You're stuck. We’ve all been there in Elden Ring. You just found a legendary weapon—maybe the Bloodhound’s Fang or that flashy Reduvia dagger—and you realize you’re out of upgrade materials. Specifically, you need Somber Smithing Stones 1 and 2. Running around the map looking for individual white sparkles on the ground is a nightmare. It’s slow. It’s tedious. Honestly, it’s a waste of time when you could just buy them.
That’s where the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 1 comes in.
This tiny little item is a game-changer for early-to-mid-game progression. Once you hand it over to the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold, they’ll sell you an infinite supply of the first two tiers of Somber stones. No more farming. No more praying to the RNG gods. You just trade some runes and get back to smashing bosses.
But getting it isn't exactly a walk in the park if you don't know where to look. It’s tucked away in a place that’s easy to miss if you’re just following the golden rays of grace.
Where to Find the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 1
You need to head to Liurnia of the Lakes. Specifically, you're looking for the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel.
Don't confuse this with the Academy itself. It’s on the northeastern shore of the lake, tucked right into the cliffside. If you’ve reached the Walking Mausoleum that’s constantly stomping around the northern woods, you’re in the right neighborhood. Look for a dark cave entrance guarded by a few generic soldiers near the cliff wall.
The tunnel is a vertical descent. It’s filled with those annoying miners who have skin like rock.
Pro tip: bring a strike weapon. A mace or a hammer will one-shot these guys, whereas a katana or a straight sword will just bounce off their backs and leave you open to a counterattack. It’s frustrating. It’s loud. It makes that "clink" sound that every Elden Ring player grows to hate. Just use a club.
Navigating the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel
The layout is pretty straightforward, but the enemies are the real hurdle. You’ll find Glintstone Sorcerers hanging out on wooden platforms. They love to pelt you with pebbles while you’re trying to navigate narrow beams.
It’s a classic FromSoftware setup.
You’ll want to drop down carefully through the various levels of the mine. There are plenty of Smithing Stones scattered on the walls here, so grab those while you’re at it. You’re essentially descending into a pit. At the very bottom, behind a fog gate, waits the gatekeeper of your infinite upgrade stones: the Crystalian.
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The Boss Fight: Breaking the Crystalian
The boss of this tunnel is a single Crystalian (Spear).
If you’ve never fought one of these before, it can be incredibly intimidating. Your hits will do almost zero damage at first. You’ll see tiny slivers of health disappear, and you’ll think you’re doing something wrong. You aren't.
Crystalians have a "posture" mechanic that is invisible but vital. They have a hard outer shell. To get the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 1, you have to crack that shell.
Hit it. Again and again.
Heavy attacks and jump attacks are your best friends here. Once you deal enough poise damage, you’ll hear a distinct "shatter" sound. The boss will stumble. From that point on, the Crystalian’s defense drops to basically zero. Your weapon will suddenly start carving through its health bar like a hot knife through butter. It’s one of the most satisfying turnarounds in the game. Just watch out for its spear pokes; they have a surprising amount of reach and can cause a lot of stagger.
Why This Specific Bell Bearing Changes Everything
Most players hit a wall around Level 30 or 40. You’ve explored Limgrave, you’ve maybe beaten Margit, and you’re starting to realize your weapon damage is falling off.
Somber weapons are unique. They only go up to +10, whereas regular weapons go to +25. This means every single upgrade level on a Somber weapon is worth about 2.5 levels on a standard one. Having the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 1 means you can instantly take any new special weapon you find and boost it to +2.
That might not sound like much. But in the early game? It's the difference between a boss fight taking five minutes or two.
The Cost of Convenience
Once you win the fight, head back to the Roundtable Hold. Talk to the creepy twins. Give them the bearing.
The prices are actually pretty reasonable:
- Somber Smithing Stone (1): 2,000 Runes
- Somber Smithing Stone (2): 3,000 Runes
If you’ve been clearing out dungeons in Liurnia, you probably have tens of thousands of runes burning a hole in your pocket anyway. It’s a much better investment than five levels in Vigor if your weapon is currently hitting like a wet noodle.
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Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
A lot of people think you can find this in Limgrave. You can't. You have to bypass Stormveil Castle (or go through it) to reach Liurnia first.
Another big mistake is trying to bleed the Crystalian. They are literal rocks. They don't bleed. They don't get poisoned. They don't care about your "meta" status effect build. They only care about being hit really, really hard with something heavy.
Also, don't forget that this bell bearing only covers the first two levels. For +3 and +4 stones, you’ll need to find the second bearing, which is located in the Altus Plateau. Elden Ring likes to keep you on a leash; it won't let you become too overpowered too quickly without a significant amount of travel.
How to Optimize Your Run
If you want to get this as fast as possible, you don't even need to fight Godrick. You can take the hidden path around the side of Stormveil Castle.
- Start at the Stormhill Shack.
- Head north under the large bridge.
- Follow the narrow cliffside path.
- You’ll emerge at the Lake-Facing Cliffs site of grace.
- Ride your horse north-northeast through the water.
- Hug the right-hand cliffside until you see the entrance to the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel.
This allows you to get the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 1 before you’ve even stepped foot inside the first major legacy dungeon. It makes the rest of the early game a total breeze.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Build
Don't just let the bearing sit in your inventory. Go to the Twin Maiden Husks immediately.
Check your favorite "Special" weapons—anything that requires Somber stones. If they aren't at +2 yet, fix that. Then, look ahead. The next step is finding Iji, the Giant Blacksmith, located in Northwest Liurnia. He actually sells a limited stock of stones 1 through 4, but having the bell bearing is better because the maidens never run out of stock.
If you're planning on using multiple special weapons—maybe a bow and a sword—this is the only way to keep them both upgraded without going insane. Go to the tunnel, bring a hammer, smash the crystal lady, and claim your prize.
Quick Reference for the Hunt:
- Location: Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel (Liurnia).
- Boss: Crystalian (Spear).
- Strategy: Strike damage (Hammers/Flails) and stance breaking.
- Reward: Infinite Somber Smithing Stone 1 and 2 at the shop.
The effort is worth it. Stop scavenging for scraps in the dirt and start buying your way to power. It's the most efficient way to play Elden Ring, period.