As a seasoned Tarnished who has traversed the Lands Between countless times since the game's release, I can confidently say that the appeal of a good strength build never fades. The sheer, visceral satisfaction of landing a crushing blow with a massive weapon, trading mobility for raw, obliterating power, remains a cornerstone of the Elden Ring experience. While the late-game offers legendary colossus-slammers, the early and mid-game journey to reach those lofty strength requirements can feel like a grind. Runes are the lifeblood of progression, and in 2026, with the meta well-established, efficient farming methods are more valuable than ever. That's where a peculiar, yet incredibly practical weapon found in the Altus Plateau comes into play: the Celebrant's Skull. This isn't just another hammer; it's a tool that pays you back for every swing.

Locating the Celebrant's Skull: A Precise Pilgrimage

My journey for this unique armament always begins at a specific point of convergence: the Outer Wall Battlegrounds Site of Grace, situated in the northeastern expanse of the Altus Plateau. From this checkpoint, the path is a straight shot through an open gate, following the ancient, weathered paving stones. You'll soon reach a crossroads—a moment of decision. Ignore the paths leading downward or astray; your destination lies upward, on the rising trail that snakes towards the unsettlingly cheerful Windmill Village. The sight of those blades turning against a crimson sky is your landmark.

Upon reaching the Windmill Village Site of Grace at the village's entrance, don't rush into the festivities just yet. Instead, pan your camera to the left. Your target is not among the main cluster of windmills. You're looking for a lone, solitary windmill positioned on a lower tier of the cliffside, closer to your vantage point than the rest of the settlement. It stands apart, almost waiting.

Head directly towards this isolated structure. Pass by it, and carefully peer over the edge to the right. You'll spot a narrow, treacherous-looking rocky ledge clinging to the cliff face. It's traversable, requiring a bit of cautious jumping and sure footing. Descend this natural staircase of stone, and there, on a lonely outcrop, you'll find a lifeless body holding your prize. Loot it, and the Celebrant's Skull is yours.

Wielding the Skull: Stats, Strategy, and Synergy

The Celebrant's Skull presents a surprisingly accessible entry point for aspiring strength users. Its stat requirements are modest: 18 Strength and 12 Dexterity. This is a far cry from the 40+ Strength demands of its end-game cousins, making it attainable well before you challenge the capital. What's fascinating is its scaling; it improves equally from both Strength and Dexterity. This unique trait makes it one of the very few great hammers that can function reasonably well even in a Dexterity-focused build, offering unexpected versatility.

Its innate skill is Barbaric Roar. I've found this to be a brutally effective tool. Activating it unleashes a ferocious shout that temporarily boosts your attack power. More importantly, it alters your heavy attacks during the buff's duration, enabling faster, more fluid combos that break the usual slow, deliberate rhythm of great hammers. This can catch many enemies, and even other players in PvP, completely off guard.

However, the true genius of the Celebrant's Skull lies in its passive effect:

• ✅ +20 Runes per successful hit.

Let's break down why this is a game-changer, especially in 2026 as players continue to optimize new character builds:

• Early Game Power Spiker: When every rune counts toward reaching that next Vigor or Strength level, getting a consistent trickle of extra income from literally every fight accelerates your progress dramatically. Clearing a camp of soldiers doesn't just net their base runes; you get a bonus for each one you smack with the Skull.

• Weight Advantage: It's notably lighter than other great hammers. This means you can wear better armor or carry a useful secondary weapon without fat-rolling, a crucial flexibility in the early game.

• Infusion Flexibility: It accepts Ashes of War! You aren't locked into Barbaric Roar. Need to handle a crystalian? Slap on a Flame of the Redmanes or a Sacred Blade ash. This customizability extends its usefulness far beyond its initial find.

• Dexterity Bridge: For players starting as a Samurai or Warrior who want to experiment with heavy weapons without fully committing to a Strength build, this is the perfect test weapon.

Practical Applications and Modern Farming Loops

While it may not replace dedicated late-game rune farms like the Albinauric genocide at Mohg's Palace, the Celebrant's Skull transforms your normal gameplay into a more productive endeavor. I use it as a primary weapon when exploring new, lower-to-mid level areas like Liurnia, the weeping peninsula, or even sections of Caelid. Every group of enemies, every wandering knight, becomes a more rewarding encounter.

Consider this: you're clearing the Gatefront Ruins for the umpteenth time on a new character. With a standard weapon, you might earn 2,000 runes. With the Celebrant's Skull, factoring in the +20 per hit on a dozen soldiers, you're looking at a significant bonus that compounds over time. It's a weapon that rewards aggressive, confident play.

My personal build path often looks like this:

1. Acquire the Skull as soon as I can access Altus Plateau (via the Grand Lift of Dectus or the Ruin-Strewn Precipice).

2. Make it my main weapon for exploration and clearing out dungeons.

3. Infuse it based on my current needs (Heavy for pure Strength, Keen for Dexterity experiments, or an element for specific zones).

4. Use the accumulated bonus runes to hit key stat breakpoints faster, smoothing the power curve.

5. Eventually retire it for a legendary armament like the Giant-Crusher, but always with gratitude for the rune boost it provided to get me there.

In the current landscape of Elden Ring, where theory-crafting and efficient progression are highly valued, the Celebrant's Skull remains a timeless piece of gear. It's more than a weapon; it's an investment that pays continuous dividends, a helper that turns your foundational struggles into a slightly more prosperous journey through the Lands Between. For any Tarnished looking to build a mighty Strength warrior without the early-game resource drought, this bony hammer is an essential stop on your pilgrimage to become Elden Lord.