Forge Stones are capable of improving weapons and shields in Elden Ring; see where to find them all and how to use them to upgrade equipment in the game
Elden Ring Forge Stones are materials capable of enhancing weapons and shields . They are classified as normal or Dark and can be up to 10 levels. To find the ores, just explore the Midlands or buy them from certain characters. In the following lines, we show you how to find Forge Stones and how to use them.
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Differences between Normal and Shadow Stones
All types of Forge Stones have the same function of enhancing items. However, normal stones are used to upgrade common equipment , while shadow ores are needed to strengthen swords and shields classified as “unique” .
Unique equipment are items that offer some special effect or allow you to use unique skills – also known as Ashes of War -. Elden Ring ‘s best weapons are classified as unique, as are all Legendary weapons in the game.
How to use Forge Stones to upgrade items
The process for improving weapons and shields in Elden Ring is quite simple. You just need to have in your inventory the equipment to be upgraded and the required amount of Forge Stones. With the items in hand, just take them to the blacksmith in the Midlands and pay for the service with runes.
Right at the beginning of the campaign, you’ll gain access to the Mesa da Grace Perdida — a kind of base of operations where there are several non-player characters (NPCs) that help you on the adventure. One such person is Master Blacksmith Hewg , capable of strengthening equipment to the maximum level.
To find Hewg, enter the door closest to the fireplace in the room. The blacksmith is working in the hallway between the entrance hall and the room where players first meet Fia. Talk to him to start strengthening your equipment.
How many Stones to use to upgrade equipment
Common weapons and shields can be upgraded up to level 25 (+25) , each step will require a preset amount of normal Forgestones and runes. In the table below, you can see the costs and items needed to upgrade common equipment:
| level of improvement | Necessary material | Units |
|---|---|---|
| +1 | Forge Stone (1) | two |
| +2 | Forge Stone (1) | 4 |
| +3 | Forge Stone (1) | 6 |
| +4 | Forge Stone (2) | two |
| +5 | Forge Stone (2) | 4 |
| +6 | Forge Stone (2) | 6 |
| +7 | Forge Stone (3) | two |
| +8 | Forge Stone (3) | 4 |
| +9 | Forge Stone (3) | 6 |
| +10 | Forge Stone (4) | two |
| +11 | Forge Stone (4) | 4 |
| +12 | Forge Stone (4) | 6 |
| +13 | Forge Stone (5) | two |
| +14 | Forge Stone (5) | 4 |
| +15 | Forge Stone (5) | 6 |
| +16 | Forge Stone (6) | two |
| +17 | Forge Stone (6) | 4 |
| +18 | Forge Stone (6) | 6 |
| +19 | Forge Stone (7) | two |
| +20 | Forge Stone (7) | 4 |
| +21 | Forge Stone (7) | 6 |
| +22 | Forge Stone (8) | two |
| +23 | Forge Stone (8) | 4 |
| +24 | Forge Stone (8) | 6 |
| +25 | Elder Dragon Forge Stone | 1 |
Unique equipment can be fortified up to level 10 (+10) . To evolve them, you only need to have one unit of Shadowforge Stone for the next tier of the item, in addition to the runes. Below, you can see the table with the materials required to improve these weapons:
| level of improvement | Necessary material | Units |
|---|---|---|
| +1 | Shadowforge Stone (1) | 1 |
| +2 | Shadowforge Stone (2) | 1 |
| +3 | Shadowforge Stone (3) | 1 |
| +4 | Shadowforge Stone (4) | 1 |
| +5 | Shadowforge Stone (5) | 1 |
| +6 | Shadowforge Stone (6) | 1 |
| +7 | Shadowforge Stone (7) | 1 |
| +8 | Shadowforge Stone (8) | 1 |
| +9 | Shadowforge Stone (9) | 1 |
| +10 | Elder Dragon’s Shadowforge Stone | 1 |
Where to find Normal and Dark Forgestones
Normal and Dark Forgestones are scattered throughout the Midlands regions. Because there are so many, it is not possible to detail the exact location of all of them. However, it is possible to obtain Bells from the Forgestone Miner to have the option to buy the ores directly from NPCs .
These items unlock the unlimited sale of all levels of Forge Stones, including Dark ones. With the items in hand, simply deliver them to the Elderly Twins at the Table of Lost Grace. After offering the bells, you can buy as many ores as you want in the characters’ shop, using runes.
Altogether, Elden Ring has nine bells — four for regular Forgestones and five for Dark versions. Check out the location of all Miner Bells below :
Forgestone Miner’s Bells
Forgestone Miner’s Bell [1]
- Stones released for sale: Forge Stone (1) and (2);
- Where to Find: Obtainable by defeating the Crystalian at the end of Raya Lucaria’s Boulder Tunnel. The dungeon is located in Liurnia of the Lakes, northeast of Raya Lucaria Academy.
Location of the Stone of Forge Miner’s Bell (1) (Image: Murilo Tunholi/Tecnoblog)
Forgestone Miner’s Bell [2]
- Stones released for sale: Forge Stone (3) and (4);
- Where to find it: In a chest in the first hidden room of the Sealed Tunnel. The location is accessed by hitting a fake wall on the left side of the location for free. The dungeon is located on Atlus Plateau, southwest of Lyndell, Royal Capital.
Forgestone Miner’s Bell [3]
- Stones released for sale: Forge Stone (5) and (6);
- Where to find: In a chest in the basement of Ruins of Zamor. The site is accessed via a staircase, in the southwest part of the ruins. The dungeon is located in the Mountain of Giants.
Forgestone Miner’s Bell [4]
- Stones released for sale: Forge Stone (7) and (8);
- Where to Find: Obtainable by defeating the Godskin Duo in the Dragon Temple. The dungeon is located in the Ruin of Farum Azula.
Shadowstone Miner’s Bells
Shadowstone Miner’s Bell [1]
- Stones released for sale: Shadowforge Stone (1) and (2);
- Where to Find: Obtainable by defeating the Shooting Star Beast at the end of Sellia’s Boulder Tunnel. The dungeon is located in the central region of Caelid.
Shadowstone Miner’s Bell [2]
- Stones released for sale: Shadowforge Stone (3) and (4);
- Where to Find: Obtainable by defeating the Crystalian (Spear) and Crystalian (Ringblade) in the Atlus Tunnel. The dungeon is located in the central region of the Atlus Plateau.
Shadowstone Miner’s Bell [3]
- Stones released for sale: Shadowforge Stone (5) and (6);
- Where to find: On a corpse outside the First Church of Marika. The location is at the end of the Freezing Lake, in the northeast region of Giant Mountain.
Shadowstone Miner’s Bell [4]
- Stones released for sale: Shadowforge Stone (7) and (8);
- Where to find: On a corpse hanging from the top of the mountains on the Balcony in Front of the Storm. The site is in the Ruin of Farum Azula.
Shadowstone Miner’s Bell [5]
- Stones released for sale: Shadowforge Stone (9);
- Where to find it: in a small church before the Great Bridge Lateral place of grace. The location is in the Ruin of Farum Azula.
Where to find Elder Dragon Forge Stones
To make the last upgrade on an item, be it common or unique, you will need a special and limited Forge Stone. Elder Dragon Forging Stones can only be found in the later areas of the game or as rewards for completing complex side quests.
You can get up to 13 Elder Dragon Forge Stones per quest . The Dark version has only eight units available. Therefore, choose well the equipment that will be maximized. Be warned: if you want to get more, you’ll need to start the campaign over through the New Game+ feature.
Here’s where to find normal and Dark Elder Dragon Forge Stones :
Elder Dragon Forge Stones
Limgrave
- Received by completing Nepheli Loux’s quest in Godrick’s Throne Room. The place is in the Tempesvéu Castle.
- Purchased from Gostoc, Guardian of the Gate, for 20,000 runes. If the character is alive, he will appear in Godrick’s Throne Room after completing Nepheli Loux’s quest.
Liurnia dos Lagos
- Received when choosing to help Jerren the Witch Hunter during the Sorceress Sellen quest.
Caelid
- Received by feeding nine Death Roots to Gurranq. It is also possible to kill Gurranq to get the stone, without offering the Roots of Death.
Giants Mountain
- Found on a corpse, inside the mouth of a giant skull. The location is southeast of Igreja do Repouso.
- Obtainable by defeating two Knights of the Night guarding a caravan, in the Hallowed Snowfield. The location is southwest of the Inland Consecrated Snowfield grace location;
- Found inside the Yelough Anix Tunnel in the Hallowed Snowfield;
- Found on a corpse, in the frozen waterfall above the Great Wyrm Theodorix. The creature lies in a frozen river, north of the Albinauric Pebble Tower, in the Hallowed Snowfield.
Ruin of Farum Azula
- Obtained by defeating the Dragon of Farum Azula that appears when walking along the curved platform, in the southwest of the region;
- Found on a corpse, on a flying platform north of the Dragon Temple. The body is guarded by a Man-Beast;
- Obtained by defeating the Dragon of Farum Azula that sits at the back of a plaza, southeast of the Terrace of the Dragon Temple grace location.
Miquella’s Sacred Tree
- Found on a corpse beneath a statue near Holy Tree City Square. The item is guarded by a Lesser Leonine Bastard;
- Found in a chest after defeating Loretta, Knight of the Sacred Tree.
Elder Dragon’s Shadowforge Stones
Giants Mountain
- Received by completing Latenna’s quest after taking her to the Abandoned House of the Apostate. The site is in the northwest region of Campo de Neve Consecrated;
- Obtained by defeating Anastasia, Devourer of Tainted after her third invasion. The character appears on the frozen river south of Ordina, Sacramental City, in the Consecrated Snowfield.
Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum
- Found in a chest under a giant statue halfway up the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum.
Ruin of Farum Azula
- Found on an altar, behind the Dragon of Farum Azula that sits at the back of a plaza, southeast of the Dragon Temple Terrace place of grace.
Miquella’s Sacred Tree
- Found in a chest hidden between pillars, near a roof where there is a corpse with an item. The place is just past the place of grace Prayer Room in the Sacred Tree of Miquella;
- Found on a corpse, at the bottom of a circular causeway to the east, next to the Putrid Avatar who patrols the area;
- Received by completing Millicent’s quest and defeating Malenia, Sword of Miquella. To get the stone, you need to stick the golden needle in the scarlet flower of Malenia, transforming it into the Needle of Miquella.
Lyndell, Capital of Ashes
- Found on a corpse in the ruins of the city. To get to the stone, start the path from the place of Grace Lyndell, Capital of the Ashes. Then head west, following the dragon. Enter the building after the dragon and go up the ladder. On the other side of the railing will be a gargoyle guarding the item.
