Upgrading weapons efficiently in Elden Ring requires a clear understanding of the exact material costs associated with each tier. Players who plan their character builds in advance can save valuable time and avoid wasting precious materials on unnecessary equipment. Knowing the precise number of Smithing Stones needed ensures that your armaments keep pace with increasing enemy difficulty throughout the Lands Between.
Standard Weapon Smithing Stone Requirements
Standard weapons require a total of 12 Smithing Stones for each tier from level one to level eight. Each tier advances a weapon by three levels, requiring two stones for the first boost, four for the second, and six for the third. To bring a standard weapon from base level to plus twenty-four, you will need ninety-six standard stones in total across all eight tiers.
Final Max Level Upgrade Requirements
Reaching the absolute maximum potential of plus twenty-five requires a unique material known as an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. Unlike lower-tier materials, only one Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone is needed to complete this final step. Because these rare stones exist in limited quantities per playthrough, players must choose carefully which weapon to fully upgrade.
Somber Weapon Upgrade Progression
Special armaments follow a distinctly different upgrade path compared to standard gear. These unique weapons only require one Somber Smithing Stone per level, ranging from tier one through tier nine. To reach the maximum power of plus ten, players must apply a single Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone as the final material.
Resource Management and Bell Bearings
Managing your inventory efficiently becomes much easier once you collect key Bell Bearings throughout your journey. Delivering these items to the Twin Maiden Husks unlocks an unlimited purchasing stock for most upgrade materials. This system allows players to experiment with multiple weapon types without running out of lower-level refining stones.