Unlocking the Treasures of the Elden Ring: A Comprehensive Guide to Bell Bearings

Bell Bearings, enigmatic items in Elden Ring, hold the key to unlocking a wealth of valuable wares. From potent Ashes of War to rare crafting materials, acquiring these bearings expands your arsenal and enhances your journey in the Lands Between. This guide serves as your indispensable companion, providing meticulous details on every Bell Bearing's location, functionality, and associated merchants.

Merchants of the Lands Between

Bell Bearings are closely intertwined with merchants, each bearing a unique set of items. Upon acquiring a bearing, you must present it to the corresponding merchant, who will then offer their wares for your perusal.

• Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold: General merchants offering a vast selection of items, including consumables, weapons, and armor.
• Isolated Merchant near the Church of Vows: Specializes in Ashes of War, allowing you to change the combat skills of your weapons.
• Nomad Merchant in Liurnia of the Lakes: Offers a wide variety of crafting materials, essential for enhancing your weapons and armor.
• Smithing-Master Hewg at Roundtable Hold: A blacksmith who upgrades your weapons and implements Ashes of War.
• Gurranq, Beast Clergyman at Bestial Sanctum: Provides incantations and consumables associated with the faith of the beastmen.

Acquiring Bell Bearings

Bell Bearings are scattered throughout the Lands Between, often hidden in secret locations or dropped by formidable enemies. Here's a breakdown of their known whereabouts:

• Bell Bearing 1 - Found in the Church of Elleh, given by a merchant upon speaking to him.
• Bell Bearing 2 - Dropped by the Noble Sorcerer in the Raya Lucaria Academy.
• Bell Bearing 3 - Looted from the chest guarded by the Tibia Mariner on Summonwater Village's outskirts.
• Bell Bearing 4 - Acquired from the Giant Conjunctivus at the bottom of a well in Summonwater Village.
• Bell Bearing 5 - Given by the Gatekeeper Gostoc in Stormveil Castle, upon exhausting his dialogue options.

Table 1: Bell Bearing Locations and Merchants

Utilizing Bell Bearings

Upon presenting a Bell Bearing to a merchant, their inventory expands to include new items, typically corresponding to the bearing's number. For instance, Bell Bearing 5, obtained from Gatekeeper Gostoc, grants access to Gurranq's exclusive incantations and consumables.

• Upgrading Weapons - Smithing-Master Hewg at Roundtable Hold requires Bell Bearings to upgrade weapons past certain levels.
• Ash of War Acquisition - The Isolated Merchant offers a vast array of Ashes of War for purchase, accessible through Bell Bearings.
• Crafting Materials - The Nomad Merchant in Liurnia of the Lakes provides essential crafting materials for enhancing equipment.
• Consumable Replenishment - Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold replenishes consumable items, such as healing flasks and buffs, upon using Bell Bearings.

Table 2: Merchant Item List

Effective Strategies

• Prioritize acquiring Bell Bearings early in your journey to gain access to valuable items and resources.
• Explore thoroughly and interact with NPCs to uncover hidden Bell Bearings.
• Utilize the Twin Maiden Husks as your primary source of consumable replenishment.
• Consult the Isolated Merchant for unique and versatile Ashes of War to enhance your combat capabilities.
• Take advantage of the Nomad Merchant for essential crafting materials to upgrade your weapons and armor.

Tips and Tricks

• Some Bell Bearings are well-concealed, such as Bell Bearing 3, which is found in a chest guarded by a Tibia Mariner.
• Exhausting the dialogue options of NPCs like Gatekeeper Gostoc often reveals hidden Bell Bearings.
• Certain merchants, like Smithing-Master Hewg, require specific Bell Bearings to unlock higher-level weapon upgrades.
• Regularly visit merchants to check their updated inventory after acquiring new Bell Bearings.
• Experiment with different Ashes of War from the Isolated Merchant to find the ones that best suit your playstyle.

Potential Drawbacks

• Acquiring Bell Bearings can be challenging, especially those dropped by formidable enemies.
• Some merchants have limited inventory, so you may need to revisit them later to purchase specific items.
• Upgrading weapons past certain levels requires specific Bell Bearings, which can create bottlenecks in your progression.
• Consumables purchased from Bell Bearing merchants are generally more expensive than those found in the world.
• It's important to manage your runes wisely, as acquiring Bell Bearings and purchasing items can deplete your resources.

Example Stories

1. The Bell-Bearing Bandit: A hapless Tarnished wandered through the Lands Between, acquiring Bell Bearings with reckless abandon. However, their overeagerness led to a run-in with a particularly grumpy merchant who, upon realizing the Tarnished's lack of purchases, chased them out of the store with a broom.

Lesson Learned: Use Bell Bearings wisely and avoid irritating merchants.

2. The Ashes of Absurdity: A desperate Tarnished purchased every Ash of War from the Isolated Merchant, hoping to find an overpowered technique. Instead, they ended up with an arsenal of useless and comical moves, including "Sneeze of Disdain" and "Emotional Damage."

Lesson Learned: Not all Ashes of War are created equal, and some are more for amusement than effectiveness.

3. The Merchant's Mystery: A curious Tarnished stumbled upon a hidden merchant in a remote corner of the Lands Between. The merchant offered a single item for sale: a Bell Bearing. Intrigued, the Tarnished purchased it and presented it to the merchant, expecting something extraordinary. However, the merchant simply chuckled and said, "You've just bought yourself a bell. Congratulations."

Lesson Learned: Not all secrets in the Lands Between are worth pursuing.

Conclusion

Bell Bearings serve as invaluable keys that unlock a treasure trove of resources and enhancements in Elden Ring. By acquiring and utilizing them strategically, you can bolster your arsenal, enhance your equipment, and progress smoothly through the game. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a new adventurer, this guide provides comprehensive and practical knowledge to guide you on your quest. Embrace the power of the Bell Bearings and conquer the challenges that lie ahead in the Lands Between.