In Elden Ring: Nightreign – weapon upgrades are paramount for survival. This tutorial explores where to locate Smithing Stones, how to make the most of them, and the most effective upgrade methods. Whether you’re upgrading run-of-the-mill equipment or pursuing legendary might, this is all you need to fortify your inventory for the road ahead.
Basic Smithing Stones: What You Should Know
These are the brown-tinted rocks employed to upgrade basic weapons (consider: your starting equipment or anything whose background has a grey name).
You can:
- Pick them up from enemy loot or within chests every now and then.
- Purchase them from shopkeepers for 6,000 Runes a piece—not an inexpensive item, so don’t squander them.
- They’re only utilized for basic weapons, so there is no benefit in hoarding them.
Pro Tip: Open your map and tap the “overview” option. Merchants are indicated by a hooded symbol, which you’ll usually find near castles or in camps.
When It’s Time to Upgrade: Enter Smithing Stone 2
When you’re ready to go past basic weapons, you’ll want Smithing Stone 2. These are slightly more difficult to obtain. Here’s how you can get them:
Sources of Smithing Stone 2
Mobs in mines (e.g., a cave troll, Redmane Knights, or pumpkin-head brute).
Mobs that occasionally drop from difficult bosses in the open world (although this is uncommon).
Slaying a mine boss rewards you with a selection of:
- A Smithing Stone 2
- A new weapon
- A passive buff
With the exception of the weapon being absolutely suited to your build, the stone is generally the better option.
Weapon Upgrade Levels & Strategy
Upgrade Path Using Smithing Stone 2:
- +1 → +2 (rare/purple) = 1 Stone
- +2 → +3 (legendary/gold) = 2 additional Stones
Total to reach +3: 3 mine bosses defeated.
You’ll usually only have the opportunity to fully upgrade one weapon, so choose wisely. A better strategy is to upgrade a few weapons up to +1 or +2 rather than maxing out just one. This leaves you more options open, particularly for difficult battles such as the Night Lord.
Where to Upgrade
- Each merchant on the map has access to a free-to-use smithing anvil beside them.
- You can upgrade any non-legendary weapon with this method.
Note: The majority of starting weapons are limited at +2 and cannot advance further.
