Reaching the middle-to-late stage of weapon progression in Elden Ring often hits a wall at a very specific tier: the somber smithing stone 7. While tiers 1 through 6 are relatively abundant or easily purchasable early on, the seventh tier represents a significant power spike for special armaments like the Moonveil, Blasphemous Blade, or Rivers of Blood. Upgrading a special weapon to +7 typically pushes its scaling and base damage into the territory needed to tackle endgame bosses.

Finding these stones requires venturing into some of the most treacherous environments in the Lands Between and the Land of Shadow. This breakdown covers every reliable method to secure somber smithing stone 7, ranging from guaranteed world spawns to infinite purchase options and optimized farming routes.

The Infinite Supply: Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing [4]

For most players, the ultimate goal is to bypass the need for exploration by unlocking the ability to purchase somber smithing stone 7 with runes. This is achieved by finding the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing [4].

This essential item is located in Crumbling Farum Azula, a late-game legacy dungeon. To find it, progress until you reach the Tempest-Facing Balcony Site of Grace. Just ahead of the grace, on a corpse slumped against a railing overlooking the swirling vortex, you will find the bell bearing. Once you hand this over to the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold, they will sell an unlimited number of somber smithing stone 7 for 16,000 runes each.

While this is the most efficient long-term solution, many players need to reach +7 long before they ever set foot in Farum Azula. For those players, localized exploration is the only path forward.

Key Locations in the Base Game

Volcano Manor and Mt. Gelmir

Volcano Manor offers one of the earliest opportunities to snag a somber smithing stone 7, though it involves a dangerous encounter.

Starting from the Temple of Eiglay Site of Grace (after defeating the Godskin Noble), take the elevator up and head outside to the balcony. Follow the path across the lava flows until you reach a building with a series of cages acting as elevators. Beyond this area, you will find a bridge guarded by an Abductor Virgin (the mechanical transport enemy with swinging blades). On a ledge nearby, guarded by this enemy, lies a single somber smithing stone 7. Navigating this area requires careful timing to avoid being grabbed by the Abductor.

Nokstella, Eternal City

Nokstella is perhaps the richest zone for this specific upgrade tier. It is accessible through Ranni’s questline after defeating Starscourge Radahn and entering the Renna's Rise portal.

  1. The Treasure Room: Deep within Nokstella, in a room protected by several Silver Tears (the silver slime enemies that can transform), there is a chest containing a stone. These tears often drop from the ceiling, so clearing the room before looting is advised.
  2. The Ledge Overlook: Search the balconies and ledges overlooking the Ainsel River. A corpse sitting on a chair at the edge of one of these high walkways holds another stone.
  3. The Open Window: In the main street area of the city, there is a building you can enter through an open window. Inside, a chest contains a third somber smithing stone 7.

The Lake of Rot

Just below Nokstella lies the Lake of Rot. This area is notoriously difficult due to the rapid buildup of Scarlet Rot.

  • The Ruins: In the center-west portion of the lake, there is a small set of ruins partially submerged in the rot. A corpse inside holds a stone.
  • The Northwest Shore: Near the edge of the map in the northwest, on a tiny patch of land separated from the main temple structure, another stone can be looted.

It is highly recommended to have the "Flame, Cleanse Me" incantation or a heavy supply of Preserving Boluses before attempting to navigate this zone.

Subterranean Shunning-Grounds

Deep beneath the capital city of Leyndell, the sewers house two guaranteed stones, but the path is guarded by Giant Crayfish.

From the Underground Roadside Site of Grace, head into the pipes and drop down into the large room with the wooden scaffolding and several giant crayfish. One stone is dropped by a Teardrop Scarab in this area—be quick, as the scarab will disappear if you take too long to dodge the crayfish's water jets. Another stone is found on a corpse near the wall in this same room. This is a high-risk area due to the lobster-like enemies' high damage and range.

Mountaintops of the Giants

Once you reach the snowy peaks, the availability of somber smithing stone 7 increases significantly.

  1. Zamor Ruins Scarab: Just north of the Zamor Ruins Site of Grace, look for a Teardrop Scarab clinging to a frozen tree near the cliffside. Killing it yields one stone.
  2. Castle Sol Entrance: Guarding the main gate of Castle Sol are two Lion Guardians. These are formidable foes that move rapidly and use frostbite-inducing attacks. Defeating them grants a guaranteed somber smithing stone 7. If you are struggling, you can use ranged attacks or spirit ashes to distract one while you focus on the other.
  3. Fingercreeper Farming: The massive "hand" enemies found near the Giants' Gravepost Site of Grace have a high chance to drop these stones. Specifically, the very large variants have a 100% drop rate for their first kill in certain locations, while the smaller ones have a roughly 13% chance for repeatable farming.

New Locations in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

With the expansion of the map in 2026, several new methods for obtaining somber smithing stone 7 have emerged within the Land of Shadow. These are particularly useful if you are using the new weapon classes like Great Katanas or Light Greatswords.

Ruined Forge of Starfall Past

This dungeon is specifically designed around smithing materials. As you navigate the forge, you will encounter Golem Smiths. After opening the first massive gate using the lever system, follow the path to a dead-end corridor. A corpse here holds a somber smithing stone 7. The Golem Smiths in this dungeon are also excellent for repeatable farming.

Rauh Base

The lower forested regions of the Ancient Ruins of Rauh contain several Teardrop Scarabs. North of the main Site of Grace in the Rauh Base valley, a scarab can be found skittering near the base of the massive stone pillars. Destroying it provides a stone.

Horned Warriors and Shaman Drops

In the legacy dungeons of the Land of Shadow, such as Enir-Ilim or Belurat, the Horned Warriors (the elite knights with elemental powers) have a small percentage chance (around 1.6%) to drop somber smithing stone 7. While not the most efficient way to farm, you will likely accumulate a few naturally while progressing through the DLC.

Farming Strategies and Drop Rates

If you have already exhausted the fixed world pickups and haven't reached Farum Azula yet, farming enemies is your only option.

Target: Fingercreepers

The most reliable enemies for farming in the base game are the Lesser Fingercreepers. These are found in abundance in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds and the Mountaintops of the Giants.

  • Drop Rate: Approximately 13.22% base chance.
  • Weakness: Fire. These enemies have a unique reaction to fire damage; they will roll around on the ground in a stunned state for several seconds, allowing for easy kills.

Target: Golem Smiths (DLC)

In the Land of Shadow, the Golem Smiths are the preferred farming target.

  • Drop Rate: Approximately 3.6%.
  • Strategy: These enemies have extremely high defense on their bodies but have a glowing crystal on their backs. Hitting the crystal deals massive damage and can stagger them instantly.

Maximizing Item Discovery

To make farming less of a chore, you should maximize your Item Discovery stat. This is influenced by your Arcane attribute and specific gear:

  1. Silver Scarab Talisman: Increases Discovery by 75. Found in a chest in the Hidden Path to the Haligtree.
  2. Silver-Pickled Fowl Foot: A consumable that boosts Discovery for a short duration. It is highly recommended to pop one of these before clearing a cluster of Fingercreepers.
  3. Silver Tear Mask: Increases your Arcane stat by 8, which indirectly boosts Discovery.

Weapon Progression and Decision Making

By the time you are looking for somber smithing stone 7, your weapon should be at +6. At this level, the damage jump provided by +7 is often what makes the difference when fighting bosses like Morgott, the Omen King, or Fire Giant.

If you have a limited number of stones, prioritize weapons that gain a significant scaling bump at +7. Some weapons improve their primary stat scaling (e.g., from B to A) specifically at this upgrade tier. Check the weapon's preview at the blacksmith; if the scaling letter changes or turns blue, that weapon should be your priority.

Summary of Quick Pickups

For those looking for a fast route, here are the most accessible stones without heavy combat:

  • Nokstella: The chest in the Silver Tear room (easy if you use a bow to pull them one by one).
  • Mountaintops: The Teardrop Scarab near Zamor Ruins (zero combat required if you are fast).
  • Deeproot Depths: There is a stone located inside a sunken building near the northern roots. You can ride Torrent through the water to grab it and leave without engaging the local enemies.

By utilizing these locations and the infinite purchase option in Farum Azula, you can ensure that your special armaments are always performing at their peak potential. Whether you are delving into the depths of the Shunning-Grounds or exploring the new verticality of the Land of Shadow, somber smithing stone 7 remains a cornerstone of character power in Elden Ring.