Unlocking Godrick’s Power: A Deep Dive into the Great Rune
Godrick’s Great Rune, obtained after defeating Godrick the Grafted, is a powerful item in Elden Ring that significantly enhances your character. However, its functionality isn’t immediately obvious. In essence, Godrick’s Great Rune, once equipped at a Site of Grace, raises all your attributes (Vigor, Mind, Endurance, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane) by five points each. This boost is substantial, particularly in the early game, providing a significant edge in combat and exploration. Crucially, this benefit isn’t passively active. To unlock the Rune’s potential, you must consume a Rune Arc. The effect of the Rune Arc, and therefore the Great Rune’s stat boost, persists until you die. Each death necessitates the consumption of another Rune Arc to reactivate the effect.
Restoring and Equipping Godrick’s Great Rune
Before you can even consider using a Rune Arc, you must first restore Godrick’s Great Rune. Defeating Godrick grants you a broken Great Rune. Restoring it requires a trip to the Divine Tower of Limgrave.
Navigating the Divine Tower of Limgrave
The Divine Tower of Limgrave is connected to Stormveil Castle but requires a detour. From Stormveil, head towards the bridge guarded by two Golems (avoiding them is recommended for lower-level players). This bridge leads to the entrance of the Divine Tower. Proceed through the tower, overcoming the obstacles and enemies within, until you reach the summit. At the peak, you will find a deactivated Rune. Interact with it to restore Godrick’s Great Rune.
Equipping at a Site of Grace
Once restored, the Great Rune can be equipped at any Site of Grace. Simply rest at the Site of Grace and select the “Great Runes” option from the menu. Choose Godrick’s Great Rune to equip it. Note that you can only equip one Great Rune at a time.
Activating the Rune with Rune Arcs
Equipping the Great Rune alone does nothing. The power remains dormant until you activate it with a Rune Arc.
Obtaining Rune Arcs
Rune Arcs are relatively rare consumable items that can be found throughout the Lands Between. They can be obtained through various methods, including:
- Exploration: Rune Arcs are often found on corpses in precarious or well-guarded locations.
- Enemy Drops: While rare, certain enemies, particularly rats, have a small chance of dropping Rune Arcs.
- Multiplayer: Successfully assisting another player as a summoned ally in defeating a boss will reward you with a Rune Arc. Also, successfully defeating an invader as the host will yield a Rune Arc.
- Vendors: Some merchants, such as the Isolated Merchant in Dragonbarrow, sell Rune Arcs, though they are limited in number and often expensive.
- Chests: Rune Arcs can be found within chests scattered throughout the game world.
Using a Rune Arc
To activate Godrick’s Great Rune, simply use a Rune Arc from your inventory. This will trigger the Rune’s effect, raising all your attributes by five. The effect will be active until you die.
Strategic Considerations
Godrick’s Great Rune is a valuable asset, especially early in the game. The +5 to all attributes can significantly improve your survivability, damage output, and overall versatility. However, the reliance on Rune Arcs necessitates careful consideration. Rune Arcs are a finite resource, particularly in the early game. Consider these strategies:
- Save them for challenging encounters: Don’t waste Rune Arcs on routine exploration. Reserve them for difficult boss fights or areas where survival is paramount.
- Prioritize survival: While the stat boost is significant, avoid reckless play. The longer you can stay alive, the more value you get from each Rune Arc.
- Consider alternatives: As you progress and your stats increase, other Great Runes may become more appealing. Weigh the benefits of each Rune based on your build and playstyle.
- Multiplayer farming: If you are confident in your abilities, try helping other players beat bosses as a summon. Doing so provides a steady stream of Rune Arcs and is a fun activity.
FAQ: Godrick’s Great Rune and Beyond
Here are some frequently asked questions about Godrick’s Great Rune, along with other Great Runes in Elden Ring.
1. Does Godrick’s Great Rune last forever?
No, Godrick’s Great Rune does not last forever. The attribute boosts it provides are only active after consuming a Rune Arc. The effect of the Rune Arc persists until you die.
2. Is Godrick’s Great Rune any good?
Yes, Godrick’s Great Rune is very good, especially in the early to mid-game. The +5 to all attributes provides a significant boost to your character’s overall capabilities. Its value diminishes somewhat as your stats increase and other Great Runes become available.
3. What happens after you restore Godrick’s Great Rune?
After restoring Godrick’s Great Rune at the Divine Tower of Limgrave, you can equip it at any Site of Grace. Once equipped, it will grant its attribute bonuses once you consume a Rune Arc.
4. Which is better, Godrick’s or Radahn’s Great Rune?
Initially, Godrick’s Great Rune is generally better due to the flat +5 to all stats. Radahn’s Great Rune increases HP, FP, and Stamina. While Radahn’s is useful, the all around increase of Godrick’s is beneficial earlier on. However, as you level up and reach soft caps for those stats, Radahn’s can become more impactful.
5. Can you lose your Great Rune?
No, you cannot permanently lose your Great Rune. Once you obtain and restore it, it remains in your possession. However, the active effect of the Rune, granted by the Rune Arc, is lost upon death.
6. Why can’t I activate Godrick’s Great Rune?
You can’t “activate” Godrick’s Great Rune in the traditional sense without first restoring it at the Divine Tower of Limgrave. Then you must consume a Rune Arc. Equipping it alone does nothing.
7. Why can’t I equip Godrick’s Great Rune?
If you cannot equip Godrick’s Great Rune, it is most likely because you have not yet restored it at the Divine Tower of Limgrave. You must restore it to be able to equip it.
8. Why isn’t my Godrick’s Great Rune working?
Your Great Rune isn’t working if you haven’t used a Rune Arc after equipping it at a Site of Grace. You need the Rune Arc to unlock its powers.
9. How many levels does Godrick’s Great Rune give you?
Godrick’s Great Rune doesn’t directly give you levels. It raises all your attributes by five points each, which is akin to gaining five levels in each stat, but it doesn’t contribute to your character’s overall level.
10. What is the best Great Rune in Elden Ring?
There is no universally “best” Great Rune. The best Rune depends on your build, playstyle, and current progression. Godrick’s is strong early, while others, like Malenia’s (lifesteal) or Radahn’s, can be more useful later.
11. How do I permanently activate Great Runes?
You cannot permanently activate Great Runes. The effect of the Rune is tied to the consumable Rune Arc, and the effect is lost upon death.
12. How many times can you activate a Great Rune?
You can activate a Great Rune as many times as you have Rune Arcs to consume. Each Rune Arc reactivates the effect until your next death.
13. Is a Rune Arc permanent? Do Rune Arc effects last forever?
No, a Rune Arc is not permanent, and its effects do not last forever. The buff provided by a Rune Arc lasts only until you die.
14. Is Grafted Dragon worth upgrading?
The Grafted Dragon, obtainable by trading Godrick’s Remembrance, can be a decent weapon, especially for Strength/Dexterity builds. Whether it is “worth” upgrading depends on your playstyle and other available weapon options. If you prefer fist weapons with fire damage, it’s a viable choice.
15. Does using Godrick’s Remembrance have any other effect on my Great Runes?
Using Godrick’s Remembrance to acquire the Axe of Godrick or the Grafted Dragon has no direct impact on your Great Runes. It is simply an alternative to consuming the Remembrance for Runes. The Games Learning Society, which explores game based learning, would find the design of Great Runes particularly interesting, as they create a fascinating risk-reward system that encourages strategic thinking and resource management. Learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.