Upgrades, levels & rebirth

Two upgrade tracks

Normal weapons and catalysts generally use Smithing Stones and reach +25. Somber weapons use Somber Smithing Stones and reach +10. The numbers are different scales: a +10 Somber weapon is fully upgraded, not an unfinished +25 weapon.

Smithing-Stone and Somberstone Miner’s Bell Bearings unlock repeatable purchases of supported stone tiers at the Twin Maiden Husks. The final Ancient Dragon stones remain limited per playthrough, so reserve the last upgrade for a weapon you intend to keep.

Level the requirement, then the character

Meet the weapon or spell requirements first, then raise Vigor and your main damage stat with an eye on upgrades. A staff or seal and a spell have independent requirements. Two-handing multiplies effective Strength for weapon use; it does not multiply Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith or Arcane.

The six sample builds show unbuffed attributes. No Great Rune, talisman, helmet or Physick is hidden in the numbers. Each spread preserves its starting class’s minimum stats and sums to Rune Level 150.

Rebirth has a floor

After defeating Rennala, spend a Larval Tear to redistribute earned levels. You cannot reduce an attribute below your starting class’s base value, and you keep your current level. A Confessor cannot turn its Faith minimum into an Astrologer’s minimum.

If you chose a different class, treat the shown spread as a target role rather than an exact copy. Recalculate the available points instead of assuming the same eight numbers will fit.

A useful order of operations

Choose the weapon and damage type, verify requirements, set Vigor and equipment load, then distribute damage and resource stats. Test the moveset against ordinary enemies before spending a final upgrade stone.

Rebirth does not return Smithing Stones already spent on a weapon. Keep the old weapon as an alternative rather than trying to solve every resistance by rebuilding the entire character.

Continue through the archive

BossRennala, Queen of the Full MoonArmamentCarian Regal ScepterArmamentFinger SealField guideAshes, affinities & weapon buffsField guideYour first ten hours