In Elden Ring Nightreign, weapons, known as Armaments, are far more than tools of destruction. They are lifelines in a world as unforgiving as Limveld. Whether you’re facing off against a grotesque boss or carving your way through waves of spectral enemies, a finely-tuned weapon can mean the difference between a triumphant victory and a humiliating death screen.

As each expedition unfolds across a tight two-day loop, upgrading your chosen Armament isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Here's everything you need to know about enhancing your weapon, gathering Smithing Stones, and chasing that coveted Legendary rarity before facing the Nightlord.

How Weapon Upgrades Work

Upgrading in Nightreign is refreshingly straightforward, but success depends on knowing where to go and when.

To begin upgrading, seek out the Ghostly Merchants during your expeditions. These spectral vendors are typically found near forts or ruined townships. Every Ghostly Merchant has a Smithing Table right beside them. That table is your primary tool for enhancing weapons throughout the run.

Weapons progress through four rarity tiers:

• Common
• Uncommon
• Rare
• Legendary

Each upgrade requires Smithing Stones, and higher rarities demand stronger versions of this essential resource.

Important: Once Day 3 hits, you're automatically transported to the Spirit Shelter, your final opportunity to interact with a Smithing Table before heading into the climactic showdown with the Nightlord.

The Crater Shortcut

After your first completed expedition, the world changes. A global event called The Shifting Earth activates, introducing new map elements like The Crater, a molten fissure swarming with Fire Monks, Magma Wyrms, and worse.

Brave The Crater, and you’ll find a Smithing Table that instantly upgrades any weapon to Legendary status, bypassing all stat requirements. Yes, that means you can wield high-tier weapons even if you haven’t built into the proper attributes.

This is Nightreign’s ultimate power-up shortcut, but it comes with heavy risk. The Crater is no place for the faint of heart.

How to Find Smithing Stones

If you’re upgrading the traditional way, you’ll need to hunt down both Smithing Stone [1] and Smithing Stone [2]. Here are the best methods:

1. Ghostly Merchants

• Merchants reliably sell Smithing Stone [1]
• Convenient, but limited, only helps early on

2. Glowing Cracked Statues

• Found scattered across Limveld
• Must be broken open by luring enemies or bosses to attack them—or using your Ultimate Art
• Warning: Not all characters can break them. Duchess and Revenant, for example, can’t trigger them with their Ultimates

3. Tunnels (Mine Locations)

• Marked on the map with a pickaxe icon
• Descend to the lower levels to face a Troll
• Trolls drop Smithing Stone [2] on defeat
• Explore side chambers to loot chests with bonus Smithing Stone [1]

Do not hold on to your Smithing Stones. Take advantage of them because if an expedition fails it means your materials are gone. Always have a nearby Smithing Table handy, especially before more perilous regions, to avoid getting stuck behind the difficulty curve. If you're hoping to achieve a Legendary upgrade, plan your second expedition to The Crater which gives you a quick opportunity to upgrade your weapon to its maximum rarity. Also don’t forget about your build, some weapon types, like those that scale with Dexterity, benefit much more from early updates. Throughout Limveld, managing your resources and choosing a preferred weapon path that makes the most sense for your build provides a smoother experience.

So, upgrading weapons in Elden Ring Nightreign is more than just a stat boost, it’s a rite of passage. Every Smithing Stone, every Ghostly Merchant, every cracked statue cracked under pressure brings you one step closer to mastering the expedition and defeating the Nightlord.