Man, I wish I'd understood Elden Ring bell bearings during my first playthrough. I remember grinding for Somber Smithing Stones for hours before realizing I could've just handed in a bell bearing instead. Total facepalm moment. These little items completely change how you upgrade gear and stock up on materials, but the game never properly explains them.
Today we're fixing that. Whether you're stuck on a boss and need better upgrades, or hunting for rare crafting materials, this guide covers every bell bearing location and exactly what they unlock. No fluff – just the practical details you need to transform the Twin Maiden Husks into your personal armory.
What Exactly Are Bell Bearings?
Bell bearings are inventory items you give to the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold. Once handed over, they permanently unlock new items in her shop. Think of them as merchant licenses that expand her inventory.
Why bother? Three big reasons:
- Stop grinding – Buy smithing stones instead of hunting crystal lizards
- Respec access – Larval Tears become purchasable
- Endgame prep – Stock up before NG+
Finding bell bearings early can save you dozens of hours. I didn't get the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing [1] until level 80 on my first run. Big mistake.
Bell Bearing Types Explained
Not all bell bearings are created equal. Based on my testing across three playthroughs, here's how they break down:
| Type | What They Unlock | When to Hunt Them |
|---|---|---|
| Smithing Miner's | Regular smithing stones (up to +25) | Early-mid game |
| Somberstone Miner's | Somber smithing stones (up to +10) | Mid-game priority |
| Ghost Glovewort | Spirit Ash upgrades | When using spirit ashes |
| Great Ghost Glovewort | Max spirit upgrades | Late game |
| Dragon Heart | Dragon Communion spells | For dragon builds |
| Bone Peddler's | Crafting bones | Archer builds |
The Miner's Bell Bearings are hands-down the most valuable. Getting the Somberstone bearings early lets you experiment with unique weapons without constant farming.
Critical Bell Bearing Locations
I've marked every bell bearing location across my maps – here's where to actually find them:
Limgrave & Weeping Peninsula
| Bell Bearing | Location | How to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Bone Peddler's Bell Bearing | Isolated Merchant's Shack | Buy from merchant for 800 runes |
| Meat Peddler's Bell Bearing | Coastal Cave | Drops from Demi-Human Chief boss |
The Coastal Cave one is easy to miss. That dungeon's a pain with all those poison rats, but worth it for early crafting access.
Liurnia of the Lakes
| Bell Bearing | Location | Enemies to Beat |
|---|---|---|
| Smithing Miner's Bell Bearing [1] | Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel | Crystalian boss |
| Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearing [1] | Cliffbottom Catacombs | Erdtree Burial Watchdog |
That Crystal Tunnel boss fight... ugh. Bring strike weapons or you'll be chipping away forever. The bell bearing unlocks stones [1] and [2], essential for +6 to +12 upgrades.
Caelid & Dragonbarrow
| Bell Bearing | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing [2] | Altus Tunnel | Behind Stonesword Key barrier |
| Smithing Miner's Bell Bearing [3] | Zamor Ruins | Guarded by Ancient Hero |
Zamor Ruins is brutal at low levels. Those frost knights hit like trucks. Come back after Altus Plateau.
Late Game Bell Bearings You Can't Afford to Miss
These change everything for endgame builds:
| Bell Bearing | Where to Find | What It Unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing [5] | Crumbling Farum Azula | Somber Stones [9] |
| Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone | Malenia's arena | Final weapon upgrades |
| Ghost-Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearing [3] | Elphael Brace | Glovewort [10] for spirits |
That Somberstone [5] bearing? Game-changer. Lets you buy Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones after defeating Maliketh. Finally upgrade all those unique weapons gathering dust in your chest.
Using Bell Bearings at Roundtable Hold
Found a bell bearing? Don't just leave it in your inventory like I did for 20 hours. Go to:
- Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold
- Select "Offer Bell Bearing"
- Choose the bearing from your inventory
Boom – new items appear in their shop permanently. Well, until you start NG+ anyway.
Prioritize these three bearings first:
- Smithing Miner's [1] (Stones [1] & [2])
- Somberstone Miner's [1] (Somber Stones [1] & [2])
- Bone Peddler's (Crafting bones)
Bell Bearing Hunting Tips
From my 300+ hours:
- Listen for chimes – Bearings have a faint metallic sound near their locations
- Check corpses – Many are on bodies in tunnels
- Kill merchants – Controversial, but each drops their bell bearing
- Bring a strike weapon – Crystal miners are weak to blunt damage
Don't kill nomadic merchants early though. Their bearings don't unlock anything you can't buy directly from them initially.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do bell bearings carry over to NG+?
A: Nope. Reset when starting new game. Buy all stones first!
Q: Can I get duplicate bell bearings?
A: Thankfully no. Once collected, they won't respawn.
Q: What about the Isolated Merchant's bell bearing?
A: Found near Leyndell. Unlocks unlimited Arteria Leaf – essential for strength builds.
Q: Are bell bearings missable?
A: Most aren't, except possibly Leyndell ones if you trigger the capital change.
Q: Which bearing unlocks Larval Tears?
A: Pidia's Bell Bearing in Caria Manor. Lets you respec endlessly.
Controversial Take: Which Bell Bearings Aren't Worth It
Let's be real – not all bearings deserve the hassle:
- Gravity Stone Peddler's – Gravity stone fans are niche
- String Bell Bearing – Crafting strings? Pass
- Medicine Peddler's – Status cures are easy to craft
Focus on smithing stones first. Upgrade materials > everything else. Those Elden Ring bell bearings make the difference between struggling and dominating.
Final Tip Before You Go Hunting
Bookmark the Twin Maiden Husks location early. I wasted so much time running from Site of Grace to Grace because I kept forgetting where they were.
Bell bearings transform Elden Ring from a grindfest to an enjoyable power trip. Now go give those Twin Maidens something to ring about!
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