Look, we've all been there. You just found a cool new sword in Elden Ring, maybe a curved greatsword or a flashy twinblade, and you want to see if it actually shreds. But then you look at your inventory. You have exactly zero Smithing Stones. You could go farm those annoying imps in a tunnel for three hours, or you could just go get the bell bearings. Honestly, the bell bearings are the only way to play the game if you value your time.
Once you hand these over to the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold, they sell you infinite stones. Infinite. It changes everything. You stop hoarding resources like a dragon and start actually experimenting with different builds. It’s the difference between being stuck with one mediocre weapon and having a whole arsenal of +24 killing machines.
Finding all smithing stone bell bearings isn't just about knowing the map coordinates; it's about knowing which bosses are actually worth the headache and which ones you can skip until you're overleveled. Some are tucked away in optional mines, while others are basically mandatory roadblocks on the path to becoming Elden Lord.
The Early Game Scramble for Stones (1) and (2)
Most players stumble upon the first one by accident, or they miss it entirely because Liurnia is a giant, swampy mess. The Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing (1) is inside the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel. It's on the northeast shore of the lake. If you see those blue-lit crystals and a bunch of guys mining with pickaxes, you're in the right spot.
The boss here is a Crystalian. If you're a magic user, this fight is a nightmare unless you bring a mallet. Seriously. These guys have high resistance to everything until you "crack" their poise. Once they shatter, they take massive damage. Just whack them with something heavy. Once he's dead, the Husks will start selling Smithing Stone (1) and (2).
Then there's the second one. This one is arguably more important because it covers Smithing Stone (3) and (4). You'll find it in the Sealed Tunnel in Altus Plateau.
The Sealed Tunnel is weird. It’s full of illusory walls. You’ll hit a wall, it vanishes, you move on. You don't even have to kill the boss to get the bell bearing here. You just need to find the chest. It's tucked away in a side room early on. If you find yourself fighting the Onyx Lord at the end, you've gone too far for the loot, though you might as well kill him for the gravity magic while you're there.
Mid-Game Power Spikes and the Altus Grind
By the time you reach the Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing (3), the game is starting to get mean. You’re heading into the Mountaintops of the Giants. This bearing unlocks Smithing Stone (5) and (6). It's located in the Zamor Ruins.
You don't need to fight a boss for this one either. It’s just sitting in a chest underground. The catch? The Zamor Knights. These guys are fast, they deal frost damage, and they will absolutely wreck you if you try to pull more than one at a time. I usually just sprint past them, grab the loot from the basement, and fast travel out. There’s no shame in it.
The difficulty spike in the Mountaintops is real. If your weapon isn't at least +15 or +18 by this point, you're going to feel like you're hitting enemies with a wet noodle. Getting this bearing is basically a requirement for survival.
The Final Stretch: Farum Azula and the End Game
The last two bearings are where things get legendary. You can't even get them until the very end of the game. We're talking Crumbling Farum Azula territory.
Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing (4) drops from the Godskin Duo. Yeah, that fight. The one everyone complains about. It’s a mandatory boss, so you can't miss it, but man, it's a chore. Sleep pots are your best friend here. Put one of them to sleep, deal with the other, rinse and repeat. Once they're down, you get the ability to buy Smithing Stone (7) and (8).
Finally, there’s the Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing (5). This one is just lying on a corpse in a temple near the "Beside the Great Bridge" site of grace in Farum Azula. It’s right before the final push to Maliketh. This unlocks the ability to buy every stone except the Ancient Dragon ones.
Why You Can't Buy Max Level Stones
Here is the thing people get wrong: you cannot buy infinite Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones. There is no bell bearing for the final upgrade tier.
FromSoftware wants you to commit to your favorites. In a single playthrough, there are only 13 Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones available. If you waste them on a weapon you don't actually like, you're stuck until New Game Plus.
- Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone locations:
- One is given by Nepheli Loux if you finish her questline.
- Gurranq gives you one after you feed him nine Deathroot.
- There’s one in a chest guarded by a beastman in Farum Azula.
- Miquella’s Haligtree has a couple tucked away near the inner wall.
The Somber Problem
I should mention that regular Smithing Stones and Somber Smithing Stones have completely different bell bearings. If you’re using a "special" weapon—anything that upgrades with Somber stones—none of what I just said applies to you.
Somber stones are actually easier to manage because you only need one per level. The Somber Bell Bearings are scattered in similar places (Caelid, Altus, Mountaintops), but they are distinct items. Don't go to the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel expecting to unlock Somber upgrades. You'll be disappointed.
Strategy: The "Bell Bearing Hunter" Run
If you’re starting a new character, there is a very specific route you should take to get these as fast as possible.
- Go straight to Liurnia. Skip Stormveil if you have to by taking the mountain path. Get the first bearing.
- Beelined for Altus via the Ruin-Strewn Precipice (the "coward's way" up the cliff). Grab the second bearing in the Sealed Tunnel.
- Kill two Shardbearers (Godrick and Rennala are easiest) to gain entry to Leyndell.
- Push through to the Mountaintops for the third.
By doing this, you can have a +18 weapon before you even set foot in the Capital. It makes the mid-game a total breeze. Most people struggle because they are under-leveled or under-upgraded. Don't be that person.
Myths About Bell Bearings
One weird rumor that persists is that you lose your bell bearings when you start New Game Plus. That used to be true. It was a nightmare. You’d have to go find all smithing stone bell bearings all over again every time you restarted the game.
Fortunately, FromSoftware patched that ages ago. Now, the Twin Maiden Husks keep your shop inventory across playthroughs. This is a massive relief. It means you can spend your first run hunting them all down and never have to worry about it again.
Another misconception: people think the Bell Bearing Hunter bosses drop these stones. They don't. Those guys drop "Meat Peddler's" or "Medicine Peddler's" bearings. They allow you to buy consumables like boluses or thin animal bones. Useful? Sure. But they aren't going to help you upgrade your Uchigatana.
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Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you're currently staring at a weapon stuck at +12, here is exactly what you need to do right now.
First, check your map for the Sealed Tunnel. It’s right outside the western walls of Leyndell, down in the moat area. It’s a non-combat zone for the most part if you just want the loot. Grab that second bearing.
Second, make sure you actually offer the bearings to the statues at the Roundtable. I’ve seen players carry the bearings in their inventory for half the game wondering why the shop hasn't updated. You have to physically talk to the Twin Maiden Husks and select "Offer a Bell Bearing."
Third, remember that runes are easy to come by, but your time isn't. Use the Mohgwyn Palace bird farm or the Albinauric hill to get the runes you need to buy the stones in bulk. It is always faster to buy 12 stones than it is to farm them from enemies in the wild.
Finally, keep a mental tally of your Ancient Dragon stones. Since these are the only ones you can't buy, save them for the weapons you truly love. A +24 weapon is usually more than enough for 90% of the game anyway. The jump from +24 to +25 is nice, but it's rarely the thing that decides whether you win or lose a boss fight.
Go get those bearings. It makes the Lands Between a lot less punishing when you can actually fight back with a sharpened blade.