How do you upgrade weapons and armour in Elden Ring? After choosing the best starting class, alongside levelling up your character, you'll also want to be upgrading your weapons and armour at the same time. This means you'll be able to dish out more damage as well as take it. In this Elden Ring guide, we're going to reveal how to upgrade weapons and armour.

If you'd like to know more then you can find a comprehensive list of All Weapons and Where to Find Them, All Armour and Armour Sets and Where to Find Them, and All Shields and Where to Find Them — or alternatively Best Weapons to Get First.

For more information on Upgrades and Collectibles in Elden Ring, we have pages for All Golden Seed Locations, All Sacred Tear Locations, How to Level Up and Where to Meet Melina, and Best Locations to Farm Runes to Level Up Fast.

How Do You Upgrade Weapons and Armour in Elden Ring?

There are two main ways to upgrade your weapons: one is located at the Church of Elleh and the other is found at Roundtable Hold. In the early game, you'll only have access to the former. Here you can make basic upgrades to your equipment, using Smithing Stones of a lower value.

Unfortunately, Elden Ring doesn't contain the ability to upgrade Armour. The Armour Sets you find throughout the open world will always have the same stats. However, if you do want to boost your defensive capabilities, you can upgrade Shields.

Upgrading Weapons at the Church of Elleh

Right next to Merchant Kalé at the Church of Elleh is a Smithing Table. Interact with it and you'll be treated to a list of all available upgrades for your current loadout and equipment in your inventory. You'll need to exchange Smithing Stones and Runes in order to get the upgrade.

Upgrading Weapons at Roundtable Hold

As part of the main story, you will eventually be invited to Roundtable Hold. Once there, head down the corridor to your right and you'll spot Smithing Master Hewg. Here you can upgrade your weapons and armour well beyond the means of the Smithing Table at the Church of Elleh.

Upgrade Materials Explained

Different upgrade materials are required to enhance different types of weapons. Smithing Stones are used to upgrade standard items while Somber Smithing Stones are for enhancing and changing the type of damage a weapon deals. For example, its Magic, Fire, Lightning, and Holy damage. These stones can only take some weapons and armour so far, however. You'll need better versions of them to upgrade your equipment to the max.

Smithing Stone [1]
Reinforces armaments up to +3
Smithing Stone [2]
Reinforces armaments up to +6
Smithing Stone [3]
Reinforces armaments up to +9
Smithing Stone [4]
Reinforces armaments up to +12
Smithing Stone [5]
Reinforces armaments up to +15
Smithing Stone [6]
Reinforces armaments up to +18
Somber Smithing Stone [1]
Reinforces special armaments to +1
Somber Smithing Stone [2]
Reinforces special armaments to +2
Somber Smithing Stone [3]
Reinforces special armaments to +3
Somber Smithing Stone [4]
Reinforces special armaments to +4
Somber Smithing Stone [5]
Reinforces special armaments to +5
Somber Smithing Stone [6]
Reinforces special armaments to +6

These upgrade items can be sourced off of pickups throughout the open world as well as dropped by the enemies you defeat.

Do you have any other suggestions for how to upgrade weapons and armour in Elden Ring? Let us know in the comments below and check out our Elden Ring guide for much more help and information.