How to Unlock Spirit Ash Upgrades in Elden Ring

Speak to Roderika at Roundtable Hold and talk to Smithing Master Hewg about her. Advance their dialogue, then revisit the Hold so Roderika can set up Spirit Tuning near Hewg. Choose a Spirit Ash in her menu and use the required Glovewort and runes to upgrade it.

1. Find Roderika

Early in the game, look for Roderika at Stormhill Shack on the road toward Stormveil Castle. Talk to her until the conversation starts repeating. Her early quest can involve the Chrysalids’ Memento in Stormveil. If you have already advanced far enough that Roderika has moved, check Roundtable Hold instead of returning repeatedly to the shack.

The important milestone for upgrades is getting her to Roundtable Hold and talking with her and Hewg there. If you want to follow her early story in order, use the Stormveil portion of the video below. If she is already at the Hold, start with the dialogue there. You can continue the service unlock from her current location.

2. Finish the Roundtable Hold dialogue

1. Go to Roundtable Hold and speak to Roderika.
2. Talk to Hewg and choose the dialogue about Roderika when it appears.
3. Return to Roderika and relay what Hewg said.
4. Go back to Hewg and continue the dialogue about looking after or teaching her.
5. Leave and return to the Hold, then look for Roderika near Hewg and open Spirit Tuning.

If she stays in her old spot, check both NPCs again and choose any new dialogue about the other person. Returning to the Hold after the conversation gives the game a chance to show the new setup. Her position beside the smith is a good sign that the service has opened.

3. Use the right Glovewort for your ash

Select the Spirit Ash you want to improve in Roderika's menu. Read the next upgrade's material name and rank. Different ashes use Grave Glovewort or Ghost Glovewort. The menu tells you which type a specific ash needs, so check it before searching for more of a material that belongs to the other group.

Bring the required Glovewort and enough runes to cover the listed cost. Upgrade in order. A material for a higher upgrade will not replace the one listed for your next step. If you already have a high-rank material, keep it and look for the missing lower rank rather than spending time trying to force the current upgrade.

4. Pick which Spirit Ash to improve first

Start with an ash you regularly summon and can afford to use with your current build. An upgraded summon can be useful across several encounters, but there is little benefit to spending materials on something you rarely use. Compare the role of the spirit with what you need. You may want something that holds an enemy's attention or something that helps finish an opponent quickly.

Test the upgrade in an area where you can actually summon. Spirit Tuning improves the ash. It does not remove the rules that determine when summons are available. If the ash is still grayed out, check the area and your available resources for the summon before assuming the upgrade failed.

5. Troubleshoot a locked service or upgrade

If Roderika is missing from the shack, look for her at the Hold. If she is there but has no service, revisit Hewg and finish the linked dialogue, then leave and return. If Spirit Tuning opens but the upgrade is unavailable, check the required Glovewort type, rank, and rune cost on the selected ash.

Before taking an ash all the way to its final level, check whether you have the appropriate Great Glovewort. Save that final material for a summon you know you will keep using. You can improve another ash partway while you decide which one is worth the final investment.

For the first upgrade, select the exact summon name in Roderika's list. An ash that calls several spirits can have a similar name to a different item you picked up in the same area. Check the current upgrade level and the next cost before confirming. Then put the upgraded ash in a slot you can reach during a fight and confirm its displayed level in your inventory.