Farming Elden Ring runes efficiently depends not just on location and timing, but also on your weapon choice. Some weapons drastically increase your speed and effectiveness when grinding for resources. Whether you’re slashing through weak mobs in early zones or sweeping through late-game rune farms, having the right tools can make a significant difference. In this guide, we’ll break down the best Elden Ring items—specifically weapons—that will help you earn more runes faster and with less effort.
1. Sacred Relic Sword
Location: Rewarded after defeating the final boss and exchanging the Elden Remembrance with Enia at Roundtable Hold.
Why it's great: The Sacred Relic Sword is widely considered the best rune farming weapon due to its unique skill, Wave of Gold. This skill unleashes a wide golden shockwave that clears out large groups of enemies in a single cast—perfect for the Mohgwyn Palace farming spot.
Ideal for: High-level players who have completed the game and want to farm massive rune amounts quickly.
2. Blasphemous Blade
Location: Trade Rykard’s Remembrance with Enia.
Why it's great: This weapon scales with Faith and Strength and restores HP upon enemy kills. It’s perfect for sustained farming runs where survivability is key. Its Taker's Flames skill also does excellent AoE damage.
Ideal for: Faith builds looking for both power and sustainability during rune farming.
3. Rivers of Blood
Location: Defeat Bloody Finger Okina at the Church of Repose in Mountaintops of the Giants.
Why it's great: Its fast bleed buildup and powerful skill, Corpse Piler, allow it to slice through rune-rich enemies quickly. Bleed damage is extremely effective against many farmable enemy types.
Ideal for: Dexterity or Arcane builds looking to trigger bleed effects rapidly.
4. Ghiza’s Wheel
Location: Dropped by Inquisitor Ghiza at Volcano Manor.
Why it's great: This colossal weapon’s skill, Spinning Wheel, turns it into a literal death saw. When used correctly, it deals continuous damage while draining enemy health—great for Elden Ring runes farming larger mobs or mini-bosses.
Ideal for: Strength builds with a preference for big weapons and big rewards.
5. Sword of Night and Flame
Location: Found in a chest in Caria Manor, near the Manor Lower Level Site of Grace.
Why it's great: Its dual-scaling damage and unique Night-and-Flame Stance make it effective in both magic-based and physical attacks. This versatility is great for clearing out mobs in tight farming routes.
Ideal for: Intelligence and Faith hybrid builds that need flexibility and burst damage.
6. Moonveil Katana
Location: Dropped by the Magma Wyrm boss in Gael Tunnel.
Why it's great: The Transient Moonlight skill provides strong ranged magical slashes that can one-shot weaker enemies, speeding up rune farming, especially in early-to-mid game areas.
Ideal for: Intelligence-focused characters looking for quick rune runs.
7. Eleonora’s Poleblade
Location: Found after defeating Eleonora at the Second Church of Marika.
Why it's great: This twinblade stacks bleed damage rapidly with its skill, Bloodblade Dance. Great for crowd control and farming areas with mid-HP enemies.
Ideal for: Arcane/Dexterity builds aiming to maximize bleed-based rune farming.
Tips to Maximize Rune Farming with Weapons
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Equip the Gold Scarab talisman to increase rune drop rates from enemies.
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Use Silver-Pickled Fowl Foot for temporary rune gain boosts.
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Pair AoE weapons with rune-dense locations like Mohgwyn Palace or War-Dead Catacombs.
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Upgrade your weapons fully at a blacksmith to improve farming speed.
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Consider Spirit Ashes that complement your farming style and draw aggro.
Choosing the right weapon can drastically reduce the time it takes to gather Elden Ring runes. The options above are not only some of the most effective Elden Ring items for rune farming but also provide a variety of playstyles. Whether you're after bleed damage, AoE clearing, or hybrid spells, there's a weapon tailored to your grind. Equip smart, farm efficiently, and make the most of every battle.
