U4GM - Runes Spending Guide: Best Ways to Use Them in Elden Ring
Elden Ring offers one of the most immersive and challenging experiences in modern action RPGs. FromSoftware’s punishing combat, breathtaking open world, and intricate lore all contribute to a game where every decision matters—including how you spend your hard-earned runes. As a seasoned player with over 150 hours in the Lands Between, I’ve learned through trial, error, and countless deaths the best ways to use Elden Ring runes to ensure success and progression.
In this guide, I’ll share practical advice, personal experience, and trusted tips on how to spend your runes wisely, whether you’re a new Tarnished or a veteran seeking to optimize your build.
What Are Elden Ring Runes?
Runes in Elden Ring are the universal currency. They function as both experience points and money. You earn runes by defeating enemies, discovering rune items, and selling loot. These runes are then used to level up your character, purchase gear, upgrade equipment, and even unlock certain services from NPCs.
But with limited resources early on—and the very real possibility of losing your runes on death—it’s crucial to understand where they’ll have the most impact.
Best Ways to Spend Runes in Elden Ring
1. Leveling Up Your Character (Top Priority Early Game)
In the early stages of Elden Ring, your best investment is in leveling up. I remember struggling in Limgrave until I started consistently spending runes to boost my Vigor and Endurance. These two stats helped me survive longer in fights, especially against aggressive bosses like Margit the Fell Omen.
Focus on:
Vigor: Increases health—absolutely vital for survival.
Endurance: Boosts stamina and equipment load.
Primary Damage Stat: Such as Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, or Faith depending on your build.
Don’t scatter your stat points too thin. Specializing makes a significant difference.
2. Upgrading Weapons and Spirit Ashes
Once you’ve established a solid base level, start investing in weapon upgrades. A +3 or +4 weapon makes a bigger impact than leveling up alone. In my experience, upgrading my Uchigatana early with Smithing Stones allowed me to one-shot weaker enemies and break through enemy shields with ease.
Equally important are Spirit Ashes. Summoning a strong ally can turn a tough boss fight into a manageable duel. Use runes to upgrade these through Roderika at Roundtable Hold.
3. Buying Essential Items from NPCs
There are key items in Elden Ring that can only be purchased from NPCs. Always save a small stash of runes to buy:
Crafting Kits
Smithing Stones (from merchants or Twin Maiden Husks)
Cookbooks (to unlock more crafting recipes)
Stonesword Keys (to unlock sealed areas with powerful loot)
Pro tip: Visit each new merchant and check their inventory. One time, I almost missed an early lantern—an essential tool for dark areas—because I ran past a merchant without checking their goods.
4. Invest in Useful Spells or Incantations
If you’re running a magic build, acquiring new sorceries or incantations should be a priority. They often scale significantly with upgrades and can deal devastating damage from range or support your melee attacks. Always balance your rune spending between INT/FAI stats and spell acquisition.
Avoid Wasting Runes
I made the mistake of hoarding runes once and lost over 40,000 to a mini-boss ambush. Always spend them before exploring new areas or attempting boss fights. It’s better to be slightly underleveled with upgraded gear than to risk losing everything.
Also, be cautious about buying overpriced gear or untested spells you might not use. Consider sticking to trusted weapons and spells that complement your playstyle.
Need More Runes? Here’s a Safe Way to Get Them
While farming is an option, not everyone has the time to grind. If you're short on time and want to accelerate your progress, it’s important to buy from a trusted source. Many players ask where to buy safe Elden Ring runes website, and in my experience, U4GM has been a reliable choice.
They offer fast delivery, fair prices, and most importantly—safe transactions. I used U4GM to give myself a boost for a New Game+ run, and the process was smooth without putting my account at risk. That extra infusion of runes allowed me to experiment with builds and test high-level gear I hadn’t tried before.
Final Thoughts
Spending your Elden Ring runes wisely is the key to mastering the game’s brutal challenges. Whether you’re leveling up, upgrading gear, or preparing for an epic boss battle, every rune counts. Learn from my early mistakes, invest where it matters, and don’t hesitate to look for a buy safe Elden Ring runes website like U4GM when you need a head start. Latest Update:All Healing Items in Elden Ring Compared: What’s Worth Using?