Refrosh Group

If you’ve ever roamed the Lands Between and thought, “I need more runes, but I don’t want to grind for hours,” you’re not alone. Every Elden Ring player eventually hits that wall—whether it’s needing upgrades for your weapon, boosting a vital stat, or just wanting to experiment with a new build. The good news? There are 35 FREE Elden Ring Runes Farming Methods that require zero coin investment—just some smart routing, timing, and a bit of courage.

1. The Classic Boulder Farm (Early Game)

Near the Third Church of Marika, head north to the boulder trap near Lenne's Rise. Lure the boulder down the path and dodge it—each successful run nets you around 2,000 runes. It's one of the simplest free Elden Ring runes farming methods available from the early hours of the game.

2. Stormhill Troll Patrol

The trolls on the Stormhill road drop a decent amount of runes, especially early on. With a bit of dodging skill, you can take them down quickly. Stack them up using a bleed weapon for faster kills.

3. Caelid Bird Exploit

Travel to the Bestial Sanctum and bait the giant bird near the cliff. It’ll chase and fall off—giving you a juicy 13,000+ runes per drop. No combat required. This is a well-known Elden Ring runes farming route, especially effective at mid-level.

4. War-Dead Catacombs Loop

After defeating Radahn, access the War-Dead Catacombs. Let the enemies fight each other while you safely collect runes from a distance. With no risk involved, it’s a solid free Elden Ring runes technique for patient players.

5. Volcano Manor’s Prison Town Ambush

Clear out the masked enemies in the twisting corridors of Volcano Manor's lower chambers. They’re surprisingly generous with rune drops and weak to backstabs. Sneaky but satisfying.

6. Night Cavalry Duels (Optional Bosses)

Night Cavalry bosses respawn under certain conditions, and their rune drops are generous. While tougher than your average enemy, the reward is high and the cost is zero.

7. Leyndell Knights Under the Erdtree

Post-Morgott, explore the Leyndell outer walls. Knights patrolling the lower levels offer big rune payouts if you isolate them one-on-one. Use pillars for cover.

8. Spiritcaller Cave Farm

The wolves and spirit enemies here drop more than you’d expect. Clear the area repeatedly for fast returns. A lesser-known free farming method in Elden Ring, but extremely effective for mid-game.

9. Giants at the Mountaintop of the Giants

Slow but reliable. These walking rune sacks drop thousands with every kill. Mount up, attack the ankles, and move fast.

10. Sell Unused Loot

Don’t forget that runes aren’t only earned through kills. Selling duplicate weapons, armor, and crafting materials can stack up surprisingly quickly. Completely free, and often overlooked.

11–35. Other Free Farming Highlights

Here’s a rapid-fire breakdown of 25 more free Elden Ring runes farming methods across the game’s massive world:

• Castle Morne Misbegotten

• Radahn Soldiers Near Redmane Castle

• Windmill Village Dancers

• Mohgwyn Palace Albinaurics (Offline)

• Lake of Rot Pest Zones

• Academy Crystal Crabs

• Deeproot Depths Root Spirits

• Haligtree Knights Patrol

• Dragonbarrow Minor Erdtree Guardians

• Consecrated Snowfield Camps

• Shaded Castle Rot Knights

• Subterranean Shunning-Grounds Inmates

• Magma Wyrm Ambush (Gelmir)

• Frenzied Flame Village Cultists

• Altus Tunnel Miners

• Sellia Town of Sorcery Soldiers

• Perfumer’s Ruins Groups

• Caria Manor Phantoms

• Fort Faroth Bat Swarms

• Windmill Heights Ghost Knights

• Bellum Highway Caravan Escorts

• Sainted Hero’s Grave Farm

• Crumbling Farum Azula Drakes

• Mountaintop Fire Monks

• Nokron Ancestral Followers

Each of these locations offers opportunities to earn free Elden Ring runes through repetition, enemy manipulation, or using the environment to your advantage.

There’s no shortage of options if you want to farm without spending real-world money or in-game currency. These 35 free Elden Ring runes farming methods span all phases of the game—from early-game troll stomping to endgame spirit hunting. Pick your zone, gear up smartly, and embrace the grind your way—without a single Warmane coin spent.