($) USD
0
In Elden Ring, runes are the primary currency for leveling up, purchasing gear, and upgrading weapons. However, not all rune spending is equally beneficial in the long run. Understanding how to invest your Elden Ring runes wisely can make a significant difference in both your survivability and power scaling throughout the game. This guide shares reliable strategies for investing runes efficiently while also highlighting some essential Elden Ring items to prioritize.
The most secure early investment for your runes is increasing your Vigor and Endurance stats. These attributes raise your HP and stamina, giving you better survivability and mobility. While it’s tempting to pour runes into damage stats right away, a few extra points in these defensive areas can keep you alive in situations where a glass-cannon build might fail.
Tip: Aim for at least 25 Vigor by mid-game. It gives you enough health to survive most hits, including from bosses like Margit or Radahn.
Rather than buying multiple weapons, use your Elden Ring runes to upgrade one or two main weapons. The damage scaling from upgrading weapons often surpasses investing the same number of runes into stats. This is particularly true for early- and mid-game progression.
Look out for Elden Ring items like Smithing Stone [1] to [6] and Somber Smithing Stones. These are essential for improving normal and unique weapons, respectively. Investing in these items through merchants like Smithing Master Hewg or at isolated merchants across the Lands Between can help you stay ahead of the difficulty curve.
Spirit Ashes can change the outcome of many tough battles. Spending runes to upgrade them at Roderika in Roundtable Hold is often an excellent investment. Tanky summons like Lhutel the Headless or DPS-heavy ones like the Mimic Tear are worth leveling with Ghost Gloveworts or Grave Gloveworts, which can also be bought or found.
Pairing strong summons with efficient rune usage creates a more balanced and survivable combat setup.
Before investing too many runes, decide what kind of build you want to commit to: strength, dexterity, magic, or faith. Focused rune investment in your primary damage stats helps you avoid wasted levels and makes your character more effective.
Respeccing later is possible through Elden Ring items like Larval Tears, but these are limited and best used sparingly. Being intentional about your build will save you from having to redo progress with a respec.
Certain Elden Ring items help increase the number of runes you gain from enemies or protect your current rune pool. These include:
Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot: Temporarily boosts rune acquisition.
Sacred Scorpion Charm: Useful for boosting Holy damage output when farming.
Mottled Necklace: Helps you survive rune farms with increased resistances.
Use these during rune farming sessions or difficult boss fights to protect your gains.
Knowing when to spend and when to farm is key. Early in the game, it’s worth spending runes regularly to stay strong. But later in the game, you may find more benefit in saving them for expensive upgrades or critical gear purchases.
Great late-game rune farming spots like Mohgwyn Palace or the Consecrated Snowfield can earn hundreds of thousands of runes per hour. Consider stockpiling Elden Ring runes before entering difficult zones like Crumbling Farum Azula or the Haligtree.
Elden Ring items such as the Hero’s Rune or Lord’s Rune allow you to store large quantities of runes as consumables. These are great for holding onto wealth without the risk of losing them on death. Use them only when you’re near a Site of Grace or ready to spend them.
Mastering rune investment is about balancing your needs between leveling, upgrading, and purchasing critical gear. Whether you’re early in your journey or deep into New Game Plus, making smart use of your Elden Ring runes ensures steady progress. Always combine spending with strategic farming and prioritize key Elden Ring items that support your build and playstyle. With a bit of foresight, you can make every rune count.
