So you want to max out your weapons in Elden Ring? You’ve come to the right place, Tarnished. Let me tell you about the most precious resources in the Lands Between – Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones that strengthen regular armaments to +25 and Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones that strengthen special armaments to +10.
Here’s the bad news: there are only 13 Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and a mere 8 Somber Stones for players to find in the base game. The good news? I’m about to show you exactly where to find every single one of them. Let’s get hunting.
What Are These Stones, Anyway?
Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are made by polishing a golden Gravel Stone – a scale of the Ancient Dragonlord and hidden treasure of Farum Azula. According to the lore, the Ancient Dragonlord’s seat is said to lie beyond time, and this stone lightly twists time, allowing the creation of a weapon capable of slaying a god. Pretty metal, right?
These are your endgame upgrade materials – the final step to weapon perfection. Choose wisely, because once you use them, they’re gone until New Game Plus.
Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones (Base Game)
The Quest Rewards: Your First Four Stones
Nepheli Loux’s Questline (Stormveil Castle)
The Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone is probably the first you can acquire in Elden Ring, received after completing Nepheli Loux’s Questline and then meeting her at the throne room of Stormveil Castle. This is one of the easier stones to grab if you follow her quest through to completion.
Gatekeeper Gostoc (Stormveil Castle)
After completing Nepheli Loux’s questline, you can purchase an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone from Gostoc for 20,000 Runes. Keep in mind that he must still be alive for this to work. If you killed that creepy stalker earlier in the game… well, too bad.
Sorceress Sellen’s Questline
Completing Sorceress Sellen’s quest also rewards you with an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, but you must side with Witch-Hunter Jerren at the final step of the questline. Choose Sellen and you lose out on this stone – no exceptions.
Gurranq, Beast Clergyman (Caelid)
You can obtain an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone after giving Gurranq nine Deathroots. Alternatively, after the Maliketh boss fight, simply attack and kill Gurranq in that temple for the Stone. A bit brutal, but effective.
Crumbling Farum Azula: Dragon Territory
This late-game area is absolutely loaded with upgrade materials. The first Greater Farum Azula dragon is encountered on the curved bridge after the Crumbling Beast Grave Site of Grace and drops an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone plus 32,400 Runes on defeat.
Starting from the Dragon Temple Altar grace site, head north through the doorway and navigate past the Azula Beastman and dog enemies until you find yourself on a narrow platform lined with dragon statues. Near the end, climb the spiral staircase on your right, then jump across to the floating stone pillar and walk along it to reach a platform where you’ll find the stone near a ledge, guarded by a large beastman and dog.
From the Dragon Temple Rooftop Site of Grace, sprint toward the Azula Dragon at the far end casting Lightning Strikes – the dragon is already at low health and defeating it quickly will reward you with the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. This second Greater Farum Azula Dragon will attack you with intermittent bursts of lightning as you advance from the Dragon Temple Roof Site of Grace.
Miquella’s Haligtree: Two More Stones
On the southernmost side of Miquella’s Haligtree, a Leonine Misbegotten is guarding a statue where an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone can be found on top of a corpse nearby. This is before you even get to Loretta.
After defeating Loretta, head up the stairs next to the room with the lift where at the top you’ll find a chest with an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. Don’t take that elevator down just yet!
Mountaintops of the Giants: Church of Repose
You can find a giant skull on the southeastern side of the cliff near the Church of Repose – head inside the skull to obtain an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. Easy pickup if you know where to look!
Consecrated Snowfield: The Frozen Treasure Hunt
Night’s Cavalry Duo (Inner Consecrated Snowfield)
From the Inner Consecrated Snowfield site of grace, turn west at night to spot a caravan procession heading northward guarded by two Night’s Cavalry – one wielding the Nightrider Flail and one wielding the Nightrider Glaive. Upon defeating them both, you will receive 84,000 Runes, the Night’s Cavalry armor set, and an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. This is a tough fight, so bring your A-game.
Cave of the Forlorn Area
A dead body containing an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone can be found on a cliff east of the Cave of the Forlorn, located in a frozen waterfall just above Great Wyrm Theodorix. From Cave of the Forlorn site of grace, go outside, turn left and hug the right side then jump up the ledges to get to the other side.
Yelough Anix Tunnel
Inside the Yelough Anix Tunnel, head down the hole in the area with the wooden walkways, defeat the Alabaster Lord in the area and loot the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone on the dead body.
Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones (Base Game)
These are even rarer – only eight in the entirety of the base game. Here’s where to find them all.
Mohgwyn Palace
Make your way to the Dynasty Mausoleum Midpoint Site of Grace, where you should be able to see a large statue surrounded by many Albinaurics and a Sanguine Noble – in front of that statue is a chest with a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. It may take a death or two to open it if you’re low level at this point.
Consecrated Snowfield: Two Somber Stones
Anastasia, Tarnished-Eater
Once you’ve made your way to the Consecrated Snowfield area, make your way to the Inner Consecrated Snowfield Site of Grace, then follow the river west until you’re invaded by Anastasia, the Tarnished Eater. If you’ve already faced her in the Smouldering Church and the Corpse-Stench shack, it’s essentially the same fight – take her out for the third time and the Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone is yours.
Latenna’s Questline
Complete Latenna’s questline and the reward is given to you by Latenna upon completion at the Apostate Derelict. This one is potentially missable, so make sure you talk to her before you go to the Haligtree.
Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree: Three Stones
First Stone: The Chest
Start from the Prayer Room site of grace in Elphael and head north till you see a gazebo with a flying Scarab. Jump onto the buttress to reach the gazebo, run north past it, and jump onto another buttress to find the Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone in a chest in a room up ahead.
Second Stone: The Putrid Avatar
From the Prayer Room site of grace, jump onto the buttress that leads eastward down to a lower section of Elphael, then head southward to pick up the Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone that is being guarded by an Erdtree Avatar. Putrid Avatars are extremely vulnerable to fire, so bringing spells, pots, and weapons that do fire damage will help you dispatch the creature without much trouble.
Third Stone: Millicent’s Questline
Though not technically obtained by killing Malenia, those who complete the Millicent questline and obtain Miquella’s Needle through the scarlet flower will get a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone along with it. After defeating Malenia, rest at the Site of Grace and return to insert the Unalloyed Gold Needle into the scarlet flower to receive Miquella’s Needle as well as a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
Crumbling Farum Azula
The Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone is located in a small gazebo behind a large dragon south of the Dragon Temple Rooftop Site of Grace. The dragon is constantly raining red lightning around the area, and killing it will also reward you with an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone – that’s right, you get both types from this area!
Leyndell, Ashen Capital
From the main Leyndell Ashen Capital site of grace, go west along and up the dragon, enter the building past it and climb the ladder. Over the railing to the right is a gargoyle next to a corpse with the stone. This will only be available once you’ve progressed far enough that the city is filled with ash.
Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Locations
The DLC adds eight more Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones and six Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones to hunt down:
Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones (DLC)
Castle Ensis Area
Fast travel to the Castle Front Site of Grace, mount Torrent, and head south down the hill toward the Ruined Forge Lava Intake. Enter the forge and interact with the furnace inside to obtain an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
Pillar Path Waypoint
Fast travel to the Pillar Path Waypoint Site of Grace and look south – the tall tower you see in the distance is the Suppressing Pillar. Enter the structure, activate the lift, and ascend to the top where a chest holds another Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
Dragon’s Pit Cave
In the Dragon’s Pit Cave, located south of the Pillar Path Waypoint Site of Grace. From the Dragon’s Pit Site of Grace, follow the main tunnel and take the leftmost path to reach the boss arena. Defeat the Magma Wyrm inside to receive the stone as a reward.
Ancient Dragon Senessax
Defeat Ancient Dragon Senessax to earn an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. To reach Senessax, progress through the Dragon’s Pit area and follow the path leading to Jagged Peak, where you’ll encounter this powerful dragon boss.
Jagged Peak
From the Jagged Peak Mountainside Site of Grace, head southwest and use the Spirit Spring to ascend. Follow the rocky path and use the next Spirit Spring to reach an area filled with dragon corpses. Search near the Skeletal Slimes to find another Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone lying on the ground.
Ruined Forge of Starfall Past
Found within the Ruined Forge of Starfall Past in Scadu Altus. Activate the internal mechanisms and progress through the forge until you reach the furnace chamber, where the stone can be collected.
Taylew’s Ruined Forge (1)
Inside Taylew’s Ruined Forge, located north of the Ancient Ruins Base Site of Grace, you’ll find one Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone near the furnace at the bottom of the forge.
Taylew’s Ruined Forge (2)
A second one is also located within Taylew’s Ruined Forge, this time on an upper balcony overlooking the forge’s central area. Explore thoroughly to ensure you collect both stones from this location.
Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones (DLC)
The DLC provides three ways to acquire Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones: defeat Shadow of the Erdtree’s Ghostflame Dragons, defeat Ancient Dragon Senessax, and make your way to the top of the Spiral Rise in Enir-Ilim.
Ghostflame Dragons (Three Locations) Defeating the Ghostflame Dragon west of the Abandoned Ailing Village in Gravesite Plain rewards you with a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
Defeating the Ghostflame Dragon south of Moorth Ruins in Scadu Altus will reward you with a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
Defeating the Ghostflame Dragon in the Cerulean Coast area of Southern Shore will reward you with a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. To get to this area, head south down the slope from the Castle Front site of grace near Castle Ensis until you reach a poison swamp, circle around down to Ellac River Cave, and once you’re at Ellac River, head south.
Ancient Dragon Senessax Defeating Ancient Dragon Senessax past the Foot of the Jagged Peak site of grace in the Southern Shore region will reward you with a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
Jagged Peak Mountainside
Progress through the Jagged Peak area past the Ancient Dragon Senessax boss fight until you reach the Jagged Peak Mountainside site of grace. From here, head southwest and jump up two spiritsprings to an area filled with small thunder blob enemies which are guarding the Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
Enir-Ilim
From the Spiral Rise site of grace, progress west through the area until you reach the next spiral tower. Here, there will be an elevator that takes you down – the Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone should be at the end of the path, on a cut-off stairway overlooking the rest of Enir-Ilim.
Final Tips for Your Hunt
Remember, if you’re out of Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones, Somber or not, the only way to get more of them is to start Journey 2, aka New Game Plus, as each playthrough of Elden Ring can only ever have the stones mentioned above at most.
Choose your weapon upgrades wisely, Tarnished. These stones are precious, and every choice matters. Now get out there and make those weapons worthy of slaying gods!
May your weapons strike true, and your journey through the Lands Between be ever victorious.
You may want to check out our other Guides & Tips to help you survive in the Lands Between and the Realm of Shadow.
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