Somber Smithing Stones: Every Location Ranked by Farming Speed

Trying to figure out where to get Somber Smithing Stones in Elden Ring? You're in the right spot. These are the shiny rocks you need to level up the fancy stuff - boss weapons, Remembrance weapons, basically anything that runs on Somber Stones instead of regular Smithing Stones. I'll walk you through the key locations, boss drops, and the spots worth grinding so you can push that favorite weapon all the way to +10.

Quick Warnings for New Players

• Don't even try to jam a Somber Stone into a regular weapon. It won't take, and regular Smithing Stones won't touch a Somber weapon either.
• Never sell [9] or Ancient Dragon Somber Stones. They're a pain to come by and capped per playthrough.
• Don't hoard bell bearings in your inventory. Hand them to the Twin Maiden Husks or the shop stock never opens up.

What Are Somber Smithing Stones?

Somber Smithing Stones are what make special weapons go up. Big difference from the regular kind: you only need one Somber Stone per upgrade level. So +1 to +2 costs a single Somber Smithing Stone [2], not a pile of them.

You've got Somber Smithing Stones [1] through [9], and then the Ancient Dragon Somber Smithing Stone for that final +10. Regular stones won't work on Somber weapons, Somber stones won't work on regular weapons. Burn that into your brain before you start hunting.

Where to Get Somber Smithing Stones [1]–[2]

Best Early Source: Sellia Crystal Tunnel

Fastest way to unlock unlimited Somber Smithing Stones [1] and [2]? Sellia Crystal Tunnel in Caelid. Yeah, Caelid is rough this early, but you can reach it without fighting your way there.

1. Head to the Dragon-Burnt Ruins in Limgrave.
2. Pop open the basement chest and let it trap-teleport you to Sellia Crystal Tunnel.
3. Bolt through the tunnel and loot any Somber Stones off the corpses.
4. Take down the Fallingstar Beast at the end.
5. It coughs up the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing [1].
6. Carry that bell bearing to the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold.
7. Hand it over. Boom - unlimited Somber Smithing Stones [1] and [2] for sale.

I grab this bell bearing on basically every run now. Getting a unique weapon to +4 becomes way less of a headache. The Fallingstar Beast hits like a truck, but if it's too much, come back later.

Other early spots: Fringefolk Hero's Grave, Stormveil Castle, Castle Morne, and Raya Lucaria Academy. Bosses like the Leonine Misbegotten in Castle Morne can drop low-level Somber Stones too.

Where to Get Somber Smithing Stones [3]–[4]

Sealed Tunnel Bell Bearing

Once you're on Altus Plateau, make for the Sealed Tunnel. It's a little tunnel area tucked near the Capital Outskirts.

1. Get yourself to Altus Plateau.
2. Hunt down the Sealed Tunnel entrance.
3. Search inside for a chest.
4. Crack it open for the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing [2].
5. Hand it to the Twin Maiden Husks.
6. Now you can buy unlimited Somber Smithing Stones [3] and [4].

You'll also stumble on [3] and [4] stones in Nokron, Nokstella, Lake of Rot, Mt. Gelmir, and the Divine Tower of Caelid. Bosses like the Magma Wyrm Makar in Ruin-Strewn Precipice drop a Somber Smithing Stone [3].

Where to Get Somber Smithing Stones [5]–[6]

Yelough Anix Tunnel Bell Bearing

This one's late game. You have to reach the Consecrated Snowfield, which means you need the Haligtree Secret Medallion first.

1. Scrounge up both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion.
2. Ride the Grand Lift of Rold up to Consecrated Snowfield.
3. Find the Yelough Anix Tunnel on the western side of the snowfield.
4. Kill the boss, Astel, Stars of Darkness.
5. It drops the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing [3].
6. Give it to the Twin Maiden Husks.
7. Buy unlimited Somber Smithing Stones [5] and [6].

[5] and [6] also show up in Mountaintops of the Giants, Castle Sol, Miquella's Haligtree, Mohgwyn Dynasty, and Deeproot Depths. The miners inside the tunnel drop these stones too, so it doubles as a farm route.

Where to Get Somber Smithing Stones [7]–[8]

Crumbling Farum Azula Bell Bearing

For unlimited [7] and [8], you've got to reach Crumbling Farum Azula. That area only opens after you burn the Erdtree and get dragged there.

1. Push the main story until Farum Azula shows up.
2. Roam the upper temple areas and chests.
3. Locate the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing [4].
4. Hand it to the Twin Maiden Husks.
5. Buy unlimited Somber Smithing Stones [7] and [8].

[7] and [8] stones also hide in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, and tucked-away corners of Farum Azula. Some late-game bosses and enemies drop them, but the bell bearing is the only way to buy them nonstop.

Where to Get Somber Smithing Stone [9] and Ancient Dragon Somber Smithing Stone

Somber Smithing Stone [9] and Ancient Dragon Somber Smithing Stones are limited. No bell bearing exists for them. The Twin Maiden Husks won't sell you any.

They're buried in the nastiest late-game areas:

• Crumbling Farum Azula
• Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree
• Consecrated Snowfield
• Miquella's Haligtree
• Certain late-game boss drops and quest rewards

Since they're capped, save them for a weapon you actually know you'll stick with. I've seen people blow an Ancient Dragon Somber Stone on something they swapped out an hour later. Don't be that person.

Best Farming Spots for Somber Smithing Stones

1. Bell Bearings (Best Method)

The best way to "farm" Somber Smithing Stones isn't farming at all. It's shopping.

1. Round up the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearings [1] through [4].
2. Dump them on the Twin Maiden Husks.
3. Buy whatever stones you need with runes.
4. Grind runes at Mohgwyn Palace - the Palace Approach Ledge-Road grace is the classic spot.
5. Rest at a grace, buy more stones, rinse and repeat.

That's unlimited [1] through [8]. Fast, dependable, and a million times better than rolling the RNG dice.

2. Sellia Crystal Tunnel (Early Game)

Need [1] and [2] before you've got the bell bearing? Cut through Sellia Crystal Tunnel. Wipe out miners, loot corpses, reset at the grace, go again. Drop rate's not great, but it gets you by early.

3. Yelough Anix Tunnel (Late Game)

For [5] and [6], Yelough Anix Tunnel is a solid grind. Start at the grace, run the tunnel, kill miners, scoop stones, reset. It's dangerous in there, but the payoff's worth it.

4. Crumbling Farum Azula (End Game)

Farum Azula has pickups and enemies that drop [7] and [8]. But once the bell bearing's in your pocket, just buy them. It saves you the time and the sanity.

Common Mistakes

• Slapping Somber Stones on regular weapons. They won't take it. Check the weapon's upgrade type first.
• Holding onto bell bearings instead of handing them over. You have to deliver them at Roundtable Hold to unlock the shop stock.
• Thinking each level needs multiple stones. One Somber Stone per upgrade. That's it.
• Burning Ancient Dragon Somber Stones on a whim. They're limited. Don't drop one on a weapon you're only testing.
• Forgetting to upgrade before a boss. A +6 unique weapon carries you through mid-game if you just keep it current.
• Accidentally selling Somber Stones. You can't buy [9] or Ancient Dragon stones easily, so hands off the sell button.

FAQ

Can you buy Somber Smithing Stones in Elden Ring?

Yep. Grab the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearings and hand them to the Twin Maiden Husks, and you can buy unlimited Somber Smithing Stones [1] through [8]. [9] and Ancient Dragon Somber Smithing Stones aren't for sale.

What is the best early farming spot for Somber Smithing Stones?

Sellia Crystal Tunnel. Drop the Fallingstar Beast for the first bell bearing, then buy [1] and [2] from the Twin Maiden Husks. You can also grind the miners in the tunnel for extra drops while you're at it.

How many Somber Smithing Stones do you need for +10?

One of each level from [1] to [9], plus one Ancient Dragon Somber Smithing Stone. That's 10 stones total to take a unique weapon to +10.

Do Somber Smithing Stones respawn?

Fixed pickups don't come back. But once the bell bearings are unlocked, you can buy unlimited [1] through [8]. [9] and Ancient Dragon stones are capped per playthrough, so spend them wisely.