In Elden Ring, runes are the lifeblood of your progression. They level up your stats, let you buy gear, and fuel your experiments with new playstyles. But while stacking up runes is essential, knowing how to maximize their value is just as important. One underrated but powerful way to do this is by equipping the right talismans. These talismans not only boost your farming potential but also make sure your runes go further once you’ve earned them. Here’s a breakdown of some of the best talismans to pair with your runes for a smoother journey across the Lands Between.
1. Gold Scarab – The Rune Booster
Arguably the best-known rune-related talisman, the Gold Scarab significantly increases the number of runes enemies drop when defeated. It’s a must-have for any farming build. Whether you’re clearing Lake of Rot or running Mohgwyn Palace loops, equipping the Gold Scarab ensures that every kill counts. The talisman is found in the Abandoned Cave, guarded by Cleanrot Knights, and it’s absolutely worth the trouble to get.
2. Radagon’s Scarseal / Sourceal – Strength with a Cost
These talismans raise your Strength stat at the cost of increased damage taken. While not directly linked to runes, they’re useful if you’re investing your runes into strength-based builds and want to try out heavier weapons earlier. Equip them while leveling to temporarily bridge stat gaps without needing to spend runes right away. It’s a tactical choice, especially when you’re planning your rune allocation carefully.
3. Marika’s Scarseal / Sourceal – Optimizing Rune Spending for Mages
For magic-focused players, these talismans raise your Mind or Faith stats early on, letting you test high-end spells before fully committing your runes to level-ups. It’s a great way to preview the effects of certain Elden Ring Items like incantations or staves, so you know where your rune investment will pay off best.
4. Arsenal Charm – Gear Up Without the Burden
If your rune investment is going into Endurance but you haven’t hit that sweet spot yet, the Arsenal Charm gives you a bit more equipment load capacity. This allows you to wear heavier armor or carry extra weapons early, saving you from spending runes into Endurance too early. It’s a small edge, but one that can keep your build flexible while you accumulate more runes.
5. Primal Glintstone Blade – For Rune-Savvy Spellcasters
Reducing FP cost of spells by 25%, the Primal Glintstone Blade gives magic users better efficiency, allowing them to do more without leveling Mind too early. This makes your early rune investment more flexible, freeing you up to prioritize damage stats first.
Tips for Getting the Most from Your Runes
- Plan your build ahead: Use talismans like the Scarseal series to preview the effects of certain builds before spending large amounts of runes.
- Use farming tools: Equip Gold Scarab during rune farming runs and combine it with consumables like Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot for maximum efficiency.
- Know when to invest: Sometimes it’s smarter to buy Elden Ring Runes if you’re stuck at a critical threshold and don’t want to grind for hours. Tools like U4GM offer a fast way to get back in the action if you’ve lost a huge stash or want to experiment with a high-level build.
