Elden Ring can be pretty confusing for new players, especially if you are playing it as your first FromSoftware.inc game. For example, if you are fond of games like Elder Scrolls and Witcher, you will quickly notice that things are very different in this game. Usually, medieval-style games offer the exact locations of important NPCs on the world map. However, Elden Ring and Dark Souls keep you in the dark until you stumble upon the important locations.
For instance, blacksmiths play an important role in your gameplay. You can visit them to enhance or upgrade your weapons and even buy a number of rare items from them. Unfortunately, there are only two blacksmiths in the game, and finding them is no less than a quest. Moreover, you can upgrade the weapons yourself to some extent on an anvil. But these minor upgrades don’t take your weapons over +3 points. So, where are the Blacksmith locations in Elden Ring? This article will guide you in every step to solve your problems without wandering around cluelessly.
Table of Contents
Why Do You Need a Blacksmith?
Elden Ring is a comprehensive game that pays great attention to detail. For instance, you must timely upgrade the various character stats to defeat the mighty bosses and hard enemies. However, upgrading the stats alone isn’t enough to make you the conqueror of the game. For that, you must also upgrade your weapons to slay all enemies in your way.
The game allows you to upgrade the weapons yourself to some extent by using an anvil, smithing stones, and a few runes. However, these upgrades can only take you to +3 on any weapon. After this point, upgrading any weapon is beyond your smithing skills. So, you must visit any blacksmith in the game to further scale your favorite weapons.
Elden Ring Blacksmith Locations Guide
As mentioned before, there are only two blacksmiths in Elden Ring. Their locations are hidden on the world map until you visit them at least once. So, it won’t be wrong to say that the developers expect you to spend several hours in exploration. Speaking for myself, it took me over 6 hours of clueless wandering before I found the first blacksmith in the game. So, if you are in a hurry, it is best to know the blacksmith locations in Elden Ring in advance. Here’s how you can find all the blacksmiths in the game:
Smithing Master Hewg
The easiest blacksmith to find in Elden Ring is the Smithing Master Hewg. However, you must fight your way through the Stormveil Castle and slay Margit, The Fell Omen. From the starting point in Limgrave, make your way to Stormveil Castle. Fight and defeat Margit and rest at the Site of Grace to trigger the cutscene in which Malina appears. She offers to take you to the Roundtable Hold; accept her offer and continue in the game. After teleporting to the Roundtable Hold, quickly make your way to the second floor. Here you will find a mysterious creature hammering at the anvil.
Speak with Hewg to upgrade your weapons past the +3 cap. However, you must provide smithing stones and pay with runes for his service. The amount of runes and the type of smithing stone depends on the type of weapon and its current upgrade level. Moreover, you must explore his dialogues to learn more about the lore and complete Roderika’s questline. She will later be available near Hewg as a Spirit Tuner to upgrade your Ash of War summons.
Smithing Master Iji
Smithing Master Iji is better known as the War Counselor. He is an important NPC who offers a variety of weapons and smithing stones up to level 4 for various armaments. Moreover, he is an important character in the quest for Blaidd’s armor. You can find him at the Road to Manor Site of Grace in Liurnia of the Lakes.
Start in Liurnia and head northwest till you find a route through the water. From here, continue following the path till you reach the Kingsrealm Ruins. Explore this area for a while till you find a mysterious large arch filled with bricks. Attack the bricks with your weapon to clear the illusion and reveal the Road to Manor Site of Grace and Smithing Master Iji.
Another way to reach this part is to travel backwards from the Carian Manor, reach the Kingsrealm Ruins, and clear the illusion. Speak with him to upgrade or enchant your weapons, purchase Somber Smithing Stones up to +4, and the Carian Filigreed Crest for Blaidd’s armor quest. Lastly, if you are looking for War Counselor Iji after finding Ranni the Witch at the Three Sisters, you don’t need to visit the Kingsrealm Ruins. Instead, Iji will be available as a ghostly figure on the lower levels of Ranni’s Tower.
How to Upgrade Weapons Without a Blacksmith?
The general rule of Elden Ring is that the better your weapons, the better experience you will have. In this regard, upgrading your already powerful weapons is the key to success. However, the game isn’t as cruel as you may think by now. For instance, apart from visiting the blacksmiths, you can also upgrade the weapons yourself to some extent. But first, you must find a vacant blacksmith table, an anvil, and a few Smithing Stones.
Once you have the right components for the upgrade, head north from the tutorial area of the game. Continue on the route till you reach the Church of Elleh and head inside the building. Here you will find a couple of blacksmithing tools and an anvil to work on. Interact with the anvil to upgrade the weapons yourself and save a few runes. However, you can only upgrade your weapons to +3 stat; beyond this point, you must visit a blacksmith for further upgrades.
FAQs
How to Get Smithing Master Iji’s Bell Bearing?
Bell Bearings are very useful items in Elden Ring. They allow you to purchase any merchant’s goods without actually visiting them. To get Iji’s Bell Bearing, first complete Blaidd’s questline and visit Iji near the Road to Manor Site of Grace. Speak with him about Blaidd, and he will tell that he plans to join Blaidd. After finishing the dialogue, fast travel to any other point and again visit Iji to receive his Bell Bearing.
Where to Buy Somber Smithing Stones?
Somber Smithing Stones are important for upgrading unique weapons and armor. However, these stones are as rare as the armaments you want to upgrade. Fortunately, you can easily purchase Somber Smithing Stones up to level 4 from Smithing Master Iji at the Road to Manor Site of Grace. Moreover, you can also purchase them from Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold after acquiring Iji’s Bell Bearing.
Where to Find Smithing Master Hewg?
Smithing Master Hewg is the first blacksmith that you can find in Elden Ring. However, you must first defeat Margit at the Stormveil Castle, rest at the Site of Grace, and speak with Malina to reach Roundtable Hold. After teleporting to the place, head to the second floor to find Smithing Master Hewg working on his anvil.
Conclusion
Upgrading your character, abilities, spirits, and weapons is the key to completing Elden Ring. However, upgrading the weapons isn’t as simple as in Witcher 3 or Kingdom Come Deliverance. Firstly, you can only upgrade the weapons yourself up to +3. Secondly, there are only two blacksmiths that you can find in Elden Ring. Lastly, you must acquire suitable Smithing Stones for each weapon that you plan to upgrade. Therefore, this article provides all blacksmith locations in Elden Ring to help you out.
