What is the Best Place to Farm Runes Early in Elden Ring?
If you're just starting out in the vast and unforgiving world of Elden Ring, you've likely realized that runes are your lifeblood. They're the currency you need to level up your character, purchase new gear, and upgrade your weapons. But early in the game, those runes can feel like they're drying up faster than you can collect them. So, the burning question for many Tarnished is: What is the best place to farm runes early?
While there isn't one single "magic bullet" location that will make you obscenely rich overnight, there are definitely highly efficient spots that can significantly boost your rune income in the early hours of the game. We're going to break down the most effective strategies, focusing on accessibility and ease of execution for a new player.
The Limgrave Trolls: A Classic for a Reason
For many players, the most straightforward and reliable early-game rune farm involves the group of trolls found in Limgrave. These lumbering giants offer a decent chunk of runes per kill, and they are relatively easy to dispatch once you get a handle on their attack patterns.
Location: Gatefront Ruins Area
The primary cluster of these trolls can be found just a short distance north of the Gatefront Ruins Site of Grace. This is one of the first Sites of Grace you'll likely encounter after the tutorial area, making it incredibly accessible.
How to Farm Them:
- Approach Carefully: Don't rush in. Observe their patrol paths and their general behavior.
- Isolate and Attack: The key here is to lure them out one by one. Use your bow to agro a single troll from a distance, then retreat to a safe spot where the others can't easily reach you.
- Target Their Legs: Trolls are often most vulnerable in their legs. Many players find success by attacking their hind legs. You can often stagger them, leading to a critical hit opportunity.
- Utilize Your Mount (Torrent): Once you've unlocked Torrent, the spectral steed, he becomes invaluable. You can quickly get close to a troll, get a few hits in, and then ride away to safety if you need to heal or avoid an attack. This also makes it easier to disengage and lure them individually.
- Repeat and Rest: After defeating a troll, collect your runes. Then, head back to the Gatefront Ruins Site of Grace. Resting at the Site of Grace will respawn all the enemies, including the trolls, allowing you to repeat the process.
Estimated Runes Per Run: Depending on your level and weapon, a successful run through the troll group can yield anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000+ runes. This might not sound like a lot, but consistently repeating this can build up your rune count quickly.
The "Little Guys" of Limgrave: Soldiers and Knights
Another excellent early-game farming spot involves the soldiers and knights you'll find scattered throughout Limgrave. While individually they offer fewer runes than trolls, their sheer numbers and the prevalence of Sites of Grace near their encampments make them a viable option, especially if you're looking for a more engaging combat experience.
Location: Stormhill Evergaol and surrounding areas
The area around the Stormhill Evergaol, and the roads leading up to Stormveil Castle, are populated with various soldiers and a few knights. These are often grouped together, so you'll need to be a bit more tactical.
How to Farm Them:
- Utilize Stealth: If you're playing a character that favors stealth or has decent Dexterity, you can often sneak up on groups of soldiers and get critical hits for massive damage.
- Hit and Run Tactics: Similar to the trolls, you can use Torrent to quickly engage a small group, get a few hits, and disengage. This is particularly effective against the more basic soldiers.
- Target Isolated Enemies: Look for soldiers who have wandered away from the main group. These are easier to deal with individually.
- Clear Camps: Some areas have small encampments of soldiers. Clearing these out can be rewarding, and the Sites of Grace are usually close by.
- Be Wary of Knights: The knights in these areas are tougher opponents and will require more skill and patience. It's often best to focus on the weaker soldiers first, or to engage the knights when you feel confident in your combat abilities.
The Benefit of Variety: Farming soldiers and knights can also yield useful items like soldier's armor, shields, and weapons that you can either use or sell for additional runes. This adds another layer of benefit to this farming method.
The "Giant Land Octopus" of Liurnia: A Riskier, Higher Reward Option
Once you're feeling a bit more confident and have perhaps ventured into the Liurnia of the Lakes region, there's a particularly lucrative, albeit slightly more dangerous, early-game farm: the giant land octopuses. These creatures are slow-moving and, when killed, drop a significant number of runes.
Location: Liurnia of the Lakes - Eastern Shore
Head towards the eastern shore of Liurnia of the Lakes, specifically the area just north of the Artist's Shack Site of Grace. You'll find several of these large, bulbous creatures grazing near the water's edge.
How to Farm Them:
- Mount Up: Torrent is absolutely essential for this farm. The octopuses have a ranged attack that can be devastating if you're on foot.
- Hit and Run: Ride up to an octopus, get a few hits in on its body (their heads can be tricky to reach consistently), and then quickly ride away to avoid its spit attack.
- Target Specific Areas: While hitting anywhere on their body will damage them, some players find that targeting their hindquarters or sides is more effective for consistent damage.
- Be Patient: These creatures have a good amount of health, so this method requires a bit more persistence than the trolls.
- Rest and Repeat: After defeating one, ride back to the Artist's Shack Site of Grace, rest, and return to farm them again.
Higher Rune Yield: Each giant land octopus can drop upwards of 1,000 runes, and often more. With a few of them clustered in this area, this farm can provide a significant boost to your rune count relatively quickly.
Key Considerations for Early Game Rune Farming
Regardless of the location you choose, keep these general tips in mind:
- Site of Grace is Your Friend: Always ensure you have a convenient Site of Grace nearby to rest at. This respawns enemies and allows you to save your progress.
- Don't Get Greedy: It's better to retreat and survive with fewer runes than to die and lose all of them.
- Experiment with Weapons and Skills: Different weapons and Ashes of War will be more effective against different enemies. Don't be afraid to try out what you have.
- Consider Golden Runes: Throughout your exploration, you'll find consumable items called "Golden Runes." Save these for when you're just a few runes shy of leveling up. They are a guaranteed rune boost.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many runes can I expect from the Limgrave trolls?
You can generally expect to get between 1,000 to 2,000+ runes per run, depending on your weapon and damage output. This is a solid, consistent income for the early game.
Why is farming runes important early on?
Farming runes early on is crucial for improving your character's stats, which directly impacts your survivability and effectiveness in combat. Higher levels mean more health, more damage, and better defense, making the challenging early areas of Elden Ring more manageable.
Are there any specific spells or incantations that help with rune farming?
While not strictly necessary for early game farming, spells like Glintstone Pebble or certain Spirit Ashes can help you dispatch enemies more efficiently, especially when dealing with groups. Later in the game, more specialized rune-boosting items and spells become available.
What is the fastest way to travel between farming spots?
Once unlocked, using Torrent, your spectral steed, is by far the fastest way to traverse the open world and return to Sites of Grace. Fast travel to discovered Sites of Grace is also a key mechanic.
Should I worry about losing runes if I die while farming?
Yes, you should. When you die, you drop all the runes you are currently carrying at your death location. You have one chance to retrieve them. If you die again before reaching your dropped runes, they are lost forever. This is why it's often advisable to spend your runes at a Site of Grace when you've accumulated a significant amount.
