Elden Ring: 21 Tricks to Improve Rune Gains Without Farming

ThunderFrost

In Elden Ring, runes are your lifeblood. They serve as both currency and experience, meaning the more you collect, the stronger you become. But constant farming can feel repetitive, especially when you’ve already cleared out your favorite rune-rich zones. Fortunately, there are several clever ways to increase your rune gains naturally—without falling into the grind loop. Here are 21 practical tricks to help you maximize rune income while playing normally.

1. Use the Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot
This consumable boosts rune acquisition for a limited time. Activate it before defeating bosses or clearing enemy camps to multiply your rune income.

2. Equip the Gold Scarab Talisman
One of the most effective passive boosters, the Gold Scarab increases the amount of runes earned from any source. You can obtain it in the Abandoned Cave.

3. Fight in High-Yield Areas as You Progress
Instead of revisiting early zones, push forward to mid-game and late-game regions like Altus Plateau or Consecrated Snowfield. Enemies here drop significantly more runes.

4. Tackle World Bosses Regularly
Bosses like Night’s Cavalry and Death Rite Birds give massive rune rewards upon defeat, making them excellent for burst gains with no farming required.

5. Co-op for Rune Rewards
Helping other players defeat bosses via summoning not only avoids rune loss but also grants full boss rune rewards without using your own flasks or resources.

6. Invade and Duel in PvP
Winning PvP invasions or duels can net you decent runes, especially when facing players carrying large amounts. It’s also a refreshing change of pace from PvE grinding.

7. Respec Smartly
Reallocating your stats via Rennala allows you to optimize your build and defeat enemies more efficiently—thus increasing rune gains through faster progression.

8. Clear Dungeons and Catacombs
Many players skip optional mini-dungeons, but these areas often hide valuable rune drops and high-level enemies that give good returns.

9. Use Spirit Ashes Strategically
Summoning powerful Spirit Ashes like Black Knife Tiche or Mimic Tear can help you win fights more easily, which means more efficient rune collection.

10. Experiment with AoE Spells or Weapons
Area-of-effect attacks let you eliminate multiple enemies at once, turning ambushes and mob packs into quick rune boosts.

11. Take Advantage of Night-Time Bosses
Some elite bosses only appear at night. Defeating them once offers a solid burst of runes and often unlocks rare gear too.

12. Sell Unused Items
You likely have dozens of weapons, armor pieces, and crafting mats collecting dust. Sell them at merchant shops for quick rune conversions.

13. Buy Elden Ring items PS5 to Strengthen Builds
Investing in better equipment can make your playthrough smoother and rune collection more efficient. While some players prefer to earn gear, others choose to Buy Elden Ring items PS5 to optimize faster.

14. Target Rune Beetles
These glowing scarabs often drop usable runes or valuable crafting materials. They’re easy to kill if you sneak up on them, so don’t ignore them.

15. Use Rune-Boosting Gear in Specific Situations
If you’re entering a boss arena or raiding a high-risk zone, equip your rune-boosting talismans just before the fight. No need to wear them all the time.

16. Chain Kill Enemy Groups
Many areas reward additional runes for quickly defeating groups of enemies. These small bonuses add up over time if you play aggressively.

17. Take Down Caravans and Troll Wagons
Enemies escorting massive wagons often carry high-value loot and yield solid rune drops. These encounters also feel more like world events than farming.

18. Use Great Runes Effectively
Activating certain Great Runes, like Godrick’s, enhances your combat potential, making encounters faster and safer—resulting in more rune rewards per time spent.

19. Buy Elden Ring runes Xbox for a Boost
While it’s rewarding to earn runes naturally, some players opt to buy Elden Ring runes Xbox to skip the grind and focus on challenging content or build experimentation.

20. Explore Hidden Paths and Ruins
Off-the-path ruins often hide tough enemies or mini-bosses that drop significant runes. Exploring thoroughly can yield better results than sticking to the main road.

21. Fight With Purpose, Not for Farming
Ultimately, the best rune gains come from playing the game how it’s meant to be played—exploring, taking risks, and challenging yourself. Runes will flow naturally when you’re actively progressing.

You don’t have to run laps around Mohgwyn Palace or storm Fort Faroth endlessly to gain runes. With these tricks, you’ll find yourself growing stronger while enjoying everything Elden Ring has to offer—without the burnout of repetitive farming. Whether you play on Xbox or PS5, optimizing your experience and gear will keep the rune counter rising.