Elden Ring: How to Find Smithing Master Hewg
This guide will explain how to find Smithing Master Hewg, what he can do for you, and how his services tie into managing your Elden Ring Runes and Elden Ring Items.
Who Is Smithing Master Hewg
Smithing Master Hewg is a Misbegotten blacksmith, a unique species in the Lands Between, often seen as lesser beings by the dominant races. Imprisoned within the Roundtable Hold, Hewg appears more beast than man—yet his talents with a hammer are unmatched. Despite his shackled existence, he is entirely dedicated to the art of blacksmithing and offers his services to aid the Tarnished in their quest to become Elden Lord.
Hewg is not just a generic blacksmith. He's the one who allows you to upgrade your weapons beyond +3, which is the basic upgrade limit available at common anvils found in the world. To fully realize the potential of your weaponry—be it a colossal greatsword or a nimble dagger—you'll need Hewg's expertise.
How to Find Smithing Master Hewg
You'll encounter Smithing Master Hewg once you gain access to the Roundtable Hold, a central hub in Elden Ring similar in function to the Firelink Shrine from Dark Souls. Here's how to unlock it:
Progress Through the Game: After exploring Limgrave and defeating key early bosses like Margit the Fell Omen, Melina, the mysterious maiden who grants you Torrent, will offer to transport you to the Roundtable Hold.
Accept the Invitation: When prompted, choose to travel to the Hold. You can also access it later through the fast travel menu.
Locate Hewg: Inside the Hold, Hewg can be found in a small room near the main chamber. You'll hear the rhythmic clanging of hammer on steel as you approach.
Once you've met him, Hewg will immediately offer to strengthen your weapons, provided you have the necessary Smithing Stones and enough Elden Ring Runes to pay for each upgrade.
What Services Does Hewg Offer
Smithing Master Hewg is more than just an upgrade station. His capabilities expand as the game progresses, and he offers several critical services:
1. Weapon Upgrading Beyond +3
Early anvils let you upgrade weapons up to +3, but Hewg can push your gear much further. Here's how it works:
Standard Weapons can be upgraded to +25.
Special Weapons (unique or boss weapons) can be upgraded to +10.
These upgrades require increasingly rare Elden Ring Items like Smithing Stones and Somber Smithing Stones, which you'll need to hunt down across the Lands Between.
2. Duplicating Ashes of War
Hewg can also duplicate Ashes of War, the customizable special moves you attach to weapons. This allows you to apply powerful skills to multiple weapons without having to unequip them constantly. However, duplication comes at a price—both in materials and in Elden Ring Runes, the game's main currency.
This service is especially useful for players who run multiple weapon builds or who want to test various playstyles without sacrificing valuable Ashes of War.
How Runes and Items Fit Into Hewg's Work
Elden Ring Runes
Runes serve as your all-in-one resource in Elden Ring—used for leveling up, buying goods, and paying for services like Hewg's weapon upgrades. Each enhancement beyond +3 costs an increasing number of Runes, especially at higher tiers.
Efficient rune farming becomes important if you want to consistently upgrade your arsenal. Common rune farming strategies include:
Clearing enemy camps in Caelid or Altus Plateau
Running dungeons like Windmill Catacombs
Using Golden Scarab talisman to boost rune drops
Managing your Runes wisely ensures that you'll always have enough to maintain and improve your weapons with Hewg's help.
Elden Ring Items
To utilize Hewg's full potential, you'll need a stockpile of crafting and upgrade materials—some of the most vital Elden Ring Items include:
Smithing Stones for standard weapon upgrades
Somber Smithing Stones for special or unique weapons
Lost Ashes of War to duplicate Ashes
Bell Bearings to unlock additional items for purchase at the Twin Maiden Husks, indirectly supporting your upgrades
Exploring caves, defeating minibosses, and looting hidden corners of the map will provide you with the items needed to keep Hewg busy and your weapons deadly.
Lore and Tragedy
Beyond his utility, Smithing Master Hewg is a deeply tragic character. Bound in chains and consigned to endless labor, he begins to develop an obsession with crafting a weapon fit for slaying a god, hinting at the larger conflicts within Elden Ring's sprawling narrative.
Hewg's growing connection to the spirit-tuner Roderika, and his eventual fate (if you complete her questline), adds a layer of emotional weight to the otherwise mechanical process of weapon enhancement. It's a poignant reminder that even in a world of monsters and gods, the most human moments often come from those we overlook.
Final Thoughts
Smithing Master Hewg is far more than just another NPC in Elden Ring. He is essential to your progression, your survival, and your ability to fully explore the game's build variety. Whether you're stockpiling Elden Ring Runes to pay for upgrades or collecting rare Elden Ring Items in dungeons and ruins, Hewg stands ready—hammer in hand—to turn your weapons into legendary tools of destruction.
Don't overlook him. Return to him often, invest wisely, and he'll make sure your blade is as sharp as your ambition.