Elden Ring, known for its challenging mechanics and vast open world, offers players countless opportunities to gather runes—the precious currency that powers character progression and upgrades. While some players may opt to purchase Elden Ring runes from third-party sources, there’s no substitute for the thrill of farming them directly from the game itself. In this guide, we’ll walk you through 35 free Elden Ring runes farming methods, focusing on strategies and locations that allow you to farm runes without spending a single penny. Let’s dive into the best farming techniques that can help you stockpile runes and progress faster.
1. Farm Early-Game Bosses for Runes

The early-game bosses in Elden Ring, such as the Tree Sentinel, can offer a hefty amount of runes upon defeat. While they may be challenging at first, with a bit of patience and practice, these bosses are excellent sources of free Elden Ring runes.
2. Defeat Minor Bosses and Field Bosses

Throughout the open world of Elden Ring, you’ll encounter minor bosses like the Cemetery Shade and field bosses such as Night’s Cavalry. These encounters reward players with runes as well as valuable items, making them a great way to stockpile early-game Elden Ring runes.
3. Exploit Rune-Boosting Items

Don’t forget about the Golden Scarab and Silver Scarab talismans, which significantly boost rune acquisition when equipped. While these aren’t “farming methods” per se, they enhance your efficiency when grinding for runes. Equip them before taking on bosses or farming mobs to maximize your gains.
4. Run the Tombs of the Heroes

Tombs are one of the best places to farm for Elden Ring runes without having to grind endlessly. Tomb of the Hero’s Grave is a perfect example of a dungeon filled with enemies that respawn every time you rest at a Site of Grace. Clear out these tombs, and you’ll leave with a large sum of runes.
5. Farm Large Groups of Enemies

When it comes to mass rune farming, there’s nothing more satisfying than farming large packs of weaker enemies. The Siofra River and Weeping Peninsula are two excellent locations to farm these large groups of enemies efficiently. Each kill adds up, and these areas are relatively safe to farm.
6. Utilize Spirit Ashes in Combat

Using Spirit Ashes to summon help in battle can make farming easier, especially in harder areas or against bosses. By summoning your Spirit Ashes during fights, you’ll increase your chances of surviving and accumulating free Elden Ring runes from slain foes.
7. Explore High-Risk, High-Reward Zones

While exploring high-level areas might seem daunting, places like Miquella’s Haligtree and Mountaintops of the Giants feature elite enemies and hidden treasures. By testing your limits and defeating tougher enemies, you’ll earn high-value Elden Ring runes that make the challenge worth it.
8. Loot Rune-Infused Materials

Many crafting materials in Elden Ring are infused with runes. For example, the Rune Arc and Rune Fragments are valuable items that can be used in various ways, including farming runes. Make sure to check every corner and loot every chest you find—especially in legacy dungeons.
9. Engage in PvP Battles

While player-versus-player combat may not be for everyone, participating in PvP is another method to earn Elden Ring runes. Winning duels or invasions rewards you with a nice rune bonus. While the PvP community can be intense, it’s a rewarding way to test your skills and gather runes.
10. Farm the Right Enemies at Night

Many of the more lucrative farming opportunities in Elden Ring only appear during certain times of the day. Some enemies, such as Night’s Cavalry, are most active at night and yield massive amounts of Elden Ring runes. Time your farming runs to take advantage of these spawns.
11. Farm the Forlorn Husks in the Divine Bridge

On the Divine Bridge, you’ll encounter Forlorn Husks, which are ideal targets for farming Elden Ring runes. These husks are not only easy to take down but also drop significant amounts of runes per kill, making it a highly efficient farming location.
12. Repeat the Red Wolf of Radagon Fight

The Red Wolf of Radagon is a tough but rewarding boss. After defeating the wolf, simply restart the fight by traveling to the nearest Site of Grace. This repetition gives you multiple opportunities to earn runes without having to go far.
13. Run Through Legacy Dungeons

Legacy dungeons, such as the Deeproot Depths and Leyndell, Royal Capital, are treasure troves of free Elden Ring runes. These zones are densely packed with high-level enemies, providing significant rune rewards for every kill. Explore them thoroughly for hidden chests and items as well.
14. Explore Altus Plateau for High-Value Enemies

In the Altus Plateau, you’ll encounter a variety of tough enemies and bosses that reward players with large amounts of runes. The Elden Ring runes you gather here will help level you up quickly for further progression.
15. Clear Out the River Bank of Siofra

The Siofra River is a great area to farm because of its abundance of enemies and open areas that make killing easy. These monsters drop Elden Ring runes consistently, and the river’s layout makes it simple to circle back and repeat the grind.
16. Explore The Consecrated Snowfield

The Consecrated Snowfield is filled with tougher enemies and elite bosses, making it a high-risk, high-reward farming zone. You’ll be facing off against creatures that offer a massive bounty of Elden Ring runes for each kill.
17. Participate in the Frenzied Flame Incantations

The Frenzied Flame incantations are some of the most powerful in Elden Ring. While they consume a lot of FP, they can decimate groups of enemies, allowing for a more efficient Elden Ring runes farming method. Pair them with rune-boosting talismans for optimal results.
18. Farm the Lake of Rot for Massive Rewards

At the Lake of Rot, you’ll face off against some tough enemies that drop a massive amount of runes. With the right preparation and gear, this area can be one of the most profitable in terms of runes per minute.
Farming Elden Ring runes doesn't have to be a tedious task when you know where to look. Whether you're taking down field bosses, exploiting rune-boosting items, or exploring challenging zones, the methods above will help you gather runes quickly and effectively. Keep in mind that Elden Ring rewards exploration, so be sure to take the time to explore different areas, tackle hard enemies, and experiment with new farming strategies. As always, practice makes perfect, and with these methods, you'll be able to optimize your rune farming experience and power up your character in no time.