In Elden Ring, Runes are the lifeblood of your progression. They power up your stats, upgrade your gear, and let you purchase essential items. While some players wait until mid or late game to focus on Rune farming, there are several spots you can reach early on that provide excellent returns for the effort. Whether you're preparing for tougher bosses or just want smoother leveling, these five early-game Rune farming spots will give you a head start.

1. Gatefront Ruins (Limgrave)

This is one of the very first locations most players encounter, and it’s surprisingly efficient for farming early Runes. The area is full of soldiers who move in predictable patterns and offer around 50–100 Runes each. With some stealth and basic crowd control tactics, you can clear them out in just a couple minutes and rest at the nearby Site of Grace to repeat.

Tips for efficiency:

• Use backstabs to conserve FP.

• Sneak in from the rear and eliminate the torch guards first.

• Bring a Spirit Ash like Lone Wolf to distract enemies if needed.

2. Agheel Lake North (Dragon-Burnt Ruins)

South of Gatefront Ruins lies Agheel Lake, where you’ll find more soldiers, dogs, and undead enemies. Just east of the lake is a ruin swarming with enemies, but they’re easily dispatched with a good AoE skill or even horseback swings.

This area is a solid option for early Elden Ring Rune farming tips because of the low-risk enemies and respawn-friendly layout.

Bonus: The dragon that spawns nearby is optional at this stage, so feel free to farm the soldiers and skip the beast until you’re ready.

3. Third Church of Marika → Portal to Bestial Sanctum

This is where things get really juicy. Near the Third Church of Marika in eastern Limgrave, there’s a hidden portal behind some bushes and water. Activating it teleports you all the way to the Bestial Sanctum in Caelid, an area that's definitely above your current level—but that's exactly the point.

Just outside the Sanctum is a field of weak Vulgar Militia enemies that drop 1,000+ Runes each. They’re fragile but fast, so use ranged attacks or careful swordplay.

Why it works:

• You don’t have to fight the towering Black Blade Kindred.

• There’s a Site of Grace just steps away for easy resets.

• It’s one of the best early Rune farming methods in the game.

4. Lenne’s Rise Ball Trap (Dragonbarrow)

If you’re bold and manage to explore further into Dragonbarrow, head to Lenne’s Rise. You’ll find a magical ball trap on the bridge leading to the tower. Each ball kill (yes, the giant rolling balls can die) grants 1,952 Runes when it falls off the cliff. Lure it properly and rinse-repeat.

Pro tip: Rest at the nearby Grace, sprint halfway across the bridge, then immediately roll back to trigger the ball's fall. Repeat as needed.

This is perfect for farming Elden Ring runes fast without fighting anything at all.

5. Stormhill Troll Patrols

If you want steady gains without taking on over-leveled threats, the roaming trolls on Stormhill near the Warmaster’s Shack are great targets. They drop over 1,000 Runes each, and once you learn their attack patterns, they’re quite manageable even at level 15–20.

Strategy:

• Use a fire-imbued weapon or summon Spirit Ashes for distraction.

• Hit their legs to stagger them and land criticals.

• Don’t engage more than one at a time.

Farming Runes early doesn’t have to be a grindfest. With smart route planning and some risk-taking, you can earn tens of thousands of Runes in just 15–20 minutes using the right spots. Whether you're boosting your build or stocking up for smithing upgrades, these Elden Ring rune farming tips are invaluable for any Tarnished looking to gain an edge before stepping into tougher territories.

Got your own secret farming route? Share it in the comments and help out fellow Tarnished.