U4GM - Guide: Where to Farm Smithing Stones and Other Upgrade Items in Elden Ring
Upgrading your weapons and gear is one of the most rewarding aspects of progression in Elden Ring. A few extra levels on your sword or staff can mean the difference between barely surviving and comfortably dominating a boss fight. To do that, you need upgrade materials—especially Smithing Stones. These are some of the most essential Elden Ring Items, and farming them efficiently will significantly boost your performance.
In this guide, I’ll share the best places and methods to farm Smithing Stones and similar upgrade materials, based on hundreds of hours of play and experimentation.
Why Smithing Stones Are Crucial
Before we dive into farming spots, it’s important to understand how crucial upgrade materials are. Without regular upgrades, even the most powerful weapons become underwhelming in late-game zones. Smithing Stones come in different tiers (1 through 8 for regular weapons, and Somber Smithing Stones 1 through 10 for special weapons). You need them constantly throughout the game.
From my personal experience, a +6 weapon made a mid-game boss that felt impossible suddenly manageable. If you want to stay ahead of the difficulty curve, you need a steady supply of Smithing Stones.
1. Limgrave Tunnels – Early Game Boost
For early Smithing Stones (1 and 2), Limgrave Tunnels is one of the first and best areas. Located near the Agheel Lake, this mine is filled with weak enemies and plenty of glowing veins on the walls. Each run gives you enough to get your starting weapon to +3 or +4.
Tip: After clearing the area, rest at the Site of Grace outside and re-run the dungeon. The stones don’t respawn, but some enemies drop them occasionally.
2. Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel – Mid-Game Farming
This tunnel located in Liurnia of the Lakes is your go-to for Smithing Stone 3 and 4. It’s also where you can start stockpiling Glintstone Scraps and other useful upgrade items. If you use magic or want to prepare for the Academy of Raya Lucaria, these stones are critical.
When I was running an INT build, I farmed here for hours to upgrade my Lusat’s Glintstone Staff. The effort paid off big-time during the boss fights in the Academy.
3. Altus Tunnel – Smithing Stones 5 and 6
As you move into the Altus Plateau, you’ll start needing higher-level stones. Altus Tunnel is a perfect spot for this, offering Smithing Stones 5 and 6 in good quantities. It’s a bit tougher than previous mines, so go in prepared with upgraded gear or spirit ashes to support you.
What makes this tunnel great is its relative accessibility—close to the Grand Lift of Dectus—and the fact that it doesn’t require intense combat skill to clear.
4. Sellia Crystal Tunnel – Early Somber Stone Source
For those using unique weapons like Moonveil or Blasphemous Blade, Somber Smithing Stones are what you’re after. Sellia Crystal Tunnel in Caelid (yes, that hellish red place) is a great early source. Just be careful—teleporting into it unprepared can be brutal.
My first time there, I got destroyed. After leveling up and returning with upgraded gear, I found it to be one of the most rewarding areas for Somber Stones 1–3.
5. Mountaintops of the Giants – Late-Game Stones
Here, you’ll find Smithing Stones 7 and 8 in the Giant-Conquering Hero’s Grave and other locations. These are endgame upgrades, perfect for pushing your favorite weapons toward their max potential. I suggest using a fully upgraded Spirit Ash like Black Knife Tiche when farming here—the enemies are tough, but the loot is worth it.
6. Bell Bearing System – Farm Once, Buy Forever
Once you’ve collected enough Smithing Miner’s Bell Bearings, you can offer them to the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold. This unlocks the ability to buy upgrade stones infinitely, saving tons of farming time. You can also use this method to cheap Elden Ring Items if you're short on time and want to stay well-stocked without grinding.
Personally, once I unlocked the Bell Bearings for Smithing Stones 1–6, I stopped running tunnels altogether and focused more on boss runs and exploration.
7. Night’s Sacred Ground and Nokron – Hidden Gems
If you're venturing into Nokron and the Night’s Sacred Ground, keep your eyes open for Smithing Stone 6 and Somber Stone 7. These hidden underground zones are full of loot and enemies that drop high-tier materials. Nokron also holds powerful Spirit Ashes and crafting resources, making it a hotspot for upgrade hunters.
Farming Smithing Stones and upgrade materials is more than just a chore—it's a core part of progression and build development in Elden Ring. Whether you're enhancing a legendary weapon or fine-tuning a backup for PvP, these Elden Ring Items directly affect your power and playstyle.
If you ever feel burned out or behind, don’t hesitate to grab some cheap Elden Ring Items to keep the momentum going. Farming is rewarding, but preparation should never become a barrier to enjoying what makes the Lands Between so incredible: its epic, immersive combat.
U4GM - Guide: Where to Farm Smithing Stones and Other Upgrade Items in Elden Ring
Upgrading your weapons and gear is one of the most rewarding aspects of progression in Elden Ring. A few extra levels on your sword or staff can mean the difference between barely surviving and comfortably dominating a boss fight. To do that, you need upgrade materials—especially Smithing Stones. These are some of the most essential Elden Ring Items, and farming them efficiently will significantly boost your performance.
In this guide, I’ll share the best places and methods to farm Smithing Stones and similar upgrade materials, based on hundreds of hours of play and experimentation.
Why Smithing Stones Are Crucial
Before we dive into farming spots, it’s important to understand how crucial upgrade materials are. Without regular upgrades, even the most powerful weapons become underwhelming in late-game zones. Smithing Stones come in different tiers (1 through 8 for regular weapons, and Somber Smithing Stones 1 through 10 for special weapons). You need them constantly throughout the game.
From my personal experience, a +6 weapon made a mid-game boss that felt impossible suddenly manageable. If you want to stay ahead of the difficulty curve, you need a steady supply of Smithing Stones.
1. Limgrave Tunnels – Early Game Boost
For early Smithing Stones (1 and 2), Limgrave Tunnels is one of the first and best areas. Located near the Agheel Lake, this mine is filled with weak enemies and plenty of glowing veins on the walls. Each run gives you enough to get your starting weapon to +3 or +4.
Tip: After clearing the area, rest at the Site of Grace outside and re-run the dungeon. The stones don’t respawn, but some enemies drop them occasionally.
2. Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel – Mid-Game Farming
This tunnel located in Liurnia of the Lakes is your go-to for Smithing Stone 3 and 4. It’s also where you can start stockpiling Glintstone Scraps and other useful upgrade items. If you use magic or want to prepare for the Academy of Raya Lucaria, these stones are critical.
When I was running an INT build, I farmed here for hours to upgrade my Lusat’s Glintstone Staff. The effort paid off big-time during the boss fights in the Academy.
3. Altus Tunnel – Smithing Stones 5 and 6
As you move into the Altus Plateau, you’ll start needing higher-level stones. Altus Tunnel is a perfect spot for this, offering Smithing Stones 5 and 6 in good quantities. It’s a bit tougher than previous mines, so go in prepared with upgraded gear or spirit ashes to support you.
What makes this tunnel great is its relative accessibility—close to the Grand Lift of Dectus—and the fact that it doesn’t require intense combat skill to clear.
4. Sellia Crystal Tunnel – Early Somber Stone Source
For those using unique weapons like Moonveil or Blasphemous Blade, Somber Smithing Stones are what you’re after. Sellia Crystal Tunnel in Caelid (yes, that hellish red place) is a great early source. Just be careful—teleporting into it unprepared can be brutal.
My first time there, I got destroyed. After leveling up and returning with upgraded gear, I found it to be one of the most rewarding areas for Somber Stones 1–3.
5. Mountaintops of the Giants – Late-Game Stones
Here, you’ll find Smithing Stones 7 and 8 in the Giant-Conquering Hero’s Grave and other locations. These are endgame upgrades, perfect for pushing your favorite weapons toward their max potential. I suggest using a fully upgraded Spirit Ash like Black Knife Tiche when farming here—the enemies are tough, but the loot is worth it.
6. Bell Bearing System – Farm Once, Buy Forever
Once you’ve collected enough Smithing Miner’s Bell Bearings, you can offer them to the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold. This unlocks the ability to buy upgrade stones infinitely, saving tons of farming time. You can also use this method to cheap Elden Ring Items if you're short on time and want to stay well-stocked without grinding.
Personally, once I unlocked the Bell Bearings for Smithing Stones 1–6, I stopped running tunnels altogether and focused more on boss runs and exploration.
7. Night’s Sacred Ground and Nokron – Hidden Gems
If you're venturing into Nokron and the Night’s Sacred Ground, keep your eyes open for Smithing Stone 6 and Somber Stone 7. These hidden underground zones are full of loot and enemies that drop high-tier materials. Nokron also holds powerful Spirit Ashes and crafting resources, making it a hotspot for upgrade hunters.
Farming Smithing Stones and upgrade materials is more than just a chore—it's a core part of progression and build development in Elden Ring. Whether you're enhancing a legendary weapon or fine-tuning a backup for PvP, these Elden Ring Items directly affect your power and playstyle.
If you ever feel burned out or behind, don’t hesitate to grab some cheap Elden Ring Items to keep the momentum going. Farming is rewarding, but preparation should never become a barrier to enjoying what makes the Lands Between so incredible: its epic, immersive combat.