If you’ve spent any time in Elden Ring, you know just how crucial runes are. Whether you’re leveling up, buying gear, or upgrading your arsenal, runes fuel nearly everything. But with great power comes great risk—losing a pocket full of runes in a sudden ambush can be downright demoralizing. To help you avoid costly mistakes and make the most of every rune you earn, here are 20 tips based on real experience in the Lands Between.

1. Spend Runes Before Exploring Risky Areas

If you're heading into a dungeon or boss fight, don't carry a fortune in your back pocket. Level up or buy Elden Ring Items before you put yourself in danger.

2. Use Rune Items in Safe Zones Only

Those consumable Golden Runes can be a lifeline—just don’t pop them while enemies are nearby. Always use them at a Site of Grace.

3. Level Efficiently, Not Randomly

It’s tempting to spread your stats, but focused builds yield better returns on your runes. Know what weapons or spells you want to use, then level accordingly.

4. Bank Runes in the Form of Items

If you’re not ready to spend your runes, convert them into consumable rune items. This way, you can safely store value without risking a big loss on death.

5. Know When to Buy Elden Ring Runes

If you’ve hit a wall or simply don’t have the time to grind, some players opt to buy Elden Ring runes to give their progress a boost. Just be mindful of the source and platform rules.

6. Invest in Equipment Upgrades

Upgrading your gear can often provide more tangible combat benefits than leveling. Don’t underestimate the power of a fully-upgraded weapon.

7. Use Runes to Stock Up on Crafting Mats

Crafting can save you in a pinch, so spend some runes on materials when you find a merchant. Crafting firepots, poison cures, and arrows adds flexibility to your build.

8. Always Retrieve Lost Runes—Cautiously

If you’ve died with a large rune stash, it’s often worth going back. But scout ahead carefully, and be ready for whatever killed you the first time.

9. Watch for Rune-Boosting Talismans

Some talismans increase the number of runes gained from enemies. Equip these when you’re farming to maximize returns.

10. Target High-Yield Enemies for Farming

Certain areas have enemies that give thousands of runes per kill. Seek out these zones—like the Albinaurics near Mohgwyn Palace—for efficient farming.

11. Use Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot

This consumable temporarily boosts rune gain. Use it just before farming mobs or defeating bosses to get more bang for your buck.

12. Join Online Farming Sessions

Multiplayer can be more than PvP. Players often team up to farm runes quickly in high-level zones.

13. Plan Purchases Strategically

Don’t impulsively spend runes on every item you see. Know what Elden Ring Items you need for your build, and prioritize accordingly.

14. Avoid Hoarding Runes

Runes don’t earn interest—don’t hold onto them unnecessarily. Use them to upgrade, buy gear, or level up before risking death.

15. Respect the Soft Caps

Each attribute in Elden Ring has diminishing returns after certain thresholds. Knowing these soft caps can help you avoid wasting runes on inefficient levels.

16. Beware of Traps in High-Rune Zones

The game loves to bait you with easy enemies before dropping a surprise boss or trap. Always be on guard when rune-farming.

17. Time Your Level Ups Around Bosses

Leveling right before a boss can give you the edge you need, especially when just a few more Vigor points can help you survive a deadly combo.

18. Use Runes to Experiment with Builds

Respecting your character can cost larval tears and effort, but you can buy duplicate weapons and test alternate builds if you’ve got enough runes.

19. Balance Offense and Defense in Spending

It’s easy to dump runes into raw damage, but don’t neglect HP and stamina. Survivability matters just as much, especially in longer fights.

20. Prepare for NG+ Early

If you're planning a New Game Plus run, start banking useful Elden Ring Items and upgrade materials now while rune farming is easy.

Whether you're a Tarnished fresh off the tutorial cliffs or a seasoned vet braving Haligtree, runes are your lifeline. Spend them wisely, farm them efficiently, and don’t let greed be your downfall. With these tips in mind, your rune game will be stronger—and far less frustrating.