In Elden Ring, Runes are the lifeblood of your journey through the Lands Between. They serve as both a currency and a means to power up your character, granting you the strength to face formidable foes, unlock powerful abilities, and advance through the perilous world. Whether you're a new player or a seasoned adventurer, understanding how to efficiently farm and use Runes is crucial to your success. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about obtaining and utilizing Runes in Elden Ring Runes.

What Are Runes in Elden Ring?

Runes are the primary form of currency and experience in Elden Ring. They are used to level up your character, purchase items, and upgrade weapons and armor. They also serve as a tool to enhance your abilities, allowing you to improve your stats and bolster your chances of survival in the face of terrifying enemies. Throughout your journey, you will constantly gather Runes, but you will also risk losing them in battle, making strategic management of your Rune collection essential.

How to Farm Runes in Elden Ring

Farming Runes effectively requires understanding where to go and what to kill. There are numerous ways to acquire Runes, from defeating enemies to looting treasure chests. Below are some of the best methods to accumulate large amounts of Runes quickly.

1. Defeat Bosses and Mini-Bosses

One of the most rewarding ways to farm Runes is by defeating bosses and mini-bosses. These enemies often drop significant amounts of Runes upon their defeat. The key is to tackle bosses that are relatively easy for your character's current level while still yielding a good amount of Runes.

Shardbearer Bosses: The Shardbearer bosses, such as Godrick the Grafted, Radhan, and Morgott the Omen King, not only offer valuable Runes but also provide great opportunities for progression. Defeating these bosses rewards you with a large sum of Runes, and each will give you an important Rune that unlocks the next phase of your journey.

Optional Mini-Bosses: Some mini-bosses, like the Crucible Knights or Tibia Mariner, can be farmed multiple times. These mini-bosses generally drop Runes, armor, and other materials. With the right strategy, they become an excellent source of Runes.

2. Farm High-Yield Enemies

Certain enemies drop large amounts of Runes and can be repeatedly farmed for quick gains. These enemies are typically found in areas where tougher mobs or a high concentration of enemies reside.

Night's Cavalry: These roaming knights can be found at night, often near grace sites. They offer a substantial amount of Runes upon death and can be easily farmed with patience and skill.

Crucible Knights in Stormveil Castle: These knights can drop up to 3,000 Runes each, making them highly lucrative, especially when killed in quick succession. Stormveil Castle is an area with plenty of opportunities to farm these knights.

Golden Runes: These items are scattered across the world and can be used to gain a specific number of Runes. Golden Runes can often be found in dungeons, caves, or on high ledges and are a quick, easy way to boost your Rune collection.

3. Use Rune Farming Spots and Routes

There are a few areas in the game that are known for being particularly profitable when it comes to Rune farming. By revisiting certain areas and following specific farming routes, you can quickly gain large amounts of Runes.

Caelid: The area near Smoldering Wall offers some of the highest-yield farming routes. There are plenty of enemies that provide a good amount of Runes when defeated, and the area is relatively easy to access for quick farming.

Ainsel River: A hidden area in the underground part of the world, the Ainsel River offers challenging enemies but provides plenty of rewards. Farming in this area, particularly against the humanoid enemies here, can lead to large Rune payouts.

East Liurnia of the Lakes: The area surrounding the Siofra River provides a lucrative farming spot with a few roaming enemies and bosses. The Lake of Liurnia also has multiple high-yield Rune enemies that are easy to farm with the right equipment.

4. Utilize Rune Boosting Items

In Elden Ring, certain items can help boost the amount of Runes you gain from defeating enemies. These items are invaluable when you're aiming to maximize your Rune intake.

Golden Scarab Talisman: This talisman boosts the number of Runes you receive from enemies by 20%. It's a must-have for serious Rune farmers. The Golden Scarab is found in Abandoned Cave in Caelid, where you'll have to navigate tricky platforming and enemy encounters to claim it.

Silver-Pickled Fowl Foot: This consumable item increases your Rune gain by 30% for a short duration. It's useful for farming high-yield enemies or bosses, as it can significantly boost your Rune intake when combined with other Rune-boosting tactics.

How to Use Runes in Elden Ring

Once you've gathered a decent amount of Runes, you'll need to decide how best to use them. Runes are a versatile resource, used for several important aspects of gameplay. Below are the primary ways you will use your Runes:

1. Leveling Up Your Character

Leveling up is one of the main uses of Runes in Elden Ring. By spending your Runes at a Site of Grace or with the help of Melina, you can improve your stats and make your character stronger. Stat boosts are critical for progressing through the game, as tougher enemies require higher stats to defeat.

Vitality: Increases your health and survivability, which is important for fighting tough bosses.

Endurance: Boosts your stamina, enabling you to dodge, attack, and block more frequently in combat.

Strength and Dexterity: These increase your combat abilities with different weapon types. Choose to level up these stats based on your preferred weapon and playstyle.

Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane: For those interested in magic and incantations, investing in these stats is necessary to unlock and use powerful spells.

2. Purchasing Items and Equipment

Runes are also used to purchase items and upgrade your gear. NPCs across the Lands Between will sell you various goods, from healing items to new weapons, armor, and upgrades. Purchasing high-quality gear is essential to surviving against tougher enemies and exploring dangerous areas.

3. Weapon and Armor Upgrades

Upgrading your weapons and armor is another crucial use for your Runes. Visit the blacksmiths scattered throughout the world, where you can upgrade your equipment using Runes and smithing materials. Upgraded weapons and armor greatly enhance your combat effectiveness, allowing you to take on more formidable foes.

Rune Management: Don't Lose Your Hard-Earned Gold

In Elden Ring, the one downside of collecting cheap Elden Ring Items is the risk of losing them. When you die, your Runes are dropped at the location of your death. If you die again before retrieving them, they will be lost permanently. This makes it vital to manage your Runes carefully.

Here are some tips to keep your Runes safe:

Use them frequently: If you're carrying large amounts of Runes, spend them on leveling up or purchasing important items. It's always safer to invest your Runes than risk losing them.

Be cautious in dangerous areas: Some high-yield farming spots are risky, so be sure you have a plan to get in and out of these areas quickly.

Keep track of your Rune count: If you've accumulated a lot of Runes, consider resting at a Site of Grace to bank them, preventing you from losing them if you die.

Conclusion

Runes are the cornerstone of progression in Elden Ring, playing a central role in character development, gear upgrades, and exploration. Farming them requires strategy, patience, and an understanding of where to go and who to fight. With the methods outlined in this guide, you'll be well on your way to amassing an impressive Rune fortune, empowering your character and unlocking new possibilities on your journey through the Lands Between. Whether you're leveling up, upgrading gear, or defeating bosses, mastering the art of farming and using Runes is essential to your success in Elden Ring. Happy farming, and may the Runes be with you!