Elden Ring weapon upgrades, smithing stones and blacksmiths

In the treacherous lands of Elden Ring, mastering weapon upgrades is essential for survival against formidable foes and daunting bosses. This guide delves into the intricacies of enhancing your arsenal, revealing how to harness the power of Smithing Stones and locate skilled blacksmiths like Hewg and Iji. Whether you’re wielding a trusty sword or a unique special weapon, understanding the upgrade mechanics can mean the difference between victory and defeat in this unforgiving world. Prepare to elevate your combat prowess as we explore the pathways to weapon mastery.

How to upgrade a weapon?

To upgrade a weapon in Elden Ring, players must visit a blacksmith, specifically Smithing Master Hewg at the Roundtable Hold, after obtaining the necessary upgrade materials. The primary materials for weapon upgrades are Smithing Stones, which vary in type and level depending on the weapon’s classification—normal or special. Normal weapons can be upgraded to +25 using regular Smithing Stones, while special weapons are limited to +10 with Somber Smithing Stones. Players will need to gather these stones through exploration or by purchasing them from certain merchants. Once at the blacksmith, players can enhance their weapons by selecting the desired upgrade level, which increases both attack power and scaling attributes, thereby improving overall damage output against tougher foes.

Weapons can only be upgraded in the Roundtable Hold, the game’s hub, by smithing master Hewg. He is always present in the Hold – you’ll find him next to Fia’s chamber. You’ll be invited to the Hold by Melina when you rest at the site of grace after encountering Margit, the Fell Omen boss.

To upgrade a weapon, you must spend a certain amount of smithing stones and runes. There are two types of smithing stones in the game – regular and somber. Regular stones are used to upgrade regular weapons, while somber stones are used to upgrade special weapons. Regular weapons can be improved up to level 25, while special weapons can be improved up to level 10. Despite the significant level difference, fully upgraded regular and special weapons are fairly similar in terms of the damage they inflict. The main advantage of regular weapons is the ability to assign ashes of war to them, which alters the weapon scaling and provides special abilities. However, special weapons have unique and often more powerful abilities.

Smithing stones have levels – the higher the weapon level, the higher the stone level required. The required stone level increases every third upgrade of a regular weapon and after each upgrade of a special weapon. Stones can be found by exploring the world or purchased at the Roundtable Hold by finding specific bells and offering them to Twin Maiden Husks. You can learn more about smithing stones on a separate page of the guide.

What do the upgrades do?

Upgrading weapons in Elden Ring significantly enhances their performance, primarily by increasing attack power and improving trait scaling. Each upgrade raises the base damage of the weapon, allowing players to deal more damage to enemies. Additionally, the scaling associated with various attributes—such as Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane—improves as well, meaning that the weapon will benefit more from the player’s character build. This scaling is crucial for maximizing damage output, as it determines how effectively a weapon can leverage the player’s invested stats. As players progress, they can upgrade normal weapons up to +25 and special weapons up to +10, tailoring their arsenal to fit their playstyle and combat strategies.

Upgrading weapons increases two parameters – attack power and trait scaling. Both of these parameters affect the damage dealt. The attack power represents the basic damage of the weapon, while scaling determines the amount of damage added based on the trait values.

The weapon can scale from five traits; Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane. The weapon can also scale from several traits at once, or only from one. The scaling level is described by the letters in ascending order: E, D, C, B, A, and S. The higher the letter of the trait, the more additional damage the weapon deals for each point invested in that trait.

The picture above shows one of the weapons, the Blasphemous Blade. The weapon has a Faith scaling of B and a Strength and Dexterity scaling of C. So, when using the Blasphemous Blade, the player receives a significant bonus to damage dealt for each point of Faith and a moderate bonus for each point of Strength and Dexterity. The Blasphemous Blade doesn’t have Intelligence or Arcane scaling, so these traits don’t increase the weapon’s damage output.

What are the best strategies for finding Smithing Stones efficiently

To efficiently find Smithing Stones in Elden Ring, players can employ several strategic approaches that maximize their resource-gathering efforts. Here are the best strategies:

Key Locations for Smithing Stones

1. Limgrave Tunnels: This area is rich in Smithing Stones, especially the first few tiers. Players can find numerous stones scattered throughout the tunnels and on enemy miners. Look for yellow crystals on the ground and corpses to loot.
2. Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel: Located in northeastern Liurnia, this dungeon is an excellent spot for farming Smithing Stone (3). Defeating enemies here yields additional stones, and the area is relatively straightforward to navigate.
3. Altus Tunnel: This tunnel on the Altus Plateau is another prime location for gathering Smithing Stone (3). Enemies within drop stones regularly, making it a reliable farming ground.
4. Gael Tunnel: Situated near Caelid, this tunnel contains several veins of Smithing Stones and is populated with enemies that drop them frequently. Be prepared for tougher foes here.
5. Sellia Crystal Tunnel: Accessible via a teleport from Dragon-Burnt Ruins, this tunnel offers multiple opportunities to collect Somber Smithing Stones as well.

Farming Strategies

• Dungeon Farming: Focus on mining-oriented dungeons like the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel and Altus Tunnel, where enemies respawn, allowing for repeated runs. Equip gear that boosts item discovery to enhance your haul.
• Merchant Purchases: After acquiring the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing, players can purchase unlimited Smithing Stone (1) and (2) from the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold. This method saves time compared to farming lower-tier stones.
• Targeted Enemy Farming: Certain enemies drop specific types of Smithing Stones more frequently. For instance, flame chariots in Caelid yield Smithing Stone (3) regularly. Use stealth or ranged attacks to take them down efficiently.

By combining these strategies—targeting specific locations and utilizing merchant purchases—players can streamline their quest for Smithing Stones and enhance their weapon upgrades effectively throughout their journey in Elden Ring.

What are the best locations for finding Smithing Stone 3

To efficiently locate Smithing Stone (3) in Elden Ring, players should focus on several key areas known for their abundance of this upgrade material. Here are the best locations:

Best Locations for Smithing Stone (3)

1. Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel:
   • This dungeon is one of the richest sources for Smithing Stone (3), containing eight stones scattered throughout. Players will encounter miners and other enemies, making it a prime farming spot. Look for yellow glowing stones embedded in the walls and on the ground.
2. Academy Gate Town:
   • In the ruins surrounding the Academy Gate Town in Liurnia of the Lakes, players can find three Smithing Stone (3) on a corpse near a Giant Crab. This area is accessible early in the game and offers a few additional stones if explored thoroughly.
3. South Raya Lucaria Gate:
   • Near this site of grace, players can find one Smithing Stone (3) on a corpse. This location is easy to access and often overlooked, making it a quick stop for farming.
4. Liurnia of the Lakes:
   • Various locations within Liurnia, particularly around the Laskyar Ruins and southwest of the Temple Quarter, yield additional Smithing Stones, including some tier 3 stones. Exploring these areas can provide several opportunities to gather stones.
5. Altus Tunnel:
   • Located on the Altus Plateau, this tunnel is another reliable source for Smithing Stone (3). The enemies here drop stones regularly, making it an effective farming location as players progress through the game.

By focusing on these areas, players can efficiently gather Smithing Stone (3) to enhance their weapons and prepare for tougher challenges in Elden Ring.