Whether you're just starting out in Elden Ring or you're diving into NG+, runes remain the cornerstone of your progression. From leveling up to upgrading gear, mastering how to efficiently earn and manage runes can make or break your journey through the Lands Between. With each update, some farming spots and techniques may shift, but these 25 strategies have proven reliable regardless of patches.
Here’s a breakdown of time-tested, practical rune strategies to help you stay ahead — whether you’re on PC, PS4, or beyond.
1. Early Game Rune Farming at Gatefront Ruins
This classic spot is still solid for beginners. Soldiers here are slow, predictable, and drop a decent amount of runes early on. Good for getting a feel for combat while stacking runes safely.
2. Use Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot Strategically
Boosting rune gain by 30% for three minutes, these consumables are game changers. Use them just before hitting known farming spots or bosses to maximize returns.
3. Stormveil Castle: Kill, Loot, Repeat
This area has several mini-loops with high rune-yielding enemies. Mix in stealth kills to avoid mobbing and repeat clears for steady income.
4. Backtrack After Bosses
Often overlooked, going back through cleared areas after taking down major bosses can reveal new enemy placements and tougher mobs that now drop more runes.
5. Mohgwyn Palace Farm Still Works
Despite nerfs, the Albinauric farming method in Mohgwyn Palace (via the blood swamp) remains one of the best mid-to-late game strategies. Especially if you use ranged builds or area spells.
6. Sacred Relic Sword for AOE Clearing
Unlocked after beating the final boss, this sword combined with Mohgwyn Palace makes rune farming practically effortless. Its wide-range wave can kill entire mobs in seconds.
7. Join Online Co-op for Boss Help
Helping other players defeat bosses not only earns you runes but also teaches boss mechanics. It’s a solid way to grind while improving your skillset.
8. Spirit Ashes Make Farming Safer
If you're revisiting dangerous zones for rune runs, strong Spirit Ashes like Lhutel or Mimic Tear can tank or distract enemies, lowering the risk of death and rune loss.
9. Buy Elden Ring Runes PC Players Often Miss
Some players overlook how useful pre-stocked runes from merchants or vendors can be. On PC, it’s common to see players searching for ways to shortcut farming. Just make sure you’re playing fair and safe with your choices.
10. Sell Unused Weapons and Gear
Many players hoard equipment. Take time to sell excess items — even if the rune return seems small, it adds up quickly when clearing out entire inventories.
11. Farm Night Bosses for Big Gains
Night bosses often drop unique gear and massive rune rewards. Use the Nightfall Torch to track them down and reap the benefits of high-risk battles.
12. Reset and Repeat: Grace Site Loops
Some areas near Sites of Grace offer tight enemy loops (like the windmill village or Caelid outskirts). Learn the path, optimize your kill pattern, and reset repeatedly.
13. Fight Duelists in Colosseum Matches
The PvP colosseums offer a challenge, but rune gain from winning duels — especially in team formats — can be worthwhile. Plus, it keeps things fresh.
14. Upgrade Your Gear Before Leveling
Sometimes, putting runes into your weapon or Spirit Ash upgrades has a greater impact than leveling. Invest wisely depending on your playstyle.
15. Buy Elden Ring Items PS4 Players May Undervalue
PS4 players often focus heavily on leveling, but buying consumables, ashes, or crafting materials early can save you more runes in the long term.
16. Avoid Rune Loss with Sacrificial Twigs
Equipping one before a risky fight or exploration run can protect your hard-earned rune stockpile. Always worth the cost for peace of mind.
17. Use Mount Speed to Chain-Kill Groups
Torrent allows you to quickly ride through clusters of weak enemies — perfect for fast rune gains with low risk, especially in open fields.
18. Dungeon Clearances Still Hold Up
Even post-patch, mini-dungeons give good rune returns relative to time spent, especially if you’re methodical. Hidden bosses often surprise you with their drops.
19. Swap Builds to Match Farm Zones
Aoe-heavy builds excel in some farming spots while high-burst melee builds work better in others. Adjusting your setup boosts efficiency significantly.
20. Raya Lucaria Academy Enemy Loops
Magic-users will find this area fruitful. The glintstone enemies drop a good amount of runes and can be taken down quickly with anti-magic strategies.
21. Runes via Merchant Hunts
Some wandering merchants drop valuable rune items upon death. It's a morally grey tactic, but still widely used in solo runs.
22. Respec to Optimize Farming
If your current build struggles in key farming zones, consider using a Larval Tear to respec. A farming-optimized build can recover the rune cost in minutes.
23. Night Cavalry Farm Loops
At night, patrols like the Night’s Cavalry reappear after rest. They're difficult but yield massive runes — ideal for high-level players.
24. Maximize Group Rune Bonus
Equip the Gold Scarab Talisman along with the Fowl Foot for a multiplicative rune bonus. This combo can double your rune intake in the right zones.
25. Experiment with Modifiers (Offline Only)
For PC players using offline or custom setups, experimenting with modifiers that slightly tweak rune drops can help balance personal challenge with progression.
In a world as vast and punishing as Elden Ring, runes are your lifeline. Whether you're a casual explorer or a hardcore min-maxer, these strategies provide consistent value across updates — without relying on exploits. And if you're looking to buy Elden Ring runes PC users might recommend or Buy Elden Ring items PS4 style, remember to keep your game secure, fair, and most importantly — fun.
