As someone who’s spent hundreds of hours exploring the Lands Between, I can confidently say that runes are the lifeblood of progression in Elden Ring. Whether you're upgrading your weapons, leveling your character, or purchasing critical items, elden ring runes are essential at every stage. After several playthroughs and countless rune farming experiments, I’ve gathered a list of 10 rune locations you shouldn’t miss. These spots offer not only a generous supply of runes but also a glimpse into some of the game’s most memorable environments. Whether you're a new player or preparing for New Game+, this list will help you maximize your efficiency.
This is hands-down the best late-game rune farming location. After unlocking Mohgwyn Palace via Varre’s questline or a portal in Consecrated Snowfield, you’ll find clusters of Albinaurics ripe for farming. Using an AoE weapon or spell here can net you over 40,000 runes per minute. I’ve personally spent hours here just to push past level 150.
In Caelid, Fort Faroth hides a massive sleeping dragon surrounded by smaller ones. With the right weapon and strategy, you can kill the big dragon without waking the smaller ones. I did this using a bleed weapon, and it gave me over 70,000 runesearly in the game. It's a one-time kill, but totally worth it.
This location ties into Fort Faroth. If you’ve unlocked the incantation Greyoll’s Roar and cleared the nearby enemies, the site becomes a recurring farming ground. While not as efficient as Mohgwyn, it’s a solid fallback that I’ve revisited often in mid-game.
Dominula, Windmill Village is a bizarre and eerie place filled with dancing enemies. These enemies are deceptively fragile and drop a decent amount of runes. I found it a fun and quick farming spot that doesn’t require high-level gear or risk.
After being teleported here via a trap chest in Limgrave, you can take on enemies that drop tons of runes—if you're careful. Alternatively, baiting the large Black Blade Kindred off the cliff is a classic trick. I did this during my first playthrough and was amazed at the rune payout.
Post-Radahn, Nokron opens up and offers a wealth of enemies. The area near the Mimic Tear boss is especially lucrative. I remember clearing this zone multiple times for consistent rune farming while enjoying the beautiful ruins and lore.
The enemies here are surprisingly rich in rune drops. Though it’s a bit hidden and filled with traps, once you memorize the route, it’s a good farming run. This place was part of my late-game farming circuit.
Enemies here drop tens of thousands of runes and respawn quickly. It’s a riskier area due to elemental damage, but using proper gear makes the risk worthwhile. I farmed here when I needed a change of scenery from Mohgwyn.
The manor offers a series of unique PvE challenges that reward you with both runes and gear. After finishing a contract, the enemy encounters along the way often drop hefty rune sums. Plus, this area ties in nicely with the story.
This hidden area is filled with rune-rich enemies, including soldiers and corrupted beasts. Farming here also gives you access to some beautiful sights and creepy lore, which made the grind more enjoyable for me.
If you’re short on time or simply want to boost your build quickly, some players choose to buy elden ring runesfrom trusted sources like U4GM. I personally tried this once during my second playthrough to test out a PvP build faster, and it worked smoothly. Just make sure to buy from reputable sellers to avoid account risks.
Whether you prefer grinding or exploring, these rune-rich locations in Elden Ringare too good to pass up. Runes are the core of your progression, and knowing where to find them can save you hours of farming. From my experience, balancing natural progression with smart farming makes the journey through the Lands Between even more rewarding.
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