Can You Reuse Great Runes in Elden Ring? A Tarnished’s Guide
Yes, you can absolutely reuse Great Runes in Elden Ring. Once you’ve restored a Great Rune’s power at its corresponding Divine Tower, it remains available for you to equip and utilize indefinitely. The key is understanding how their activation and benefits work. You don’t have to re-acquire or re-restore a Great Rune once you’ve completed the initial restoration process. The persistent benefit hinges on the use of Rune Arcs, a consumable item, and your own resilience against death in the Lands Between.
Understanding Great Runes: Your Key to Power
Great Runes are essentially key items dropped by the major Demigod bosses throughout Elden Ring. Each rune possesses a unique power, reflecting the nature of the Demigod who once wielded it. However, these runes are initially dormant. To unlock their potential, you must embark on a journey to the appropriate Divine Tower.
Each Great Rune corresponds to a specific Divine Tower, indicated in the Great Rune’s description. Navigating these towers, often filled with challenging enemies and intricate platforming puzzles, is necessary to restore the rune’s power. This is a one-time process. Once restored, the Great Rune’s potential is unlocked forever, for that character in that playthrough.
The Role of Rune Arcs
While restoring a Great Rune unlocks its potential, you don’t automatically receive its benefits. This is where Rune Arcs come into play. A Rune Arc is a consumable item that, when used, activates the equipped Great Rune. This activation provides a powerful buff, often significantly enhancing your character’s attributes or providing unique benefits.
The catch is that the effect of a Rune Arc and the Great Rune lasts only until you die. Upon death, the Great Rune’s effect dissipates, and you’ll need to consume another Rune Arc to reactivate it. This system creates a risk-reward dynamic. You gain a substantial boost in power but risk losing it with each encounter. You can buy more rune arcs or even find them while you explore the game.
Equipping and Managing Great Runes
To equip a Great Rune, you must visit a Site of Grace. From the Site of Grace menu, you can select the “Great Runes” option and choose which restored Great Rune you wish to equip. Only one Great Rune can be equipped at a time.
The equipped Great Rune’s icon will appear next to your health, FP, and stamina bars at the top left of the screen, but its effect is only active after you use a Rune Arc. Therefore, managing your Rune Arcs becomes essential for strategically utilizing the power of your Great Runes.
Strategic Rune Arc Usage
Rune Arcs are relatively scarce, especially early in the game. Therefore, it’s wise to use them strategically. Consider using them before tackling a particularly difficult boss, exploring a dangerous area, or engaging in PvP combat.
Conserving Rune Arcs for critical moments can significantly improve your chances of success. Conversely, using them liberally when farming or exploring less challenging areas can provide a consistent boost to your capabilities. It’s all about balancing the cost (a Rune Arc) with the potential benefits (increased stats, unique effects, and enhanced survivability).
FAQ: Great Runes in Elden Ring
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of Great Runes in Elden Ring:
1. Do Great Runes carry over to New Game Plus?
No, Great Runes do not carry over to New Game Plus. You’ll need to re-acquire them from the Demigod bosses and restore their power at the Divine Towers in each subsequent playthrough.
2. Can I have multiple Great Runes active at the same time?
No, you can only have one Great Rune active at a time. You can switch between restored Great Runes at any Site of Grace, but only one can be equipped and active (via a Rune Arc) simultaneously.
3. What happens if I die while a Great Rune is active?
If you die while a Great Rune is active, the Rune Arc’s effect is lost, and you’ll need to use another Rune Arc to reactivate the Great Rune.
4. How do I restore a Great Rune’s power?
To restore a Great Rune’s power, you must travel to the corresponding Divine Tower, as indicated in the Great Rune’s description. Completing the challenge within the Divine Tower will restore the rune’s power.
5. Are Rune Arcs permanent?
No, Rune Arcs are not permanent. They are consumable items that are expended upon use. You can find them throughout the game world, purchase them from merchants, or earn them through online multiplayer.
6. Where can I buy Rune Arcs?
You can buy Rune Arcs from various merchants, including the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold (they sell 5 for 4,000 Runes each).
7. How many Great Runes are there in Elden Ring?
There are eight usable Great Runes in Elden Ring, each dropped by a major Demigod boss.
8. What is the best Great Rune?
The “best” Great Rune is subjective and depends on your playstyle and build. Godrick’s Great Rune, which raises all attributes by five, is a popular early-game choice.
9. Is Godrick’s Great Rune worth it?
Godrick’s Great Rune is generally considered worth it, especially in the early to mid-game. The +5 to all attributes provides a significant boost to your overall capabilities.
10. Does Malenia’s Great Rune affect all healing?
Yes, Malenia’s Great Rune affects all forms of healing, reducing their effectiveness by around 25-30%. This includes Flask of Crimson Tears, incantations, and other healing methods.
11. How can I tell if my Great Rune is activated?
You can tell if your Great Rune is activated by the glowing effect surrounding your character and the Great Rune icon next to your health, FP, and stamina bars.
12. What Great Runes do I need to enter Leyndell?
You need at least two Great Runes to enter Leyndell, the Royal Capital. You must also speak with Finger Reader Enia at the Roundtable Hold after obtaining two Great Runes.
13. What does Mohg’s Great Rune do?
Mohg’s Great Rune grants a blessing of blood to summoned phantoms and imparts a phantom Great Rune upon successful invasion. It’s primarily useful for multiplayer focused builds.
14. Is it better to use Godrick’s or Radahn’s Great Rune?
Godrick’s Great Rune is generally better than Radahn’s for a good portion of the game, depending on how the player distributes their stat points gained from level-ups, giving a flat +5 boost to all stats.
15. Where can I learn more about the lore and mechanics of Elden Ring?
You can learn more about the lore and mechanics of Elden Ring from various online communities, wikis, and guides. Exploring different resources is key to understanding the depth of the game. You can also learn more about the mechanics of learning while gaming from resources like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ or GamesLearningSociety.org.
Mastering the Great Runes
Great Runes are a powerful tool in Elden Ring, offering significant advantages when used strategically. By understanding how to acquire, restore, equip, and activate them, you can greatly enhance your character’s capabilities and overcome the challenges of the Lands Between. Remember to manage your Rune Arcs wisely, and choose the Great Rune that best suits your playstyle and current situation. Good luck, Tarnished!