Runes are the primary in-game currency used to level up weapons, gear, and characters - similar to souls in previous FromSoftware titles.

Players will also need runes in order to acquire Great Runes, which enhance character abilities in various ways. Unfortunately, the game offers little guidance for finding and activating these items.

How to Find Runes

Runes are one of Elden Ring's primary currencies and serve both as an XP source and way to purchase goods from vendors in the Lands Between. Unfortunately, players may lose Runes upon death unless they can quickly acquire more.

Fighting high-level enemies and bosses will reward players with Great elden ring runes, mythical artifacts that provide your character with powerful yet limited buffs. Players can obtain these Runes by defeating various demi-gods that they've bequeathed to Earth, however in order to activate them properly players must visit each associated Divine Tower first.

Elden Ring offers many opportunities for players to acquire Runes, such as early and mid-game War for Castle Redmane or Greatbridge Site of Grace - however if they want a faster method for earning them they are available as well.

Defeating Enemies

Elden Ring contains numerous monsters and bosses that provide rune-granting consumables that may temporarily boost rune acquisition; their use depends on your playstyle and situation.

Great Runes can also be dropped by major bosses as unique items that grant powerful buffs when equipped. These can help provide significant level jumps or be an invaluable aid when facing off against difficult bosses that would otherwise prove too tough to beat without proper preparation.

Runebears can be difficult to fight if players don't prepare appropriately; their physical attacks rely heavily on claw slashes, ground slams, and their blood loss from roaring attacks. But with careful preparation and attack plans in place, Runebears can be overcome!

Defeating Bosses

As players defeat several Shardbearer bosses in Elden Ring, they will gain Runes--including Great Runes--which are unique items players can unlock at Divine Towers and activate with Rune Arcs until death. These runes will strengthen characters further.

Late game, all elden ring runes farming can be an immensely powerful weapon - particularly once you acquire the Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot Talisman which boosts rewards from combat by 20%. Unfortunately, finding suitable farming locations may prove challenging based on access to areas and character strength.

Elden Ring players will reach a major milestone by defeating Godrick the Grafted, one of its Great Runes. From there, other Great Runes can be located throughout the Lands Between by killing relevant bosses and climbing their respective Divine Towers to power up with Rune Arcs.

Defeating Spirits

Attacking bosses will reward players with runes, similar to Souls from previous FromSoftware titles. Runes serve two main functions - currency and experience points; should you die without recovering them, they will be lost forever.

Great Runes can be activated at Divine Towers to grant players powerful buffs that last until death. Players can acquire these runes from several shardbearer bosses and NPCs such as Godrick the Grafted, Malenia Blade of Miquella, and Rennala Queen of the Full Moon who all reside within Leyndell, The Royal Capital.

Golden Runes can be found throughout The Lands Between and can often be seen on defeated enemies and glowing skulls that players can use to smash.

Defeating NPCs

As in previous FromSoftware games, elden ring runes serve as the game currency you need to level up and purchase equipment for your character, but can easily be lost through frequent deaths.

To prevent this from occurring, runes can be banked in items. This will protect them if you die but won't automatically add to your personal rune pool until you use that particular item again - these can often be found between Liurnia and Leyndell and this area offers some excellent spots to harvest them: