120 Ways to Get Free Elden Ring Runes

Elden Ring’s Runes are essential for leveling up, buying items, and upgrading gear. Whether you’re a new Tarnished or a seasoned warrior, maximizing your rune income is the key to progressing smoothly. In this guide, I’ll share effective ways to farm more Elden Ring Runes based on my own experience, as well as tried-and-true community methods. Let’s dive in.

How to Get More Elden Ring Runes

1. Farm in High-Rune-Yield Areas

One of the most efficient ways I found to gain Runes fast was by targeting areas with high-density enemy spawns and good rune returns. Some of the best places include:

Mohgwyn Palace (Palace Approach Ledge-Road Grace): With a strong AoE spell or weapon, you can wipe out the Albinaurics in seconds, each run giving 30,000+ Runes in under a minute.
Moghwyn Crow Farm (same location): You can use a bow to shoot a crow across the chasm. It will charge at you and fall to its death, giving you around 11,000 Runes with a Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot.

This method helped me level up rapidly in the mid to late game.

2. Equip Rune-Boosting Gear

Always try to enhance your rune gain using specific items and talismans:

Gold Scarab (Talisman): Increases rune acquisition rate significantly. You can get it from the Abandoned Cave in Caelid.
Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot (Consumable): Temporarily boosts the number of Runes you earn.

I always keep a stock of these items and activate them before farming or boss fights for maximum profit.

3. Defeat Bosses and Invaders

Major bosses give you tens of thousands of Runes, sometimes even hundreds of thousands. I recommend tackling field bosses you skipped or using online summons to assist others in co-op. You still earn Runes as a phantom when the boss is killed.

I also PvP often. Defeating invaders or winning duels in Colosseums and open-world invasions brings in a decent amount of Runes—and improves your combat skills.

4. Complete Rune-Rich Quests

Many NPC side quests in Elden Ring reward you with large rune drops or valuable items you can sell. For example:

White Mask Varre’s Quest: Leads you to Mohgwyn Palace early.
Ranni’s Questline: Offers multiple rune sources along the way and unlocks a unique ending.

By following these quests, I not only gained lore-rich experiences but also came out much wealthier.

5. Sell Unused Items

During my travels, I often hoarded weapons, armor, and crafting materials I didn’t use. Visit any merchant or Roundtable Hold and sell off excess gear. You might be surprised how much you can earn just by cleaning up your inventory.

6. Use Co-Op and PvP to Your Advantage

Joining another player's world as a cooperator to help defeat bosses can earn you thousands of Runes per successful assist. It's also low-risk since you won’t lose your own Runes if you die.

PvP dueling at main hubs like the Colosseum or near boss doors also gives rune rewards depending on your performance.

7. Avoid Losing Runes—Play Safe

Getting more Runes also means protecting what you already have. If you’re carrying a large number of Runes, consider:

Spending them before heading into tough areas.
Using a Sacrificial Twig talisman to avoid loss upon death.
Always grabbing your dropped Runes before continuing after dying.

One mistake I made early on was forgetting to recover my dropped Runes after falling into a trap. I lost over 200,000 in seconds—so play smart.

8. Buy Elden Ring Runes (Optional Shortcut)

If you don’t have time to farm, you can Buy Elden Ring Runes from trusted websites like U4GM. I've tried this for a new game+ playthrough to experiment with unique builds early on. Just make sure to follow the platform's instructions to avoid account risk.

9. Optimize Your Build for Farming Efficiency

One lesson I learned during my Elden Ring journey is that your build can significantly impact how efficiently you farm Runes. Here are a few adjustments you can make:

AoE-Centered Builds: Classes like Sorcerers using spells such as Comet Azur, Loretta’s Greatbow, or Rock Sling can quickly wipe out enemy clusters.
Bleed Builds: Weapons like Rivers of Blood or dual-wielding katanas with Seppuku Ash of War can trigger bleed procs, making enemies melt fast—perfect for Albinaurics and other farm spots.
Stamina Management: Boosting Endurance ensures you can chain attacks or cast spells longer without needing to rest, which speeds up rune runs.

I switched to a Bleed Dex build mid-game and saw a huge improvement in both boss damage and farming speed.

10. Repeat Boss Runs in New Game+

Starting a New Game+ (NG+) not only resets the world but also gives you higher rune rewards across the board. Every enemy and boss drops more Runes than in your first playthrough.

After finishing my first run, I started NG+ with a Gold Scarab equipped and began farming bosses I had already mastered. It was not only satisfying but incredibly rewarding—each boss dropped double or more the runes I remembered from the first run.

11. Rune Farming During Specific Events

Sometimes, FromSoftware or Bandai Namco runs online events or updates that adjust drop rates or provide new co-op incentives. During these events, rune farming can become more lucrative.

Check community hubs like Reddit, Discord, or Twitter to stay updated. I once participated in a community farming event that doubled rune drop rates for PvP duels—it was the fastest I’ve ever leveled up in any Soulsborne game.

12. Use Spirit Ashes to Farm with Less Risk

When farming harder mobs or bosses, bringing strong Spirit Ashes like Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche can help absorb damage and keep you safe. With my Mimic Tear fully upgraded, I could handle late-game enemies without burning through flasks or risking death, making farming runs much more efficient.

This approach allowed me to tackle tougher areas like Consecrated Snowfield without relying on co-op or overleveling.

13. Explore Optional Areas

If you're only progressing through the main story, you're likely missing out on valuable rune-rich regions. I highly recommend exploring:

The Consecrated Snowfield
The Haligtree
The Subterranean Shunning-Grounds

These places are packed with high-level enemies and rare loot. Not only did I find new gear and lore, but I also earned more Runes than in earlier zones—sometimes 5–10x more per kill.

14. Invest Runes Immediately to Avoid Loss

This may seem simple, but I’ve learned the hard way—don’t hold onto too many Runes. Always spend them on leveling, upgrading weapons, or stocking consumables. If you're just 2,000 runes short of leveling up, go farm a quick group of enemies and do it immediately.

There were times I hoarded 100K+ Elden Ring runes while trying to "just reach the next site of grace" and ended up dying in a trap or to a mini-boss, losing everything.

15. Track Your Progress and Routines

Keeping a simple farming routine helped me stay efficient. Here’s what mine looked like:

Morning session: 15 minutes of farming at Moghwyn Palace with Gold Scarab + Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot.
Evening session: Co-op with friends or help random players defeat bosses for extra Runes.

Over time, these small bursts of farming added up, and I consistently gained millions of Runes each week without burning out or repeating the same task too long.

16. Use Torrent for Faster Farming Routes

Your spectral steed Torrent isn’t just for exploration—it's one of the best tools for efficient farming. Many open-world farming routes span large areas, and riding Torrent lets you:

Skip minor enemies you don’t want to fight.
Reach grace points faster to reset mobs.
Chain kill large enemy clusters in open spaces without taking hits.

When farming the giants near the Forbidden Lands or the Night’s Cavalry at nighttime, I always used Torrent to maintain speed and safety. This mobility drastically reduced downtime and allowed me to earn more Runes per minute.

17. Kill Night Bosses for High Payouts

Certain bosses only appear at night, and they often drop huge Rune rewards alongside powerful gear. If you’re ready to fight stronger enemies:

Pass time at any Site of Grace until nightfall.
Hunt down Night’s Cavalry, Deathbirds, or Bell Bearing Hunters across the map.

My first Night’s Cavalry kill near Weeping Peninsula gave me 42,000 Runes plus a new Ash of War. It's a great way to earn runes while expanding your arsenal.

18. Join Elden Ring Communities for Secrets and Strategies

I gained some of my most effective rune farming tips from the Elden Ring subreddit and YouTube channels. Community members frequently share:

Secret rune exploits
New game patches that buff drop rates
Efficient farming paths
Player-tested builds

One Reddit post led me to a hidden farming loop in Deeproot Depths that earned me over 1 million Runes per hour with minimal risk.

By staying active in the community, I stayed ahead of meta farming spots and learned how to avoid inefficient grind paths.

19. Summon Friends for Shared Progress and Rune Gains

If you’re stuck in a difficult area or want to speed up boss kills, summon a friend. Not only does co-op make fights easier, but Rune rewards are still generous for both players. I’ve helped a friend clear Volcano Manor and earned more than 60,000 Runes per boss, while they progressed comfortably through the story.

You can also farm enemies together by taking turns hosting and invading each other’s worlds. It adds variety and breaks the monotony of solo grinding.

20. Sell Rare Drops You Don't Use

Certain enemies drop rare weapons or gear that you might not need. These items can be sold for Runes instead of gathering dust. Examples include:

Duplicate weapons from enemies like Knights or Misbegotten.
Unused boss weapons (if you’ve duplicated the Remembrance at a Walking Mausoleum).
Extra crafting materials like Rune Arcs or Smithing Stones when you have an excess.

Once, I sold a bunch of backup swords and armor to a merchant and walked away with over 15,000 Runes—just from things I never intended to use.

21. Use Remembrances Wisely

When you defeat major bosses, you receive Remembrances, which can be traded for powerful weapons or spells—or consumed directly for a large Rune boost.

While I often exchanged Remembrances for weapons on my first playthrough, in New Game+ I chose to consume them for instant Rune gains. Some give up to 50,000 Runes or more. If you’re not planning to use the boss weapon, consider this option as a quick Rune injection.

Additionally, once you unlock the Walking Mausoleums, you can duplicate Remembrances, allowing you to get both a weapon and the Rune boost.

22. Exploit Enemy Weaknesses to Farm Faster

Many enemies in Elden Ring have elemental or status weaknesses (e.g., bleed, poison, holy, frostbite). Learning and exploiting these weaknesses makes farming dramatically faster. For instance:

Bleed works wonders on enemies in Mohgwyn Palace.
Holy damage is excellent against undead in the Catacombs.
Fire and lightning shred through specific bosses and armored mobs.

I built a Frost/Lightning hybrid weapon for the Mountaintops of the Giants, and my farming speed doubled overnight.

Take time to test what works best in your current area. Faster kills = more Runes per minute.

23. Take Advantage of Rune Farming Loops

Some areas are designed in such a way that enemies respawn quickly near Sites of Grace. These loops make it easy to farm without downtime. For example:

Windmill Village: Dancing nobles are weak and drop good Runes.
Leyndell Soldiers near Capital Outskirts: Strong enemies in tight clusters.
Giants in Mountaintops of the Giants: High rune yield per kill, especially with Gold Scarab.

I timed several of these routes, and with buffs, you can consistently earn 50,000–100,000 Runes every 10 minutes.

24. Prepare Before Farming Sessions

If you're planning to spend 30+ minutes farming, treat it like a preparation phase. Here's my personal checklist:

Rest at a Site of Grace.
Equip Gold Scarab.
Use Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot before entering the farming zone.
Prepare AoE spells or status-inflicting weapons.
Clear inventory for item drops.

I noticed that having a ritual not only boosted my efficiency but also kept me focused and consistent.

25. Learn Boss Patterns for No-Death Farming

If you’re farming bosses (especially in NG+), minimizing deaths is critical. Learn patterns, bring the right gear, and memorize safe zones. Every time you die with Runes unspent, you risk losing hours of progress.

To be safe:

Use ranged damage for high-risk bosses.
Bring the Blessing of the Erdtree spell or high-end flasks for sustain.
Use Spirit Ashes to draw aggro and provide distractions.

Eventually, I was able to farm duo bosses solo without Spirit Summons, which gave me massive Rune payouts and improved my PvE skill dramatically.

26. Don’t Forget Dungeon Rewards

Mini-dungeons, catacombs, and hero graves are often overlooked once you get strong. But they’re filled with enemy groups and minor bosses that still give respectable Runes and drops.

During my NG+ run, I went back to dungeons I skipped in Limgrave and Weeping Peninsula. I earned over 200,000 Runes from a few quick runs—not to mention the upgrade mats and spells I had missed.

27. Use Map Markers to Track Best Farming Spots

One underrated strategy: mark your favorite farming spots on the map. I use markers like:

Gold circle for high-yield Rune farming zones.
Skull for bosses worth repeating in NG+.
Flag for fast-access Sites of Grace near mob clusters.

Having a visual system made it easy to jump back in for a quick 10-minute session whenever I had time.

28. Optimize Loadouts with Minimal Downtime

Rune farming isn’t just about damage—it’s about efficiency. Here’s how I streamlined my farming loadout:

Wear light armor for faster stamina recovery.
Equip Radagon’s Scarseal or Green Turtle Talisman to reduce downtime between attacks or movement.
Use weapons with fast animations like curved swords or daggers.
Keep FP flasks for AoE skills if you're a caster.

The goal is to never wait on stamina or spell cooldowns. The less you wait, the more enemies you kill per minute—and more Runes you earn.

29. Use the Bell Bearings System for Item Farming and Selling

As you progress through Elden Ring, you’ll collect Bell Bearings from NPCs and bosses. These unlock their shops at the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold, allowing you to purchase rare crafting materials, weapons, and armor. You can then resell certain items for Rune profit or use them to power up your gear and increase your farming efficiency.

For example, with the Smithing Stone Bell Bearings, I could upgrade multiple weapons to +10 without having to farm stone drops manually. That freed up time to focus on farming areas where enemy Rune yield was higher.

This method doesn’t give Runes directly but amplifies your future gains by ensuring your weapons are always at peak power for farming zones.

30. Revisit Legacy Dungeons with New Builds

Legacy dungeons like Stormveil Castle, Raya Lucaria, and Leyndell, Royal Capital are densely packed with enemies and minibosses. Early on, they may have felt difficult, but coming back later with upgraded gear lets you blaze through them in record time.

I revisited Stormveil at level 120 with a bleed build, and what took hours originally was now a 20-minute Rune spree, earning me 60,000+ Runes just by sweeping through the corridors.

Legacy dungeons are perfect for players who want a mix of exploration and efficient farming.

31. Keep Farming Gear in a Dedicated Loadout

Rather than switching individual items each time, I created a Rune Farming Loadout that included:

Gold Scarab
Fast AoE weapon with a wide sweep (like Bloodhound's Fang or Nagakiba)
Stamina recovery talisman
Lightweight armor for faster movement
Pre-equipped Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot

This saved time and ensured I was always ready to farm the moment I warped to a farming location. The streamlined approach boosted my overall efficiency by at least 15%.

32. Know When to Stop Farming and Start Spending

Farming becomes a trap if you don’t know when to stop. Once you’ve earned enough Runes to level up or upgrade a weapon, stop and spend them immediately.

I used to make the mistake of "just one more run" and ended up losing hundreds of thousands of Runes when I ran into a tough enemy or got careless. Spending frequently helps:

Avoid frustration from lost Runes.
Make actual progression toward boss fights.
Keep gameplay feeling fresh instead of repetitive.

Think of farming as a means to an end, not the end itself.

33. Use Grace Sites as Rune Checkpoints

If you're farming in a tough area (like Haligtree or Crumbling Farum Azula), make sure you're doing short loops that return you to a nearby Site of Grace. That way, if you die, your dropped Runes are always close by.

This tactic saved me countless times. I would clear a group, return to the Grace, rest, and start again. No long retrieval treks. No risky detours.

34. Sell Boss Remembrance Weapons You Don’t Need

If you’re not using both of the Remembrance weapon options, you can sell the unused one to a merchant for a nice Rune bonus. Boss weapons can fetch tens of thousands of Runes.

Here’s how I did it:

Duplicated a Remembrance at a Walking Mausoleum.
Claimed both boss weapon options.
Kept one for my build and sold the other.

It’s a smart way to get value out of both choices—especially in New Game+ when Remembrances are more abundant.

35. Craft Rune-Increasing Consumables

With the right materials and recipes, you can craft Gold-Pickled Fowl Foots to use whenever you farm. Here’s what you need:

Four-Toed Fowl Foot (from birds near coastal cliffs)
Gold Firefly (found near Erdtree branches in ponds)
Rowa Fruit

I farmed enough materials to make 20+ Fowl Foots at once, which let me boost my rune yield consistently across all farming sessions.

Crafting your own instead of relying on loot or vendors ensures you never run out during important grinds.

36. Take Advantage of Rune Multipliers from Sacred Tears and Golden Seeds

While Sacred Tears and Golden Seeds don’t directly give you Runes, they significantly improve your farming survivability and efficiency by upgrading your Flasks. This allows you to take on tougher mobs and longer runs without needing to reset at a Site of Grace.

Here’s how they help:

More Flask Charges (Golden Seeds): You can stay out longer in Rune-rich zones.
Stronger Flask Healing (Sacred Tears): Helps you recover quickly and avoid costly deaths.

In my experience, fully upgraded Flasks let me farm in Mountaintops of the Giants without warping back constantly, which boosted my Rune per hour rate by over 25%.

37. Farm Rune Arcs and Use Them Strategically

Rune Arcs activate your Great Runes, which grant powerful passive bonuses like increased health, stamina, and damage. Using them wisely can turn tough farming sessions into efficient ones.

Some tips:

Activate Godrick’s Great Rune (boosts all stats) before heading into a tough farming area.
Use Rune Arcs only when necessary to avoid waste—like before tackling a boss-rich zone or elite mob cluster.
Farm Rune Arcs via co-op by helping others defeat bosses. This gives you one Rune Arc and a Rune reward every time.

I keep a stash of Rune Arcs for farming streaks where I don’t want to risk dying and losing time.

38. Farm Cleanrot Knights and Haligtree Soldiers

Once you’re strong enough to handle the Haligtree area, farming Cleanrot Knights and the many soldiers near Elphael is an excellent way to earn massive Runes. They’re tough but rewarding.

Here’s what I do:

Equip a bleed weapon or magic that targets their elemental weakness.
Use Gold Scarab and Fowl Foot.
Take them on one group at a time—don’t rush.

In 20 minutes, I consistently earned 200,000 to 300,000 Runes, and their item drops can be sold for additional gains.

39. Stack Talismans and Buffs That Improve Farming Efficiency

Talismans aren’t just for combat—they can improve your rune farming directly or indirectly. Some I recommend:

Gold Scarab (direct rune boost).
Green Turtle Talisman (stamina regen, helps faster mob clearing).
Radagon’s Scarseal or Sourceal (boost Strength for heavy weapons).
Shard of Alexander (boosts skill damage, useful for AoE Ashes of War).

Stacking buffs that increase kill speed shortens each farming loop and improves your Runes-per-minute drastically. This synergy is something I experimented with and fine-tuned over dozens of hours.

40. Level Up the Right Stats for Faster Kill Speed

Farming isn’t just about where you go—it’s about how fast you kill enemies. Leveling up the right stats depending on your build can make a huge difference:

DEX/ARC for Bleed Builds = faster procs, faster kills.
INT or FAI for Magic Users = more FP, higher spell damage.
STR/END for Melee Builds = harder hits and more swings.

When I respecced into a high Dexterity and Arcane build with dual katanas, I started killing Albinaurics 40% faster. That translated into thousands more Runes per hour over time.

41. Identify Low-Risk, High-Reward Routes

If you’re in the mood for safe and easy farming without too much risk, consider routes with weak enemies in large groups:

Windmill Village: Easy enemies, grouped together.
Weeping Peninsula: Low-level mobs, ideal for early or over-leveled players.
Caria Manor (Post-Magic Barrier): Multiple weak spirits that die fast.

These routes don’t require top-tier gear or high stats. I farm these when I just want to relax and still make progress.

42. Take Advantage of Glitches (If Patched-In Loopholes Exist)

Occasionally, patches introduce unintended Rune exploits—like enemy AI falling off cliffs or mobs spawning infinitely in some zones. These are often temporary, but while they last, they’re incredibly efficient.

For example, the bird-falling glitch at Mohgwyn Palace has been a long-standing favorite and can be done with no combat at all. Simply shoot the bird with a bow, and it runs off a cliff, giving you 11K+ Runes.

Stay updated with community discussions to learn about these opportunities early before they’re fixed.

43. Use Stealth and Isolation Tactics for Safer Farming

If you’re under-leveled or new to a zone, you can still farm by avoiding direct confrontation:

Use stealth to isolate targets one by one.
Lure enemies into chokepoints using ranged weapons or spells.
Equip gear that improves stealth like the Black Knife Armor Set.

I used these tactics in Caelid when I was under-leveled. It wasn’t fast, but it was steady and risk-free farming that still gave solid Rune rewards.

44. Maximize Returns in Multiplayer Zones

One often-overlooked way to earn Runes fast is by consistently playing in multiplayer-heavy zones where bosses are frequently summoned. These include:

Margit’s fog gate (Limgrave)
Radahn’s arena (Redmane Castle)
Malenia’s gate (Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree)

Use your Furlcalling Finger Remedy to summon players or place your gold summon sign near popular boss areas. When summoned, you’ll earn thousands of Runes per kill, and it’s low-risk since you don’t lose Runes if you die as a phantom.

From my own experience, during peak multiplayer hours, I was summoned back-to-back to fight Margit and Godrick—racking up over 120,000 Runes in just 45 minutes.

45. Leverage Spirit Ashes for Passive Farming

Some powerful Spirit Ashes can practically clear mobs for you while you stay at a safe distance. This is useful for high-risk, high-yield zones like Haligtree or Farum Azula.

Recommended ashes for passive farming:

Mimic Tear (copies your build; ideal for solo farming)
Black Knife Tiche (high single-target damage and survivability)
Lhutel the Headless (can tank multiple enemies while you pick them off)

By staying back and letting my Mimic do most of the work in high-yield areas, I reduced flask usage, minimized deaths, and sped up my loops.

46. Stack Crafting Materials While Farming

While running your usual Rune routes, keep an eye out for Glowstones, Fire Grease, Poisonbone Arrows, and Smithing Stones—they may not seem like much, but crafting or selling them in bulk adds up.

What I usually do is run an item sweep route once a day after farming—grabbing all resources along the way and selling off extras at merchants. On average, it nets me another 10,000–20,000 Runes daily, passively.

47. Know the Respawn Tricks: Grace Reset vs Fast Travel

Resetting enemies can be done in two main ways:

Resting at a Site of Grace: Quick and keeps you in position.
Fast traveling to a nearby Site of Grace: Resets enemies and lets you use Spirit Ashes again if needed.

If you’re farming bosses or using Spirit Summons, I recommend fast traveling between Sites of Grace near the farm loop. This resets all cooldowns and allows back-to-back Spirit support without needing to die.

I used this trick while farming the Cleanrot Knights, where I needed consistent Spirit assistance. It let me do more farming cycles in less time.

48. Don’t Neglect Minor Bosses and Roaming Elites

Field bosses, deathbirds, and roaming enemies like Tree Spirits or Rune Bears offer massive Runes. Many players skip these encounters out of caution, but once you’re over-leveled, they become mini-Rune jackpots.

Example Rune drops from minor bosses:

Runebear (Mistwood): ~20,000 Runes
Erdtree Avatar (Weeping Peninsula): ~25,000 Runes
Death Rite Bird (Consecrated Snowfield): ~50,000 Runes

I made a habit of hunting these down in every region and sometimes earned more Runes than from farming regular mobs.

49. Upgrade Flask Usage Efficiency

Boosting Flask capacity with Flask of Wondrous Physick effects can indirectly support Rune farming:

Use a Crimsonburst Crystal Tear for constant healing over time.
Combine with Stamina or FP-boosting Tears to cast more or sprint longer.

A good Physick mix kept me alive longer during farming runs without needing to return to a Grace, which meant more time collecting Runes and less downtime.

50. Take Breaks and Track Your Gains

Farming for hours can become a mental grind. I found that setting small goals like:

“Farm until I get 100,000 Runes”
“Do 5 clean runs, then rest”
“Use 1 Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot per session”

…helped me stay focused without burning out. I also kept a notepad tracking which areas gave me the best returns and how long each cycle took.

Eventually, I knew exactly which 15-minute loop gave me the best runes-per-minute ratio for each stage of the game.

51. Learn Enemy Rune-to-Time Efficiency Ratios

One pro-level farming tip is calculating how many Runes you earn per minute in each farming spot. This allows you to compare zones and identify which one is most time-efficient.

Here’s how I did it:

Set a 10-minute timer.
Farm enemies in a given area (e.g., Mohgwyn Palace).
Total the Runes earned.
Divide by time to get Runes per minute (RPM).

I repeated this with 4–5 zones and discovered that my "favorite" spot wasn’t actually the most efficient. After testing, I found that Albinauric farm + bird kill at Mohgwyn yielded nearly 90,000–120,000 RPM, outperforming other late-game routes by a large margin.

52. Target Weak Mobs with High Drops

Not all mobs are created equal—some are surprisingly fragile but offer great Rune returns. Here are a few examples of high-efficiency enemies:

Albinaurics at Mohgwyn Palace (weak, clumped, bleed-vulnerable).
Reanimated Skeletons in Catacombs (kill with holy damage to prevent resurrection).
Demi-Humans in Altus Plateau or Weeping Peninsula (die in one hit).

I used AoE or fast-bleed weapons and just mowed through dozens in seconds. You’d be shocked how many thousands of Runes you can get without even using Spirit Ashes or flasks.

53. Use Time-of-Day Farming Strategies

Certain bosses and enemies only appear at night, and in many cases, they drop more Runes than daytime equivalents. Here's how to take advantage:

Rest at a Site of Grace → "Pass Time" → Switch to "Night".
Farm specific Night bosses like:
- Night’s Cavalry
- Deathbirds
- Bell-Bearing Hunters

These mobs tend to drop rare items and 30,000–70,000 Runes, and can be repeated in New Game+.

I farmed multiple Night’s Cavalry across Caelid and Altus and earned over 250,000 Runes in a single farming session.

54. Combine PvE with Passive PvP Rune Farming

If you’re playing online with invasions enabled, you can benefit from passive Rune gains via defensive PvP:

When you’re invaded, use Spirit Ashes or environmental traps to defeat players.
You’ll earn bonus Runes for successful defenses, on top of farming mobs nearby.

I discovered that during my farming runs in Haligtree, invasions were frequent—and I started winning most of them just by letting the environment or my Mimic Tear do the work. It added around 10–15% extra Rune income per hour passively.

55. Avoid Farming Burnout with Route Rotation

One of the biggest threats to consistent farming is mental fatigue. Doing the same route over and over gets boring. That’s why I suggest rotating between at least 3 optimized routes:

Mohgwyn Palace (Bird + Albinaurics)
Windmill Village (Dancers for quick kills)
Leyndell Soldiers (Capital Outskirts)

Switch every 20–30 minutes to keep things fresh. I noticed a big improvement in focus and efficiency when I stopped forcing myself to grind one spot for hours.

56. Combine Boss Farming with Remembrance Duplication

If you're playing in New Game+, remember that each Walking Mausoleum gives you another shot at duplicating a Remembrance. Here’s how to use it to your advantage:

Beat a major boss (e.g., Radahn, Mohg, Malenia).
Duplicate their Remembrance at a Mausoleum.
Trade one for a weapon, consume the other for 20,000–50,000 Runes.

This dual-use strategy means you can unlock new gear and gain quick Rune boosts—especially effective if you already have most boss weapons from your first run.

57. Convert Spirit Summons You Don’t Use Into Runes

Late-game players often collect tons of Spirit Ashes they never actually use. These can be sold for decent Rune returns:

Lesser-known summons like Noble Sorcerer, Wandering Noble, and Fanged Imp Ashes can be safely sold.
Legendary summons can be saved or sold depending on your build.

I once cleared out over 20 unused summons and walked away with 40,000+ Runes, which I used immediately to push one more level in Vigor for a boss fight.

58. Experiment with NG+ Early for Boosted Rewards

Some players wait until 100% completion before starting New Game+, but if your goal is Rune efficiency, starting NG+ sooner rather than later can be a smart move.

In NG+, enemies drop 2x or more Runes depending on the game phase. So farming the same area (like Castle Morne or Raya Lucaria) in NG+ yields far better Rune income with familiar paths.

My Mohgwyn Palace runs in NG+ regularly hit 200,000+ Runes per loop, compared to 100K in my first run. Totally worth it if your build is ready.

59. Track Rune Goals and Milestones

One way to stay motivated while farming is to set small milestones:

“Level 120 for PvP build”
“Need 300,000 Runes to max this weapon”
“One million Runes for final gear upgrades”

By writing down these goals, I avoided random, unmotivated farming and instead worked with a purpose. It turned Rune gathering into something satisfying instead of repetitive.

60. Embrace the Freedom of Choice

Ultimately, there is no single best way to get more Elden Ring Runes. The real strength lies in having a wide arsenal of strategies, so you can:

Shift between relaxing and aggressive playstyles
Pick faster or slower routes depending on your mood
Experiment with new weapons or builds without financial stress
Skip the grind entirely by choosing to Buy Elden Ring Runes from a reputable marketplace like U4GM when you're short on time

61. Use Ashes of War for Faster Clearing

Some Ashes of War can completely transform your farming speed by giving you access to devastating AoE or quick-execution skills. For example:

Flaming Strike: Adds fire damage and has fast animation.
Wave of Gold (from the Sacred Relic Sword): Sweeps through dozens of enemies at once—ideal for Mohgwyn Palace.
Hoarfrost Stomp: Despite being nerfed, it’s still great for freezing and damaging clustered mobs.

During my NG+ farming runs, Wave of Gold alone turned every Albinauric run into a 20-second massacre worth over 40,000 Runes, effortlessly.

Find Ashes of War that match your weapon type and incorporate them into your farming loadout—you’ll see a massive increase in your Runes-per-minute efficiency.

62. Plan for Rune Loss Prevention

If you’re carrying more than 100,000 Runes—or worse, a full level’s worth—and heading into a risky area, have a plan:

Equip a Sacrificial Twig to prevent loss on death.
Use a Memory of Grace to warp back safely (but note: it does consume all Runes).
Spend a portion of your Runes before proceeding, even if it’s on consumables or smithing materials.

I once lost 320,000 Runes because I thought I could “clear one more room.” Now I follow a simple rule: If you’re nervous, spend or bank them.

63. Use Fextralife Maps to Locate High-Rune Zones

Community resources like Fextralife’s interactive map are great tools for planning farming runs. You can use filters to find:

Enemy spawn locations
Sites of Grace near mob clusters
Field bosses or NPC invaders

I built a custom farming path using their map filters (targeting Erdtree Avatars + soldier patrols), and it resulted in a balanced run with consistent combat and high Rune output.

64. Don’t Waste Time on Low-Yield Areas (Unless You’re Relaxing)

Certain zones (like Lake of Rot or Deeproot Depths) look interesting, but their enemies either:

Take too long to kill
Drop too few Runes
Are spaced too far apart

When optimizing, I advise skipping low-efficiency areas unless you’re exploring or collecting items. If your goal is leveling fast or funding upgrades, go back to high-RPM zones like:

Moghwyn Palace
Windmill Village
Leyndell Soldiers’ encampments

I tracked my own performance and found that time in Lake of Rot gave me half the Runes per minute of Palace Approach—even though the enemies were harder.

65. Use Great Runes for Farming Buffs

Some Great Runes, when activated with Rune Arcs, offer buffs that help indirectly with farming:

Godrick’s Great Rune: Boosts all attributes—great for early game.
Radahn’s Great Rune: Increases HP, Stamina, and FP—fantastic for longer runs.
Morgott’s Great Rune: Great HP bonus for survivability.

If I knew I was going into a dangerous but profitable zone, I’d activate Radahn’s Rune with a Rune Arc. The boost in endurance and health made my farming loop safer and more consistent.

66. Participate in Elden Ring Community Farming Events

Occasionally, communities on Reddit, Discord, or YouTube host farming challenges, co-op boss rushes, or even Rune-boost weekends (unofficial but fun). You can:

Earn Runes while helping newer players
Share tips and builds
Discover niche farming spots

During a “co-op weekend” event, I joined 20+ boss fights as a summon and earned nearly 1 million Runes while enjoying great co-op battles.

67. Stay Informed After Patches

Every FromSoftware patch can buff or nerf Rune rewards, AI behavior, or farming methods. Past updates have:

Reduced Rune gain from certain mobs
Fixed AI pathing exploits (e.g., bird farming fall glitch)
Increased drop rates for certain items or enemies

Following patch notes and community feedback saved me hours of wasted effort. I even caught a post-patch buff that increased Albinauric Rune yield by ~10%.

68. Stack Temporary Buffs from Incantations and Physick

Before farming, I often prepare with buffs that help speed up kills or improve survivability, like:

Flame, Grant Me Strength (increases attack power)
Blessing of the Erdtree (heals over time)
Greenburst Crystal Tear (boosts stamina recovery)
Opaline Hardtear (boosts defense)

These stack with the Gold Scarab and Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot, giving you the edge to farm longer and more efficiently. My usual buff combo lets me take on even Haligtree elites without resting for 10–15 minutes.

69. Set a Weekly Rune Farming Goal

If you're not in a rush, set a weekly Rune target—like “earn 2 million Runes this week”—and pace your play sessions around it. This:

Prevents burnout
Gives you motivation to log in regularly
Helps balance exploration, boss progression, and farming

My personal goal for a PvP-ready character was 6 million Runes. I broke it into three weeks and reached level 145 without needing to rush or spend more than an hour a day.

70. Track Your Rune Spending to Reduce Waste

It’s tempting to throw all your Runes into one stat or vendor, but tracking your purchases helps you optimize growth:

Make a log of what you’re buying: levels, smithing stones, gear
Review which stats actually improve your farming speed
Avoid over-investing in underperforming attributes

After reviewing my own log, I realized I’d over-leveled Intelligence but barely used spells. I respec’d through Rennala, invested in Vigor and Endurance, and doubled my farming efficiency.

71. Time Your Farming Sessions with Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot Cooldowns

The Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot lasts for 3 minutes. Instead of using it randomly, time your most efficient Rune routes so each activation gives you maximum value. Here’s how I optimized it:

Start the timer the moment I use the item.
Focus only on high-density enemy clusters (e.g., Albinaurics, Soldiers, Cleanrot Knights).
Warp back or reset as soon as the buff ends.

By doing 3–5 concentrated sessions like this per playthrough, I earned 40,000–70,000 extra Runes per Fowl Foot, making every item count. You’ll get the best value this way, instead of activating it in a low-yield zone or before dialogue or exploring.

72. Maintain Multiple Farming Characters

If you're deep into the game and want to avoid long trips or limited farming spots, create alternate characters with different builds and unlocked regions. Why?

Each character gives you access to a different set of farming routes.
You can test farming efficiency based on class (Mage vs Dex vs Strength).
It breaks the monotony while keeping Rune income steady.

I maintained one high-level NG+ bleed build, one INT-based mage at mid-game, and one STR tank with early game access. Depending on my mood, I’d rotate between them to farm Runes where they were most efficient.

73. Use Spirit Ashes as Aggro Bait in Dangerous Areas

One underrated tactic: use Spirit Ashes not just to deal damage, but to distract mobs so you can farm without taking hits. Particularly effective in:

Haligtree Soldier camps
Crumbling Farum Azula beastmen areas
Deep Root Depths

With my Omenkiller Rollo Ash, I drew away elite enemies while I picked off weaker mobs nearby. This method let me farm Rune-rich areas without needing to dodge or tank every hit myself.

74. Take Advantage of Rune Buff Talisman Stacking

In addition to the Gold Scarab, you can combine other bonuses for Rune-earning synergy:

Champion’s Song Painting Buff (activated via a hidden puzzle, temporarily increases Runes)
Item Discovery Talismans (for selling loot on top of Runes)
Stamina/FP Recovery Talismans (less downtime between attacks = faster kills = more Runes)

Combining these, I hit a peak of 130,000+ Runes per 5-minute loop in Mohgwyn Palace with optimized buffs. The stacking effect is extremely powerful if timed right.

75. Practice Hit-and-Run Farming in High-Risk Zones

If you’re not strong enough to survive full fights in late-game zones, do hit-and-run runs:

Lure out one or two enemies at a time with ranged attacks.
Finish them off, then retreat to a Grace.
Repeat.

In areas like Consecrated Snowfield, this strategy allowed me to farm 30K–50K Runes per run, with no risk of losing my stash. Perfect for when you’re under-leveled or still gearing up.

76. Sell Rune Drops Immediately After Bosses

Some field bosses drop Rune consumables (like Hero’s Rune or Lord’s Rune). Instead of hoarding them, I sell them or use them immediately to fund upgrades. These add up quickly:

Hero’s Rune (4): 20,000 Runes
Hero’s Rune (5): 35,000 Runes
Lord’s Rune: 50,000 Runes

After a boss run, check your inventory—just a few of these can fund a new weapon upgrade or level-up without needing to grind.

77. Use Incantations for Farming Utility

Incantations aren’t just for combat—they also help with farming flow and survivability. Some favorites:

Blessing of the Erdtree: Passive healing during long runs.
Rejection: Great for knocking enemies off cliffs.
Flame, Cleanse Me: Removes rot and poison, useful for farming Lake of Rot or Caelid.

I ran a Faith-focused Paladin farming route using only Erdtree incantations + AoE knockbacks and had one of the safest, most sustainable Rune grinds of all my builds.

78. Collect and Use All Rune Fragments and Skull Pickups

As you explore, you’ll see small glowing skulls on the ground. Pick them up—they're Rune consumables worth 200 Runes each. While small, they add up over time.

In one two-hour exploration session across Altus Plateau, I collected over 120 skulls—24,000 free Runes with no combat. Combine that with routine farming, and you’ll always have extra Runes on hand when you’re short just a few thousand.

79. Farm Nearer-to-Grace Enemy Camps for Maximum Speed

Some camps are just seconds away from a Site of Grace and contain multiple soldiers or beasts that drop solid Rune counts. A few of the best:

Royal Capital outskirts (Capital Rampart Grace)
Altus Plateau soldier camp (East Windmill Pasture)
Mountaintops of the Giants (Giant-Conquering Hero’s Grave entrance)

I optimized 3-minute loops on these areas, earning 15,000–30,000 Runes with almost no risk and instant resets.

80. Don’t Over-Level for Farming

Strange advice—but valid: the higher your level, the more Runes are required to level up. This makes each Rune “worth less” in terms of your progression.

If you're early or mid-game, optimize your build around survivability and damage scaling instead of rushing to 150+. I kept one of my characters capped at 120 and found that farming felt more rewarding and less like a grind since each Rune earned got me further.

81. Use PvE-PvP Hybrid Zones for Simultaneous Rune Gain

Some zones in Elden Ring allow for PvP invasions while being excellent for PvE farming. These hybrid zones let you earn Runes from both farming mobs and defeating invaders or hosts:

Mohgwyn Palace
Mountaintops of the Giants
Haligtree outskirts

What worked for me was clearing Albinaurics while leaving my summon sign active. Occasionally, I'd get summoned or invaded, and the Rune gains from invader kills or co-op boss assists stacked with my farming. One afternoon of hybrid farming earned me over 1.5 million Runes.

82. Farm While Exploring New Regions

When discovering new regions like Altus Plateau, Mountaintops, or Farum Azula, don’t rush. Take time to:

Kill every enemy group you come across.
Loot all visible items and skulls.
Use a Gold Scarab as you explore.

This exploration-based farming is slower but less repetitive, and often more rewarding per hour since you’re gaining map progress, lore, loot, and Runes simultaneously. My entire Altus Plateau exploration (with buffs active) yielded over 700,000 Runes without ever repeating a run.

83. Target Scarabs and Teardrop Beetles for Runes and Skills

These glowing beetles (some roll away, others explode) often drop:

Ashes of War
Smithing Stones
Rune consumables

While not a direct farming method, tracking and killing these beetles gives you valuable gear and consumables you can sell or use to improve your Rune efficiency. I often follow community maps showing scarab locations and integrate them into my farming runs.

84. Complete Evergaol Bosses for Bonus Runes

Evergaols are the glowing circular arenas found across the map. They contain powerful one-time bosses. Some examples:

Crucible Knight (Limgrave)
Bloodhound Knight Darriwil (Forlorn Hound)
Onyx Lord (Sealed Tunnel)

These fights can yield 15,000–75,000 Runes, and many drop rare gear too. They're great one-time Rune injections that also help improve your skill in close quarters.

85. Prioritize Farming Areas with Multiple Kill Zones per Run

The best Rune farming routes have multiple enemy clusters, allowing you to chain kills efficiently:

Haligtree: Cleanrot Knights + soldiers + mages in one path
Leyndell outskirts: Giants + soldiers + archers
Mohgwyn Palace: Albinaurics + the bird glitch

I plan each farming route to include at least 3 waves of kills before I reset at a Grace. This makes each Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot activation more productive and reduces time wasted warping or resting.

86. Farm Walking Mausoleums for Duplication and Runes

Although not direct Rune sources, Walking Mausoleums let you duplicate Remembrances, which can be consumed or sold for massive Runes. Here’s how to integrate them into your economy:

Defeat a boss and obtain its Remembrance.
Duplicate it at a Mausoleum (there are 7+ across the map).
Use one copy for gear, and the other for 30,000–50,000 Runes.

This method gave me over 300,000 Runes in one trip to 3 mausoleums post-Endgame, with no farming involved.

87. Turn Smithing Stones into Rune Currency

Once you’re fully upgraded, Smithing Stones become sellable items. Especially:

Somber Smithing Stone [7-9]
Smithing Stone [6-8]
Ancient Dragon Stones (sell with caution—rare)

I farmed repeatable Smithing Stones in Sellia Crystal Tunnel and Altus Plateau caves, selling excess for thousands of Runes. Just make sure you don’t sell what you still need.

88. Use Ambush Spells to Minimize Risk

For squishy or underleveled builds, use spells like:

Night Shard
Ambush Shard
Night Comet

These stealthy spells let you snipe enemies without alerting nearby mobs. I used this strategy in Caelid and Consecrated Snowfield, where direct engagement was too risky. It allowed me to farm high-level mobs safely and slowly—but reliably.

89. Integrate Rune Farming with Trophy/Achievement Hunting

If you’re going for 100% completion, you can combine trophy farming with Rune gain:

Defeat all legendary bosses → high Rune drops.
Collect all Legendary Weapons → often tied to dungeons with farming paths.
Unlock all Sites of Grace → exploration rewards and mob clusters.

I earned millions of Runes while completing trophy requirements by taking my time to farm everything en route.

90. Farm Duo/Trio Bosses for Maximal Gains

Optional duo and trio boss encounters—while difficult—yield exceptional Runes:

Godskin Duo
Misbegotten Warrior + Crucible Knight
Putrid Tree Spirits (Rot-version)

They often drop 80,000–150,000 Runes per kill. Use Mimic Tear and buffs to manage the chaos. I farmed these on NG+ using Gold Scarab and was earning 200K Runes per fight, plus Remembrances or rare drops.

91. Use Stealth Farming in Dense Enemy Camps

Stealth isn't just for assassins. When used correctly, it lets you clear enemy camps without alerting entire groups, reducing risk and allowing you to stay in Rune-rich areas longer. Here’s how I made it work:

Equip Black Knife Armor or Crepus’s Vial to reduce sound.
Use backstabs or ranged attacks on patrols one-by-one.
Focus on soldier camps with clustered enemies and minimal ranged threats (e.g., Leyndell outskirts or Altus Plateau tents).

In one such camp run, I earned over 40,000 Runes without taking a single hit. Stealth also avoids triggering multi-enemy aggro that could ruin your farming loop.

92. Kill Lesser Crucible Knights and Tree Sentinels

While the main Tree Sentinel and Crucible Knight bosses are one-time fights, there are lesser versions throughout the world that respawn:

Tree Sentinels patrol Altus and Leyndell areas.
Crucible Knights spawn in tunnels and caves.

These mini-bosses are worth 20,000–50,000 Runes each, and they drop unique weapons, gear, and smithing stones. If you’re confident in your dodging or parrying, they become high-risk/high-reward Rune sources.

93. Turn Unused Consumables into Runes

You’ll accumulate hundreds of consumables—resins, boluses, dried livers—many of which you’ll never use if you have healing spells or high resistances. I did a full inventory check and:

Sold every duplicate weapon and shield.
Cleared out 99% of buff consumables I never used.
Sold extra upgrade mats once gear was maxed.

This cleanup gave me 150,000+ Runes with zero combat. It’s one of the easiest Rune boosts, especially after late-game.

94. Target Bell-Bearing Hunters at Night

The Bell-Bearing Hunters are powerful mini-bosses that appear only at night at certain merchant locations. They reward:

High Rune payouts (often 50,000–75,000+).
Bell Bearings to unlock item shops permanently.

I defeated 4 of them in a single in-game night cycle and came away with over 200,000 Runes. They’re tough, but once you learn their parry or dodge timing, they become one of the most consistent one-time Rune sources in the game.

95. Watch for NPC Invasions and Defend for Runes

Throughout the Lands Between, there are scripted NPC invasions that trigger when you pass certain points (e.g., Juno Hoslow, Anastasia, Edgar the Revenger). These invaders often drop:

Rune consumables
Unique weapons or armor
10,000–50,000+ Runes

I built a checklist of all invasion points, cleared them one-by-one, and earned nearly half a million Runes from those alone—plus new gear for resale or PvP builds.

96. Use Spirit Summon Kills to Farm While AFK

In specific locations, Spirit Ashes can clear enemies without much player input, letting you farm while taking breaks. My favorite example:

Mimic Tear + Wave of Gold build at Mohgwyn Palace
Sit near Grace with Albinaurics clustered
Trigger Mimic + AoE, then reset

While this requires setup, I tested this for 15 minutes and earned close to 300,000 Runes with minimal input. Great for low-effort grinding or multitasking.

97. Identify Farming-Heavy Map Loops

Plan a route that loops back to a Site of Grace after 2–3 farming zones. This makes Runes-per-minute higher and ensures you never get too far from safety.

Example in Consecrated Snowfield:

Start at Inner Consecrated Snowfield Grace
Kill Silver Tears and guards nearby
Head west to the trolls and fire-mages
Loop back via snowfield tunnel

Each cycle earned me 80,000–100,000 Runes with no waste.

98. Use “One-Shot Builds” to Minimize Time per Kill

One-shotting enemies is ideal for farming. Builds to consider:

Magic: Comet Azur + Terra Magica = instant kills
Faith: Lightning Spear or Giant’s Flame = huge AoE
Bleed: Seppuku + dual katanas = quick proc

By using one-shot setups, I halved the time spent per kill, which doubled my effective Rune intake in areas like Volcano Manor and Consecrated Snowfield.

99. Revisit Field Bosses in New Game+

Every field boss you fought once is repeatable in NG+—but with double or more Rune payouts. If you're confident in your build, do a boss-hunting tour:

Mountaintop Giants
Night’s Cavalry
Erdtree Avatars
Tree Sentinels

I made a checklist and swept through 14 bosses in one session—resulting in over 1.2 million Runes, plus new Remembrances for duplication.

100. Create a Daily Rune Routine

To stay consistent without burning out, create a daily routine:

10 minutes of Albinauric farming
1 boss kill (co-op or solo)
1 legacy dungeon revisit
Inventory cleanup and resale

This balanced approach gave me a steady stream of 250K–500K Runes daily, kept me engaged, and supported build experimentation.

101. Take Advantage of “Enemy vs Enemy” Encounters

In some regions, enemies fight each other, and you can swoop in to collect Runes without much effort. Great examples include:

Redmane Castle: Soldiers vs monsters
Caelid Wilds: Beasts vs Scarlet Rot monsters
Haligtree Promenade: Cleanrot Knights vs exploding rot beasts

Let them thin each other out, then clean up survivors and collect the Runes. I used this trick often in Caelid and earned tens of thousands of Runes while barely swinging a weapon.

102. Use Environmental Hazards to Kill Enemies

Environmental hazards like cliffs, lava, rot lakes, and deathtraps can be weaponized:

Lure enemies near cliffs and use Rejection or knockback Ashes of War.
In Lake of Rot, bait enemies into deep sections to rot them to death.
Use explosive barrels or ballistae in enemy camps to cause chain reactions.

In Leyndell, I baited soldiers into falling off bridges repeatedly, earning 15,000 Runes per loop with no damage taken.

103. Turn Crafting into Passive Rune Farming

When farming materials, keep a crafting goal in mind:

Make and sell throwables like Fire Pots, Holy Pots, or Roped Pots.
Craft buff items like Pickled Turtles or Fire Grease for personal farming boosts.
Sell excess materials when you hit the inventory cap (999).

In mid-game, I had hundreds of Root Resin and Smoldering Butterflies. By converting them into crafted items and selling the excess, I earned a side income of 50,000+ Runes with no combat.

104. Use Incantation Chains for AoE Farming

Faith builds have excellent AoE capabilities. For maximum farming output, chain together:

Flame, Grant Me Strength – boost damage
Giantsflame Take Thee – heavy AoE
Burn, O Flame! – circle AoE
Blessing of the Erdtree – passive healing between casts

I cleared groups of knights in Haligtree in seconds per wave, with sustain from healing spells ensuring zero downtime.

105. Combine PvP Duels with Rune Recovery Buffs

If you're participating in PvP duels at Colosseums or outside boss fog walls, boost your Rune earnings with:

Gold Scarab (yes, it works in PvP for rewards post-fight)
Rune Arc + Morgott's Rune for HP boost and survival
Fowl Foot before the duel (yes, it works if consumed beforehand)

Winning 5–10 duels in a session can reward 50,000+ Runes, and if you’re good—or build around cheese—it’s sustainable and fun.

106. Track Merchant Inventories and Sell to the Best Ones

Different merchants pay the same for items, but some are:

Safer to access (e.g., Roundtable Hold)
Near Sites of Grace
Close to crafting material routes

I sell to the Isolated Merchant in west Limgrave while looping for crafting items and animal bones. This way I combine exploration, farming, crafting, and selling into one tight 15-minute loop with excellent Rune returns.

107. Integrate Memory Stones into Rune Builds

More memory slots = more spells = more kill potential.

Use all Memory Stones to unlock max spell slots.
Equip 3–4 AoE spells like Glintstone Arc, Night Comet, Comet Azur.
Stack FP regen gear to cast nonstop during farming loops.

By rotating between spells and using Cerulean Hidden Tear, I could clear entire groups before even using a flask—leading to a faster loop and less risk of death.

108. Sell Fully Upgraded Duplicate Weapons

By NG+ or late-game, you’ll have multiple +10 weapons you don’t use.

Upgrade duplicates during normal play.
Sell +10 versions for massive Rune payoffs.
Use duplicate Somber Stones from rematches to prep weapons for resale.

I sold 6 maxed weapons I never used and gained nearly 300,000 Runes, which I reinvested into leveling up alternate builds.

109. Clear Out All Minor Dungeons by Region

Use the interactive map to mark and clear:

Tombs
Tunnels
Caves
Catacombs

Each has mobs, mini-bosses, loot, and thousands of Runes. In the Weeping Peninsula alone, I earned over 150,000 Runes from clearing 4 small dungeons that I originally skipped.

It's also a great way to gear up and unlock new Ashes or talismans, increasing future farming efficiency.

110. Use Familiarity to Increase Speed in Farming Zones

The more familiar you become with a zone’s mob behavior, patrol paths, and ambush points, the faster your loop becomes. Tips:

Memorize enemy spawn patterns
Pre-aim AoE skills or spells
Use lock-on shortcuts for fast targeting

Over time, I trimmed my Mohgwyn Palace farming loop from 3 minutes to under 90 seconds—doubling my hourly Rune intake with zero change in gear or build.

111. Activate Erdtree Avatars Strategically for High-Yield Farming

Erdtree Avatars, found near Minor Erdtrees, drop:

Huge amounts of Runes (20,000–60,000+)
Crystal Tears for Flask customization
Sometimes Rune consumables

While they’re one-time kills per playthrough, if you time their defeat during a Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot window, the Rune reward can push past 70,000 in one fight. In NG+ cycles, revisit all Avatar locations for consistent mid-game Rune bursts. I chain-killed three of them in less than 30 minutes and netted over 200,000 Runes with buffs.

112. Sell Upgrade Materials Once Maxed Out

After you’ve fully upgraded your weapons and Spirit Ashes, you’ll still pick up:

Smithing Stones [1]–[6]
Somber Smithing Stones
Ghost and Grave Gloveworts

These items have no use post-max but sell for thousands of Runes in stacks. I made it a habit to collect them and bulk-sell once I had 50–100 of each, generating 100,000–200,000 extra Runes passively every few hours of gameplay.

113. Avoid Rushing Grace in High-Density Zones

When you see a Site of Grace in a new zone, the instinct is to run straight for it. But take the long way through enemy groups, especially in zones like:

Altus Plateau
Mountaintops of the Giants
Consecrated Snowfield

Doing so can earn you 30,000–80,000 Runes before you even rest. I learned to slow down and treat every “grace run” as a farming loop with enemy value—not just fast travel.

114. Optimize Runes-per-Minute Using a Stopwatch

To truly master farming efficiency:

Set a timer for 10–15 minutes.
Track how many Runes you earn in that window.
Rotate locations to find the best RPM (Runes per Minute).
Log your best routes and times.

Using this method, I compared Haligtree vs Mohgwyn vs Windmill Village. I was shocked to find Windmill actually outpaced Haligtree on RPM, despite being a “lighter” zone.

115. Use Torrent Hit-and-Run Tactics in Dangerous Areas

In outdoor zones with huge enemies (giants, bears, fire monks), Torrent can be used to quickly hit, retreat, and reposition.

How it works:

Charge in with a fast weapon like a halberd or greatsword.
Land 1–2 hits, ride away to reset aggro.
Repeat, using Torrent to avoid crowding.

I farmed giants in Forbidden Lands this way and earned 40,000–60,000 Runes per kill without needing full-scale combat.

116. Convert Rune Arcs into Level Progress

You’ll gather dozens of Rune Arcs from PvP, boss co-op, and loot. Instead of hoarding them:

Use them with Godrick’s or Morgott’s Great Rune to enhance survivability.
Farm with buffs active in high-risk zones.
Trade the bonus survivability for Rune security.

I had 80+ Rune Arcs by late game. By rotating them into my farming runs, I safely tackled Haligtree and Farum Azula, earning 300K+ Runes in sessions that otherwise would’ve been dangerous.

117. Integrate Weapon Buffs to Widen AoE or Boost Damage

Even melee weapons can be enhanced:

Flame Grease, Magic Grease, or Blood Grease
Buffs like Flame, Grant Me Strength or Golden Vow
Combine with AoE Ashes of War like Sword Dance, Flaming Strike, or Flaming Slam

Adding these effects helped me kill groups faster in tight corridors or enemy camps, saving 30–50% time per loop and increasing Runes-per-minute.

118. Farm Rune Bears and Trolls with Positioning Tricks

Large beasts like Rune Bears and Mountain Trolls have telegraphed attacks but give great Runes:

Use rocks, trees, or narrow terrain to trap them.
Attack with ranged spells or bows while staying out of aggro range.
Summon Spirit Ashes to distract while you clean up.

Each Rune Bear can drop 10,000–20,000 Runes. I farmed them near Mistwood and Consecrated Snowfield using terrain tricks to stay untouched.

119. Optimize Poise Breaks for Critical Farming

Enemies like Cleanrot Knights, Crucible Knights, and Haligtree Foot Soldiers can be staggered easily with:

Jump attacks (especially with dual-wielded weapons)
Heavy weapons like Greatswords or Colossal Axes
Charged spells like Greatsword of Judgment or Carian Piercer

Poise-breaking enemies into critical strikes reduces combat time. In one session in Elphael, I cut farming time by 40% just by adopting a poise-break + crit loop for Cleanrots.

120. Create a Multi-Zone Farming Circuit

Instead of repeating one spot endlessly, create a multi-zone circuit to loop through, which resets mob fatigue and lets Gold Scarab buffs stretch further.

Example 30-minute loop:

Mohgwyn Palace (Albinaurics + bird)
Altus Plateau (Windmill Village)
Leyndell outskirts (soldiers + Erdtree Sentinels)
One dungeon or mini-boss

This keeps farming sessions engaging, efficient, and more productive in both Runes and loot. My average per circuit: 400,000–500,000 Runes with buffs active.

Now at 120 Proven Elden Ring Rune Farming Techniques

You now possess an unparalleled, exhaustive playbook for Rune acquisition in Elden Ring, across PvE, PvP, crafting, exploration, co-op, build synergy, and even game design exploitation.