Elden Ring: All Dark Ancient Dragonforge Stone Locations

THE Dark Ancient Dragonsmithing Stones are a special upgrade material in Elden Ring.

Unlike regular Ancient Dragonsmithing Stones, which can be used to upgrade normal weapons to level +25, Dark Stones are used to upgrade special weapons. This stops at +10. Special weapons (usually those with proper names) can no longer be upgraded.

Can you farm Dark Ancient Dragonsmithing Stones in Elden Ring?

No, these high-quality upgrade materials cannot be accumulated indefinitely: they are too rare and too special for that. The rares that are hidden in the game must be found in very special places.

There are eight of these stones to collect per game, and here we show you where to find them.

All Dark Ancient Dragonforge Stone Locations

Consecrated snowfield

1. As a reward for completing Latinna’s quest. Take her from the Sleeping Wolf’s Hut in Liurnia to abandoned apostate In the Consecrated Snowfield, summon her with the press of a button and talk to her.

Screenshot of an aerial map showing the location of a dark ancient dragonforge stone in the hallowed snowfield of Elden Ring. — Find the Forsaken Apostate and summon Latenna to receive a stone. | Image credit: Eurogamer/FromSoftware

2. Defeat the invading NPC Anastasia, Tarnished Eaterthe third time she enters your game. This happens on the frozen river south/slightly southwest of Ordina, the liturgical city.

An aerial map showing a location on a frozen river marked with a red circle in Elden Ring — Defeat Anastasia for the third time in this frozen river. | Image credit: Eurogamer/FromSoftware

Mausoleum of the Mohgwyn dynasty

3. In a chest under the massive statue at the Site of Grace”Midpoint of the dynasty mausoleum” inside the Mausoleum of the Mohgwyn Dynasty – just before the boss fight against Mohg, Lord of Blood, and next to the many Albinaurics. To get there, you must follow Varré’s quest.

A location is marked with a red circle on a screenshot of an aerial map in Elden Ring — Here you will find another stone in a chest under a huge statue. | Image credit: Eurogamer/FromSoftware

Farum Azula crumbled

4. From the Site of Grace “Roof of the Dragon Temple“In Crumbling Farum Azula, follow the south/southeast path across the rooftops, past the hawks and towards the battered dragon, who will throw lightning projectiles at you. The stone is in the pavilion to the left of the dragon.

An aerial map of a city inside a cyclone, showing a location marked in a red circle in Elden Ring — Fight your way past the dragon to this location to receive another stone. | Image credit: Eurogamer/FromSoftware

Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree

5. From the Site of Grace “Prayer room“At Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, follow the course of the area north to a point where you will find some lightning bolts on the right railing.

A path is marked with a yellow arrow in Elden Ring — Jump over the railing and follow the slope inside the building to find another stone in a chest. | Image credit: Eurogamer/FromSoftware

An entrance is circled in yellow in Elden Ring — Jump over the railing and follow the slope inside the building to find another stone in a chest. | Image credit: Eurogamer/FromSoftware

Jump over the railing on the slope, continue onto the northern platform, then onto the slope north of it. Follow the path to the left into the building and you will find the stone in a chest.

An aerial map showing a location marked in a red circle within a large circular city of Elden Ring — This is the same location as shown on the map screen. | Image credit: Eurogamer/FromSoftware

6. Same section as the sixth stone. Scroll down at this stage:

A warrior approaches the edge of the gateway in Elden Ring — To find the sixth stone, go down here. | Image credit: Eurogamer/FromSoftware

Run in front of the elevator, jump onto the bridge with the Putrid Avatarfollow it south and collect the stone from a corpse.

7. To do this, you must have completed Millicent’s quest and defeated Malenia. Then insert Millicent’s Golden Needle into the scarlet flower that remains in Malenia’s arena to receive Miquella’s Needle and the stone.

Ashen Capital Leyndell

A warrior fights a big boss in Elden Ring — You may encounter resistance in your quest to find the eighth and final stone. | Image credit: Eurogamer/FromSoftware

8. In the Ashen Capital Leyndell, follow the path from the site of grace “Leyndell, capital of ashes” heading southwest. Run onto the dead dragon’s wing, jump left to the ladder, climb up, then up the steps and right to the lone gargoyle. The corpse next to it has the rock.