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Maximizing Your Rune Gains: A Comprehensive Guide to Elden Ring’s Currency

What increases the amount of runes you get? The amount of runes you receive in Elden Ring is primarily determined by three key factors: the type and difficulty of the enemy defeated, your current new game plus (NG+) cycle, and any active rune-boosting effects. Understanding how these factors interact will allow you to optimize your rune farming strategy and level up your character more efficiently.

Understanding Rune Acquisition in Elden Ring

Runes are the lifeblood of Elden Ring, serving as both experience points for leveling up and currency for purchasing items from merchants. Mastering the art of efficient rune acquisition is crucial for progression and tackling the game’s challenging encounters. Let’s delve deeper into the factors that influence your rune gains.

Enemy Type and Difficulty

The most straightforward factor influencing rune drops is the enemy you defeat. Stronger enemies, especially bosses and field bosses, award significantly more runes than weaker, common foes. The specific rune value of an enemy is largely predetermined and consistent across playthroughs within the same game cycle (NG+0, NG+1, etc.), although some variance can occur. For example, a common soldier will yield a relatively small number of runes, while a Tree Sentinel guarding a dungeon entrance will provide a much larger payout. The difficulty level of the area also plays a role, with enemies in later game zones generally dropping more runes than those in early game areas.

New Game Plus (NG+) Cycle

Each subsequent playthrough in NG+ increases the amount of runes enemies drop. This bonus scales, with each NG+ cycle offering progressively higher rune yields. This means that defeating the same enemy in NG+1 will grant you significantly more runes than in NG+0. While the initial difficulty of NG+ can be challenging, the increased rune gains quickly allow players to level up and overcome the increased enemy strength, making it a viable option for efficient rune farming. However, keep in mind that NG+7 is the maximum cycle and rune drops will not increase beyond that point.

Rune-Boosting Effects

Elden Ring offers several items and effects that temporarily boost rune acquisition. These effects can be stacked to further maximize your rune gains. Mastering the use of these boosts is essential for optimizing your farming runs.

Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot: This consumable item provides a temporary boost to rune acquisition for a short duration. It’s an invaluable tool for tackling challenging areas or farming specific enemies. The Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot boosts rune acquisition by 30% for 3 minutes.
Scarab Helm: This helmet passively increases rune acquisition. There are two versions available: the Silver Scarab increases item discovery while slightly reducing rune acquisition, whereas the Gold Scarab significantly boosts runes but does not affect item discovery. The Gold Scarab increases rune acquisition by 20%.
Ancestral Spirit’s Horn: This talisman restores FP (Focus Points) upon defeating enemies, allowing you to cast more spells. While it doesn’t directly increase rune acquisition, it helps you sustain spell-based farming strategies, enabling you to defeat enemies more quickly and efficiently, indirectly maximizing rune gains.
Flask of Wondrous Physick: Certain crystal tears, when mixed into the Flask of Wondrous Physick, can provide temporary rune-boosting effects.
Area-Specific Events and Enemy Types: Some areas and enemy types have unique mechanics that can significantly increase rune gains. For example, certain late-game areas are populated by enemies that explode and grant a large number of runes upon death. Paying attention to these opportunities can lead to massive rune hauls.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does difficulty affect rune acquisition?

No, the chosen game difficulty does not affect rune acquisition. Whether you select the default difficulty or a more challenging one, the amount of runes dropped by enemies remains consistent within the same NG+ cycle.

2. How long does the Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot effect last?

The Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot effect lasts for 3 minutes. It’s crucial to time your usage strategically to maximize its benefit during your farming runs.

3. Where can I find the Gold Scarab talisman?

The Gold Scarab is located within the Abandoned Cave in Caelid. Be prepared for a challenging dungeon filled with scarlet rot.

4. Does equipping multiple Gold Scarabs stack the rune bonus?

No, equipping multiple Gold Scarabs does not stack the rune bonus. The bonus is only applied once, regardless of the number of talismans equipped.

5. Does the Mimic Tear affect rune acquisition?

No, the Mimic Tear spirit ash summon does not directly affect rune acquisition. However, a strong Mimic Tear can significantly increase your damage output and help you defeat enemies more quickly, indirectly increasing your rune farming efficiency.

6. How do I unlock New Game Plus (NG+)?

To unlock NG+, you must defeat the final boss and complete the game. After the credits roll, you will be given the option to begin a new journey.

7. When should I start New Game Plus (NG+)?

The best time to start NG+ depends on your individual goals and playstyle. If you are looking for a significant increase in rune gains and a new challenge, NG+ is a good option. However, some players prefer to stay in their initial playthrough to complete all the optional content and explore the world thoroughly.

8. Are there any risks associated with using rune-boosting items?

The primary risk is dying before you can spend your accumulated runes. Death in Elden Ring results in losing all unspent runes, which can be a significant setback. It is advisable to spend your runes regularly or use a Sacrificial Twig to prevent rune loss upon death.

9. What are some of the best rune farming locations in Elden Ring?

Several locations are popular for rune farming, including:

Mohgwyn Palace: The Albinaurics on the hillside are a popular choice, especially with the Sacred Relic Sword’s Wave of Gold skill.
Haligtree Roots: This area is near the end of the game and houses difficult but lucrative enemies.
Lenne’s Rise (Caelid): A sleeping dragon is found here for an easy 70,000+ runes per kill.
Consecrated Snowfield (inner): Numerous Rune Bears reside here providing an efficient farming route for players who can defeat them.

10. Does multiplayer affect rune acquisition?

Summoning other players can impact rune acquisition. When you summon a player for help, your rune gains from defeating enemies are generally reduced. However, the increased survivability and damage output can sometimes offset this reduction, leading to a net increase in rune farming efficiency.

11. Can I use glitches or exploits to farm runes?

While some glitches and exploits may exist that allow for rapid rune acquisition, using them is generally discouraged as it can diminish the intended gameplay experience and potentially lead to account issues. It is best to rely on legitimate farming methods.

12. What happens to runes I lose upon death?

Upon death, you will drop all unspent runes at the location where you died. You have one opportunity to retrieve these runes by returning to the location of your death. If you die again before retrieving them, the runes are permanently lost.

13. Are there any consumables that prevent rune loss upon death?

Yes, the Sacrificial Twig prevents rune loss upon death. When equipped, it will break and prevent you from dropping your runes. This is particularly useful in challenging areas or when carrying a large amount of runes.

14. Does character level affect rune drops?

No, character level does not directly affect rune drops. The amount of runes dropped by enemies is determined by the factors outlined earlier, such as enemy type, NG+ cycle, and rune-boosting effects.

15. Is it better to farm runes or progress through the game?

The decision to farm runes or progress through the game is ultimately a matter of personal preference. Farming runes can provide a significant advantage in terms of character stats and equipment, making it easier to overcome challenging encounters. However, spending too much time farming can also detract from the core gameplay experience of exploring the world and uncovering its secrets. A balanced approach is often the most rewarding.