How to Achieve Maximum Weapon Upgrades in Elden Ring

Elden Ring is a game that respects patience and punishes greed. After hundreds of hours across multiple playthroughs, I can tell you one thing: the difference between a frustrating boss fight and a manageable one often comes down to whether you have the right weapon at the right upgrade level. The game does not hold your hand when it comes to this system, and many players hit a wall because they neglect a fundamental mechanic. I want to walk you through how to reach maximum weapon upgrades in Elden Ring, not just as a checklist but as a practical strategy that fits into how the game actually plays.

Why Upgrade Matters More Than You Think

Early on, almost any weapon feels viable. You pick up a Lordsworn's Greatsword or a basic Estoc, and with a few points in strength or dexterity, you can clear the first areas. But by the time you reach Liurnia or Caelid, the enemy scaling starts to pull ahead. A weapon stuck at +3 while enemies have triple the health of Limgrave mobs turns every fight into a battle of attrition. Upgrading your weapon increases its base damage, which then scales with your stats. More importantly, it increases the weapon's raw damage before any buffs, making each swing or spell cast more efficient. This efficiency is what lets you conserve flasks and avoid needing to overlevel just to survive.

I remember my first playthrough: I went straight for the Moonlight Greatsword and fell in love with its move set. But I didn't upgrade it beyond +6 because I hoarded my smithing stones for "something better." That something never came. I struggled against the Twin Gargoyles and the early boss fights until I finally bit the bullet and upgraded. The difference was night and day. This is the moment where most players realize that reaching maximum weapon upgrades is not optional; it is a core part of progressing through the game's difficulty curve.

The Upgrade Path: From +0 to +10

Elden Ring uses a standard upgrade system where weapons can be taken from +0 to +10 using smithing stones and then a final upgrade with a special material. For standard weapons, you need smithing stones [1] through [8] to get to +8, then a somber stone for +9, and finally a distinct final material that varies by weapon type. The real challenge is not the material itself but knowing where to find them without a guide that spoils everything.

Early on, you can find smithing stones in the Weeping Peninsula and Limgrave catacombs. The merchants there sell a limited stock, but you can also farm them from certain enemies. The best early farm is the area near the first bonfire in the catacombs, where the slimes and skeletons drop smithing stones somewhat reliably. Later on, the game opens up areas like the Hunter's Domain and the Forbidden Mists, where higher-tier stones appear. The key is to always check every merchant and every corpse for these stones. I cannot count how many times I found a smithing stone [6] on a body I almost walked past.

For the final upgrade, each weapon path requires a specific rare material. The Moonlight Greatsword needs a Radiant Moonstone, while the Dragonbone Smasher needs a Dragon Heart. These are not random drops; they are tied to specific bosses or hidden quests. Knowing which one you need for your chosen weapon is half the battle. The other half is preparing for the fight that drops it. Do not expect to walk into a boss arena and take the material for granted. Some of these fights are among the hardest in the game, and you will need to be at a reasonable upgrade level just to survive.

Infusions and Enchantments: The Next Level

After reaching +10, the game offers a second layer of upgrades: infusions. These are temporary buffs applied via items or spells that increase your weapon's elemental damage or add status effects like poison or fire. The most common infusion is fire, which you can get from a simple resin item. But there are also rare infusions like frost or lightning that come from specific quests or covenant rewards. The trick is that infusions do not stack with each other, so you need to choose the right one for the situation. For example, fire is great against enemies weak to fire but useless against fire-resistant foes like the Lava Golems.

Enchantments, on the other hand, are permanent modifications that change a weapon's scaling or add a unique effect. Enchantments are rare and often require you to sacrifice something: a boss soul, a rare material, or a quest reward. The most powerful enchantments let you add a scaling attribute like strength or dexterity to a weapon that normally scales with intelligence. This opens up hybrid builds that were previously impossible. I have a friend who ran a Moonlight Greatsword enchanted with dexterity scaling, allowing him to pair it with a bow without spreading his stats too thin. That kind of flexibility is what makes the late game interesting.

When you combine a fully upgraded weapon with the right infusion and enchantment, you begin to approach what the game considers maximum weapon upgrades. But there is a catch: each enchantment has a level requirement, and some require you to have a certain number of boss souls or a specific covenant rank. This means you cannot just rush to the end; you have to engage with the game's systems and make choices about which quests to complete and which rewards to take.

Practical Tips for Reaching the Top

Here are a few practical tips I have learned from multiple runs and from talking to other experienced players. These are not secrets, just things that are easy to miss.

• Always buy every smithing stone from every merchant you meet. Even if you do not need it now, you will later. Stones are finite per playthrough unless you farm them.
• Do not upgrade a weapon past +5 until you are sure you want to use it for the long haul. The materials for +6 and above are harder to find, and you cannot undo an upgrade.
• When you find a new weapon, check its moveset and scaling before committing. A weapon that looks good on paper might have a slow moveset that does not fit your playstyle.
• For the final upgrade material, look up its location only if you are stuck. The game gives you hints through item descriptions and NPC dialogue. Pay attention to those.

These tips might sound obvious, but I have seen many players ignore them and then wonder why they cannot get past a certain boss. The discipline of saving materials and planning your upgrades is what separates a smooth playthrough from a frustrating one.

The Endgame: Where Upgrades Meet Builds

Once you have reached maximum weapon upgrades on your main weapon, the game opens up in a new way. You can start experimenting with secondary weapons, trying out different infusions, or even respeccing your stats to try a new build. The late game areas and the DLC content expect you to be at or near the upgrade cap. If you are not, you will notice the damage difference immediately. Enemies that used to take three hits will now take five or six, and that extra time means more chances for them to hit you with a combo.

I have found that the most effective builds are those that pair a fully upgraded weapon with a complementary infusion and a set of spells or miracles that support the weapon's weakness. For example, a heavy weapon that is slow but hits hard can be paired with a speed buff or a shield spell to cover its recovery time. Or a fast weapon with low damage can be infused with lightning to stun enemies and give you openings. The point is that maximum weapon upgrades are not the end; they are the foundation for a build that can handle anything the game throws at you.

In my opinion, the game's design encourages you to reach maximum weapon upgrades around the time you enter the second half of the story. If you are still using a +5 weapon when you reach the Crystal Cave or the Ashen Wastes, you are likely underpowered. The game gives you enough materials to upgrade at least two weapons to +10 if you explore thoroughly. That is a generous allowance, but only if you use it wisely.

Final Thoughts on the Grind

I will not pretend the upgrade system is perfect. The farming for smithing stones can be tedious, and the final materials often require beating a boss that is harder than the one you are preparing for. That is the core tension of the game: you have to earn every upgrade through combat. But that is also what makes it satisfying. When you finally land that last hit with your fully upgraded weapon, you know it was not handed to you. You worked for it, and the game respected that effort.

If you are struggling with a particular boss or area, take a step back and check your weapon level. It might be the single most impactful variable you can control. Do not be afraid to invest in a weapon you like, even if it is not the "meta" choice. The game is balanced well enough that any weapon at max upgrade can carry you to the end. Trust the system, explore every corner, and do not hoard your materials. The moment you commit to reaching maximum weapon upgrades is the moment you start playing Elden Ring the way it was meant to be played.