal, and you realize the shop at the hub suddenly has more stock. But finding them all? That’s where the real challenge lies. The standard Smithing Stone Bell Bearings cover your regular weapons—the ones that go up to +25.
The first one is in Liurnia. Specifically, the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel. You’ve got to head to the northeast shore of the lake. The boss is a Crystalian. If you don't have a strike weapon, this fight is a nightmare because their skin is literally made of rock. Bring a mace. Smash them until their poise breaks, and then they'll take massive damage. Once they’re down, you get the Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing [1], allowing you to buy Shards [1] and [2]. This gets you to +6.
Progressing further takes you to the Altus Plateau. You’ll find the second bearing in the Sealed Tunnel, just south of the capital outskirts. This one is sneaky. You don't even have to kill a boss; it's in a chest behind an illusory wall. Seriously, just hit the walls. Once you have it, the sisters will sell you Stones [3] and [4], pushing your gear to +12.
Why the Third Bearing Changes the Mid-Game
By the time you reach the Mountaintops of the Giants, the difficulty spike is real. You need more power. The Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing [3] is found in the Zamor Ruins. It’s in a chest in an underground cellar. Simple, right? Except the Zamor Knights roaming the ruins are faster than they have any right to be. Grab it, run out, and suddenly you have access to Stones [5] and [6]. You're now sitting at +18.
The fourth one is arguably the hardest to get because it’s tied to a mandatory boss in Crumbling Farum Azula. You have to defeat the Godskin Duo. Yeah, the fat one and the skinny one. It’s a brutal fight. But the reward is the ability to buy Stones [7] and [8].
Don't Forget the Somber Stones
Standard stones are great, but let’s be real: the coolest weapons in the game use Somber Smithing Stones. These go up to +10. Because these weapons are "special," the bell bearings are scattered in even more precarious locations.
The first Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing is in Caelid. Sellia Crystal Tunnel. You have to beat a Fallingstar Beast. It’s a cramped arena for a boss that moves like a freight train. Victory grants you the ability to buy Somber [1] and [2].
The second one is in the Altus Plateau, specifically the Altus Tunnel. Another duo Crystalian fight. It’s annoying, but it unlocks Somber [3] and [4].
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The Late-Game Somber Grind
Things get weird as you move toward the end. The third Somber bearing is at the First Church of Marika in the Mountaintops. It’s literally just sitting on a corpse outside. Easy. That gives you Somber [5] and [6].
The fourth one is in Crumbling Farum Azula, near the Tempest-Facing Balcony Site of Grace. You’ll find it on a corpse lying on a ledge. This is the big one—it unlocks Somber [7] and [8]. Finally, the fifth Somber bearing is also in Farum Azula, in a small temple just before the final stretch to Maliketh. This lets you buy Somber [9].
The Ancient Dragon Problem
Here is the thing about Elden Ring all smithing stone bell bearings: they don't give you everything. FromSoftware is stingy with the final upgrade materials. There is no bell bearing for Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones or Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones.
You can’t buy them. Ever.
There are only 13 regular Ancient stones and 8 Somber Ancient stones per playthrough. This means you have to choose your "ultimate" weapons wisely. You can buy everything up to +24 or +9, but that final step requires a limited resource. If you use one on a weapon and then realize you hate the move set? You’re out of luck until New Game Plus or until you find another one in a different corner of the world, like the one Nepheli Loux gives you if you finish her questline.
Practical Strategy for New Characters
If you're starting a new build—maybe you want to try a Dexterity/Intelligence hybrid or a pure Strength "bonk" build—don't waste time farming.
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- Reach Liurnia as fast as possible.
- Hit the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel.
- Use the runes from the boss to buy your first stack of stones.
- Push to Altus via the Ruin-Strewn Precipice (avoiding the Grand Lift of Dectus saves time if you don't have the medallions).
Basically, you want to treat the bell bearings as your primary progression markers. If your weapon isn't at the max level allowed by your current bearings, you're leaving damage on the table.
Where Most Players Get Confused
I've seen people get frustrated because they find a bearing, hand it in, and the shop doesn't update. Make sure you’re looking at the right menu. The Twin Maiden Husks have a specific "Bell Bearing Shop" section now. It used to be all lumped together, but patches have organized it.
Also, keep in mind that bell bearing progress now carries over into New Game Plus. This was a massive quality-of-life update. In the early days of the game, you had to find them all over again every time you started a new journey. Now? Once you’ve unlocked the ability to buy stones, you keep that ability. It makes transitioning into a new game cycle much smoother because you can instantly upgrade any new weapon you find in the early areas.
Actionable Steps for Your Current Playthrough
Check your inventory right now. If you're in the endgame and your favorite weapon is still stuck at +19, you've missed a bearing.
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- Audit your map: Look for the orange-rimmed "holes" on the map. Those are mines. Most Smithing Stone bearings are inside those.
- Check the Mountaintops: Many people miss the Zamor Ruins cellar because the blizzard makes visibility terrible. Use your lantern.
- Visit the Twin Maiden Husks: Go to the Roundtable Hold and see which stones are missing from their inventory. If you see a jump (like you can buy 1, 2, 5, and 6), you know exactly which bearing you're missing.
- Save your Ancient Stones: Since you can't buy these, don't use them until you are 100% sure you love a weapon's feel. A +24 weapon is usually more than enough to beat the game; the +25 is just a victory lap.
Stop the endless loop of killing the same three miners over and over. Go find the bearings, spend the runes, and get back to actually playing the game.