Table of Contents

Elden Ring: Unveiling the Best Great Rune for Your Tarnished

Determining the absolute “best” Great Rune in Elden Ring is a nuanced decision, heavily dependent on your playstyle, build, and current progression in the game. However, for overall utility and impact, Morgott’s Great Rune emerges as a strong contender. Its significant boost to maximum HP is invaluable throughout the entire game, providing a substantial survivability increase that benefits all builds. While Godrick’s Great Rune is excellent early on, and others have niche uses, Morgott’s rune delivers consistent value, especially in the challenging late-game encounters.

Diving Deep: A Rundown of Each Great Rune

Before we solidify Morgott’s place, let’s dissect each Great Rune and understand its strengths and weaknesses. This will empower you to make an informed decision based on your specific needs.

Godrick’s Great Rune: Acquired from defeating Godrick the Grafted, this rune raises all attributes by five when activated with a Rune Arc. It’s a fantastic early-game option, especially if you’re spreading your stats or haven’t yet committed to a specific build. The attribute boost provides a well-rounded improvement, enhancing your damage, survivability, and spellcasting capabilities.
Rykard’s Great Rune: This rune, obtained after vanquishing Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, grants you HP upon defeating enemies. While seemingly appealing for sustain, its effectiveness diminishes in the later stages of the game. The amount of HP restored is relatively low, making it less impactful against tougher enemies and bosses. Its utility is primarily relegated to early-game exploration.
Mohg’s Great Rune: Mohg, Lord of Blood, bestows this Great Rune. When activated, it grants a blessing to phantom spirits, offering a damage buff. However, this rune shines primarily in co-op play. If you frequently summon or get summoned, Mohg’s Great Rune can significantly enhance your team’s offensive power. Solo players will find limited use for it.
Great Rune of the Unborn: This unique Great Rune, held by Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, doesn’t provide any direct combat buffs. Instead, it allows you to respec your stats by visiting Rennala in the Raya Lucaria Grand Library. This is an invaluable tool for experimenting with different builds or correcting any stat allocation mistakes you might have made.
Radahn’s Great Rune: Defeating Starscourge Radahn rewards you with this rune, which increases HP, Stamina, and FP (Focus Points) by 15%. The percentage-based boost makes it more effective later in the game, when you have higher base stats. It’s a solid all-around choice, providing a noticeable improvement to your character’s survivability and resource management.
Morgott’s Great Rune: As previously mentioned, this rune significantly raises your maximum HP. The substantial health increase is a game-changer, particularly in the late game when facing powerful bosses. It provides a considerable safety net, allowing you to withstand more hits and survive challenging encounters.
Malenia’s Great Rune: This rune, obtained from defeating Malenia, Blade of Miquella, is arguably the most situational. It reduces the healing power of Flask of Crimson Tears but allows you to recover HP by attacking enemies after taking damage. The mechanics are risky and demanding. While the concept of regaining health through aggression sounds appealing, the reduced healing from flasks and the reliance on immediate counter-attacks make it a high-risk, high-reward option that requires precise timing and a good understanding of enemy attack patterns. Many find it simply too detrimental due to the reduced flask effectiveness.
Ranni’s Great Rune: Ranni the Witch discards her Great Rune, thus, its whereabouts are unknown. The Tarnished, upon returning to the Lands Between, were compelled by the Two Fingers to seek out demigods to relieve them of their Great Runes in order to become Elden Lord.

Why Morgott’s Great Rune Reigns Supreme (Generally)

While each Great Rune has its uses, Morgott’s Great Rune provides the most consistent and universally beneficial effect. The increased HP translates directly to greater survivability, which is crucial for tackling the increasingly difficult challenges Elden Ring throws at you. It complements any build, regardless of your weapon choice, playstyle, or stat allocation.

Considering Alternatives: When Other Runes Might Shine

Despite Morgott’s general superiority, specific scenarios might warrant using a different Great Rune:

Early Game: Godrick’s Great Rune provides a comprehensive boost to all stats, helping you overcome early-game challenges.
Co-op Play: Mohg’s Great Rune can significantly enhance your team’s damage output.
Build Respec: The Great Rune of the Unborn is essential for experimenting with different builds.
Percentage-Based Scaling: Radahn’s Great Rune becomes increasingly valuable as you level up.
High-Risk, High-Reward Players: Malenia’s Great Rune can be viable for skilled players who excel at aggressive playstyles, although the reduced flask healing remains a significant drawback.

Maximizing Your Great Rune Potential

Regardless of which Great Rune you choose, remember to:

Activate it with a Rune Arc: Great Runes are useless without a Rune Arc. These consumables are relatively rare, so use them wisely.
Choose the Right Divine Tower: Each Great Rune requires activation at a specific Divine Tower. Make sure you visit the correct one.
Understand the Mechanics: Carefully read the description of each Great Rune and understand its effects. Experiment and see how it impacts your playstyle.

Great Runes and the Quest for Knowledge

Understanding the intricacies of Elden Ring, including its powerful Great Runes, is a journey of discovery. The Games Learning Society encourages this type of exploration and analysis within gaming. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to delve deeper into the intersection of games and education.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Great Runes

1. What is the best Great Rune for beginners in Elden Ring?

Godrick’s Great Rune is generally considered the best for beginners due to its comprehensive stat boost, which helps overcome early-game challenges.

2. Which Great Rune gives the most HP?

Morgott’s Great Rune provides the most significant direct increase to your maximum HP, approximately a 25% increase.

3. How do I activate a Great Rune?

You must use a Rune Arc to activate the equipped Great Rune. The effect lasts until you die.

4. Can I stack Great Rune effects?

No, you can only equip and activate one Great Rune at a time.

5. Where do I find Rune Arcs?

Rune Arcs can be found throughout the game world, purchased from merchants, and are often rewarded for defeating bosses or assisting other players in co-op.

6. Is Malenia’s Great Rune worth using?

Malenia’s Great Rune is situational and requires a specific playstyle. The reduced flask healing is a significant drawback for many players.

7. Does Radahn’s Great Rune increase my stats by a flat amount or a percentage?

Radahn’s Great Rune increases HP, Stamina, and FP by 15%, meaning the boost becomes more significant as you level up.

8. How does Rykard’s Great Rune heal me?

Rykard’s Great Rune heals you a small amount for each enemy you defeat. This healing effect is less impactful in the late game.

9. Can I lose a Great Rune if I die?

No, you cannot lose a Great Rune if you die. However, the activated effect of the rune (granted by using a Rune Arc) is lost upon death and must be reapplied with another Rune Arc.

10. What is the purpose of the Great Rune of the Unborn?

The Great Rune of the Unborn allows you to respec your stats by visiting Rennala in the Raya Lucaria Grand Library.

11. Is Godrick’s Great Rune good for endgame?

While still useful, Godrick’s Great Rune becomes less impactful in the late game compared to runes like Morgott’s or Radahn’s due to the flat stat boost.

12. Which Divine Tower do I need to visit for each Great Rune?

Godrick’s Great Rune: Divine Tower of Limgrave
Rykard’s Great Rune: Divine Tower of West Altus
Mohg’s Great Rune: Divine Tower of East Altus
Radahn’s Great Rune: Divine Tower of Caelid
Morgott’s Great Rune: Divine Tower of East Altus

13. How does Mohg’s Great Rune benefit co-op play?

Mohg’s Great Rune grants a damage buff to summoned phantom spirits, making it ideal for players who frequently engage in co-op.

14. Can I change my Great Rune at any time?

Yes, you can swap between Great Runes at any time as long as you are at a Site of Grace.

15. Which is better, Radahn’s Great Rune or Godrick’s Great Rune?

Early game, Godrick’s Great Rune is generally better. Later on, the percentage-based boost of Radahn’s Great Rune can become more impactful, depending on your stat distribution.

What is the best Great Rune in Elden rune?