Upgrading standard armaments to their maximum potential in Elden Ring requires a structured investment of resources throughout your journey across the Lands Between. Players looking to reach the maximum weapon level of +25 must navigate eight distinct tiers of standard upgrade materials before applying a final rare stone. Understanding the exact total cost of materials prevents wasted exploration time and allows adventurers to plan their build progression effectively.
Total Smithing Stone Requirements for Standard Weapons
To upgrade a standard weapon from base level up to +24, players need exactly 12 Smithing Stones for each tier from level 1 through level 8. Within each tier, reinforcing the weapon follows a consistent step-up requirement of 2, 4, and then 6 stones for the consecutive levels. This brings the subtotal to 96 regular Smithing Stones distributed evenly across eight numbered categories.
To complete the final step from +24 to +25, you need a single Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. Because these final stones are limited per playthrough, players should choose their ultimate weapons carefully before committing. The total material list needed for a maxed-out standard weapon consists of 12 stones from tiers 1 through 8, alongside one Ancient Dragon stone.
Managing Rune Costs and Finding Upgrade Specialists
In addition to collecting materials, players must budget a substantial amount of Runes to pay for blacksmithing services. Upgrading a base armament all the way to +24 costs 129,600 Runes when purchasing materials or upgrading at full price. While initial upgrades up to +3 can be performed personally at the Church of Elleh, higher reinforcements require visiting skilled blacksmiths like Master Hewg at the Roundtable Hold.
Planning your spending ensures that you do not run out of currency right before major boss encounters. If you need a reliable method to test your strengthened build, learning how to beat the boss can provide valuable practice in high-stakes combat scenarios.
Unlocking Unlimited Purchase Ability via Bell Bearings
Gathering 96 individual stones manually from mines and world loot can be extremely time-consuming for players leveling multiple armaments. Fortunately, defeated bosses and hidden chests throughout the world yield special Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearings. Handing these key items over to the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold unlocks infinite purchasing options for tiers 1 through 8.
Securing all four Bell Bearings allows players to quickly bring any standard weapon up to +24 using pure Rune capital. This system encourages experimentation with various weapon classes and ashes of war during late-game exploration. However, Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones remain unpurchaseable and must still be found through specific questlines or hidden late-game locations.
