Is Godrick’s Great Rune the Best in Elden Ring? A Deep Dive
Godrick’s Great Rune, obtained after defeating Godrick the Grafted in Stormveil Castle, is undeniably a powerful early-game asset in Elden Ring. However, to declare it the best Great Rune requires a more nuanced evaluation. While its ability to raise all attributes by five is incredibly appealing, its ultimate effectiveness depends on your build, playstyle, and progression through the game. In short, Godrick’s Great Rune is excellent for early to mid-game builds needing a stat boost, but ultimately outshone by other runes for specialized builds later in the game.
Understanding Great Runes in Elden Ring
Great Runes are special items dropped by Demigod Bosses after you defeat them. They represent fragments of the Elden Ring and grant powerful passive bonuses when equipped. However, these bonuses are not immediately active. To unlock their potential, you must:
- Restore the Great Rune at its corresponding Divine Tower. For Godrick’s Great Rune, this is the Divine Tower of Limgrave.
- Equip the Great Rune at a Site of Grace.
- Consume a Rune Arc. The effects of a Rune Arc last until death.
Without a Rune Arc active, the Great Rune offers no benefit. This consumable item, found throughout the Lands Between or purchasable from merchants, essentially powers up the Great Rune.
The Power of Godrick’s Great Rune
Godrick’s Great Rune provides a +5 boost to all attributes: Vigor, Mind, Endurance, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane. This makes it exceptionally versatile, offering:
- Increased HP (Vigor): Improves survivability, essential for newer players or those facing challenging bosses.
- More FP (Mind): Allows for more spellcasting or weapon skill usage, beneficial for magic-focused builds.
- Higher Stamina (Endurance): Enables more actions like dodging, blocking, and attacking before becoming exhausted.
- Improved Damage (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane): Directly increases the damage output of weapons and spells that scale with these attributes.
- Enhanced Stat Requirements: Helps meet the stat requirements for wielding specific weapons or casting certain spells.
This across-the-board boost is particularly useful in the early to mid-game when players are still developing their characters and have lower base stats. It can effectively bridge gaps, allowing you to wield stronger weapons or cast more powerful spells sooner than you might otherwise be able to.
Why Godrick’s Great Rune Isn’t Always the Best
While the universality of Godrick’s Great Rune is its strength, it also becomes its limitation later in the game. As players specialize their builds and invest heavily in specific attributes, other Great Runes become more impactful.
For example:
- Radahn’s Great Rune: Increases maximum HP, FP, and Stamina. Once Vigor, Mind, and Endurance reach their soft caps, the flat boosts of Radahn’s Great Rune become more significant than the +5 to all attributes from Godrick’s.
- Malenia’s Great Rune: Allows you to recover HP upon attacking after taking damage. While risky, this rune is invaluable for aggressive, melee-focused builds that rely on constant offense.
- Morgott’s Great Rune: Provides a large increase to HP. This is a straightforward, effective option for players prioritizing survivability.
Ultimately, the best Great Rune is subjective and depends on your character build and playstyle. A mage might prefer the increased FP from Radahn’s, while a tank build might lean towards the raw HP boost from Morgott’s.
The Cost of Rune Arcs
The reliance on Rune Arcs is another factor to consider. These items are relatively rare, especially in the early game. Consuming one for the effects of Godrick’s Great Rune means temporarily sacrificing the potential benefits of other Rune Arc effects, such as increased multiplayer activity. Resource management is crucial in Elden Ring, and weighing the cost of a Rune Arc against the benefits of Godrick’s Great Rune is part of the strategic decision-making process. The Games Learning Society explores the concept of strategic decision making in games like Elden Ring at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Conclusion: A Strong Contender, Not Always the Undisputed Champion
Godrick’s Great Rune is a powerful and versatile choice, especially for players in the early to mid-game who are still experimenting with different builds. The +5 to all attributes provides a well-rounded boost that can significantly enhance survivability and damage output. However, as players progress and specialize their characters, other Great Runes offer more targeted and impactful bonuses, making them more suitable for optimized builds. So, while Godrick’s Great Rune isn’t definitively the best in all situations, it remains a strong contender and a valuable asset for many Tarnished seeking to claim the Elden Throne.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I restore Godrick’s Great Rune?
To restore Godrick’s Great Rune, you must visit the Divine Tower of Limgrave. It’s located to the east of Stormveil Castle. You’ll need to navigate a bridge guarded by three Golem before entering the tower. At the top, you’ll find the point of interaction to restore the Rune.
2. What are the stat soft caps in Elden Ring?
Stat soft caps vary slightly depending on the attribute, but generally, you’ll see diminishing returns after reaching 40-60 in most stats. Beyond 80, the gains are significantly reduced. Knowing these caps helps determine when the flat boosts of runes like Radahn’s become more beneficial.
3. Where can I find Rune Arcs?
Rune Arcs can be found as loot throughout the game, purchased from certain merchants, or earned by successfully assisting other players as a cooperator.
4. Can I switch between Great Runes?
Yes, you can freely switch between Great Runes at any Site of Grace, provided you have already restored them at their respective Divine Towers.
5. Does Godrick’s Great Rune stack with other stat-boosting items?
Yes, Godrick’s Great Rune stacks with other items that boost attributes, such as talismans or armor.
6. Is Godrick’s Great Rune good for a specific class?
No, it is more valuable early game. The fact that it is good for any class makes it so valuable. It provides well-rounded benefits that can be useful regardless of your chosen playstyle.
7. What happens if I die while using a Great Rune?
When you die, the effects of the Rune Arc are lost, and the bonuses granted by your equipped Great Rune are deactivated. You’ll need to consume another Rune Arc to reactivate them.
8. Is there a way to farm Rune Arcs?
While there’s no guaranteed “farm,” you can increase your chances of obtaining Rune Arcs by actively participating in cooperative multiplayer. Successfully helping other players defeat bosses will reward you with a Rune Arc.
9. How does Godrick’s Great Rune compare to Rykard’s Great Rune?
Rykard’s Great Rune restores HP upon defeating enemies. This can be useful for sustained exploration, but the +5 to all attributes from Godrick’s Great Rune offers more immediate and versatile benefits, especially in boss fights.
10. Is it worth using a Rune Arc just for exploration?
This depends on your playstyle and confidence. If you’re navigating a particularly dangerous area or facing a challenging boss, the added benefits of Godrick’s Great Rune might be worth the investment. However, if you’re just exploring relatively safe areas, you might want to save your Rune Arcs for more crucial situations.
11. Does Godrick’s Great Rune affect my discovery stat?
No, Godrick’s Great Rune does not directly affect your discovery stat (item find chance). While it increases Arcane, which can affect discovery builds, it’s unlikely to have much affect.
12. Can you use multiple Great Runes at once?
No, you can only equip one Great Rune at a time. Choosing the right one for your current situation is part of the strategic element of the game.
13. How does Godrick’s Great Rune affect my equip load?
Godrick’s Great Rune increases your Endurance, which in turn will help in carrying equipment that will burden your character in the game.
14. Does the level of my weapon affect the effectiveness of Godrick’s Great Rune?
Yes, because a higher weapon level will yield a greater damage boost when an attribute is increased.
15. Is Godrick the weakest Demigod in Elden Ring?
While in-universe lore suggests Godrick has faced defeats and is considered weaker than some other demigods, his boss fight is still a significant challenge for many players. In many ways, this makes him a more accessible shardbearer than some of the more challenging, later-game bosses. This allows players to grasp the basic concepts of Elden Ring.