Secrets of the Runes: Elden Ring’s Best Spots to Farm Millions
In Elden Ring, runes are more than just a currency — they're the very essence of power, the lifeblood of the Tarnished, and the fuel that drives your journey across the Lands Between. You use them to level up, buy weapons and armor, upgrade gear, and purchase essential items. But in a world where death lurks behind every corner and every mistake costs you dearly, having a healthy stash of runes can be the difference between surviving and being a smear on the Erdtree's soil.
While every enemy drops runes, some spots in Elden Ring Runes are notorious for their farming potential — whether it's through dense enemy clusters, high-value kills, or clever exploits. In this guide, we'll uncover the best rune farming spots for early, mid, and late-game players alike, and help you stack millions to forge your legend.
Why Rune Farming Matters
Unlike Souls games of old, Elden Ring's massive open world means you can technically grind anywhere. But certain areas dramatically outpace others in rune-per-minute potential. Farming efficiently not only lets you power-level but also stock up for difficult bosses, buy rare items, and unlock high-end upgrades without the crushing penalty of lost runes from untimely deaths.
Now — let's lift the veil on the best rune farming locations in Elden Ring.
Early-Game Farming Spots
1. Gatefront Ruins (Limgrave)
Runes per hour: ~10,000 - 15,000
Perfect for brand new Tarnished. Defeating the soldiers and wolves in this early encampment yields consistent runes, weapons, and crafting materials. It's easy, safe, and good practice for melee and stealth players.
Pro tip: Rest at the nearby Site of Grace, rinse, and repeat.
2. Warmaster's Shack (Limgrave)
Runes per hour: ~15,000
The roaming trolls in this area drop around 1,000 runes each. With a mount and basic weaponry, you can kite and slay these giants for a tidy sum early in your adventure.
Mid-Game Farming Spots
3. Liurnia of the Lakes – Academy Gate Town
Runes per hour: ~40,000
Packed with Raya Lucaria soldiers and spectral enemies, this region offers solid mid-game farming. The enemies are relatively easy to stagger and group tightly for AoE spells or ashes of war.
Pro tip: Equip a Rune-boosting Talisman or Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot to enhance gains.
4. Altus Plateau – Windmill Village
Runes per hour: ~100,000
These unsettling, laughing villagers might seem harmless — but they drop a surprising number of runes. Their low health and large numbers make this a top-tier mid-game spot for AoE or fast melee builds.
Bonus: Defeating the Godskin Apostle boss here drops a hefty rune payout.
Late-Game Farming Spots
5. Palace Approach Ledge-Road (Mohgwyn Palace)
Runes per hour: 300,000 - 600,000+
This is the undisputed king of rune farms in Elden Ring. Accessible via Varre's questline or a teleporter in Consecrated Snowfield, this blood-soaked area is packed with Albinauric enemies that give 2,000+ runes each.
Farming method:
From the Palace Approach Ledge-Road Site of Grace, head left and eliminate the cluster of enemies.
Use AoE sorceries (like Comet Azur or Stars of Ruin) or powerful ashes of war to wipe groups quickly.
Pro tip: Combine this with the Gold Scarab Talisman (found in the Abandoned Cave) and Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot for maximum profit.
6. Greyoll's Dragon (Caelid)
Runes per run: ~75,000 (without boosts), up to 195,000 with Gold Scarab and Fowl Foot
If you're bold, you can defeat Elder Dragon Greyoll, a massive, immobile dragon surrounded by five smaller dragons. Use Bleed weapons (like the Reduvia or Bloodhound's Fang) to quickly reduce its colossal health bar.
Caution: Killing Greyoll is permanent in your game world, but it's a popular one-time rune windfall.
Bonus Methods: Rune Exploits & Tricks
7. Mohgwyn Palace Bird Rune Farm
Runes per hour: 200,000+
Stand at the Palace Approach Ledge-Road Site of Grace and snipe the large bird enemy across the blood swamp with a bow or spell. It'll run off a cliff to its death, dropping over 11,000 runes every time.
Why it's good: Zero risk, fast respawn, highly AFK-friendly.
Rune Boosting Items You Should Use
Maximize your farming with these:
Gold Scarab Talisman: Boosts rune acquisition by ~20-30%. Found in Abandoned Cave.
Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot: Temporary rune gain buff (~30%). Craft or find them.
Rune Arcs: Boost Great Runes'power (like Godrick's Great Rune for +5 to all attributes).
Final Thoughts
The beauty of Elden Ring Items lies in its openness — you can farm at your pace, using your preferred build and strategies. Whether you're slashing trolls in Limgrave, wiping out blood-soaked Albinaurics, or sniping suicidal swamp birds, there's a method for every Tarnished.
Remember: power without purpose is hollow. Farm your runes, but spend them wisely — invest in attributes that fit your build, upgrade your best weapons, and face the demigods as a true champion of the Lands Between.