Elden Ring isn't the easiest game, and its unrelenting opening hours might throw off new players. The game's first boss, The Tree Sentinel, acts as an important lesson for newcomers that if an enemy is too tough to beat, they can turn back and head in a different direction. Once a player makes this realization, it won't take long before a natural gameplay rhythm sets in: explore, kill some enemies, level up, and take on the boss that once stomped them.
But this rhythm isn't for everyone, and some players might want to take on those tougher Elden Ring bosses as early as possible. In this case, players will need to head to some specific sections of the Lands Between where they can take out whole groups of enemies in seconds, and farm all of their dropped Runes. After a few hours farming, new players should have enough levels to take on even some of the game's most difficult foes.
Best Rune Farming Locations in Limgrave
The first region in Elden Ring, Limgrave, has a good handful of Rune farming locations that will massively help new players looking to make an overpowered build. Before setting out, players should make sure they've got plenty of Gold-Pickled Fowl Foots in their inventory, as these consumables give a 30 percent boost to Rune acquisition for around three minutes.
One of the best early-game Rune farming locations is the Gatefront in West Limgrave. Within just a few minutes, the player should be able to take out all the foot soldiers stationed there, along with their dogs. This should yield the player around 1,300 Runes, which at this stage of the game should gain the player at least a few levels after a couple attempts. If the player isn't feeling too confident yet, they could pick up the Spirit Calling Bell at the Church of Elleh and use some Spirit Ashes to help aggro the pack of enemies.
A more dangerous, but more lucrative farming spot in Limgrave can be found just south of the Warmaster's Shack, on the hill with all the Elden Ring trolls. Taking down one of these trolls nets the player 1,000 Runes, so by killing all five trolls on the ridge, the player should earn about 5,000 Runes per-run. New players may want to avoid this though, as the trolls do pack a mean punch. Using magic can help to take down these enemies pretty easily.
Best Rune Farming Locations in Liurnia of the Lakes
Elden Ring's Liurnia of the Lakes isn't the best region for Rune farming, but there are one or two areas that should yield some decent results. If the player heads to the Carian Study Hall, they should be able to rack up about 6,000 Runes within a few minutes.
Upon ascending the elevator, blue spirits will start to appear around the player. These spirits can be easily killed, netting the player around 300 Runes per-spirit. There is one major downside to this location though, that being the incredibly powerful NPC which will fire magic projectiles at the player. These are capable of one-shotting even the most powerful build in Elden Ring.
Alternatively, if the player wants a completely safe Rune farming spot, they should head to the Liurnia Highway North Site of Gace and travel north. Along the way, the player will encounter two groups of enemies battling. As long as the player is close enough, they'll earn Runes for each enemy killed without having to shed any blood themselves.
Best Rune Farming Locations in Caelid
Possibly the best region for Rune farming, Caelid has several spots that should net the player over 10,000 Runes every 10-to-15 minutes; as long as they're willing to take on some hard-hitting enemies. Before taking on any of these foes, players should find the Abandoned Cave in Caelid's Dragonbarrow area and defeat the boss to earn a Golden Scarab Talisman, which increases Rune acquisition by about 20 percent, and also stacks with the Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot.
To get to Caelid quickly, players should take the portal hidden to the north of the Third Church of Marika. Players will find themselves outside the Bestial Sanctum, where they can ride Torrent straight past the large boss at the foot of the stairs to reach the nearest Site of Grace. Once there, players can take each Imp enemy out one-by-one. This should gain the player about 7,000 Runes every run.
One of the best farming spots in the entire game can be found in Caelid's War-Dead Catacombs. As this dungeon can only be accessed after defeating Radahn, this is more of a late-game farming spot. Inside the dungeon, players will witness two groups of ghostly enemies hacking away at each other. These spirits are incredibly powerful, but by hiding in the room just before the boss fog, players can sit and wait for the Runes to come rolling in. It may take some time, but these enemies drop about 2,000 Runes each and spawn infinitely.
Best Rune Farming Locations in Altus Plateau
Altus Plateau has several Rune farming spots that are ideal for players in the mid-game. One of the best locations is the Windmill Village, which can be found at the northern peak of Altus Plateau. If the player is quick enough and has a well-leveled weapon, they should be able to dispatch the dancing villagers in just 90 seconds, netting them about 3,500 Runes every minute-and-a-half.
If players feel like taking on more of a challenge, the caravan on the road near the Iniquity Side Path Site of Grace is a good pick. This caravan has several trolls, multiple footsoldiers, and a Pumpkin Head enemy. It's a tough fight, but should reward the player with about 20,000 Runes per-run.
Best Rune Farming Locations in the Mountaintops of the Giants
Being one of the last areas in Elden Ring, the Mountaintops of the Giants has some of the most lucrative farming spots, but each comes with a significant challenge. The fastest and easiest Rune farming spot in this region can be found in the Zamor Ruins. If the player is skilled enough, they can easily take out the single enemy just a few meters away from the Site of Grace. If the player is fast enough, this can net them about 5,000 Runes in just a minute or so.
One of the most difficult areas in the game, Haligtree, can be found in this region. Though it's tricky to get to, requiring Elden Ring players to find some hidden items, this area is one of the most lucrative Rune farming spots in the game, with standard enemies dropping a few thousand Runes each. In particular, the balcony just past the Prayer Room Site of Grace should net the player about 18,000 Runes per-run.
Elden Ring is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.