Elden Ring Smithing Stones — Weapon Upgrade Guide

Weapon upgrades matter more than most early level-ups. This guide covers smithing vs somber stones, target upgrade levels, and how to stop wasting materials.

Smithing vs Somber Stones

A +10 somber weapon is roughly in the same power band as a high regular upgrade. Do not mix materials across five weapons early.

Target Upgrade Levels

Where Beginners Find Stones

• Limgrave & Weeping Peninsula caves: early Smithing Stone [1] and [2].
• Merchant shops: buy low-tier stones when you are short for a boss attempt.
• Mining tunnels / tunnels with trolls: mid-tier stones for Liurnia and beyond.
• Bell Bearings: give to the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold so you can buy infinite lower-tier stones later.

Upgrade Rules That Save Runs

1. Pick one main weapon that matches your stats and upgrade path.
2. Keep a backup weapon only if it uses leftover stones you would not spend anyway.
3. Upgrade at blacksmiths (or mobile smithing kits early) before fog walls.
4. Pair weapon power with flask upgrades — damage without heals still loses.

Smithing Checklist

• Choose one main weapon for your starting class / build
• Reach +3 regular or +1/+2 somber before Margit
• Push toward +6/+8 before deep Stormveil clears
• Deliver early smithing bell bearings to Twin Maiden Husks
• Stop spreading stones across more than two weapons

Next Steps

Not sure which weapon to upgrade? Start with best early weapons, then use it for Margit and Godrick. Later kits live under weapon builds.