Elden Ring’s world is vast, beautiful, and brutally unforgiving. From the moment you step into the Lands Between, every rune counts. These precious resources are the lifeblood of your character’s growth, allowing you to level up stats, buy gear, and upgrade your arsenal. For new players, understanding how to spend runes wisely can make the difference between smooth progress and repeated frustration.
Having spent hundreds of hours exploring every corner of this masterpiece, here are 21 practical tactics to help you get the most value out of your runes—especially in those crucial early hours.
1. Don’t Hoard Runes Needlessly
The number one mistake beginners make? Sitting on a massive pile of runes and dying before using them. Use what you need, when you need it. Don’t be afraid to level up or make purchases between tough areas.
2. Prioritize Vigor Early On
Many new players underestimate the importance of health. Invest in Vigor early—it increases survivability more than most other stats in the first 30 levels.
3. Invest in a Core Weapon Early
Find a weapon that suits your playstyle and start upgrading it. It's better to have one strong weapon than five mediocre ones. Use runes to buy smithing stones or invest in upgrades at the blacksmith.
4. Know When to Farm
Stuck on a boss? Consider farming. One of the best farming spots for beginners is just past the Third Church of Marika near the teleporter to Greyoll’s Dragonbarrow. Be cautious—enemies hit hard, but the rune return is worth it.
5. Buy Useful Items, Not Everything
It’s tempting to buy every item a vendor offers, but early on, you should stick to essentials like smithing stones, crafting materials, and spirit ashes.
6. Upgrade Your Flask Count and Strength
Use runes to pay for upgrades at Sites of Grace after collecting Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears. More flasks = better survival = fewer lost runes.
7. Learn Before You Level
Take time to experiment before heavily investing in any build. Once you find a style that feels right—magic, melee, ranged—start committing runes to the appropriate stats.
8. Don’t Neglect Endurance
Stamina governs rolls, blocks, and attacks. It’s easy to overlook, but investing a few points into Endurance can make tough fights more manageable.
9. Memorize the Rune Cost Curve
As you level up, rune costs increase. Understanding this helps you budget and prevents wasting runes on minor stat bumps when gear upgrades might offer a bigger boost.
10. Use Consumables Before Farming
Rune-boosting items like the Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot significantly increase your returns. Use them when farming or preparing for rune-heavy boss fights.
11. Store Your Runes Safely
When you know a tough boss is coming, or you're exploring an unknown area, consider spending your runes first—or use a consumable item like the Sacrificial Twig to preserve them.
12. Don’t Overspend on Magic Early
Magic builds are strong, but Glintstone spells and staves can get expensive fast. Focus on a few reliable spells rather than trying to collect them all too early.
13. Upgrade Spirit Ashes
Spirit summons are incredibly helpful, especially in boss fights. Use runes to strengthen them via Roderika at the Roundtable Hold.
14. Buy elden ring runes online—Cautiously
For players short on time or stuck on a difficult area, some choose to buy elden ring runes online. While this can save grinding time, be sure to understand the risks and use only reliable sources.
15. Explore Before You Spend
You’ll find tons of gear and upgrade items just by exploring. Before using runes to buy equipment, make sure it’s not obtainable in-game for free.
16. Don’t Buy Armor Too Early
Armor generally has minor stat differences. Instead of using runes on armor early, invest in leveling or weapon upgrades.
17. Use the Bell Bearings Wisely
Bell Bearings unlock shop options at the Twin Maiden Husks. Use them to spend runes on smithing stones and other upgrade materials you might otherwise miss.
18. Balance Strength and Dexterity
Many weapons scale off both stats. A balanced spread in the early game ensures more weapon flexibility until you commit to a final build.
19. Buy from the Best Place to Buy Elden Ring Items
If you do plan to acquire gear outside the game, the best place to buy Elden Ring items is one with a strong community reputation and fast, reliable delivery. Avoid sketchy sellers and prioritize platforms trusted by the Elden Ring community.
20. Plan for Rebirth
Later in the game, you’ll unlock the ability to respec your character. This lets you shift your stat allocation—but it doesn’t refund runes spent. So be strategic with early leveling choices.
21. Don’t Chase Meta Too Early
Meta builds change, especially with patches. Focus on what’s fun and effective for you rather than trying to mirror endgame PvP or PvE builds right away.
Runes in Elden Ring are a currency of progress and power. Used wisely, they’ll carry you through the Lands Between with far less frustration. While it's tempting to blow through levels or stockpile items, taking a calculated approach to rune spending will keep you stronger, safer, and more prepared for the chaos that lies ahead.
And remember—whether you're farming them naturally or looking to buy elden ring runes online, what truly matters is enjoying the journey. May your flask stay full, your sword stay sharp, and your rune count never drop to zero.
