One of the first things new players realize in Elden Ring is that runes are everything. They're your currency, your leveling system, and your resource for buying gear, spells, and upgrades. Whether you're a fresh Tarnished stepping into Limgrave or a returning veteran starting a new build, farming runes early can make your journey through the Elden Ring Runes Lands Between much smoother.

This guide will walk you through the best early-game rune farming spots, recommended strategies, and tips for maximizing efficiency—all without needing high-level gear or advanced progression.

Why Farm Runes Early?

Early rune farming isn't about breaking the game—it's about giving yourself a comfortable start. Levels come slowly at first, and having extra runes allows you to:

Boost core stats like Vigor, Endurance, or Dexterity without constant grinding.

Buy Spirit Summoning upgrades and key weapons from merchants.

Stockpile consumables such as arrows, bolts, or crafting items.

Smoothly transition into tougher areas like Caelid or Liurnia.

Think of rune farming as an investment—you're giving yourself more flexibility to experiment with weapons, spells, and playstyles without feeling underpowered.

Best Early-Game Rune Farming Spots

Here are the most effective farming locations accessible within the first few hours of gameplay:

1. Gatefront Ruins (Limgrave)

Recommended Level: 5–15

Runes per Enemy: ~60–100

Why It Works:
This is the earliest farming spot available. Just north of the Gatefront Site of Grace, soldiers patrol around ruins and a camp. They're fairly weak, drop decent runes, and can be taken down one by one.

How to Farm:
Start at the Gatefront Grace, clear the nearby soldiers, then reset. It's simple, safe, and a good warm-up to learn combat flow.

2. Warmaster's Shack (Stormhill)

Recommended Level: 10–20

Runes per Enemy: ~200 per Troll

Why It Works:
The giant trolls roaming the road toward Stormveil Castle hit hard but are easy to stagger with jump attacks or Spirit Summons. Each one drops a healthy chunk of runes compared to soldiers.

How to Farm:
From the Warmaster's Shack Grace, move south toward the road and aggro a troll. Bring it down, reset, and repeat. Use Torrent for hit-and-run tactics if you're underleveled.

3. Third Church of Marika → Portal to Bestial Sanctum (Caelid)

Recommended Level: 15–25 (with caution)

Runes per Enemy: 900+ (Blackblade Kindred enemies nearby)

Why It Works:
From the Third Church of Marika in eastern Limgrave, a hidden teleporter behind the building sends you to Greyoll's Dragonbarrow near the Bestial Sanctum. While the enemies here are far too strong to fight directly, you can safely farm the small Vulgar Militiamen around the Grace.

How to Farm:
From the Bestial Sanctum Grace, carefully backstab or pick off the Militiamen patrolling outside. They drop massive rune amounts for early game. Don't aggro the larger bosses—you won't stand a chance yet.

4. Gatefront to Agheel Lake (Dragonburnt Ruins Route)

Recommended Level: 15+

Runes per Enemy: 200–300 (soldiers, knights)

Why It Works:
The soldiers near Agheel Lake South Grace and Dragonburnt Ruins are easy prey. With Torrent unlocked, you can kite groups and take them down quickly.

How to Farm:
Ride through, eliminating soldiers in quick loops. This spot is especially good for melee players who can cleave groups with a wide-swinging weapon.

5. Smoldering Wall (Caelid) – Fire Monks

Recommended Level: 20–30

Runes per Enemy: ~500 each

Why It Works:
South Caelid near the Smoldering Wall Grace has clusters of Fire Monks. They're aggressive but stagger easily and drop a large amount of runes relative to the effort.

How to Farm:
Pull them one at a time, or summon Spirit Wolves for distraction. Clear the group, reset, and repeat.

Tips to Boost Rune Farming Efficiency

Use the Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot
This consumable boosts rune acquisition for a limited time. Craft them once you unlock the recipe book.

Equip the Gold Scarab Talisman (Later Game)
While not available until much later, keep it in mind—it's the ultimate rune farming tool.

Backstabs and Stealth
Early farming is safest when you use stealth for one-shot backstabs. This minimizes risk and maximizes rune flow.

Torrent Mobility
Don't forget your trusty mount. Torrent makes it easier to farm groups of weak enemies without much risk.

Don't Get Greedy
Always consider rune recovery. Banking your spoils regularly prevents frustration if you get one-shot by a surprise enemy.

Suggested Farming Route for Beginners

Here's a simple progression path for farming efficiency:

Levels 5–15: Farm soldiers at Gatefront Ruins for steady growth.

Levels 15–20: Transition to trolls near Warmaster's Shack for bigger rune payouts.

Levels 20–25: Unlock the portal to Bestial Sanctum and carefully farm Militiamen.

Levels 25–30: Explore Caelid's Smoldering Wall for Fire Monks farming.

Following this route ensures you're never stuck underpowered before major bosses like Margit or Godrick.

How Many Runes Should You Farm?

A common beginner mistake is over-farming. Yes, runes help, but Elden Ring is built on skill growth as much as stat growth. Farming should supplement your progression, not replace it.

As a rule of thumb:

Farm until you can raise your primary damage stat (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, or Faith) to around 20.

Invest in at least 15–20 Vigor so you don't get one-shot by early bosses.

Put a few points into Endurance if stamina feels restrictive.

Once you hit these benchmarks, focus on progressing through the game rather than grinding endlessly.

Final Thoughts

Rune farming in Elden Ring doesn't need to be a tedious chore. With a few clever farming routes, you can give yourself a strong foundation without hours of repetitive grinding.

The Gatefront Ruins offer a safe start, the trolls of Stormhill raise your rune count quickly, and the Bestial Sanctum Militiamen are the perfect high-risk, high-reward option for bold Tarnished. By mixing these strategies with smart stat investment, you'll be ready to tackle Margit, Godrick, and the challenges of  

best site to buy elden ring items  the Lands Between with confidence.

Remember: every rune helps, but your skill and adaptability are just as important. Farm smart, spend wisely, and may every “Enemy Felled” screen bring you closer to becoming Elden Lord.