Elden Ring Runes: 13 Low-Level Spots with High-Yield Rewards
Farming Runes early in Elden Ring can feel like a slow crawl when you’re under-leveled and under-equipped. But the game is full of cleverly hidden or easily overlooked areas where low-level players can pull in big Rune payouts without taking huge risks. Whether you're starting a fresh build or looking for a way to stock up before diving into a boss fight, these locations offer a solid return for minimal effort.
Here are 13 high-yield farming spots perfect for early-game Tarnished, each offering great opportunities to build momentum fast.
1. Gatefront Ruins (Limgrave)
One of the first areas many players encounter, and it’s often underestimated. The soldiers here drop a decent amount of Runes, and the area is perfect for learning backstabs and farming tactics without major threats.
2. Third Church of Marika – East Limgrave Bear Run
Follow the river northeast to find a sleeping Rune Bear. Lure the smaller enemies toward the bear and let it do the dirty work. Once they’re defeated, clean up and collect the Runes. Just don’t get too close to the bear itself.
3. Waypoint Ruins Cellar
Defeating Mad Pumpkin Head nets you a sizable Rune payout early on. It’s also a great stepping stone to unlocking Sellen, which benefits mage players in particular.
4. Seaside Ruins – Coastal Cave Loop
The demi-humans here are numerous and weak, making them ideal targets for low-level farming. They respawn quickly and have no ranged attacks, allowing repeated runs for good income.
5. South of Mistwood – Lesser Runebears vs. Deer
Deer and wolves in the area will engage each other and sometimes the wandering bears. You can skirt the edges and collect Runes passively while avoiding direct combat.
6. Stormveil Castle – Rampart Tower Checkpoint
Once inside the castle, the birds and guards near the Rampart Tower site of grace offer a risky but rewarding loop. Use ranged or stealth tactics to minimize danger.
7. Agheel Lake North – Flying Dragon Agheel Encounter
Even if you don’t fight the dragon, engaging the surrounding enemies or baiting them into Agheel’s fire breath can net you their Runes quickly. The dragon itself is optional, but farming the area is viable at lower levels.
8. Fort Haight
This location is packed with soldiers that are relatively easy to dispatch. A full clear of the fort can net over 1000 Runes early in the game, and the nearby enemies are also low risk.
9. Lenegrave Tunnel
A great place to get used to dungeon layouts and combat pacing. The miners are easy to backstab, and you can collect both Runes and Smithing Stones for early weapon upgrades.
10. Rotview Balcony – Caelid Entrance
Caelid is dangerous, but the outskirts near Rotview allow for opportunistic farming. Stick to horseback combat and strike down isolated enemies for high returns at low risk.
11. Smoldering Church
Between Limgrave and Caelid, this area spawns NPC invaders and flame monks. A little caution and some spacing can get you high-value kills and quick Rune farming without needing late-game gear.
12. Weeping Peninsula – Castle Morne Approach
The Misbegotten enemies before Castle Morne offer decent Runes and are vulnerable to ranged attacks. They also rarely gang up, which makes farming safer for early builds.
13. War-Dead Catacombs
Once accessible, this area features spectral warriors constantly fighting each other. You can stand back and collect the Runes as they fall, then mop up the survivors for extra gains. It’s risky to access, but perfect for quick returns once you're there.
Farming doesn’t always require late-game strength or top-tier equipment. With the right location and a bit of strategy, low-level Tarnished can start accumulating wealth quickly. For those looking to skip some of the grind, many players choose to buy Elden Ring runes to get a head start. Pair that with some cheap Elden Ring Items to complement your build, and you’re set for smoother progression.
These early-game Rune spots are more than just convenient—they’re the foundation of countless optimized runs and power-leveling strategies. Take advantage of them to shape your ideal build from the ground up.