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Elden Ringfeatures a robust progression system for both characters and weapons. While characters level up through Runes, weapons are upgraded using Smithing Stones. However, if you want to push your weapons to their absolute limits, you will need to find Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones.
These stones are among the rarest resources in the game, with a limited number available in a single playthrough. The base game offers 13 of these precious items, while theShadow of the Erdtreeexpansion adds another eight. The guide below provides the locations of everyAncient Dragon Smithing Stonefound in the DLC.
First Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone Location
First, fast travel to the Castle Front Site of Grace. Mount your steed, Torrent, and head south down the hill. Continue south until you come across an entrance marked by two giant pillars and some lit braziers. You will now be in theRuined Forge Lava Intake. Interact with the Site of Grace in front of you, then proceed ahead. Follow the corridors, and go down the ladder to your left. Descend the staircase to your right and continue straight until you reach the next room. From there, take the left pathway and head straight.
Upon reaching a massive open room, jump down to the staircase below and head southwest through the debris. Once you reach the new floor, take a right and go down the ladder. Activate the lever and jump onto the now-lowered ladder. Head up the pipe, and when the second red lava enemy appears, jump to a small pathway on your right. Go up the stairs and interact with the furnace to receive your first Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, along with an Anvil Hammer.
Second Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone Location
To obtain the second Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, fast travel to thePillar Path Waypoint Site of Graceand look south. The large tower you see in the distance is your next destination. Head towards it, avoiding damage fromany Gravebird enemiesalong the way. Once you reach the tower, enter the structure and interact with the lift to ascend to the top. Open the chest in front of you to acquire the second Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
Third Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone Location
The third Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone is inside theDragon’s Pit Cave,south of the Pillar Path Waypoint Site of Grace. From the Dragon’s Pit Site of Grace, head straight and take the leftmost path. Follow the cave and navigate the narrow path to your left. Instead of turning left, continue straight and enter the cave to your left.
Once you reach an open area, head up the staircase, where you willencounter the Magnum Wyrm. Defeat this enemy to claim the third Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone as your reward.
Fourth Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone Location
To find the fourth Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, fast travel to theRuined Forge of Starfall Past Site of Graceand head south. Use the lever on the other side of the room to open the eastern gate. Enter the newly unlocked path and take a right turn. Continue straight until you reach a red enemy at the end of the path, then take the ladder to your right.
Follow the straight path and go up the rubble. From there, drop from the iron platform onto the narrow bridge below. Interact with the lever across the room and head inside the new passage. Immediately on the other side of the gate, interact with another lever. As the gate rises, jump on it and then head southwest to find a furnace. Interact with the furnace to receive the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, along withthe Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword.
Fifth Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone Location
Like the third stone, the fifth Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone is acquired by defeating a challenging boss:theAncient Dragon Senessaxin Jagged Peak. Fast travel to theFoot of the Jagged Peak Site of Grace,then head up the rocky path to the south. Descend the hill and head east to reach a rift tucked between two massive mountains. There will be two dragons fighting in front of you; either go through them or circle around to reach the rift.
Follow the linear path and use the twoSpirit Springs to ascend. Take the right tunnel and go up the hill. Be wary of the two massive rocks hurling down. At the top, turn left and continue up the mountain until you find the Ancient Dragon Senessax. Defeat this boss to acquire the fifth Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, along with aSomber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
Sixth Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone Location
The sixth Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone can be found just after obtaining the fifth stone. After defeating Ancient Dragon Senessax, go up the tunnel to the north toreach the Jagged Peak Mountainside Site of Grace. From there, head southwest and use the Spirit Spring to ascend.
Navigate the rocky path, heading southwest. After that, follow the path to your left until you come across another Spirit Spring. Use it to land in an area with several dragon corpses. Head east, and at the very end, you will find the sixth stone, located next to some Skeletal Slimes enemies.
Seventh & Eighth Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone Locations
The final two Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones are both found inTaylew’s Ruined Forgeon the northern side of the Land of Shadows. To reach the Forge, head north from the Ancient Ruins Base Site of Grace.
Seventh Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone
At Taylew’s Ruined Forge, head straight and then turn left from the balcony. Follow the path, avoiding the red enemy, and go down the ladder. Continue straight and jump across the gap, then get onto the massive pipe to your right. Go all the way up and jump to the left balcony. Defeat the two Golem Smiths there, or if you prefer, you can run straight to the western corner of the balcony to pick up the second-to-last Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone without engaging the enemies.
Eighth Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone
To find the final Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, return to the giant pipe after acquiring the seventh stone and jump to the right balcony. Head straight until you encounter Golem Smiths, then jump down to the balcony to your east. From there, enter the eastern passage and climb the tucked-away ladder. Proceed up the staircase and pull the lever at the end of the room.
Wait for the pipe to move, then descend below to return to the pipe. Once there, ascend all the way up and jump to your left. Take the ladder on your right, and you will see a furnace in front of you. Interact with the furnace to get the final Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.
