Elden Ring Runes: 13 Ways to Avoid Wasting Soul Gains
In Elden Ring, runes are your most valuable resource—used for leveling up, upgrading gear, and buying essential items. Losing them due to careless deaths or inefficient farming can be frustrating, especially when you’ve put in hours of gameplay to accumulate them. Fortunately, there are smart ways to maximize your rune gains and avoid wasting them unnecessarily. Whether you’re a seasoned Tarnished or a newcomer trying to optimize your journey, these 13 tips will help you keep your rune count safe and growing.
1. Use Rune-Boosting Talismans and Items
Invest in talismans that increase rune acquisition, such as the Gold Scarab. Combining these with other rune-boosting effects ensures that every enemy kill yields more runes, reducing the time needed to farm.
2. Avoid Dying in Dangerous Areas
Deaths mean losing runes on the spot where you died, and if you die again before retrieving them, those runes vanish forever. Stay cautious around unfamiliar or high-level zones to prevent unnecessary losses.
3. Efficient Farming Routes
Optimize your farming runs by targeting enemies that drop high amounts of runes but are quick to defeat. Many players develop loops that maximize rune intake while minimizing risk.
4. Use Summons and Co-op Help
Playing with friends or NPC summons can reduce deaths and help clear tough areas faster, securing more runes per run.
5. Keep a Backup Save
Though it might seem tedious, regularly backing up your save file can protect your rune bank from unexpected losses, especially before risky farming sessions.
6. Spend Runes Regularly
Instead of hoarding runes, invest them frequently in leveling up or buying gear. This way, you reduce the impact of any lost runes if you do die.
7. Utilize Safe Zones for Farming
Some areas in Elden Ring allow you to farm runes with little threat. Identify these spots to safely accumulate runes over time.
8. Know When to Retreat
If a farming run isn’t going well or if you’re low on health and resources, it’s better to exit the area and bank your runes instead of risking death.
9. Prioritize Rune-Rich Bosses
Bosses and minibosses tend to drop a large number of runes. Defeating them repeatedly through respawning can be a lucrative way to boost your total runes quickly.
10. Manage Inventory Weight
Carrying too much can slow your roll, making you more vulnerable in fights. Optimizing your loadout keeps you agile and reduces chances of death.
11. Use Runes to Buy Upgrade Materials
Sometimes it’s more efficient to buy cheap Elden Ring Items and materials rather than hunting them down. This saves you time and reduces exposure to danger, helping you preserve your rune stash.
12. Take Advantage of Rune Vendors
Some NPCs sell elden ring runes for sale, allowing you to supplement your rune gains if you have excess items to trade or sell.
13. Plan Your Respec Carefully
Respeccing costs a hefty amount of runes and can set you back if done too frequently. Plan builds thoughtfully to avoid wasting large rune sums on unnecessary changes.
Runes are the currency that keeps your journey in Elden Ring moving forward. With these 13 strategies, you’ll be better equipped to protect your soul gains and make the most of every rune earned. Farming smarter, not harder, combined with prudent rune management will ensure your character grows steadily without frustrating setbacks. Remember, a well-managed rune economy is as crucial as mastering combat itself.