In Elden Ring, runes are more than just currency—they are the very backbone of your character’s growth. For hardcore players, managing runes efficiently can be the difference between a victorious boss run and hours of frustrating retries. Whether you're deep into New Game+ or perfecting a no-death build, these eight tips will help you push your rune strategy to the limit.
1. Don't Waste Time on Low-Yield Enemies
Hardcore players know time is precious. Avoid grinding in early areas like Limgrave unless you’re hunting specific drops. Instead, head to high-yield rune farming spots like Mohgwyn Palace or the Consecrated Snowfield. These areas offer both rune-rich enemies and the chance to test your build under pressure.
2. Maximize Rune Acquisition Buffs
Equip talismans like the Gold Scarab, and use consumables such as Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot before entering rune-heavy zones. These buffs stack and can significantly boost your rune intake per kill. Timing their usage during boss fights or tough mob routes can mean tens of thousands of extra runes.
3. Take Advantage of Multiplayer Summons
Summoning into other players’ worlds as a helper lets you earn runes with relatively low risk. Especially when you're near a Rune Arc shortage or want to level safely, this method gives you exposure to high-level enemies without the danger of rune loss on death.
4. Bank Runes Often Using Items
If you're going on a risky dungeon run or hunting a Shardbearer, consider converting your current rune stash into Golden Rune items. These are stored safely in your inventory and aren't lost upon death. It’s a trick that seasoned players often use to safeguard their progress.
5. Target Rune-Bearing Enemies
Certain enemies drop more runes than others—cleanrot knights, giant crows in Mohgwyn, and dragon bosses in particular. Learn to identify high-value targets in every region. This is especially useful if you're working to buy Elden Ring runes Xbox users often grind manually or through PvE combat loops.
6. Use Sleep or Madness to Control High-Yield Mobs
In late-game zones, some of the best rune-farming enemies are also the most dangerous. Hardcore players favor crowd-control tactics like Sleep Pots or madness-inducing incantations to control groups before executing them for maximum rune efficiency.
7. Experiment with NG+ Scaling
New Game+ offers rune boosts from all enemies, but the challenge ramps up accordingly. If you’re confident in your build, NG+ rune farming can surpass all previous farming methods. Boss rematches in NG+ often yield enough runes for multiple level-ups, making them ideal for power-leveling.
8. Invest Runes Immediately for Optimization
Hardcore players know that sitting on a huge rune stash is a gamble. Spend your earnings quickly on upgrades, spirit ashes, or gear. If you're playing on PlayStation, this is also a good time to Buy Elden Ring items PS5 to complement your build without risking precious in-game currency to unexpected deaths.
For serious Tarnished players, runes are more than just level fodder—they’re tools for perfecting every aspect of your character. With these tips, you’ll push your efficiency to its peak and turn every challenge into an opportunity for growth. Whether you're preparing for a boss gauntlet or tweaking your stats for PvP supremacy, smart rune use is always part of the equation.