You’re staring at your Special Armament—maybe it’s the Bloodhound’s Fang or that flashy Moonveil katana—and you realize the damage just isn't cutting it anymore. You’ve got the level 4 upgrade. You might even have a level 6 or 7 sitting in your inventory from some lucky chest. But that gap? That Somber Smithing Stone 5 shaped hole in your progression is a massive wall. It’s the difference between shredding a boss and getting flattened by a single combo. Honestly, it’s one of the most frustrating bottlenecks in Elden Ring because the game stops handing them out like candy right when the difficulty spikes.
The Lands Between is cruel.
Finding these things early isn't just about luck; it's about knowing exactly which terrifying corner of the map to sprint through while ignoring every enemy trying to impale you. If you're stuck in Liurnia or just hitting Caelid, you're likely feeling the itch to power up. Let's get into where these stones actually hide and how you can snag them without a PhD in Cartography.
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The Redmane Castle Shortcut
Most players think they have to wait until the Radahn Festival to get anything good out of Caelid. They're wrong. If you head to Redmane Castle before the festival triggers—or after you’ve beaten Starscourge Radahn—the place is a goldmine. You’re looking for a specific Somber Smithing Stone 5 sitting in a small room near the bridge.
Getting there is a bit of a nightmare. You’ve got giant wooden bolts flying at your head and those weird lion-dogs that move way too fast for comfort. But if you can navigate the back pathways of the castle, near the room with the many chairs and the painting, you’ll find one. It’s sitting there, unassuming, probably guarded by something that wants to eat your face.
The beauty of this spot is that it doesn't require any platforming gymnastics. It’s just a straight-up pickup. If the festival is active, the doors might be locked, so you’ll need to either progress the questline or come back later.
The Gaol Cave Scavenge
If you haven’t visited the Gaol Cave in Caelid, you’re missing out on a concentrated dose of misery and loot. It’s located in the scarlet rot-infested swamps, specifically the eastern edge of the Aeonia Swamp. You’ll need a Stonesword Key to get in.
Inside, the floor is literally exploding with traps and those pesky Vulgar Militiamen are hiding in every shadow. However, tucked away in the back of the tunnels, you’ll find a Somber Stone 5. It’s almost a reward for surviving the claustrophobia. This cave is also home to the Frenzied Duelist, so if you’re underleveled, just grab the stone and run for your life. There is no shame in a tactical retreat when you have what you came for.
Siofra River: The Sneaky Cliffside Drop
Siofra River is arguably the most beautiful area in the game, but those spectral archers have a range that defies physics. If you take the elevator down from Limgrave, you’re in for a long walk. Most people miss the Somber Smithing Stone 5 here because it’s tucked away on a ledge that looks inaccessible.
Go to the Worshipper's Woods site of grace. Look toward the cliffs. There’s a spirit spring (those jump pads for Torrent) nearby. If you use it to reach the upper ruins, you can find a stone sitting on a corpse overlooking the glowing blue void. It’s peaceful, until an arrow the size of a telephone pole knocks you off the edge.
Why the Bell Bearing is the Real End-Game
Look, scavenging is fine for one weapon. But what if you want to experiment? What if you realize that colossal sword isn't working and you want to swap to a spear? You need the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing [3].
- Head to the First Church of Marika in the Mountaintops of the Giants.
- Look for the corpse just outside the front entrance.
- Take that bearing to the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold.
Once you do that, you can buy Somber 5s and 6s for runes. It’s a total game-changer. The catch? You have to get past Morgott, the Omen King first. That’s a tall order if your weapon is still stuck at +4. This is why finding the "wild" stones in Caelid or the Altus Plateau is so vital for the mid-game.
The Altus Plateau Connection
Once you finally make it up the Grand Lift of Dectus (or through the terrifying "coward's path" through the Magma Wyrm’s den), the Altus Plateau opens up. This is where Somber 5s become slightly more common.
Check the Bower of Bounty site of grace. There’s a small ruin nearby where a stone is just sitting out in the open. Also, keep an eye out for the Teardrop Scarabs. Specifically, the white/silver ones. There’s one in the Altus Plateau, near the bridge leading to the Shaded Castle, that drops a Somber 5 when you kill it. They scurry away fast, so use a bow or a heavy jumping attack to pin them down before they vanish into thin air.
The Misconception About "Early" Farming
You’ll see a lot of videos claiming you can "farm" these stones. To be clear: you really can't farm Somber Smithing Stones from common enemies with any reliable drop rate in the early or mid-game. Unlike regular Smithing Stones, which drop from miners in the tunnels, Somber stones are usually fixed pickups or boss rewards.
Don't waste three hours killing the same knight hoping for a drop that has a 0.5% chance. It’s a bad use of your time. Stick to the fixed locations.
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The only exception is the Iji, the War Counselor. He's the giant blacksmith in Northern Liurnia. He sells a limited supply of Somber 1 through 4. He does not sell 5s. This is exactly why the community obsesses over finding that fifth level stone—it’s the first "hard" stop in the upgrade path.
Dealing With the Leyndell Sewers
If you’re feeling brave—or masochistic—the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds beneath the capital city contain Somber 5s. But honestly? If you’re strong enough to survive the Omens and the rats down there, you probably already found a stone somewhere easier. The sewers are a maze of pipes and despair. Use it as a last resort or if you’re already there for a specific ending.
Actionable Steps for Your Upgrade Path
- Check Redmane Castle First: If you’ve already cleared some of Caelid, go there. It’s the fastest "static" spawn if you can dodge the lions.
- The Altus Scarab: Head toward the Shaded Castle in the north of Altus. Find the invisible or fleeing scarab. It’s a guaranteed drop.
- The Volcano Manor: There is a Somber 5 located within the manor grounds. You can get here early by letting the Abductor Virgin at the bottom of the Raya Lucaria waterwheel kill you with its "grab" attack. It warps you straight to the basement of the manor. It’s a one-way trip until you find a site of grace, but it’s a pro move for early upgrades.
- Don't Forget the Dragonbarrow: The Farum Greatbridge area in Northeast Caelid is high-level, but you can ride Torrent through most of it. There are several high-level stones scattered on corpses near the dragons.
Getting your weapon to +5 opens up the mid-game and makes the bosses in the Altus Plateau feel actually manageable. Once you have that, you're only a few steps away from the Bell Bearing that lets you ignore the hunt forever. Keep your eyes on the ground and your shield up.