In the world of Elden Ring, Smithing Stones serve as essential materials for weapon upgrades, enhancing attribute scaling, such as strength or dexterity, and directly affecting damage output. Weapons can be upgraded using either Smithing Stones for regular enhancements or Somber Smithing Stones for special weapons, including those obtained from bosses. The pinnacle of weapon enhancements is achieved with the Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone and the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, which are required for the highest level of upgrade for their respective weapon categories.
Smithing stones enable weapon upgrades up to +24, but achieving the ultimate gear level of +25 requires using an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. Beyond a specific tier, Smithing Stones become non-renewable, highlighting their value significantly. Given their scarcity and the often dangerous locations or challenging feats required to obtain them, it’s best to practice caution when using these stones. Reserve them for your most valued gear to ensure these resources are not wasted.
Why Elden Ring’s Smithing Stones Are So Easy To Find
FromSoftware’s Elden Ring offers players an unexpected abundance of weapon upgrade materials called Smithing Stones throughout their journey.
All Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone Locations In Elden Ring
You can discover 13 Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones scattered across the Lands Between, with some easier to retrieve than others. Hunting down these stones hinges on which quests you have unlocked, your progression in exploring the Elden Ring map, and your level. Considering these factors alongside the provided locations will help you determine the most accessible and convenient stone for you to obtain.
Every Ancient Dragon Smithin Stone Location
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Location (No. of stones) |
Nearest Sites of Grace |
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Limgrave (3) |
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Caelid (1) |
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Mountain Top Of The Giants (1) |
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Consecrated Snowfield (3) |
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Crumbling Farum Azula (3) |
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Miquella’s Haligtree (2) |
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Complete Nepheli Loux’s Quest Line
Upon exploring Stormveil Castle, you will encounter Nepheli Loux near the Secluded Cell Site of Grace. She is located in a small room just before the boss’s Fog Gate, where she stands over a fallen soldier. After exhausting her dialogue, you can summon her to help you defeat Godrick the Grafted in Elden Ring.
Once you complete her quest, Nepheli Loux can be found in the throne room of Stormveil Castle, a short distance beyond the Site of Grace in Godrick’s arena. At the end of her quest line, she will reward you with an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
Nepheli’s quest requires you to finish Kenneth Haight’s quest first, as her quest’s completion is contingent upon it.
Purchase From Gatekeeper Gostoc
Cost: 20,000 Runes
After finishing Nepheli Loux’s quest, if Gatekeeper Gostoc is still alive, you’ll find him standing beside Nepheli in the throne room of Stormveil Castle. You initially encountered him during your infiltration of the castle. Gostoc will then have an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone available to purchase for 20,000 Runes. This is the only purchasable Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, with others obtainable only through completing quests or defeating bosses. You should invest your Runes here, as early-game Rune farming in Elden Ring is always an option.
Complete Sorceress Sellen Quest Line
Easy MIssable Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone
Despite its lengthy process, completing Sorceress Sellen’s quest also rewards players with an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, as shown on YouTube by Its Shatter. Initially found in a cellar beneath the Waypoint Ruins, east of Agheel Lake, Sellen is one of Elden Ring‘s earliest mentors, having been exiled from the notorious Raya Lucaria Academy. Access to Sellen, and thereby her powerful sorceries for purchase, is granted only after you defeat the Mad Pumpkin Head boss guarding her room.
An alternate version of Sellen is imprisoned in the Witchbane Ruins in South Limgrave, marking a later stage in her quest line. It’s imperative that you do not harm this version of Sellen, as doing so will block further progress in her quest. Completing Sellen’s quest requires you to reach Mt. Gelmir, as players must access this area to advance her storyline. To achieve the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, you must side with Witch-Hunter Jerren during the quest’s final phase.
Elden Ring: Where To Find Smithing Stones
Smithing Stones, materials for upgrading gear in Elden Ring, can be found in multiple areas, and players can farm the stones in specific locations.
Feed Gurranq Beast Clergyman Deathroot
Gurranq, Beast Clergyman, resides at the Bestial Sanctum in Dragonbarrow, north of Caelid. For quicker access, you can use a Waygate found northeast of the Third Church of Marika in Limgrave, which teleports you directly to the Bestial Sanctum. Upon interacting with Gurranq, he requests that you feed him Deathroot. You are required to feed him nine times to obtain the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone as the ultimate reward.
To find Deathroot in Elden Ring, you must explore various regions of the Lands Between. The first Deathroot can be obtained by defeating the field boss, Tibia Mariner, located in Summonwater Village on the northeast side of Limgrave. However, for those who prefer to bypass the extensive search for Deathroot to appease Gurranq, there is an alternative option. You can obtain the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone directly as loot by choosing to kill Gurranq instead.
For some players, engaging in a boss fight with Gurranq might seem more straightforward than the extensive hunt for Deathroot, which requires defeating numerous enemies and can be time-consuming. Opting to confront Gurranq directly could result in a quicker route to obtaining the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. However, patience is key for those who are fond of the beast.
Upon feeding Gurranq the fourth Deathroot, he will turn hostile, requiring you to reduce his HP to a point where he stops attacking. After this confrontation, you can proceed to give him the fifth Deathroot and continue the process, or choose to kill him here instead.
Mountaintops of the Giants: Enter The Skull Cave
There are many optional bosses in the Mountaintops of the Giants area worth challenging, as well as an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone that awaits the touch of a Tarnished. When you arrive in this region, turn southeast from the Church of Reposeto identify a large skull outcrop jutting out of a snow-capped mountain.
The stone is held by a corpse within the skull’s mouth. As you approach, be prepared to encounter a host of formidable enemies guarding your prize. Engage in battle to clear a path to the skull and claim the stone.
Consecrated Snowfield: Defeat The Night’s Cavalry
The Consecrated Snowfield region in Elden Ring, known for its daunting challenges, houses three Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones. Close to the Inner Consecrated Snowfield Site of Grace, you will find a caravan guarded by giants and encircled by foes. To retrieve one of these stones, you must return to this location at night and face two field bosses, The Night’s Cavalry. Defeating them also rewards you with the Night’s Cavalry Set, a sinister ensemble of black armor adorned with fine-painted lines of dried blood.
Consecrated Snowfield: Explore Yelough Anix Tunnel
Located west, when you enter the Consecrated Snowfields, the entrance to the Yelough Anix Tunnel can be found on the cliff facing south of the Yelough Anix Ruins. As you navigate through the western part of the tunnel, they will come across the second Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone in the area, held by a corpse. Be wary of a surprise attack from a few enemies lurking in its vicinity.
Elden Ring: Where To Find Somber Smithing Stones
Those wishing to have an easy time with Elden Ring, can acquire Somber Smithing Stones early in the game and completely upgrade a powerful weapon.
Consecrated Snowfield: Defeat Great Wyrm Theodorix
The third Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone within the Consecrated Snowfield region rests on a corpse in a frozen waterfall close to the Cave of the Forlorn Site of Grace. To access this location, turn left from the Site of Grace and ascend the ledgesto reach the other side. You must first defeat Great Wyrm Theodorix in Elden Ring, who resides on the frozen river, before you can claim the precious stone.
Crumbling Farum Azula: Defeat The Azula Dragon
Elden Ring’s Farum Azula is a daunting area characterized by dangerous terrain and home to many intimidating enemies. However, the rewards compensate players for the difficulties they face. There are three Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones available to take on this rocky island.
One such stone is dropped by the Farum Azula Dragon, which aggressively swoops down towards you upon your arrival at the slanted platform near the Crumbling Beast Grave Site of Grace. Players must defeat this majestic dragon to retrieve the stone. Be cautious in maintaining your footing on the precarious platform while in battle.
Crumbling Farum Azula: Explore The Dragon Temple
Within the Dragon Temple, guarded by an Azula Beastman, lies a corpse on a floating platform. From the temple’s northern end, leap across the suspended fragments of debris to encounter a spiral staircase. Ascend this staircase, then proceed southward to find a levitating pillar. Utilize this pillar to launch yourself towards the platform holding the corpse. Here, you can claim your Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
Southeast of the Dragon Temple Rooftop Site of Grace, another Azula Dragon awaits at the back of the plaza, challenging players with a fierce battle. This dragon unleashes red lightning across the vicinity, requiring extensive protective measures. Overcoming this fight rewards you with the last Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone in Crumbling Farum Azula in Elden Ring.
The gazebo behind the Dragon Temple also holds a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, a valuable find worth acquiring on your journey.
Explore Miquella’s Halligtree
The final two Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are located in Miquella’s Haligtree, an optional yet enthralling area in Elden Ring. It is filled with exhilarating challenges and rewarding boss battles, making it a worthwhile expedition. As seen in the video by Abyx Gaming on YouTube, the Haligtree can be quite intricate, as many players can lose their way.
From the Haligtree Town Plaza Site of Grace, proceed across the northern bridge and pass through a small building. Here, you will encounter a Lesser Misbegotten Warrior in an arena, guarding the first stone, which you must fight to obtain.
The second Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone is found within a chest after defeatingLoretta, Knight of the Haligtree, in Elden Ring. To locate her, you must navigate through the Haligtree to the Haligtree Town Site of Grace. From here, head southeast and descend via an elevator to the second lower level. Loretta awaits across the northeast bridge beyond a large gateway.
The Haligtree Town Site of Grace and the Haligtree Town Plaza Site of Grace are distinct locations, each serving as a separate Site of Grace in Miquella’s Haligtree.
Source: Its Shatter/YouTube, Abyx Gaming/YouTube
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
