So, you’re stuck. You’ve got a legendary weapon—maybe the Bloodhound’s Fang or the Moonveil—and you’ve hit that annoying wall where you need a Volcano Manor somber smithing stone 7 to actually do decent damage. It’s a classic Elden Ring bottleneck. You have stones 1 through 6, and you might even have a stone 8 or 9 from Caelid, but that level 7 stone is notoriously elusive in the early to mid-game.
Most players think they have to wait until they reach the Mountaintops of the Giants or the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds to find one. That's a long way off. Honestly, if you're trying to tackle Radahn or Morgott, having a +7 or +9 weapon makes the fight feel like a completely different game. The good news is that Volcano Manor holds the key, but getting it isn't exactly a walk in the park. It requires some platforming, a bit of luck, and knowing exactly where the developers hid the loot.
The Infamous Bridge Jump: Can You Still Do It?
If you’ve spent any time on Reddit or old game forums, you’ve probably seen people talking about the "Volcano Manor bridge jump." This was the go-to method for speedrunners and "OP early" builds. Basically, there’s a bridge near the Temple of Eiglay that you can theoretically jump across to bypass a huge chunk of the dungeon and grab that Volcano Manor somber smithing stone 7 sitting on a corpse near an Abductor Virgin.
Here’s the reality: FromSoftware "patched" the easiest version of this jump. They didn't necessarily move the stone, but they messed with the collision physics of the bridge gear. It used to be a simple sprint and jump. Now? It’s a nightmare. You have to aim for a very specific, tiny pixel on the metallic strut. Most people spend forty minutes falling to their death trying to save ten minutes of gameplay.
If you aren't a platforming god, don't bother with the jump anymore. There are more reliable ways to get what you need without seeing the "You Died" screen twenty times in a row. You’re better off just playing through the manor or using the "Abductor Virgin teleport" method if you’re coming from Raya Lucaria.
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Navigating the Manor Without Losing Your Mind
To get that Volcano Manor somber smithing stone 7 through legitimate exploration, you first have to actually get into the manor. You can do the Rya questline—which I recommend because it's lore-rich—or you can get eaten by the Abductor Virgin at the bottom of the water wheel in Academy of Raya Lucaria.
Once you’re in the "Basement" area of the Manor after being abducted, you have to find your way to the Subterranean Inquisition Chamber. From there, it’s a trek through lava and past those annoying man-serpents. The stone itself isn't just lying on the main path. It’s tucked away in the back of the legacy dungeon area.
Specifically, you’re looking for the area guarded by the Godskin Noble. You don’t technically have to kill him to get the stone if you’re clever, but it makes life a lot easier. The stone is located on a balcony overlooking the lava, guarded by a clockwork Abductor Virgin.
Why the Level 7 Stone is a Difficulty Spike
Elden Ring’s upgrade economy is weirdly balanced. You can find Somber 1 through 4 at Iji’s shop for a handful of runes. Stones 5 and 6 are scattered around Nokron and Mt. Gelmir. But 7? 7 is the gatekeeper.
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It represents the transition from "mid-game" to "end-game" power levels. A weapon at +7 is significantly more powerful than +6, often gaining better attribute scaling (like moving from B to A in Strength or Dexterity). This is why the Volcano Manor somber smithing stone 7 is such a high-priority item for players who want to feel powerful before they hit the capital.
Step-by-Step: The Path of Least Resistance
Forget the glitches for a second. Let's talk about the actual route.
First, you need to reach the Temple of Eiglay Site of Grace. This is the room where you fight the Godskin Noble. If you haven't fought him yet, he’s a beast. Use sleep pots. Seriously. One sleep pot puts him out for a long time, allowing you to wail on him or just run past.
After the boss room, take the elevator up. You’ll find yourself on a balcony. Follow the path across the rooftops and through the windows. You’ll eventually reach a dark room with a few man-serpents and a shortcut door. Keep going past this until you find the outdoor area with the hanging cages.
The Volcano Manor somber smithing stone 7 is perched on a ledge near the very end of this loop. You’ll see a corpse slumped over a railing. That’s your prize. Just be careful; the Abductor Virgin patrolling nearby has a nasty habit of grabbing you just as you’re about to loot the item.
Common Misconceptions About Somber Stones in Mt. Gelmir
A lot of players confuse the regular Smithing Stone 7 with the Somber version. Let’s be clear: they are not the same. You might find a dozen regular stones in the tunnels around the mountain, but the Somber 7 is a unique pickup.
Another mistake? Thinking you can buy them. You cannot buy Somber 7s until you reach the Crumbling Farum Azula and find the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing (4). That is effectively the final 10% of the game. So, unless you want to wait until the credits are about to roll, the Volcano Manor drop is your best bet.
Interestingly, there is another Somber 7 in the sewers of Leyndell, but that place is a maze of nightmares. Compared to the Dung Eater's neighborhood, Volcano Manor is practically a vacation.
The Stats Matter
When you finally get that stone, look at your weapon's stats. Most people just look at the raw damage number. Don't do that. Look at the scaling letters. A +7 upgrade often bumps your primary stat scaling. If you're a mage using the Wing of Astel, that Somber 7 might be the difference between two-shotting a knight and three-shotting him. In Elden Ring, that one extra swing is usually when you get hit.
Is it Worth the Risk Early Game?
Honestly? Yes.
If you spend an hour getting the Volcano Manor somber smithing stone 7 at level 40 or 50, the rest of the Altus Plateau becomes a breeze. You’ll be dealing damage that the game doesn't expect you to deal for another twenty levels. It’s the closest thing Elden Ring has to a "difficulty setting."
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If you're struggling with the jump or the boss, remember that you can always summon help. The Elden Ring community is still incredibly active. Use a Furlcalling Finger Remedy near the Temple of Eiglay and wait. Someone with a giant hammer will inevitably show up and flatten the Godskin Noble for you.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you're sitting at a Site of Grace right now wondering what to do, follow this checklist to get your upgrade:
- Travel to Raya Lucaria: Go to the bottom of the water wheel and let the Abductor Virgin kill you with its "grab" attack. This teleports you directly into the Volcano Manor basement.
- Rest at the Grace: Escape the basement area and find the first Site of Grace so you can warp back out if needed.
- Bring Sleep Pots: Craft at least two or three. The Godskin Noble in the Manor is the biggest obstacle between you and that stone.
- Locate the Bridge: Find the lever to raise the bridge. Even if you don't do the "glitch jump," having the bridge up makes navigating the manor ten times easier.
- Loot the Balcony: Once you're past the Noble, head toward the "caged" lift area. The stone is on the ledge guarded by the Abductor Virgin. Grab it and run.
Once you have the stone, head straight to Hewg at Roundtable Hold. Don't sit on it. Upgrading your weapon is the single most impactful thing you can do for your character's power level—far more than leveling up your Vigor or Strength by a few points.
Get the stone, get the upgrade, and go show the Draconic Tree Sentinel why he shouldn't be guarding the capital's gates.