You’ve finally found it. That massive, jagged Greatsword with the perfect moveset. You equip it, swing it around a few times, and realize—it hits like a wet pool noodle. This is the classic Elden Ring experience. You’ve got the stats, you’ve got the cool armor, but you’re stuck because you don't have enough stones.
The elden ring smithing stone system is arguably the most important mechanic in the game, more so than your actual character level. Seriously. If you’re level 100 but your sword is still +3, you’re basically just a high-hp punching bag for the bosses.
The Brutal Math of Upgrades
Regular weapons—those "normal" ones you can swap Ashes of War on—require a staggering amount of resources. You need 12 stones of each tier to progress through the levels.
- Tier 1 gets you to +3.
- Tier 2 gets you to +6.
- This continues all the way to Tier 8, which caps you at +24.
The final jump to +25 requires an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. These are rare. Like, "don't waste them on a whim" rare. While you can eventually buy the first eight tiers, you can never buy the Ancient ones. They are limited per playthrough, so pick your favorite child carefully.
Stop Farming and Start Shopping
Most new players waste hours killing the same three miners in Limgrave Tunnels hoping for a drop. Honestly? Don't do that. It’s a trap. The game is designed for you to find Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings.
Once you offer these to the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold, they sell the stones infinitely. You just need the runes.
Where to find the Bell Bearings
- Bell Bearing [1] (Stones 1 & 2): Go to the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel in Liurnia. You have to kill the Crystalian boss. He’s annoying because he has high poise, but once you crack his "shell" with blunt damage, he folds like a lawn chair.
- Bell Bearing [2] (Stones 3 & 4): This one is tucked away in a chest in the Sealed Tunnel, just outside the Leyndell capital walls. Look for illusory walls. There are a lot of them.
- Bell Bearing [3] (Stones 5 & 6): You’ll find this in the Zamor Ruins at the start of the Mountaintops of the Giants. It’s in a chest down some stairs. Watch out for the Zamor Knights; they hit like trucks and move like dancers.
- Bell Bearing [4] (Stones 7 & 8): This is the late-game one. You get it by defeating the Godskin Duo in Crumbling Farum Azula. Yes, that fight. Good luck.
The DLC Factor: Shadow of the Erdtree
If you’ve jumped into the Land of Shadow, you’ll notice the scaling feels... different. While Scadutree Fragments handle your overall power, your base weapon level still matters.
The DLC is actually pretty generous with high-level stones. You'll find Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones at the top of the Suppressing Pillar in Gravesite Plain and inside the various Ruined Forges scattered across the map. These forges are basically mini-dungeons where the "boss" is actually just an altar at the end that gives you a max-level stone.
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What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest mistake? Spreading your stones too thin.
It is always better to have one +18 weapon than five +6 weapons. The way damage scaling works in Elden Ring, the "letter" grade (S, A, B, etc.) often improves as the weapon reaches higher reinforcement levels. A weapon that has "C" scaling in Strength might jump to "B" at +10 and "A" at +20. This means every point you’ve put into your Strength stat suddenly becomes more valuable.
Also, don't ignore the miners. In the early game, those yellow glowing crystals on the walls of tunnels are guaranteed stones. They don't respawn, but they are the fastest way to get a head start before you have the Bell Bearings.
How to Handle the "Wall"
We've all been there. You reach Leyndell and realize your weapon is stuck at +12 because you can't find Smithing Stone [5] anywhere.
Pro tip: Head to the Sealed Tunnel or Altus Tunnel. The miners there often drop higher-tier stones if you’re desperate, but the chests are the real prize. If you're playing the DLC, the Fire Knights in Shadow Keep have a surprisingly high drop rate for Smithing Stone [7] and [8].
Final Insights for the Tarnished
Upgrading is a marathon, not a sprint. If you're struggling with a boss, check your weapon level first. If you haven't reached the cap for your current area, go find those tunnels.
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- Check the map: Look for small black holes with orange outlines. Those are mines.
- Save your Ancient stones: Only use them on weapons you plan to take into New Game Plus.
- Buy in bulk: Once you get a Bell Bearing, farm some runes (the Palace-Approach Ledge-Road is still the goat) and buy 12 or 24 of each stone so you're ready for the next cool weapon you find.
The blacksmith Hewg is waiting. He’s been hammering that same piece of metal for years; the least you can do is bring him some decent materials to work with. Get your weapon to +24, find an Ancient Dragon stone to seal the deal, and those bosses won't seem so "impossible" anymore.
Next Steps for Your Build:
- Locate the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel to unlock infinite Tier 1 and 2 stones.
- Visit the Sealed Tunnel in Altus Plateau for the second Bell Bearing.
- Prioritize your primary weapon to at least +15 before entering Leyndell.