Strategic guide to locating Elden Ring’s rarest upgrade materials for maximum weapon and Spirit Ash power
Understanding Elden Ring’s Upgrade Ecosystem
Mastering the upgrade system in Elden Ring is the single most important factor for transforming from a struggling Tarnished into a formidable Elden Lord. This guide provides the strategic knowledge and precise locations needed to secure the game’s rarest enhancement materials.
Upgrading your armaments and spectral companions to their maximum potential requires navigating two distinct material paths and understanding their severe scarcity.
Whether you’re strengthening your arsenal for the brutal challenges of the base game or stockpiling resources for the upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC and its fearsome antagonist, Messmer the Impaler, these finite resources dictate your endgame power level. Without them, you’ll face a relentless cycle of defeat screens.
While early and mid-tier upgrade stones are plentiful in mines across the Lands Between, the pinnacle materials—Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and their Somber variants—are deliberately scarce. This design forces meaningful choice: you cannot max out every weapon in a single journey. A critical pro-tip is to prioritize finding Smithing Stone Bell Bearings and Somberstone Bell Bearings. Turning these in to the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold allows you to purchase all but the final tier of upgrade materials infinitely, letting you experiment with weapons up to +24 or +9 without consuming rare finds.
Most standard armaments demand a sequence of Smithing Stones, culminating in the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone for the final jump to +25. A common mistake is over-investing in boss weapons (which use Somber Stones) early on, as they cannot be infused with Ashes of War to change their affinity. This locks you out of applying powerful effects like Bleed, Frost, or Heavy scaling that often make standard weapons more versatile and powerful in the late game.
Special weapons, including those forged from Boss Remembrances, follow the Somber Smithing Stone path to a maximum of +10. Don’t be fooled by the lower number; a +10 Somber weapon has comparable power to a +25 standard weapon but requires fewer total stones to reach its peak, simplifying the upgrade commitment for a single powerhouse armament.
Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone Locations (+25 Weapons)
Only eight Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are available in a single playthrough, making the decision of which standard weapon to elevate to +25 a significant one. Their locations span the entire map, from hidden chests to rewards for defeating major demigods.
Key Locations & Acquisition Order:
1. Crumbling Farum Azula: Two can be found here. One is in a chest behind an altar after the “Godskin Duo” boss fight, while another is a guaranteed drop from the Ancient Dragon boss fight on the floating archipelago. This area is endgame, so plan accordingly.
2. Miquella’s Haligtree: One stone is located in a chest within the Haligtree Town plaza, accessible only after solving the puzzle of the Haligtree Secret Medallion. Reaching this area is a formidable challenge in itself.
3. Consecrated Snowfield: Check the Yelough Anix Ruins for a hidden cellar containing a chest. The snowstorm makes navigation difficult, so use markers.
4. Quest Rewards: Completing Nepheli Loux’s questline (through to the defeat of Godrick and speaking with her in the throne room) and Gatekeeper Gostoc’s storyline (by not killing him and having him stalk you through Stormveil) each yield one stone upon their conclusion at the Roundtable Hold.
Strategic Advice: Do not use these stones on a weapon you are still testing. Use the Bell Bearing system to take multiple weapons to +24 first. Only commit the Ancient Stone once you are certain the weapon’s moveset, scaling, and potential Ash of War infusion align with your build. For strength builds, a Heavy-infused Giant-Crusher or Greatsword is a safe bet. For dex, the Keen Guardian’s Swordspear or Uchigatana are excellent choices.
Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone Locations (+10 Special Weapons)
Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are slightly more accessible than their standard counterparts, but their distribution is tied to major story milestones and hidden areas. They are the final component for upgrading unique weapons like Starscourge Greatsword, Moonveil, or Blasphemous Blade.
Primary Acquisition Methods:
1. Crumbling Farum Azula: Again, this late-game zone is a prime source. One can be looted from a corpse in a building near the “Dragon Temple Lift” site of grace. Another is found near the “Dragon Temple Rooftop” grace, requiring a careful jump onto a lower ledge.
2. Deeproot Depths: After defeating the Valiant Gargoyle duo in Siofra Aqueduct, proceed to this hidden area. One stone is located in a chest near the Great Waterfall Crest site of grace.
3. Consecrated Snowfield & Mohgwyn Palace: One is found in the Consecrated Snowfield Catacombs, and another is a reward for defeating Mogh, Lord of Blood in his palace—a prerequisite for accessing the DLC area.
Critical Decision Point: Boss Remembrance weapons are powerful but unchangeable. Before using a Somber Ancient Stone, ensure the weapon’s inherent skill and scaling (often Intelligence, Faith, or Arcane) synergize with your entire stat allocation. It’s a common pitfall to waste this stone on a weapon that requires 40 Faith when you’re a pure Strength build. Always check the weapon’s stat requirements and scaling letters (S, A, B, etc.) in your inventory menu before committing.
Great Ghost Glovewort Locations (Max Spirit Ashes)
Spirit Ashes are indispensable allies, especially for solo players. To elevate them to their maximum potential (+10), you must find the exceedingly rare Great Ghost Glovewort. Only four exist per playthrough, making your choice of which spirit to empower crucial.
First, you must enable Spirit Tuning by speaking to Blacksmith Hewg at the Roundtable Hold and completing the short dialogue chain with Roderika. Once she becomes a Spirit Tuner, you can begin upgrades using Glovewort found in catacombs.
The Four Fixed Locations:
1. Deeproot Depths: In the area with the many spirit jellyfish, near the Great Waterfall Crest grace.
2. Consecrated Snowfield Catacombs: Located in a hidden chamber behind an illusory wall. The wall is found in the main chamber with the chariot; strike it to reveal the path.
3. Miquella’s Haligtree: In the Haligtree Roots area, after the Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree fight, check the branches and roots carefully before descending to the boss.
4. Crumbling Farum Azula: On a corpse in the Dragon Temple area, accessible from the altar site of grace, before proceeding to the Godskin Duo.
Upgrade Strategy: Lower-tier Ghost Glovewort becomes purchasable after finding the appropriate Bell Bearings in various catacombs. Use these to test spirits at +9. Top-tier spirits like Mimic Tear, Black Knife Tiche, or Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff are generally the best candidates for the final Great Ghost Glovewort due to their exceptional scaling and utility in endgame fights.
Advanced Upgrade Strategy & DLC Preparation
With the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC on the horizon, efficient resource management is more critical than ever. The DLC is expected to introduce new weapons and spirits, but the fundamental upgrade materials will likely remain the same, making your current stockpile invaluable.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
– Wasting Ancient/Somber Stones Early: Using them on a weapon you later replace is the most costly error. Always test at +24/+9 first.
– Ignoring Bell Bearings: These are not optional for efficient play. Prioritize finding them in mines like the Sealed Tunnel (Altus Plateau) and Crumbling Farum Azula to unlock infinite purchases.
– Overlooking Weapon Affinity: A standard weapon with a complementary Ash of War (like Bleed on a fast weapon for a Dexterity/Arcane build) will frequently outperform a static boss weapon in total damage output and utility.
DLC Preparation Checklist:
1. Have at least one maxed-out (+25 or +10) weapon that you are proficient with.
2. Have a +10 Spirit Ash for boss fight assistance.
3. Stockpile a cache of Smithing Stones [1-8] and Somber Smithing Stones [1-9] via Bell Bearing purchases to instantly upgrade any promising new DLC gear you find.
4. Defeat Mogh, Lord of Blood to ensure access to the DLC area when it launches. By strategically locating these finite resources and avoiding common pitfalls, you’ll enter the new content not just prepared, but overpowered.
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