If you’ve reached the endgame in Elden Ring, congratulations—you’re now in the final stretch of one of the most demanding, expansive RPGs in recent memory. But as every seasoned Tarnished knows, the grind doesn’t stop once the credits roll. In fact, whether you’re gearing up for NG+, optimizing your PvP build, or trying to max out every stat, Runes become more important than ever.
At endgame, enemies hit harder, upgrades cost more, and experimentation becomes expensive. That’s why having a reliable Rune farming strategy is critical. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best farming locations, item boosts, and route optimizations that can help you earn Runes faster and more efficiently.
Why Rune Farming Still Matters at Endgame
Even if your character is already level 150+, you’ll likely find yourself needing millions of Elden Ring Runes to gain just a few more stat points or to max out backup weapons for different builds. PvP players often aim for level 125–150, but PvE fans pushing into NG+2 and beyond can easily climb past level 200. This means every farming method needs to deliver a high return for your time investment.
Top Endgame Rune Farming Locations
Here are the most efficient and popular endgame farming locations, each offering tens—or even hundreds—of thousands of Runes per run.
1. Mohgwyn Palace – Albinauric Swamp Area
- Access: White Mask Varre’s questline or Pureblood Knight’s Medal.
- Enemies: Albinaurics (slow, high Rune yield).
- Recommended Route: From the Palace Approach Ledge-Road Site of Grace, use ranged attacks or AoE magic to wipe out the Albinauric mobs.
- Runes per run: ~30,000–50,000 (without boosts), in just 2–3 minutes.
Why it’s great: The Albinaurics don’t aggro quickly, so this spot is perfect for ranged builds or AoE spellcasters. It’s also one of the most AFK-friendly methods if you’re using Spirit Ashes or incantations with large hitboxes.
2. Mohgwyn Palace – Bird Lure Spot
- Method: Use a bow or spell to aggro the bird enemy across the blood lake.
- Result: The bird charges and falls off the cliff.
- Runes per bird: ~13,000 (base), ~19,500 with Gold Scarab + Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot.
- Time per kill: ~10 seconds.
Why it works: This is hands-down the most consistent and passive method in the game. You can farm ~200K Runes in 15–20 minutes with minimal input.
3. Haligtree – Elphael Inner Wall
- Enemies: Haligtree soldiers and knights.
- Difficulty: High (they hit hard).
- Reward: ~8,000–15,000 Runes per enemy.
- Best for: High-skill players with AoE setups or tank builds.
Why it’s worth it: These enemies are tough, but their Rune drop is excellent. Combine this with Gold Scarab and you’ll gain a massive amount in a single clearing run. Good for players looking to farm Runes and upgrade materials.
4. Mountaintops of the Giants – Ordina and Consecrated Snowfield
- Enemies: Tough but isolated mobs.
- Yield: Moderate to high, depending on your clear speed.
- Bonus: Many of the mobs also drop crafting materials and upgrade Elden Ring Items.
Why it’s solid: While not as efficient as Mohgwyn, these locations give you a change of scenery and allow for general farming while also completing side objectives.
5. Crumbling Farum Azula – Dragon Temple Rooftop
- Enemies: Beastmen and Farum Azula Knights.
- Route: From the Dragon Temple Rooftop Site of Grace, drop down and clear the series of beastmen in groups. The knights at the far end drop even more Runes but are riskier to fight.
- Runes per run: ~40,000–60,000+ with boosts.
- Notes: Ideal for AoE-heavy melee or incantation builds.
Why it’s great: The tight enemy placement allows for efficient chaining of kills with sweeping attacks like Wave of Gold or Flame, Fall Upon Them. Plus, the enemies often drop upgrade materials, making it a double-win.
6. Divine Tower of Caelid – War-Dead Catacombs
- Enemies: Ghostly knights and warriors constantly fighting.
- Mechanic: Enemies auto-fight each other; you can farm passively or clean up survivors.
- Runes per run: ~20,000–40,000+ depending on activity.
- Safe Method: Let the enemies kill each other, then collect the rewards.
Why it’s interesting: One of the few passive farming spots where minimal interaction is needed. It’s not the fastest, but it’s perfect for low-risk grinding—great for multitasking or taking breaks while still earning Runes.
Boosting Your Rune Gains: Essential Items
To maximize your returns, always equip or use the following:
1. Gold Scarab (Talisman)
- Effect: Boosts Rune acquisition by ~20%.
- Location: Defeat Cleanrot Knights in the Abandoned Cave.
- Must-have for every farming run.
2. Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot
- Effect: Temporarily boosts Runes earned by ~30%.
- Craftable with the Missionary’s Cookbook .
- Use one at the start of a long run or during boss fights to get the most out of it.
3. Sacred Relic Sword (NG+ Farming)
- Effect: The Wave of Gold weapon art is ideal for clearing packs of enemies.
- Great synergy with the Albinauric swamp farming route in Mohgwyn Palace.
Tips for Optimizing Your Rune Farming
- Stack Buffs: The Gold Scarab and Fowl Foot effects stack multiplicatively. Use both when farming for the best returns.
- Efficiency Over Risk: If a zone feels too punishing, skip it. Rune farming should be safe and repeatable—not stress-inducing.
- Know Your Build: AoE-heavy builds (like spellcasters or holy greatswords) thrive in Albinauric routes. Melee-focused builds may do better in Mountaintops or Elphael where enemy groupings are smaller but tougher.
- Use Torrent for Speed: In open areas like Mohgwyn, using Torrent to quickly ride between enemy groups saves time and reduces risk.
- Spirit Ashes: Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche can help clear mobs while you focus on ranged attacks or manage aggro safely.
Bonus: Best Bosses to Farm for Runes (NG+/Late Game)
If you’re confident in your build and can handle repeated boss fights, consider farming:
- Mohg, Lord of Blood (~420K Runes per kill with boosts)
- Elden Beast / Radagon (~500K combined)
- Godrick (NG+) – An easy boss with relatively high returns in later playthroughs.
Bosses are time-consuming but can be more satisfying if you enjoy fighting rather than repetitive mob clearing.
Endgame in Elden Ring is a different kind of grind. You’re no longer just surviving—you’re optimizing. Whether you’re preparing for NG+, fine-tuning your PvP stats, or unlocking every weapon upgrade, smart Rune farming makes the process smoother and less frustrating.
Stick to efficient farming zones, use your Rune-boosting items wisely, and tailor routes to your build strengths. With these tips and locations, you’ll be sitting on a mountain of Runes in no time—ready to take on whatever challenge the Lands Between throws at you next.
