How to Upgrade Weapons in Elden Ring
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Elden Ring
How to Upgrade Weapons in Elden Ring
Smithing Stone Locations by Tier
Weapon upgrades are the single most impactful progression system in Elden Ring — a +20 weapon deals roughly double the damage of the same weapon at +0. If you’re struggling with a boss, upgrading your weapon two or three levels will often do more than changing your build entirely. Prioritise getting Bell Bearings to the Twin Maiden Husks early so you’re never gated on stones when you find a weapon worth upgrading. For build-specific recommendations, see our early weapons guide or the Dexterity build guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
⚡ Quick Answer
How to Upgrade Weapons Step by Step
Upgrade weapons at any Site of Grace using Smithing Stones (regular weapons, up to +25) or Somber Smithing Stones (special weapons, up to +10). Open your inventory, select the weapon, and choose Upgrade — no smithing table needed after reaching Roundtable Hold. Higher-tier stones are found deeper in the world or bought from merchants.
1
Reach Roundtable Hold — it unlocks automatically after your first encounter with a major legacy dungeon. This is where Smithing Master Hewg lives, and visiting him at least once enables upgrading from any Site of Grace going forward.
2
Identify your weapon type: standard weapons (most swords, axes, spears, etc.) use Smithing Stones [1] through [8] and upgrade to +25. Special/unique weapons (those with unique skills or dropped by bosses) use Somber Smithing Stones [1] through [9] plus an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone for +10.
3
Sit at any Site of Grace, open your inventory, select the weapon you want to upgrade, and choose Strengthen Armament. The required stones and Runes cost are shown — confirm to upgrade one level at a time.
4
To unlock higher-tier Smithing Stones, buy Miner’s Bell Bearings from enemies and bosses in mines across the Lands Between, then give them to the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold. This adds the stones to their shop for unlimited purchase with Runes.
5
For the final upgrade tiers, you need Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones (+24→+25 for standard, +9→+10 for somber) — these are rare, found in end-game areas or dropped by specific enemies. Use them only on weapons you’re committed to for the long term.
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Smithing Stone [1] and [2] — found throughout Limgrave and Stormveil Castle. Buy unlimited from Smithing Master Iji (northwest Liurnia) after giving him the Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearing [1] from Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel.
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Smithing Stone [3] and [4] — Liurnia mines and Altus Plateau. Bell Bearing [2] is in the Sealed Tunnel in Altus Plateau, unlocking unlimited [3] and [4] at Twin Maiden Husks.
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Smithing Stone [5] and [6] — Mt. Gelmir and Volcano Manor area. Bell Bearing [3] is in the Old Altus Tunnel, giving unlimited access to mid-tier stones.
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Somber Smithing Stones follow a similar pattern — the Uchigatana and other special weapons use these. Somber Bell Bearing [1] is in Nokron, Eternal City — see our Nokron guide to reach it.
Can I upgrade weapons anywhere or only at Roundtable Hold?
You can upgrade at any Site of Grace once you’ve visited Roundtable Hold and met Hewg at least once. You don’t need to return to him — the upgrade option is always available from your inventory at any grace.
What’s the difference between regular and Somber Smithing Stones?
Regular Smithing Stones upgrade standard weapons to a maximum of +25. Somber Smithing Stones upgrade unique/special weapons to a maximum of +10. Unique weapons typically have better scaling and special skills, but require rarer upgrade materials. You can tell which a weapon uses by checking the upgrade screen.
Should I upgrade multiple weapons or focus on one?
Early game, upgrade one primary weapon as high as possible rather than spreading stones across several. Higher upgrade levels give disproportionately large damage boosts. Once you have reliable access to stones via Bell Bearings, you can start upgrading backups and two-hand options.
Do upgrades carry over if I respec my character?
Yes — weapon upgrades are permanent and unaffected by respeccing. Only your stat allocation changes when you respec at Rennala. Your weapon levels stay exactly where they are.