If you’ve spent any time in Elden Ring, you know that runes are the main currency for leveling up, buying items, and upgrading equipment. But the system can feel a little opaque at first, especially for new or casual players. In this guide, I’ll break down how runes work in practice, how most players use them, and what strategies make sense if you want to level up efficiently without getting frustrated.
In general, runes are just the game’s version of experience points and money combined. You collect them by defeating enemies, selling items, or finding them in the world. Most players focus on two main uses:
Leveling up your character – This is the most obvious use. You spend runes at a Site of Grace to increase stats like Vigor, Strength, or Intelligence.
Buying and upgrading items – Runes are also used to purchase weapons, consumables, and upgrade materials.
The key thing to remember is that runes are finite. If you die before spending them, you’ll drop all of your unspent runes at the spot you died. Recovering them is straightforward, but if you die again before picking them up, they’re gone for good. This encourages careful play rather than mindless farming.
There are several ways most players collect runes efficiently:
Killing standard enemies repeatedly – In general, early-game areas are full of enemies that respawn when you rest at a Site of Grace. Players often loop through these spots to stockpile runes before a boss fight or major upgrade.
Exploring high-level areas – Some players push into tougher zones to get more runes per kill. The risk is higher, but the reward is usually greater.
Selling loot – Not every item is worth holding onto. Most players sell excess weapons, crafting materials, or consumables for additional runes.
Quest rewards – Completing certain NPC quests or defeating optional bosses usually gives a large one-time rune reward.
It’s important to note that while “farming” sounds tedious, most players mix it with exploration. They don’t spend hours in one spot mindlessly; they usually rotate through areas that offer both loot and runes to keep the gameplay engaging.
This depends on your level. Early on, leveling costs are small—usually in the hundreds—but the cost grows quickly. By mid-game, you can easily spend tens of thousands of runes to increase a single stat. Most players pace themselves: they don’t try to max out every stat right away but focus on a few core stats that fit their build.
A typical strategy is:
Early game: Pump points into Vigor and a primary damage stat (Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence) to survive and deal solid damage.
Mid-game: Start investing in secondary stats like Endurance or Mind to improve stamina and FP.
Late game: Fine-tune stats for a specific build, often requiring careful farming or exploration to gather enough runes.
One of the most common questions players ask is about death. In general, here’s how it works:
You drop all your unspent runes at the spot where you died.
You respawn at the last Site of Grace you rested at.
You can walk back and recover your runes, but if you die again before reaching them, they disappear.
Most players treat rune collection like a risk-reward system. If you have a huge number of runes, it’s usually safer to spend some before trying a difficult boss or risky area. This approach is what separates players who steadily progress from those who keep losing large amounts of runes repeatedly.
Some players ask if it’s possible to get runes without fighting enemies. The answer is usually yes, but only indirectly. In practice, this means:
Selling items you’ve found.
Completing quests.
Using certain consumables that increase rune gain.
It’s worth noting that in general, the most reliable way to get runes is still through combat. While some in-game tools or strategies can boost rune acquisition temporarily, they usually supplement rather than replace normal farming.
For example, U4N has been mentioned in discussions about rune optimization. Players often share tips on locations or items that improve rune gain. While U4N isn’t a requirement to level up, knowing which areas or tactics offer the best returns can save time.
This is a subtle but important question. Most players develop an informal “spend threshold.” For example:
Don’t hold more than 10,000–20,000 unspent runes when heading into a boss fight.
Spend smaller amounts frequently to avoid losing huge sums on a careless death.
Plan ahead for major purchases or upgrades, saving runes for the items that have the most impact on your build.
The key takeaway is that runes are not infinite. Most players treat them like a resource to manage carefully rather than a number to constantly maximize.
Opinions vary, but in general, most experienced players don’t find rune farming tedious because it’s integrated into exploration. You’re usually fighting enemies as part of a larger goal—clearing an area, gathering materials, or hunting a boss. If you focus only on numbers, it can feel repetitive, but when treated as part of the gameplay loop, rune collection becomes natural.
Some players even enjoy optimizing routes for rune farming, treating it like a mini-strategy layer on top of combat. Others prefer to progress naturally, accepting slower level-ups in exchange for varied gameplay. Both approaches are valid, and most players find a balance that fits their style.
Runes in Elden Ring are simple in concept but require practical management. Most players use them for leveling, upgrading gear, and buying essentials, while always weighing the risk of losing them on death. Farming methods vary, but common patterns involve killing respawning enemies, exploring high-reward areas, selling loot, and completing quests.
In practice, leveling efficiently is less about grinding endlessly and more about understanding the system: spend runes wisely, farm when needed, and integrate rune collection into normal exploration. Even small improvements in strategy—like managing unspent runes before tough fights—can make a big difference.