MMOexp – Elden Ring Rune Guide: Best Areas to Grind Runes Fast

In Elden Ring, Runes are the single most valuable resource. They’re used to level up your stats, strengthen your character, purchase items, learn new spells, and upgrade weapons and armor. But every time you die, you risk losing all your hard-earned Runes, making efficient Rune farming a key survival tactic for Elden Ring Items any Tarnished.

This guide breaks down the best Rune farming locations across the Lands Between — from early-game safe spots to high-yield late-game zones, and even a top-tier farm in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Whether you’re a new player looking for passive farming or a veteran ready to wipe out endgame enemies, there’s something here for everyone.

Early Game Farm: Troll Hunting at Stormgate

Average Gain: 1,000 Runes per troll
Location: North of the Stormgate Site of Grace

This is a great spot for early Rune accumulation. A group of Trolls lingers just north of Stormgate, and each drops about 1,000 Runes. While intimidating at first, they’re slow and predictable — perfect for learning dodge timing and melee combat basics.

Pro Tip: Use a Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot to boost Rune gain by 30% for three minutes. You can craft it after purchasing the Missionary’s Cookbook [2] from Patches.

Passive Farming: Spectral War in Liurnia

Effort: Zero combat
Location: North of Liurnia North Road Site of Grace

If combat still feels risky, this passive method is for you. In this spot, spectral soldiers automatically battle each other. You just have to stand close enough and watch the Runes roll in.

This method isn’t very fast but is incredibly safe, making it perfect for beginners.

Mid-Game Method: Lenne’s Rise Rolling Ball Trap

Rune Gain: ~1,950 Runes every few seconds
Location: Path under the bridge near Lenne’s Rise

Head southwest from Lenne’s Rise and you’ll trigger a magical trap — a giant rolling ball summoned to crush you. By dodging at the right moment, the ball falls off a cliff and dies, giving you free Runes.

Repeat as much as you like for a fast and risk-free Rune stream.

Battlefield Bonus: Redmane Castle Skirmish

Passive Gain: Moderate
Location: Outside Redmane Castle

Teleport to the Impassable Greatbridge Site of Grace and go the opposite way. You’ll witness a battle between knights and Caelid beasts. Let them kill each other, and you’ll gain Runes passively.

Tip: For a long-term boost, defeat the boss of the Abandoned Cave in Caelid to earn the Gold Scarab Talisman, which increases all Rune gains by 20%.

High-Yield Method: Bestial Sanctum Road

Rune Gain: ~1,000 Runes per Vulgar Militiaman
Location: South of Bestial Sanctum

Head south from the Sanctum and slaughter the Vulgar Militiamen along the road. They’re weak and easily killed, making this a great way to earn steady Runes while practicing your combat skills.

Note: You’ll need to defeat the Black Blade Kindred to clear the Sanctum road for buy Elden Ring Runes easier access.

DLC Rune Farm: Ruined Forge Lava Intake (Shadow of the Erdtree)

Rune Gain: ~35,000 per run
Time: 30–45 seconds per loop

In the DLC’s Land of Shadow, go to the Ruined Forge Lava Intake Site of Grace, then head up the slope behind you. You’ll enter a dark field where enemies battle each other. Use a wide-range weapon art like Messmer’s Assault to quickly eliminate both sides and collect massive Rune rewards.

Ideal for those deep into the DLC who want to level up fast.

Late-Game Blitz: Haligtree Stealth Assassinations

Rune Gain: 2,000–3,000 per enemy
Location: Haligtree, starting from the Prayer Room Site of Grace

From the Prayer Room, walk along the parapets where most enemies are facing away from you — perfect for backstabs. These enemies are powerful but can be taken out in one hit with endgame gear.

This method is not only efficient but helps sharpen stealth and precision.

Top Rune Farm: Albinaurics at Mohgwyn Palace

Rune Gain: 4,700 per enemy
Location: Palace Approach Ledge-Road Site of Grace
Required Weapon: Sacred Relic Sword (or Hoarfrost Stomp, Starscourge Greatsword)

This is the best farming spot in the entire game. Just outside the Palace Approach Ledge-Road Site of Grace, a cluster of sleeping Albinaurics can be obliterated with an AoE weapon art. The Sacred Relic Sword, obtained after defeating the Elden Beast, is perfect for this.

Each run takes seconds and nets tens of thousands of Runes, making it possible to farm millions in just a few minutes.

Other Notable Farming Spots

Mountaintop of the Giants – Trolls, birds, and creepy fingercreepers fight each other, offering both passive and active Rune gains.
Stormveil Castle Interior (Revisit Later) – A surprising number of enemies make this Legacy Dungeon a solid mid-to-late game farming zone.
Windmill Village (Altus Plateau) – Celebrant enemies are clustered tightly and offer generous Rune drops; some of their weapons generate bonus Runes on hit.

Rune Farming Tips

Boosts: Always equip the Gold Scarab and consume Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot before farming.
NG+: The higher your New Game+ level, the more Runes you earn per kill.
AOE Weapons: AoE (area of effect) weapon skills dramatically increase Rune efficiency.

With these locations and methods, you’ll never be Rune-starved again — whether you’re just starting out or preparing to take down the hardest bosses in the game. Happy farming, Tarnished.