This is not an accident. The Somber Smithing Stone 7 serves as a deliberate progression bottleneck designed to slow access to extremely powerful +9 weapons before the late game. Understanding where these stones are hidden can dramatically improve your build's damage output and make difficult bosses far more manageable.

If your weapon progression feels stalled, here are the best ways to secure Somber Smithing Stone 7 upgrades efficiently.

Why Somber Smithing Stone 7 Is So Hard to Find

Unlike lower-tier upgrade materials that appear frequently in mines and tunnels, Somber Smithing Stone 7 is intentionally placed in dangerous or hidden areas.

A Deliberate Progression Gate

FromSoftware uses tier 7 stones to control power scaling across the game world. A +9 special weapon can trivialize large portions of the mid-game, especially when combined with strong Ashes of War, bleed effects, or high-scaling builds.

By restricting access to Somber 7 stones, the game ensures players:

Progress through intended difficulty curves

Explore dangerous regions thoroughly

Defeat key story bosses before reaching maximum weapon power

This creates one of the most noticeable upgrade walls in the entire game.

Best Early and Mid-Game Somber Smithing Stone 7 Locations

While these stones are rare, several reliable locations become accessible before the true endgame.

Volcano Manor

One of the earliest obtainable Somber Smithing Stone 7 materials is hidden within Volcano Manor.

Location Details

The stone sits on a ledge guarded by a dangerous Abductor Virgin enemy.

Requirement

You must defeat the Godskin Noble to gain proper access to the area.

Why It Matters

Volcano Manor becomes available relatively early for experienced players, making this one of the best methods for rushing a high-level weapon upgrade.

Fast-moving dexterity builds and bleed-focused setups benefit enormously from reaching +7 earlier than intended.

Nokstella, Eternal City

Nokstella contains another valuable Somber Smithing Stone 7 hidden inside a chest guarded by Silver Tears.

Requirement

Players must defeat Starscourge Radahn to unlock access to Nokron and continue Ranni's questline toward Nokstella.

Why This Location Is Excellent

Ranni's quest naturally leads through several high-reward regions filled with upgrade materials, making this route highly efficient for progression-focused players.

It is especially valuable for intelligence builds using weapons like:

Moonveil

Dark Moon Greatsword

Wing of Astel

Lake of Rot

The Lake of Rot contains one of the easier guaranteed pickups, though reaching it can be extremely unpleasant.

Location Details

The stone rests on a corpse atop a ruined platform surrounded by Scarlet Rot.

Requirement

Progressing through Ranni's questline unlocks access.

Survival Tips

Bring:

Preserving Boluses

Flame, Cleanse Me

High immunity gear

The environmental damage can kill unprepared players before they even reach the loot.

Leyndell Sewers

The Subterranean Shunning-Grounds beneath Leyndell hide another Somber Smithing Stone 7.

Location Details

The material appears near the giant lobsters lurking in the lower sewer pipes.

Why Players Miss It

The sewer layout is intentionally confusing, filled with looping tunnels and deadly ambushes.

Many players avoid the area entirely because of:

Tight corridors

Poison enemies

Massive lobster snipers

Difficult navigation

However, the rewards are substantial for players willing to explore carefully.

The Ultimate Goal: Unlimited Somber 7 Stones

Eventually, players can purchase unlimited Somber Smithing Stone 7 materials by obtaining the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 4.

Where to Find It

The Bell Bearing is located in Crumbling Farum Azula, one of the game's final major regions.

This placement reinforces the developers' intent:

Early upgrades require exploration

Late-game progression grants convenience

Once acquired, weapon experimentation becomes dramatically easier.

Best Weapons Worth Upgrading to +7 Early

Because Somber weapons require fewer upgrade materials overall, reaching +7 creates a massive power spike.

Some particularly strong choices include:

Moonveil

Blasphemous Blade

Rivers of Blood

Dark Moon Greatsword

Bloodhound's Fang

Maliketh's Black Blade

Even a single Somber 7 can transform difficult encounters into manageable fights.

Breaking Through the Upgrade Barrier

The Somber Smithing Stone 7 shortage is one of Elden Ring's most intentional progression systems. While frustrating at first, it encourages deeper exploration of hidden regions, dangerous dungeons, and complex questlines.

Players willing to brave Volcano Manor, Nokstella, the Lake of Rot, or Leyndell's sewers can secure enormous power boosts far earlier than expected. Once your favorite weapon reaches +7, the difference in boss damage, stagger potential, and buy Elden Ring Runes overall survivability becomes immediately noticeable.

For many Tarnished, finding that first Somber Smithing Stone 7 is the moment their build truly comes online.