ELDEN RING

I unlocked this achievement by leveling up a unique weapon to +10 using Somber Smithing Stones. Each upgrade only requires 1 somber smithing stone to progress to the next level so a total of 10 somber smithing stones are required. I’m writing this guide in a way to get these stones without the need of killing any bosses (with the exception of the last stone—Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone) so you can get your weapon to be pretty overpowered as early in the game as possible (but will require a bit of traveling). If you already have some of these locations/grace points unlocked then simply travel there.

Somber Smithing Stones [1-4] can be bought from “Smithing Master Iji,” a giant blacksmith located in Liurnia of the Lakes (north-west on the main road passing the Academy of Raya; Iji is right next to the “Road to the Manor” grace point). You can get to him before fighting “Marget, the Fell Omen” or completing the Stormhill castle. From the Stormhill Shack grace point, instead of following the main road to the castle you can make a right toward some trees and cliffs and make your way around the castle which will grant you access to the Liurnia Lakes area of the game.

Somber Smithing Stone [5] can be found in many caves and open world areas later in the game but if you’re looking for one to pick up as soon as possible, especially if you’re low level/early in the game, start by traveling to the Dragon-Burnt Ruins (located east of “The First Step” grace point in Limgrave near the beginning of the game). Inside the ruins you will open a chest which will then travel you to an advanced area of the game. Here you will be in the Sellia Crystal Tunnel. I would recommend not fighting anything and sneaking past everything. Make a right and go down a tunnel and you should eventually hit a grace point. After the grace point, you should see the exit for the tunnel and once you exit hug the right side of the swamp until you see a red giant glowing bug. Behind the bug there’s an area you can ride your horse across (there should be purple glowing enemies here) and at the end of that area should be a dead end with giant blue crystals and you will see the somber stone 5 for pick up on a body next to a giant sphere enemy.

Somber Smithing Stone [6] requires both pieces of the Dectus Medallion which will grant you access to the Grand Lift of Dectus (located north-east of Liurnia following the main road there). (1) The first Dectus piece is located in Fort Haight West in Limgrave on top of the tower in a chest. (2) The second piece is in a chest up the ladder inside Fort Faroth which requires you to have access to Dragonbarrow which is located in the northern part of Caelid. To unlock Dragonbarrow start by making your way to the “Third Church of Marika” in Limgrave. Just steps away behind the church will be a teleporter hidden behind some trees and bushes. From here you will be teleported to the Bestial Sanctum. Do not fight the big enemy and instead open the door behind you and touch the grace point. You can then ride your horse around all the enemies and cross the bridge. After crossing the bridge and passing the giant Erdtree tree you will see a giant white dragon. The fort is located behind it by its tail.

Once you have both pieces you can access the Grand Lift of Dectus and ride your horse to Mt. Gelmir which is west of Altus Plateau. After crossing a bridge you will reach the “Bridge of Iniquity” grace point. If you keep hugging the left side after this grace point you should see a long ladder which leads to the top of that large cliff. After climbing the ladder to the left you should see a new grace point and some gravestones. At the edge of the cliff should be somber stone 6 for pick up on a dead body sitting on a chair staring off at the distance.

Somber Smithing Stone [7] is located in the Volcano Manor in Mt. Gelmir. If you followed the guide to stone 6 then you should be pretty close to the volcano manor mansion. This one can be a bit tricky since it requires some platforming skills to reach it. It’s near the “Prison Town Church” grace point which can be accessed by hitting an invisible wall inside one of the mansion rooms and navigating yourself to the grace location. You will then have to lower the draw bridge in that location which is left of the fog boss gate of that area. I’m attaching a link on how to reach stone 7 without the need of killing the boss of that area after activating the bridge. Video link: https://imgur.com/a/5ORVMxJ

Somber Smithing Stone [8] and [9] can be found in Caelid, and if you followed my guide for somber stone 6 then you should have this section of Caelid unlocked already. Somber stone 8 can be grabbed by killing a bug near the divine tower of Caelid. The bug is top of the cliff leading to the tower, sitting behind a branch on the opposite side of your view. Somber stone 9 is in the same area but at the bottom of the tower on a dead body surrounded by chairs. I’ll attach a picture link to both these stones here: https://imgur.com/a/3zslEtw

Ancient Somber Smithing Stone is the last item you need to max out your weapon and unlock the achievement. Unfortunately, the earliest one you can get can only be done by defeating both Marget and Shardbearer Godrick, and you have to be connected online. Once you kill Goddrick in Stormveil Castle you can go ahead and proceed with White-Faced Varre’s questline. He’s one of the first NPCs you encounter in the open world.

(1) Start by reading his white message left behind at “The First Step” grace point in Limgrave. (2) Talk to him at the Roundtable Hold after defeating Godrick. (3) Go talk to him at the Rose Church in Liurnia. (4) He will give you 5 bloody fingers and you must use 3 fingers to invade other player’s worlds. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose as long as you complete the invasion. (5) he will give you an item, go to the Church of Inhibition in Liurnia (best accessed by riding your horse south of the “Grand Lift of Dectus” grace point). Examine the NPC in the church and you will receive a new version of the item plus her armor if you haven’t so already. (6) return to Varre with the bloody cloth and he will give you a reusable bloody finger and the “Pureblood Knights Medal” which will teleport you to an advanced area of the game when used. WARNING: this place is very high level so you might have to run across everything to stand a chance getting the last somber stone. Once teleported, go up the stairs and navigate yourself through some zombie-like enemies and some dark caves. Once you exit the caves you should reach the “Dynasty Mausoleum Midpoint” grace point. From this grace simply head forward and you will see a large number of enemies praying. The chest is right under the big statue all the enemies are praying at, opposite side of the elevator leading to the boss of this area, and you should unlock the last stone.

If you can think of any stones that are easier and faster to acquire please let me know and I’ll update the guide. Good luck!

Video guide of all the Smithing/Somber Stones I could find in the above ground areas of Limegrave. I am posting this along with my guides for the Bell Bearing which allow you to buy the Smithing/Sombering stones from the twin husks in the Round table area.

(Part 1 Smithing/Somber Smithing stones)

(Part 2 Smithing/Somber Smithing stones)


Smithing Stone Miner's Bell Bearing locations.





Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearings locations





Still working on Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 5 video