You’ve spent dozens of hours dying to Malenia, getting lost in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds, and probably questioning why you even like souls-likes in the first place. But now, your favorite special weapon is at +9. You can feel the power spike coming. To get that final, legendary push to +10, you need the rarest material in the Lands Between. I'm talking about the Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
In Elden Ring, these aren't just upgrade materials. They're a finite resource. There are only eight of them in a single playthrough, assuming you don't mess up any NPC questlines. If you waste one on a weapon you don't actually love, you're stuck with that choice until New Game Plus. It’s a lot of pressure. Honestly, the game doesn't make it easy to find them either. Most are tucked away in the literal end-game areas where every single enemy can two-shot you.
Why the Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone Changes Everything
The jump from +9 to +10 is more than just a numbers game. It’s about the scaling. When you use a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, you aren't just adding a few points of physical damage. You're often bumping a weapon's primary stat scaling—like Strength or Intelligence—from a B to an A, or an A to the coveted S tier.
That’s the difference between a boss having a sliver of health left or being dead before the second phase truly starts. It also maximizes the impact of your Ash of War. If you're rocking the Rivers of Blood or the Moonveil, that +10 upgrade is what makes the weapon feel "broken" in the best way possible.
The Earliest Possible Grab: Mohgwyn Palace
If you’re impatient, you can actually snag one of these before you even set foot in the Mountaintops of the Giants. You've just got to deal with Varre. Follow his questline, get the Pureblood Knight's Medal, and teleport straight to Mohgwyn Palace.
Most people think this area is just for rune farming at the Palace Approach ledge. It's not. If you head toward the Dynasty Mausoleum Midpoint site of grace, you'll find a massive statue. There's a chest right at the base of it, guarded by a bunch of enemies that really want you dead. Inside is a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. It is, hands down, the earliest one you can get if you're brave enough to sprint past the blood-crazed nobles.
Navigating Miquella’s Haligtree
Look, the Haligtree is a nightmare. Everyone knows it. But if you want to max out your gear, you have to go there. There are actually two stones hidden in this vertical labyrinth.
The first one is tied to a specific red phantom. After you beat Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree, you’ll descend into Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree. There’s a walkway where a Pests (those annoying shrimp guys) hang out. If you follow the path toward the outer walls, you'll find a corpse slumped over a chair on a gazebo-like platform. That’s your prize.
The second one is a reward for finishing Millicent’s quest. This is one of the most emotional storylines in the game, but it's also mechanically vital. After defeating Malenia, you have to use the Unalloyed Gold Needle on the blooming flower in her boss room. Doing this grants you a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. It feels like a fitting reward for beating the hardest boss FromSoftware has ever designed.
Crumbling Farum Azula: The End of the Road
By the time you reach the floating city of Farum Azula, the game is basically throwing everything it has at you. But this is also where the density of upgrade materials is highest.
One stone is located just past the Dragon Temple Rooftop. You’ll see a Farum Azula Dragon sitting there, calling down red lightning like it’s a weather god. You don't technically have to kill it, but it makes grabbing the stone a lot easier. The stone is in a gazebo right behind where the dragon perches.
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Another one is found near the end of the area. After you've dealt with the Godskin Duo (my condolences) and made your way toward the Beast Clergyman, look for a path that leads away from the main progression. There’s a lone gazebo on a lower level reachable by a series of jumps and elevators. It's guarded by a Beastman, but he's nothing compared to what you've already faced.
Don't Forget the Leyndell Ashen Capital
Once the city turns to ash, the landscape changes completely. It’s easy to get turned around because all your previous landmarks are buried under literal tons of gray soot.
If you head back toward the area where the Gargoyle used to stand near the West Capital Rampart, you'll find a new path. You're looking for a dead dragon's wing. Climb up, and tucked away in the ruins of what used to be a grand building, you'll find another Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. It’s a somber moment, pun intended, seeing the capital in ruins while you hunt for the power to mend the Elden Ring.
Quest Rewards and Missable Stones
The most famous "missed" stone is the one from Latenna the Albinauric. If you follow her quest all the way to the Apostate Derelict in the Consecrated Snowfield, she’ll give you one as a thank-you for fulfilling her purpose.
Then there’s Gurranq. If you feed him all nine Deathroots, he’ll give you a stone. Or, you can just kill him after you’ve defeated Maliketh. It's a bit cold-blooded, but it works. Honestly, by that point in the game, morality is a bit of a gray area anyway.
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Tactical Advice for Spending Your Stones
Since you only get eight per run, you need a plan. Don't just dump them into whatever weapon looks cool in your inventory.
- Check the Scaling: Only use a stone if the jump from +9 to +10 actually improves the letter grade of your primary stat.
- Consider Your Build: If you're a Mage, the Carian Regal Scepter is a no-brainer. If you're Strength/Faith, the Blasphemous Blade is arguably the best investment in the entire game.
- Save One for the DLC: If you haven't played Shadow of the Erdtree yet, keep at least one stone in reserve. There are some incredible special weapons in the Land of Shadow that you'll want to max out immediately.
Final Steps for Your Build
Once you have your Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, head back to Roundtable Hold. Talk to Master Hewg. Despite his fading memory, he's the only one who can hammer that legendary material into your blade.
After you hit +10, take your weapon out for a test drive. Head to the Underground Roadside in Leyndell and see how quickly you can melt an Omen. If you can take them down in one or two skill rotations, you've done it right. From here, your next move should be optimizing your Talismans to match your new damage ceiling. Look into the Shard of Alexander or the Godfrey Icon to make sure that +10 weapon is hitting as hard as the game allows. It's time to go become Elden Lord. No more excuses.