In Elden Ring, runes are the cornerstone of progression. They're the primary currency for leveling up, purchasing items, and even acquiring powerful abilities. Whether you're a seasoned Tarnished or a newcomer to the Lands Between, understanding how to effectively earn, use, and preserve runes is critical to your success in the game. This ultimate guide will explore all things related to Elden Ring Runes, from how to farm them efficiently to their various uses in enhancing your character's power.

1. What Are Runes in Elden Ring?

Runes are the core currency in Elden Ring and have multiple applications within the game. They serve as the primary means for players to advance their characters and unlock new opportunities. Just like souls in Dark Souls or blood echoes in Bloodborne, runes in Elden Ring are essential for almost every in-game action that involves progress. This includes leveling up, buying items, repairing gear, and more.

While runes are primarily associated with upgrading your character's stats by speaking to the Two Fingers at the Roundtable Hold, they can also be used to purchase gear, upgrade weapons, and acquire consumables. Understanding how runes work and how to efficiently acquire them is essential to surviving the dangerous world of Elden Ring.

2. How to Earn Runes in Elden Ring

Earning runes in Elden Ring can be done in a variety of ways. The more efficient you are in farming runes, the quicker you can level up, improve your equipment, and tackle stronger foes. Below are some of the most effective methods to earn runes:

2.1. Defeating Enemies and Bosses

The most straightforward way to earn runes is by defeating enemies and bosses throughout the Lands Between. Regular enemies often drop a small number of runes, while tougher enemies and mini-bosses can drop significant rune amounts. The more powerful the enemy, the greater the reward.

Mini-Bosses: These enemies, such as the Tree Sentinels, Godrick the Grafted, and other area-specific foes, drop a large quantity of runes upon defeat.

Bosses: Main bosses, especially those guarding critical story milestones, drop the most runes. Defeating these bosses will also grant you progression, special abilities, and sometimes even unique items.

2.2. Rune Farming Locations

There are specific areas in Elden Ring where you can efficiently farm runes. These areas are typically teeming with enemies that are relatively easy to kill, offering great rune rewards for minimal effort. Some popular rune farming locations include:

The Limgrave Tunnels: Filled with enemies that can be killed quickly, this area offers high rune rewards for minimal risk.

Caelid's Smoldering Wall: Here, you can find enemies with a high rune yield and great opportunities to repeatedly kill them.

Mohgwyn Palace: One of the most notorious rune-farming spots, Mohgwyn Palace is home to the Mimic Tear boss, but more importantly, its enemies drop large quantities of runes. It's a high-risk, high-reward farming location, especially for late-game players.

2.3. Runes from Golden Runes

Golden Runes are consumable items scattered across Elden Ring, which can be used to gain a set amount of runes. They come in several different varieties, with each offering a different number of runes. Golden Runes can be found in dungeons, castles, and on slain enemies, making them an easy way to gain additional runes.

Golden Rune (1): Provides 200 runes.

Golden Rune (2): Provides 400 runes.

Golden Rune (3): Provides 800 runes.

Golden Rune (4): Provides 1,600 runes.

Golden Rune (5): Provides 3,200 runes.

These runes can be used in addition to the standard method of earning runes through kills, and they are especially helpful in giving your character a quick boost.

2.4. Selling Items to Merchants

Many merchants scattered across Elden Ring will buy various items from you for runes. This includes materials, weapons, armor, and even consumables that you no longer need. Selling items, especially those you find while exploring dungeons and defeating enemies, can yield substantial amounts of runes.

3. How to Use Runes in Elden Ring

Once you've accumulated a decent amount of runes, you'll need to know the best ways to spend them to progress. Here are the primary uses of runes in Elden Ring:

3.1. Leveling Up Your Character

The most common use for runes is leveling up your character. To do this, you'll need to visit a Site of Grace and speak with the Two Fingers to spend your runes on upgrading your attributes, such as Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and others. Each level costs more runes than the last, so it's important to farm for runes consistently as you progress through the game.

Choosing Stats to Level Up: Invest your runes into stats that complement your playstyle. For example, if you're using magic, you might focus on Intelligence and Mind, while a strength-based build will focus on Strength and Endurance.

3.2. Purchasing Items from Merchants

Runes are also used to purchase consumable items, weapons, armor, and other useful gear from various merchants. Items like healing flasks, bombs, and special weapons will help you survive the many dangerous encounters in the game. Additionally, you can buy essential crafting materials and upgrade stones for enhancing your weapons.

Consumables: Healing items, smithing stones, and other consumables can all be bought with runes, making them an essential part of your inventory.

Weapons and Armor: Some merchants sell unique items that can give you an edge in battle, especially if you need specific gear for particular builds.

3.3. Summoning Spirit Ashes

As you venture through the Lands Between, you'll encounter Spirit Ashes, which can be used to summon NPC allies to aid you in battle. Summoning these allies requires a set number of runes. These allies are especially helpful in boss battles, where they can distract or assist you in defeating powerful foes.

3.4. Repairing Equipment

Runes are used to repair broken or damaged gear at blacksmiths and other designated repair stations. This is important if you want to keep your weapons and armor in optimal condition, as damage can reduce the effectiveness of your gear.

4. Preserving Runes: How to Avoid Losing Them

Unlike other games in the genre, where your currency is safe in your inventory, Elden Ring introduces the concept of rune loss upon death. When you die, you drop all your accumulated runes at your point of death, and you must return to recover them. If you die before you reach them, the runes are lost permanently.

To avoid losing your hard-earned runes, it's wise to:

Use a Rune Arc: Rune Arcs are consumable items that allow you to store your runes in a “ghost” form, protecting them in case you die. Using a Rune Arc before challenging tough enemies or bosses can help you preserve your progress.

Travel Carefully: When exploring high-risk areas, always be mindful of your surroundings. Consider using a horse for faster traversal or utilizing stealth to avoid unnecessary combat.

Keep Track of Runes: Don't hold too many runes at once if you're heading into dangerous areas. It might be a good idea to spend or bank your runes before attempting to clear particularly perilous zones.

5. Conclusion

Runes are the lifeblood of your progression in Elden Ring Items, and understanding how to earn, use, and protect them will determine your success in the Lands Between. Whether you're farming enemies for quick rewards or making strategic investments in your character's attributes and gear, knowing how to maximize your rune economy will enhance your experience. With this guide, you'll be well on your way to unlocking your full potential and conquering the many challenges that lie ahead.