Quick answers
There are a few key things you can do to avoid losing runes in Elden Ring:
- Spend runes frequently so you don’t carry a large balance
- Retrieve lost runes quickly after dying
- Use defensive tactics and summons to avoid dying
- Equip a Rune Arc to prevent rune loss on next death
Losing runes when you die is part of the challenge in Elden Ring. But there are strategies that can minimize rune loss and make it less punishing. Let’s explore the techniques in more detail.
Spend runes frequently
One of the best ways to avoid losing a lot of runes is to not carry a large balance around. Spend your runes regularly on leveling up, weapon upgrades, spells, crafting items, and other useful things.
When you die carrying a large rune balance, the sense of loss is much greater. If you only lose a few thousand runes, it’s not as big a deal. Get in the habit of spending runes instead of accumulating them.
Some good times to spend runes:
- After defeating a major boss or mini-boss
- Before attempting a new, challenging area
- After clearing out an area of enemies and collecting items
- When you have enough to level up or upgrade your build
Don’t get greedy trying to save up a huge rune stockpile. Be smart with frequent spending. It takes some of the pressure off dying.
Retrieve lost runes quickly
When you do die and drop your runes, make retrieving them a priority. Don’t continue exploring or take on new enemies. Get your runes back!
The glowing rune marker showing your dropped rune stash only stays for a short while. After about 5-10 minutes, the marker will disappear and the runes are lost forever.
So as soon as it’s safe, make a beeline back to your runes. Maybe you can sneak past enemies or use Margit’s Shackle to distract them. Just get your runes back quickly before they vanish.
If the runes are in a very difficult area surrounded by lethal enemies, it may not be worth the risk. But in most cases, you can find a path back and regain what was lost. Don’t give up easily.
Use defensive tactics and summons
The best way to avoid losing runes is to avoid dying in the first place! That means using careful, defensive combat tactics and taking advantage of summons.
In Elden Ring, you don’t always have to rush in and attack recklessly. Be patient, draw individual enemies away from groups, use hit-and-run attacks, and don’t get greedy. Staying alive is more important than quick kills.
Make good use of spirit ashes summons and co-op summon signs. Having allies tank hits and distract bosses makes you much less likely to die.
Upgrading your weapons, wearing protective armor, and using damage-reducing consumables also helps avoid death. Play cautiously and defensively to stay alive.
Equip a Rune Arc
Rune Arcs are special consumable items that grant you a Rune of Death’s Protection when used. This effect prevents you from losing any runes upon your next death.
So if you have a large rune stash you want to protect before a difficult area or boss, use a Rune Arc for insurance. When you die, you won’t drop any runes.
Rune Arcs can be handy when you’re on the brink of leveling up or gaining a new ability. They let you take more risks without worrying about losing progress.
You can farm Rune Arcs as rare drops from rats. But they are still limited in supply, so use them wisely. They are excellent insurance when you’re carrying a lot of runes.
Store runes with Erdtree Avatar
If you have a colossal rune amount and don’t want to risk losing it all, you can actually store the runes with an Erdtree Avatar NPC.
Seek out the Erdtree Avatar in Roundtable Hold. Talk to him and select “Leave runes.” You can then assign any amount of runes to him for safe keeping.
This removes the runes from your current balance. But whenever you talk to him again, you can “Take runes” to retrieve anything stored with him.
Erdtree Avatars can hold an unlimited quantity of runes. It’s like a personal rune bank. This allows you to avoid carrying a huge balance at risk of loss.
Use Mendicant’s Staff
The Mendicant’s Staff is a special staff that boosts rune gain with each kill. When equipped in your off-hand slot, it passively increases runes from enemies by 20%.
This means anytime you die and have to regain runes, you’ll end up with 20% more runes back than you originally lost. It makes death less punishing.
The staff doesn’t have any other abilities, but just having it equipped offsets some potential rune loss. It can take some of the sting out of retrieving your rune stash.
Co-op with trusted friends
Playing co-operatively with friends or other trusted players can minimize risk of losing runes.
When you summon co-op partners, you keep your own rune balance even if they die. And if you die, they can protect your rune stain and help defeat enemies guarding it.
Having co-op allies makes retrieving runes much easier. Partner up with others you can rely on to have your back when dying and rune loss occurs.
Conclusion
Losing runes in Elden Ring stings, but there are ways to avoid or minimize it:
- Spend runes frequently
- Quickly retrieve lost runes after dying
- Use defensive tactics and summons
- Equip a Rune Arc for insurance
- Store runes safely with an Erdtree Avatar
- Use Mendicant’s Staff to offset losses
- Co-op with trusted allies
Be smart about spending runes, play cautiously in combat, and don’t hesitate to regain any runes lost. With practice, you’ll get better at avoiding those frustrating rune losses when exploring the Lands Between.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes you to lose runes?
You lose all your current rune balance when you die in Elden Ring. Your runes spill onto the ground in a glowing pile at the location where you died.
How long do you have to recover lost runes?
The glowing rune stain marking your death only remains for 5-10 minutes. If you don’t retrieve your runes in that time, the stain will vanish and the runes are lost permanently.
What happens if you die again before recovering runes?
If you die again while your previous rune stain is still on the ground, those runes are lost forever. Your new death will create a new rune stain.
Can other players steal your runes?
No, other players cannot take runes from your rune stain in their own world. Only you will see and be able to retrieve your lost runes.
Do summons keep their runes if they die?
No, any cooperative summons will lose their runes if they die while playing in your world. But you will not lose any runes if a summon dies.
Tips to Avoid Losing Runes
Here are some additional tips to minimize rune loss in Elden Ring:
- Practice parrying and backstabs for tough enemies
- Kite enemies and separate them from groups
- Use spirit ashes and magic from a distance
- Keep multiple weapon upgrades available
- Explore cautiously in unknown areas
- Engage runebearing enemies wisely
- Learn enemy movements and attack patterns
Places to Spend Runes
Don’t let your runes pile up! Here are good ways to spend your rune earnings:
- Level up Vigor, Endurance, Strength, Dexterity
- Improve weapons at smithing tables
- Purchase Sorceries, Incantations, Pyromancies
- Buy crafting materials from vendors
- Unlock new Ash of War skills
- Increase Flask charges
- Buy consumable healing items
- Reinforce armor defense
- Buy upgrade materials
Invest your runes wisely to improve your character, gear, and resources. Don’t let them go to waste!
High Rune Reward Enemies
Here are some of the best enemies to farm for big rune rewards:
Enemy | Location | Runes |
Troll Knight | Limgrave Tunnels | 1000+ |
Wandering Noble | Liurnia | 4500+ |
Fallingstar Beast | Sellia Crystal Tunnel | 3000+ |
Cleanrot Knight | Aeonia Swamp | 2000+ |
Giant Bat | Sellia Hideaway | 3000+ |
Target these enemies to quickly build up your rune stock. But don’t carry the runes for too long without spending them!