Elden Ring: How to Get Smithing Stones Early and Upgrade Weapons Fast ~ HaploGamingChef

Get a Head Start with Weapon Upgrades in Elden Ring

Upgrading your weapon early in Elden Ring can drastically improve your chances of survival, especially against early bosses and tougher enemies. One of the easiest ways to increase your damage output is by collecting and using smithing stones. While some merchants sell them for high rune prices, there's a much more efficient way to gather them during your first few hours of gameplay. This guide will show you exactly where to find smithing stones, how to use them, and why upgrading your gear early makes a huge difference.

Why Smithing Stones Matter Early Game

Huge Boost in Weapon Power: Upgrading from the default white-tier weapon to blue and eventually purple-tier provides a massive increase in attack damage.
Better Combat Efficiency: With upgraded gear, you'll kill enemies faster and gain more runes for early leveling.
Early Boss Advantage: Purple-quality weapons can help you take down early-game bosses much faster, especially the night bosses on Day 1 and Day 2.

Where to Find Smithing Stones Early in Elden Ring

The best source of smithing stones is mines. They are scattered throughout the game map and almost always contain both regular and higher-tier upgrade materials.

Mines Always Contain Stones: Every mine has lootable smithing stones. Just explore, and you’ll find both basic and advanced upgrade items.
Defeat the Mine Boss: Each mine has a boss — either a hulking giant or a hammer-swinging enemy. Beating them guarantees a purple-quality smithing stone as loot.
Search Every Chest: Normal smithing stones are commonly found in chests throughout the mine. Look carefully in side rooms and dead-end paths.

Upgrade Path: From White to Blue to Purple

Your starter weapon is white (common) tier. Here's how you can push it up the ranks:

Step 1: Find a Basic Smithing Stone – This upgrades your white weapon to blue quality.
Step 2: Get a Purple Smithing Stone – Use this to upgrade a blue-tier weapon into purple, which significantly increases your damage.

⚠️ You’ll need one stone per upgrade. Don’t forget to collect both blue and purple stones before heading back to upgrade.

Where to Upgrade Your Weapons

You can’t just upgrade anywhere — you'll need to find smithing upgrade stations. These are found in several places:

Forts: Look under broken bridges or at the base of fort walls.
Town Camps: Many camps scattered across the map have visible smithing stations, usually located in corners.
Castle Areas: In the central region of the map, look near the bottom-right corner of the castle for another upgrade point.

Also, merchants near these stations often provide hints or materials, though purchasing stones from them isn’t cost-effective early game.

Best Time to Upgrade: Before the First Night Boss

Once you're comfortable and have reached around level 5, it’s a great time to head into a mine. Make sure to:

Secure both a blue and purple smithing stone
Head to an upgrade station and boost your weapon
Return to your progression path with a much stronger weapon

This setup allows you to defeat the Day One Night Boss more easily and sets you up to gain an extra 2–3 levels faster by Day Two. The early damage boost lets you farm runes more efficiently, giving you a smoother and faster leveling curve.

Key Takeaways

Don't waste runes buying smithing stones early.
Head to the mines — they’re reliable and always contain upgrade materials.
Beat mine bosses to secure high-quality stones.
Upgrade from white → blue → purple tiers for maximum damage.
Use upgrade stations in forts, towns, or near the central castle.
Upgrade before major boss fights to level up quicker.

Conclusion: Upgrade Early, Dominate Faster

In Elden Ring, understanding how and when to upgrade your weapons can make your early-game experience much easier. By locating mines, defeating mine bosses, and using smithing stations found throughout the map, you can significantly boost your weapon's power without spending excessive runes. A purple-tier weapon early in your journey provides a major combat advantage, helping you level up faster and face early-game bosses with confidence.

Don’t waste valuable time and resources on rune purchases — explore, collect, and upgrade smartly. With this approach, you'll be far better prepared for what's ahead.

FAQ: Elden Ring Early Smithing Stones and Weapon Upgrades

Q: Where can I find smithing stones early in the game?
A: You can find smithing stones in mines scattered across the map. These areas always contain upgrade materials in chests and as boss rewards.

Q: Do I need to buy smithing stones from merchants?
A: No, it's better to collect them from mines. Merchants sell them for high rune costs, which you can save for other uses early on.

Q: What order should I upgrade my weapons?
A: First upgrade your white-tier (common) weapon to blue using a regular smithing stone, then upgrade the blue to purple with a purple smithing stone.

Q: Where are the upgrade stations located?
A: Upgrade stations are typically found near forts, in town camps, and around the central castle area on the map.

Q: When should I upgrade my weapon?
A: Aim to upgrade once you're level 5 and ready to fight the Day One Night Boss. A stronger weapon at this stage makes progression faster and easier.

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