Chase Hatchery Group

Farming upgrade materials is one of the most essential parts of powering up your weapons and gear in Elden Ring. Whether you’re using katanas, colossal greatswords, or magic staffs, upgrading them requires a steady supply of smithing stones and other rare crafting materials. In this guide, you’ll learn 10 pro-level tips that can help you efficiently collect upgrade materials while managing your inventory of Elden Ring Items. We’ll also highlight some of the best items to buy Elden Ring players often recommend to make farming easier.

1. Prioritize Bell Bearings

Unlocking the ability to purchase smithing stones is a game-changer. Finding and offering Smithing Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings to the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold allows you to buy smithing stones indefinitely. This removes the need for long farming sessions later in the game.

Where to start: The Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearing [1] can be found in Sellia Crystal Tunnel.

2. Explore Crystal Tunnels Early

Crystal Tunnels in Caelid, Altus Plateau, and Liurnia are prime farming zones for smithing stones and Gloveworts. Enemies here often drop materials, and glowing walls or deposits contain valuable resources.

Pro tip: Use a weapon with fast attacks to farm the miners efficiently.

3. Use Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot for Extra Runes

While not directly related to material drops, more runes = more buying power. Farming becomes easier when you use the Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot to boost rune acquisition. This helps when you need to buy Elden Ring Items from merchants or online.

4. Farm Albinaurics and Silver Tear Enemies

Certain enemies like Albinaurics in Mohgwyn Palace and Silver Tear enemies in Nokron drop valuable upgrade materials or farmable runes. These areas offer rich returns once unlocked.

Need a shortcut? Some players prefer to acquire fast items to buy Elden Ring upgrades and skip the grind.

5. Use Item Discovery Gear

Equip the Silver Scarab Talisman and Silver-Pickled Fowl Foot to boost your item discovery rate. This significantly increases the chances of upgrade materials dropping from enemies.

Stacking both boosts efficiency and shortens farming time.

6. Check Ruins and Churches

Churches and ruins often have chests or bodies holding valuable smithing stones and somber variants. Areas like the Church of Vows, Academy Gate Town Ruins, and Minor Erdtree Catacombs are frequently overlooked but loaded with materials.

7. Revisit Old Dungeons

Even after clearing dungeons, return later to check for respawned materials or missed loot. Some caves, such as the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel, replenish with enough time.

8. Farm Spirit Ashes for Glovewort

Upgrading Spirit Ashes requires Grave or Ghost Gloveworts. These are often found in catacombs and Eternal Cities. Efficient farming requires clearing these areas thoroughly and using a Lantern or Torch to spot hidden flower clusters.

9. Track Your Materials with a Checklist

As your collection of Elden Ring Items grows, tracking what you have is vital. Use a checklist or an inventory tracker app to avoid duplication and optimize your farming routes.

10. Buy Materials from Trusted Sellers

If you're short on time, one of the most effective strategies is to purchase upgrade materials directly. Some of the best items to buy Elden Ring fans recommend include smithing stones, Gloveworts, and rune consumables. Look for trustworthy stores that offer quick, secure trades to enhance your gameplay experience.

Efficient farming in Elden Ring isn’t just about grinding endlessly; it’s about being smart with your routes, gear, and time. With these 10 pro tips, you’ll be well on your way to maxing out your weapons and Spirit Ashes. And when farming gets too tedious, there are always reputable online platforms offering Elden Ring Items for those who prefer to skip the grind and jump back into the action.