Look, we’ve all been there. You just picked up a shiny new legendary armament—maybe it’s the Moonveil or you’re finally ready to commit to the Bloodhound’s Fang—and you realize you’re out of upgrade materials. It's the classic Elden Ring bottleneck. You need those mid-tier Somber Smithing Stones, but farming individual nodes in tunnels feels like a chore that never ends. That’s exactly why the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 2 is arguably the most important utility item in the mid-game.
Without it? You're stuck. You're basically wandering the Lands Between with a toothpick while the bosses are getting exponentially tankier.
The beauty of this specific bell bearing is that it unlocks the ability to buy Somber Smithing Stones 3 and 4 infinitely. No more praying to the RNG gods in some damp cave. You just hand it over to the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold, cough up some runes, and boom. Instant upgrades. But here’s the kicker: a lot of players get turned around trying to find it because the map in Elden Ring is, frankly, a bit of a liar when it comes to verticality.
Where the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 2 Actually Is
If you’re scouring the surface of Liurnia of the Lakes, stop. You’re wasting your time. The Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 2 isn't sitting in a chest in some ruins or dropped by a random field boss. It’s tucked away in the Altus Plateau, specifically inside the Altered Tunnel.
Wait, sorry—I meant the Altus Tunnel.
You'll find this spot just south of the Minor Erdtree in the Altus Plateau. It’s a bit of a trek if you haven't activated the Grand Lift of Dectus yet, but most players stumble upon it while trying to bypass the lift via the Ruin-Strewn Precipice. Once you’re in the tunnel, the vibe shifts. It’s cramped. It’s yellow. It’s full of those annoying miners who take reduced damage from slashing weapons.
If you aren't bringing a strike weapon or some heavy magic, those miners will bounce your blade right back into your face. It's embarrassing. Don't let it happen.
The boss of this dungeon is a duo. You’re fighting two Crystalians—one with a spear and one with a ringblade. Now, if you haven't fought Crystalians before, they’re basically walking glass statues. They have incredibly high poise and damage reduction until you "crack" them. Once their stance breaks, their defense plummets to basically zero, and you can finish them off in a few hits.
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The trick here? Backstabs. Or a big hammer.
Why This Specific Drop Changes Everything
Most people don't realize how much of a leap the +4 upgrade is. In the early game, you can find Somber 1s and 2s by tripping over rocks in Limgrave. But once you hit the +3 and +4 threshold, the scaling on your weapons usually jumps an entire letter grade. That’s the difference between a "C" in Dexterity and a "B."
It changes your build's math. It makes your Somber weapons actually viable for the mid-to-late game challenges like Starscourge Radahn or the terrifyingly fast enemies in Leyndell.
The Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 2 is the gateway to that power. Honestly, once you have it, the game feels less like a desperate crawl for resources and more like a tactical choices simulator. You can experiment. Want to try a different special weapon? Go for it. You can buy the stones now. You aren't "married" to your first +4 weapon anymore.
Getting to the Altus Tunnel Without the Lift
Let’s say you’re impatient. You haven't found both halves of the Dectus Medallion. You can still get your hands on the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 2 by taking the "coward’s path" (which is actually way harder) through the Ravine-Veiled Village at the north end of Liurnia.
You climb a mountain of ladders. You fight Magma Wyrm Makar. You emerge into the sunlight of Altus, feeling like a god, only to realize you’re still a few miles away from the tunnel.
From the "Abandoned Coffin" site of grace, you want to head northeast. Ride Torrent hard. Ignore the ancient dragon that swoops down—she’s just there for intimidation—and head toward the wooded area south of the main road. The Altus Tunnel entrance is tucked into a cliffside. Look for the wooden scaffolding. That's your green light.
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Inside, the layout is pretty linear. You won't get lost, but you might get frustrated. The miners are one thing, but the glintstone-wielding ones can snipe you from across the caverns.
Dealing With the Crystalian Duo
The fight for the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 2 is a test of patience.
- Focus on one. The Spear Crystalian is aggressive. The Ringblade one hangs back and throws projectiles.
- Use Strike Damage. If you have a mace, great. If not, even a basic club will do more work here than a +10 katana.
- Break their poise. Once you hear that distinct shatter sound, the fight is over.
Some people suggest using Spirit Ashes here, and honestly, why wouldn't you? A tanky summon like the Greatshield Soldiers or even the Jellyfish can distract one twin while you dismantle the other. It makes the whole process of getting the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 2 a total breeze.
The Cost of Power: Rune Farming for Stones
Once you've cleared the tunnel and grabbed the loot, head back to the Roundtable Hold. Give the item to the Twin Maiden Husks. Now comes the part where you realize you're broke.
Buying these stones isn't cheap for a mid-level character. A Somber Smithing Stone (3) costs 4,000 runes. A Somber Smithing Stone (4) will set you back 6,000 runes. To take a weapon from +2 to +4, you’re looking at a 10,000 rune investment per weapon.
In the grand scheme of Elden Ring, that's not much. But if you're trying to level up your Vigor at the same time, it adds up.
A lot of players make the mistake of buying dozens of stones "just in case." Don't do that. Just buy what you need for your primary and maybe one backup weapon. The Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 2 stays with the vendors forever (and carries over to New Game Plus now, thanks to a very merciful patch from FromSoftware). There’s no rush.
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Common Misconceptions About Bell Bearings
A huge myth is that you can "miss" these items. You can't. Even if you progress the story to the point where the world changes significantly, the Altus Tunnel remains accessible.
Another weird one? People think they need to find Bell Bearing 1 before 2. Not true. If you’re a high-level player who skipped the early mines, you can go straight for the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 2. The shop interface just adds the new stones to the list. It’s remarkably clean for a game that usually tries to hide its mechanics under twelve layers of cryptic lore.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you’re currently staring at a +2 Bloodhound’s Fang and wondering why your damage is falling off, here is exactly what you need to do right now.
First, check your map for the Altus Plateau. If it’s still grayed out, head to the north of Liurnia and start climbing. Second, locate the Altus Tunnel south of the Minor Erdtree. Don't forget a torch or a lantern; it's dark in there. Third, equip a weapon that deals strike damage—even an unupgraded Morning Star is better than a sword for this specific boss.
Kill the Crystalians, take the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 2 to the Twin Maiden Husks, and finally get that weapon to +4. The jump in power will make the next several legacy dungeons feel significantly more manageable.
Once you have this sorted, your next goal should be the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 3, which is found much later in the Mountaintops of the Giants. But for now, enjoy the luxury of infinite mid-tier stones. You’ve earned it.