Elden Ring: How to find and use Rune Arcs

In Elden Ring, players rely on runes as the primary currency to level up, buy items, and upgrade equipment. However, one specific item called a Rune Arc stands out for its special power. Rune Arcs are crucial for unlocking and using the full potential of Great Runes, enhancing your abilities and providing substantial boosts to your character. This guide will cover everything you need to know about Rune Arcs: where to find them, how to use them, and tips for making the most out of their power.

What are Rune Arcs?

Rune Arcs are rare and valuable consumable items in Elden Ring Runes that can temporarily grant powerful buffs to your character. When used, a Rune Arc activates the passive effect of a Great Rune, an item you acquire after defeating one of the game's main bosses.

Great Runes on their own are inactive, and while they can be equipped, they offer no benefits unless you use a Rune Arc. Once you use a Rune Arc, it unlocks the latent power of your equipped Great Rune, providing significant stat boosts and advantages for as long as you stay alive. The effect lasts until your character dies, making Rune Arcs highly valuable and strategic items.

How to Find Rune Arcs

Rune Arcs are not abundant, so knowing where to look and how to farm them can be key to gaining the upper hand in Elden Ring.

1. Exploring the World

While Rune Arcs are somewhat rare, you can find them scattered throughout the world of Elden Ring. Exploring dungeons, castles, and other important areas often leads to discovering Rune Arcs as treasure. The following places are known for containing Rune Arcs:

Limgrave: Early in the game, you may stumble upon Rune Arcs as you explore caves, ruins, and small dungeons in Limgrave. Keep an eye on chests and lootable corpses.

Stormveil Castle: This large, intricate location contains several hidden items, including Rune Arcs. Make sure to fully explore it as you progress through the story.

Liurnia of the Lakes: The expansive area around the lakes holds hidden treasures, including some Rune Arcs if you search carefully.

2. Defeating Enemies

Certain enemies, especially higher-level ones, can drop Rune Arcs. The drop rate isn't high, but specific enemy types and encounters are more likely to yield Rune Arcs. Here are a few reliable ways to farm Rune Arcs from enemies:

Defeating Rats: Though they seem insignificant, rats across the Lands Between have a small chance to drop Rune Arcs. This makes them a surprising but effective way to farm Rune Arcs if you need to collect them. The best locations to farm rats include sewers, caves, and abandoned structures.

Invading NPCs or Hosts: In certain multiplayer scenarios, defeating invading NPCs or hosts of other worlds can result in Rune Arc drops. These drops reward you for taking part in invasions or defending your world from invaders. It's a high-risk but rewarding method of obtaining Rune Arcs.

3. Multiplayer Rewards

One of the most consistent ways to acquire Rune Arcs is by engaging in multiplayer gameplay. Specifically, if you assist another player in defeating a boss while using Furlcalling Finger Remedy to join their game as a phantom, you will be rewarded with a Rune Arc upon the boss's defeat.

This method allows you to earn Rune Arcs while also practicing boss fights and learning new strategies by working with other players. Whether you're summoning help or offering it, multiplayer is a great way to stockpile Rune Arcs over time.

4. Purchasing Rune Arcs

There are a few merchants across the Lands Between who sell Rune Arcs. While buying them is not always the most efficient method, it's a reliable option if you have the runes to spare.

Twin Maiden Husks (Roundtable Hold): You can buy Rune Arcs from the Twin Maiden Husks after offering them a Bell Bearing. Rune Arcs cost 4,000 runes each, making them a somewhat expensive but guaranteed way to obtain them.

5. Great Rune Bosses

After defeating bosses who hold Great Runes (like Godrick or Rennala), you are often rewarded with a Rune Arc as part of the loot. These special Rune Arc drops are tied to major milestones in the game and serve as a way to introduce players to the importance of using Rune Arcs to unlock Great Runes.

How to Use Rune Arcs

Using a Rune Arc is simple, but its effects can be game-changing. Here's how you can use Rune Arcs to boost your power in Elden Ring.

1. Equip a Great Rune

Before using a Rune Arc, you need to equip a Great Rune. After defeating major bosses, you will often receive a Great Rune, but it remains dormant until it is activated. To activate a Great Rune, you must restore its power by visiting the corresponding Divine Tower in the Lands Between.

For example, to activate Godrick's Great Rune, you must travel to the Divine Tower of Limgrave and ascend it to restore the rune's power.

Once the Great Rune is restored, you can equip it at a Site of Grace. Only one Great Rune can be equipped at a time, so choose wisely depending on the situation or your character build.

2. Consume a Rune Arc

With a Great Rune equipped, consuming a Rune Arc will immediately activate the Great Rune's effects. To use a Rune Arc, open your inventory, locate the item, and select “Use.” The effect is instant and will remain active until you die.

The buffs provided by Rune Arcs depend entirely on the Great Rune you have equipped. Some examples include:

Godrick's Great Rune: Increases all attributes by 5 points, providing a substantial boost to your stats like strength, vigor, endurance, and intelligence.

Radahn's Great Rune: Increases your health, stamina, and FP, making it ideal for tough battles where survival and resource management are key.

Morgott's Great Rune: Enhances your maximum health significantly, perfect for tankier builds or when facing enemies that deal large amounts of damage.

3. Multiplayer Uses

In multiplayer, using a Rune Arc not only boosts your own stats but also enhances the power of your summoned allies. This makes Rune Arcs incredibly valuable in co-op sessions where you and your friends are up against tough bosses or challenging dungeon encounters. Buffing your entire party can turn the tide in otherwise difficult battles.

When to Use Rune Arcs

Since Rune Arcs are somewhat limited in supply, it's crucial to use them strategically. Here are a few key moments when using a Rune Arc can give you the upper hand:

Boss Fights: Rune Arcs can make boss fights significantly easier by boosting your health, stamina, and other stats. If you're struggling with a difficult boss, using a Rune Arc can be the difference between victory and defeat.

PVP Battles: Rune Arcs are invaluable during PvP invasions or duels. The stat boosts can give you an edge over your opponent, making you harder to defeat.

Challenging Areas: Some regions in Elden Ring Items contain particularly tough enemies or environmental hazards. Before entering such areas, using a Rune Arc can provide the extra durability and strength needed to survive.

Rune Arcs are powerful consumable items in Elden Ring that allow you to fully harness the potential of Great Runes. Although they are somewhat rare, knowing where to find them and when to use them can drastically improve your chances of success, whether you're fighting bosses, exploring dangerous territories, or engaging in PvP. Use your Rune Arcs wisely, and they will help you overcome the many challenges the Lands Between has to offer.