Look, we've all been there. You’ve finally downed a major boss in Elden Ring, your confidence is soaring, and you're ready to push your unique weapon to +6. Then you hit the wall. You check your inventory and realize you’re staring at a big fat zero where your somber smithing stone 6 locations should be. It’s arguably the most annoying tier of upgrade materials to find in the mid-game because the world suddenly opens up, and if you don't know exactly where to look, you’ll be stuck tickling enemies with a +5 Bloodhound's Fang for way too long.
Where the Heck are the Somber Smithing Stone 6 Locations?
If you’re still hanging around Limgrave or Liurnia, give it up. You aren't finding a 6 there unless you're doing some serious sequence breaking. To get your hands on these, you generally need to be pushing into Mt. Gelmir, Caelid, or the deeper parts of the underground maps.
One of the most reliable spots—and honestly, the one most people miss because the area is a nightmare—is the Old Altus Tunnel. It’s tucked away in the cliffs of the Altus Plateau. You’ll need a Stonesword Key to get in. Once you’re inside, don’t just sprint to the boss. Scour the walls. There are shed-loads of upgrade materials in here, including that elusive Somber 6.
Then there's the Caelid Waypoint Ruins. Not the ones with the Mad Pumpkin Head, but the ones further south. Actually, scratch that—don't waste your time wandering the surface of Caelid for these unless you enjoy being chased by T-Rex dogs. Instead, head to the Sellia Crystal Tunnel. You know, the place that "trap chest" in Agheel Lake sends you? If you've already leveled up enough to not get one-shotted by the Pests, go back there. There is a Somber 6 sitting on a corpse on a high ledge in the main cavern. It’s a bit of a platforming puzzle, but it’s worth it.
The Volcano Manor Shortcut
Honestly, Volcano Manor is basically a grocery store for somber smithing stone 6 locations. If you can handle the Abductor Virgins or the Godskin Noble, you’re golden. Specifically, look for the fountain area near the Temple of Eiglay. There’s a corpse hanging off a ledge near some slugs. It’s a classic FromSoftware "look down or you'll miss it" moment.
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Also, if you're brave enough to tackle the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds under Leyndell (I hate that place, seriously), there are a few tucked away in the pipes. But let’s be real: nobody goes into the sewers unless they absolutely have to. It's dark, the Omens are tanky as hell, and the navigation is a literal maze. Only go there if you’re desperate.
Don't Forget the Underground Cities
Nokron and Nokstella are beautiful, sure, but they’re also surprisingly rich in high-level stones. In Nokstella, Eternal City, keep your eyes peeled near the Silver Tears—those annoying blobs that turn into humans. There’s a Somber 6 sitting right out in the open on a bridge.
The Deeproot Depths also has one. It’s near the "The Nameless Eternal City" site of grace. Look for the sunken buildings. It’s sitting on a roof. You have to parkour across some tree roots to get it. It’s tricky. One wrong roll and you’re falling into the abyss, which is a great way to lose 40,000 runes. Don't be like me. Use a rainbow stone if you're unsure about a jump.
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Is There a Bell Bearing for This?
Yes, but it's a bit of a trek. You need the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing [3]. This allows you to just buy Somber 5 and 6 stones from the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold.
Where is it? It’s in the First Church of Marika in the Mountaintops of the Giants.
The problem? You have to beat Morgott the Omen King to even get to this region. If you’re trying to get a +6 weapon to help you beat Morgott, the Bell Bearing won't help you. You have to find them manually in the world first. That's the catch-22 of Elden Ring progression. The game gives you the easy way out only after you've already proven you don't strictly need it anymore.
Common Mistakes People Make Hunting for Stones
Stop looking in caves in the Weeping Peninsula. Seriously. I see people on Reddit all the time wondering why they can’t find higher-tier stones in early-game dungeons. The game scales its loot strictly by region difficulty.
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- Altus Plateau is the "soft" start for Tier 5 and 6.
- Mt. Gelmir is where they become common.
- Caelid (specifically the northern Dragonbarrow) has them, but the enemies there have late-game health pools.
Another tip: kill the Scarabs. You know, those glittering invisible or rolling balls? The white/silver ones often drop Somber stones. There’s a specific invisible one running around the ruins in Mt. Gelmir that drops a Somber 6. It’s annoying to catch, but way faster than clearing a whole dungeon.
A Quick List of High-Value Spots
- Mt. Gelmir: On a corpse sitting in a chair near the bridge leading to the Ninth Mt. Gelmir Campsite.
- Redmane Castle: Only after the festival is over (or before it starts). There’s one in the back area near the lions.
- Ainsel River Main: Dropped by the Malformed Star (the giant bug hanging from the ceiling that shoots rocks at you). It’s a tough fight, but the stone is guaranteed.
Getting your weapon to +6 is a massive power spike. It usually adds a significant chunk of scaling damage that can make the difference between a boss having a sliver of health left or being dead. If you're struggling with the Draconic Tree Sentinel or the bosses in Volcano Manor, go grab one of these stones.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
- Check your map for the Old Altus Tunnel. If you haven't been there, go. It’s the highest density of stones for the effort involved.
- Head to the First Church of Marika as soon as you hit the Mountaintops. Even if you don't need the stones now, having the Bell Bearing saves you hours of farming later.
- Use the Iji Shortcut. If you haven't met Iji the Blacksmith in Liurnia, go find him. He actually sells Somber 1 through 4. This lets you skip the early-game grind entirely so you can focus all your exploration energy on finding those mid-tier 5s and 6s.
- Look for the "Chair Corpses." FromSoftware loves putting high-level loot on corpses sitting in chairs overlooking vistas. If you see a lone chair on a cliffside in Altus or Gelmir, there's a 90% chance it's holding an upgrade stone.