You're hitting a wall in Elden Ring. We’ve all been there. You’ve finally crawled through the nightmare that is Leyndell, survived the sewers, and maybe even put Morgott in the dirt. But now, the difficulty spikes. Hard. Your +12 longsword or twinblade that carried you through Liurnia feels like a wet pool noodle against the giants in the Mountaintops of the Giants. You need Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing 3. Honestly, without it, the endgame is basically a slog.
Getting this specific item is the turning point. It's the moment you stop scavenging for individual stones in dark corners and start buying them in bulk like a rational person.
The Mountaintops of the Giants: Your New Office
Most players think they can just stumble upon the Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing 3. You can't. It’s tucked away in a spot that’s easy to miss if you’re rushing to the Fire Giant. You have to head to the Zamor Ruins. These ruins are right at the start of the Mountaintops of the Giants, immediately after you take the Grand Lift of Rold.
It’s cold. It’s snowing. And the Zamor Knights there are absolute jerks. They move with this weird, fluid grace that makes them incredibly hard to parry if you aren't used to their rhythm. Don't fight them all at once. Seriously, don't. You’ll get frostbitten and die before you even see the basement entrance.
Finding the Basement
The Bell Bearing is in a chest. Standard stuff for FromSoftware. Once you enter the Zamor Ruins, look for a stone staircase leading underground. It's located toward the south-western side of the ruins' layout.
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- Avoid the knights: You can actually sneak past most of them if you're patient.
- The Chest: Down the stairs, through the door, and there it is.
- The Reward: You get the Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing 3.
Once you have it, warp back to the Round Table Hold. Give it to the Twin Maiden Husks. They don't say much, but they’ll now sell you Smithing Stone (5) and Smithing Stone (6) infinitely. No more farming imps. No more squinting at cave walls for yellow glints.
Why These Specific Stones Change Everything
Let’s talk numbers for a second. Smithing Stone (5) and (6) are what take your standard weapons from +12 up to +18. In the scaling math of Elden Ring, this is where your attributes—Strength, Dexterity, whatever—really start to pay off.
A weapon at +12 is fine for the mid-game. But the enemies in the Consecrated Snowfield or Miquella’s Haligtree have massive health pools. If you're still swinging a +12 claymore by the time you reach the Zamor Ruins, you're essentially playing on "Extreme Hard Mode" without meaning to.
The Cost of Progress
Each Smithing Stone (5) costs 6,000 Runes.
Each Smithing Stone (6) costs 9,000 Runes.
It sounds expensive. It is expensive if you're low level. But at this stage of the game, 9,000 Runes is basically what you get for killing a couple of larger enemies in the Mountaintops. It’s a fair trade for the power spike.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
I've seen people confuse this with the Somber Smithing-Stone Bell Bearings. They are totally different. If you’re using a "special" weapon like the Moonveil or the Rivers of Blood, this bell bearing won't help you. Those use Somber stones. This one is for the workhorses—the standard weapons that take 12 stones per tier to upgrade.
Another thing? People think they can get this early by sequence breaking. You can't. You need the Medallion to get up the lift, which means you have to beat Morgott. There are no shortcuts to the Zamor Ruins unless you're using glitches that usually get patched out anyway.
The Strategic Path to +18
Getting the Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing 3 is only half the battle. You actually need the Runes to use it. If you’re short on cash, head over to the Mohgwyn Palace approach—the famous "bird farm" or the Albinauric genocide hill. Ten minutes there will give you enough Runes to take three different weapons to +18.
Why +18? Because that’s the threshold for the next Bell Bearing, which you won't find until you reach Crumbling Farum Azula. That’s a long way off. You’re going to be living with +18 weapons for a significant chunk of the late game, so make sure you pick the weapons you actually like.
Expert Tip: Don't Forget Your Shields
Most players forget that shields also use Smithing Stones. If you're running a "Greatshield" build, using your Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing 3 to boost your shield's guard boost is huge. It reduces the amount of stamina you lose when blocking. Against bosses like the Fire Giant or even Malenia, that extra stamina can be the difference between a successful block and a guard break that leads to a "YOU DIED" screen.
What to Do Immediately After Finding It
Don't just sit on the bearing. Take it to the Twin Maiden Husks immediately.
- Inventory Check: Look at your favorite weapons. Are any of them stuck at +12?
- Bulk Buy: Buy exactly 12 of each stone (5 and 6) for every weapon you want to level up.
- Experiment: Since the stones are now infinite, this is the best time to try out those weird weapons you've been keeping in your chest. Want to try a heavy-infused mace? Go for it. You can always buy more stones.
The transition from mid-game to end-game in Elden Ring is brutal. The game stops holding your hand and starts throwing bosses at you that can one-shot you at 40 Vigor. Having the Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing 3 isn't just a convenience; it's a survival requirement. It allows you to keep your damage output in line with the ballooning health bars of the northern enemies.
Go to the Zamor Ruins. Find the stairs. Ignore the knights if you have to. Just get that chest open. Your future self, currently struggling against a giant crow or a spectral commander, will thank you.
Actionable Next Steps
- Confirm your location: Make sure you have reached the Mountaintops of the Giants via the Grand Lift of Rold.
- Locate Zamor Ruins: It is the first major landmark you see upon entering the snowy region.
- Clear the basement: Locate the southern underground entrance within the ruins to claim the Bell Bearing.
- Upgrade your kit: Spend your banked Runes to bring your primary and secondary weapons to +18 before attempting the Fire Giant boss fight.