In Elden Ring, runes are everything — they’re your XP, your currency, and your lifeline to better gear and character progression. If you’re just starting out, you may find yourself struggling to earn enough to level up or purchase upgrades. Fortunately, there are a few efficient farming methods you can use right away in the early game to get a jumpstart. Here’s a practical guide based on experience to help you make the most of your time in the Lands Between.
1. Unlock the Best Farming Spot Early: The Gatefront and Limgrave Soldiers
Right after completing the tutorial, your first target farming spot should be the Gatefront Ruins in Limgrave. This area is filled with guards who are relatively slow and easy to backstab. With some patience and basic stealth tactics, you can clear the area for about 1,000–1,200 runes per run in just a few minutes. Rest at the nearby Site of Grace to reset enemies and repeat.
Pro tip: Use a weapon that deals decent stagger damage or has a wide swing to clear out grouped enemies quickly.
2. Head to Lenne’s Rise in Caelid (Without Fighting)
Yes, Caelid is a nightmare zone for new players — but you can sneak in early and farm like a pro. Just make your way to the Third Church of Marika and use the hidden teleporter behind it. This brings you straight to Greyoll’s Dragonbarrow in northern Caelid.
Once there, ride Torrent past all the monsters to reach the Lenne’s Rise area. There’s a steep slope where a boulder trap activates. Bait the boulder into rolling off the cliff, and you’ll be rewarded with roughly 2,000 runes each time — with zero combat required. Fast travel back to the grace and repeat. It’s a risk-free way to farm efficiently in the early game.
3. Farm the Small Dragon Near Fort Faroth
While in Caelid, ride east from the boulder farming area to Fort Faroth. Just outside is a group of small dragons guarding a giant sleeping dragon. Don’t engage the big one — instead, target the smaller ones. They provide around 3,500 runes each, and if you’re cautious and on horseback, you can pick them off one by one.
Before attempting this, make sure you’ve upgraded your weapon and stocked up on flasks. With practice, this becomes one of the fastest rune farming strategies available before you’ve even defeated a major boss.
4. Use Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot When Possible
This consumable boosts rune gain by 30% for a short time. It’s rare early on, but you can find a few by exploring around the Church of Elleh and the beach south of the starting area. Save these for longer farming runs or when you’re clearing out tough enemies that give high rune rewards.
Also, don’t forget that some merchants sell useful gear and items that help speed up farming. When you’re short on resources, some players prefer to buy cheap Elden Ring Runes or stock up on cheap Elden Ring Items to make the process smoother — though that’s more of a quality-of-life shortcut than a pure gameplay strategy.
5. Don’t Underestimate Spirit Ashes and Summons
If you’re farming enemy camps or smaller bosses for rune drops, Spirit Ashes can greatly improve your efficiency. The Lone Wolf Ashes, which you get early from Renna at the Church of Elleh, are great for distracting enemies while you flank or heal. Efficient rune farming isn’t just about killing fast — it’s also about avoiding deaths that cost you everything.
Whether you prefer stealthy ambushes at the Gatefront or boulder traps in Caelid, there are multiple early-game strategies to build your rune reserves quickly. Keep an eye on your flask upgrades, equipment load, and rune drop boosts to make each farming run more effective.
And if farming ever feels too grindy, many players choose to buy cheap Elden Ring Runes or search for cheap Elden Ring Items to smooth out the journey — especially when preparing for tougher zones ahead like Liurnia or Altus Plateau.
Master your farming routes early, and you’ll be well on your way to dominating Elden Ring with confidence.