Upgrading Spirit Ashes is a defining mechanic in the journey through the Lands Between and the Realm of Shadow. While standard upgrades require numbered Ghost Gloveworts, the final leap to level +10 demands a rare and limited resource: the Great Ghost Glovewort. Unlike lower-tier materials, these cannot be purchased infinitely via Bell Bearings at the Twin Maiden Husks. Their scarcity makes every discovery a pivotal moment for a build's late-game viability.

Great Ghost Gloveworts are described in-game as grand specimens where spirits nestle close. They are tributes to those who died glorious deaths, intended to comfort heroic spirits so their stories might become legend. In practical gameplay terms, they are the gatekeepers to the maximum potential of legendary summons like the Mimic Tear, Black Knife Tiche, and Lhutel the Headless.

The Fundamental Scarcity of Great Ghost Glovewort

Before embarking on the hunt, it is essential to understand that Great Ghost Glovewort is a distinct category from Great Grave Glovewort. While the latter upgrades standard "mob" ashes, the Great Ghost variety is reserved for "Renowned Ashes"—the legendary NPCs and unique warriors.

In a single playthrough of the base game, players typically find only four to five of these blossoms. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion introduced several more, easing the pressure of choice but maintaining their status as high-value treasures. Because they are finite per New Game cycle, deciding which summon deserves the final upgrade requires careful consideration of the current combat landscape.

Base Game Locations: Navigating the Eternal Cities

The majority of Great Ghost Gloveworts in the base game are tucked away in subterranean regions, often guarded by formidable bosses or environmental hazards.

1. Ainsel River: The Dragonkin Soldier's Reward

This is often the first Great Ghost Glovewort players encounter if they explore the underground early. After navigating the Ainsel River Well or reaching the area via the Deeproot Depths, players must face the Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella.

Upon defeating this massive boss, a small room becomes accessible behind the waterfall in the boss arena. Inside a chest beneath the massive, seated skeleton statue lies the flower. This location is significant not just for the loot, but for the early-game power spike it provides if the player has managed to acquire a legendary summon like Lhutel.

2. Night's Sacred Ground (Nokron)

To access this location, Starscourge Radahn must be defeated, opening the way into the crater in East Limgrave. Once inside Nokron, Eternal City, players must navigate the rooftops to reach the Night's Sacred Ground.

The Great Ghost Glovewort here is found in the final room of the area, directly under the massive skeleton statue on the throne. This is the same chest that contains the Fingerslayer Blade, a key item for Ranni the Witch’s questline. Given the danger posed by the Silver Tears that transform into giants in this area, caution is advised when approaching the altar.

3. Nokstella, Eternal City

Nokstella is accessible during the later stages of Ranni’s quest. The Great Ghost Glovewort here is hidden within the upper levels of the city. Players should ascend the long staircases, avoiding or defeating the Silver Tears and the sentient iron balls.

Specifically, once you reach the bridge where an iron ball attempts to crush you, enter the building at the end of the bridge. The chest is located at the back of this room. Be wary of the ceiling; several Silver Tears are positioned to ambush players as they approach the treasure.

4. Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum

This is perhaps the most dangerous location to retrieve a Great Ghost Glovewort due to the high-level enemies and environmental status effects. Starting from the Dynasty Mausoleum Midpoint Site of Grace, head back down into the dark, cave-like area preceding the grace.

In a lower section filled with walking corpses that explode and cause Hemorrhage (blood loss), the Great Ghost Glovewort can be picked directly from the ground. It is one of the few instances where the item is found as a glowing plant rather than in a chest. Many choose to use a sacrificial dash to grab this item, as the density of enemies makes a sustained fight difficult.

Shadow of the Erdtree Locations: The Realm of Shadow

The DLC expansion expanded the pool of available materials, providing essential upgrades for the new, powerful summons found in the Shadow Realm.

5. Fog Rift Catacombs

Located northwest of the Castle Front in Gravesite Plain, the Fog Rift Catacombs are characterized by ceiling spike traps. To find the Great Ghost Glovewort, players must reach the second major spike trap area.

By riding the top of the spike trap as it ascends, a hidden upper walkway becomes accessible. At the end of this path, guarded by a Black Knight and several Messmer Soldiers, lies the specimen. The Black Knight here is a heavy hitter; pulling the smaller soldiers away first usually makes the encounter more manageable.

6. Scorpion River Catacombs

Found in the Rauh Base region, these catacombs are infested with Basilisks and Death Blight traps. The journey to the end of this dungeon is perilous.

Near the final section of the catacombs, there is a large hall where a Big Mouth Imp (the cannon-head variant) fires from a platform. To the right of this room is a ladder leading down to a lower level. The Great Ghost Glovewort is found on a corpse in this lower area, surrounded by a few Basilisks that can be avoided if the player moves quickly.

7. Darklight Catacombs

This dungeon is the gateway to the Abyssal Woods. Unlike other locations where the item is found in a chest, here it is a drop from a specific enemy.

After descending via the second elevator, players will enter a large hall with a Giant Big Mouth Imp. This enemy acts as a living turret. Defeating the Giant Big Mouth Imp rewards the player with the Great Ghost Glovewort. If the platform the imp sits on is lowered via the lever before it is killed, the item may stay suspended in the air; reloading the area usually fixes this, allowing the item to drop to the floor.

Strategic Recommendations for Summon Upgrades

With a limited number of Great Ghost Gloveworts available per run, deciding which spirit ash to max out is a critical decision. While personal playstyle dictates much of this choice, certain summons provide a more significant return on investment.

  • The Mimic Tear: Remains a top-tier choice for its versatility. It scales directly with the player's equipment and stats. A +10 Mimic Tear possesses a staggering amount of health, often outlasting the player in grueling boss fights.
  • Black Knife Tiche: Known for her extreme mobility and the destined death debuff which saps boss health percentages. She is particularly effective against bosses that are difficult to hit or have massive health pools.
  • Nightmaiden and Swordstress Puppets: These provide excellent crowd control and distraction. Their aggressive AI can keep multiple enemies occupied, making them a balanced choice for players who prefer a defensive playstyle.
  • New DLC Summons: Several spirits found in the Realm of Shadow offer unique elemental resistances or buffs that are specifically tuned for the higher difficulty of the expansion’s bosses.

Understanding the Bell Bearing Limits

A common point of confusion among players is the functionality of Ghost-Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearings. There are three such bearings found throughout the game:

  1. Bell Bearing [1]: Allows the purchase of Ghost Glovewort [1], [2], and [3].
  2. Bell Bearing [2]: Allows the purchase of Ghost Glovewort [4], [5], and [6].
  3. Bell Bearing [3]: Allows the purchase of Ghost Glovewort [7], [8], and [9].

Note that none of these bearings allow for the purchase of the Great Ghost Glovewort. This reinforces the importance of the locations listed above. If you have used all the flowers in your current game world, you must progress to a New Game Plus (NG+) cycle to acquire more.

Tips for Safe Acquisition

Many of the locations for these materials are in high-risk zones. For players who wish to secure their upgrades without excessive combat, the following tactics are often effective:

  • Stealth and Items: Using the Soft Cotton or the Assassin's Approach incantation can allow you to bypass many of the enemies in the Eternal Cities.
  • Sacrificial Runs: Since items stay in your inventory upon death, sprint-running to a chest in Mohgwyn Palace or Nokron is a viable strategy if you have already spent your runes.
  • Elevator Tricks: In the DLC catacombs, elevators and traps are often more than just obstacles; they are the vehicles used to reach hidden levels where these rare flowers bloom.

Conclusion

The Great Ghost Glovewort represents the pinnacle of spirit strengthening. Whether you are preparing to face the final bosses of the base game or venturing into the deepest reaches of the Shadow Realm, these seven locations provide the necessary materials to ensure your spirit companions are at their absolute strongest. Plan your upgrades carefully, as the difference between a +9 and a +10 legendary summon can be the deciding factor in the game's most challenging encounters.