Elden Ring Runes: 10 Things You Should Never Do With Them
In Elden Ring, runes are more than just currency—they’re your lifeline to progression. Whether you're upgrading weapons, leveling up, or purchasing vital Elden Ring Items, how you manage your runes can drastically influence your journey through the Lands Between. And while farming them efficiently is crucial, mismanaging them can lead to frustrating setbacks. Here are ten mistakes you should avoid at all costs when dealing with your hard-earned runes.
1. Hoarding Without Spending
One of the most common mistakes players make is hoarding large amounts of runes without spending them. Dying twice in a row can mean losing hundreds of thousands. Spend them regularly—whether it’s on level-ups, gear upgrades, or consumables.
2. Leveling Without a Build Plan
Don’t just pour runes into whatever stat feels appealing at the moment. Without a build plan, you risk ending up with a jack-of-all-trades character that’s underpowered in late-game areas. If you're unsure, stick to a focused attribute spread aligned with your preferred weapons or spells.
3. Ignoring Smithing Upgrades
It’s tempting to invest all your runes into leveling, but your weapon scaling matters just as much. A +10 weapon often makes a bigger impact than a few extra levels. Always budget rune usage to keep your gear improving alongside your character.
4. Buying Unnecessary Items
Not every vendor is worth your runes. While it’s tempting to buy every shiny new thing, many Elden Ring Items found in shops can be looted in the world for free or are not especially useful. Be selective and prioritize items tied directly to your build.
5. Farming in Unsafe Zones
Losing runes while farming is frustrating and wasteful. If you're repeatedly dying in high-risk areas, it may be time to reevaluate your farming spots. Safe and consistent rune farms will yield more in the long run—even if the per-kill reward is lower.
6. Entering Boss Fights with Excess Runes
Heading into a boss battle with 100,000 runes in your pocket is just asking for trouble. Always spend or bank your runes before testing your luck against major encounters. You'll thank yourself when things go sideways.
7. Not Using Rune Arcs and Buff Items
Rune Arcs enhance your Great Runes but many players hoard them, forgetting they even exist. Don’t waste powerful tools that can make challenging segments far more manageable. Use them strategically in high-stakes zones or boss runs.
8. Over-Leveling for Co-op and PvP
While power-leveling can feel rewarding, going too high too fast limits your ability to co-op or engage in PvP at balanced brackets. Stick to soft caps and try to level evenly across key attributes. Overdoing it can isolate you from the multiplayer experience.
9. Disregarding Soft Caps
Each attribute has diminishing returns past certain levels. For example, Vigor’s HP gains slow dramatically past 40. If you're unaware of these breakpoints, you may waste runes on inefficient gains. Research before committing.
10. Ignoring External Resources
Some players try to brute-force everything themselves. While that’s admirable, Elden Ring is packed with secrets, and understanding how to best use your runes often comes down to knowledge. Whether it's community guides, build calculators, or checking what’s available in the Elden Ring Items for sale market, staying informed can save countless hours of grinding.
Ultimately, rune management is a core pillar of success in Elden Ring. Avoiding these common pitfalls will keep your journey smoother and your character stronger. For those short on time or just looking to experiment with new setups, finding the Best site to buy Elden Ring Runes can be a shortcut to testing advanced builds without the tedium of repeated farming.