Runes are everything in Elden Ring—they're your currency for leveling, buying gear, and upgrading weapons. If you've played for even a few hours, you've probably realized how fast they come and go. Whether you're a fresh Tarnished or knee-deep in New Game+, maximizing rune gains is key to staying ahead of the curve. Below are 22 reliable tips that experienced players use to stack up runes efficiently and consistently.

1. Target High-Yield Farming Zones
Start with locations like Mohgwyn Palace or the Windmill Village in Altus Plateau. These areas are known for dense enemy clusters that drop a lot of runes per kill.

2. Equip the Gold Scarab Talisman
This talisman significantly increases rune acquisition. If you're serious about farming, it's a must-have and worth the effort it takes to obtain.

3. Use Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot
It’s a consumable that temporarily boosts rune drops. Use it strategically before boss fights or high-density enemy runs.

4. Farm Passive Enemies
Ghost Glovewort miners and zombies in certain areas give solid rune payouts and are easy to kill with AoE.

5. Focus on Rune-Efficient Bosses
Bosses like the Bell Bearing Hunters offer big rewards without long dungeon crawls. Hunt them at night for easy high-value gains.

6. Clear Evergaols
They offer challenging yet isolated boss fights, often with rune-rich rewards and minimal distractions.

7. Use AoE Spells or Skills
Moves like Swarm of Flies or Moonveil’s projectile slash can take out multiple enemies quickly, making rune farming more efficient.

8. Kill NPC Invaders
Many invaders drop decent rune rewards and respawn if you enter NG+. Some even drop useful Elden Ring Items for later use.

9. Activate Great Runes
While primarily for stat boosts, using Great Runes during exploration or grinding sessions can help you clear enemies faster and survive longer—indirectly increasing rune efficiency.

10. Join Online Co-op for Boss Hunts
Helping other players with tough bosses is a safe and rewarding way to farm runes without risking your own.

11. Use Torrent for Hit-and-Run Farming
Areas like Deeproot Depths or Caelid can be traversed quickly using Torrent to strike and retreat while staying mobile and alive.

12. Use a Rune Multiplier Build
Some players craft specific loadouts built around maximizing rune drops, using both gear and consumables.

13. Don't Let Runes Sit Unused
Spend them strategically after each farming session—either to level up or buy Elden Ring Items that support your builds. It reduces the risk of losing them on death.

14. Backup Save Before Boss Fights
If you're playing offline, this lets you retry big rune opportunities without the risk of losing your gains.

15. Explore Hidden Areas
Areas like Nokron and the Haligtree offer excellent farming zones if you're willing to dig deeper.

16. Use Ashes of War to Farm Faster
Equipping the right Ash of War can drastically improve your speed and efficiency when clearing groups of enemies.

17. Avoid Over-Investing in One Stat
Balanced builds can clear enemies more efficiently than hyper-specialized ones, letting you get more runes per minute in the long run.

18. Focus on Mid-Game Grinding
Rune-to-effort ratios are often best in the mid-game. Don't wait until the endgame to start optimizing your gains.

19. Use Cheap Elden Ring Runes for Experimentation
If you’re testing new builds or planning to respec, having extra runes from less grind-heavy methods can save time and stress.

20. Clear Legacy Dungeons Thoroughly
These areas are dense with enemies and hidden rooms full of valuable drops and rune-rich encounters.

21. Don’t Overlook Minor Bosses
Tree Spirits, Deathbirds, and other field bosses often drop substantial rune hauls and are typically easier to beat with the right approach.

22. Farm Safely with Spirit Ashes
Summons like Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche can handle enemies while you stay out of danger and rake in the runes.

Maximizing rune gain isn’t just about grinding—it’s about being smart with your time, gear, and strategies. While some players prefer to earn everything manually, others choose to buy Elden Ring Items or even seek out cheap Elden Ring runes to speed things up. Either way, having more runes at your disposal gives you the freedom to build creatively and face tougher challenges without being under-leveled. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll always have the runes you need when it matters most.