U4GM - Elden Ring Runes: 15 Efficient Spending Tips for Early Game
Managing runes efficiently in the early game of Elden Ring can be the difference between smooth progress and endless frustration. While you’ll constantly gain and lose runes through exploration and combat, knowing how and where to spend them can help you build a solid foundation. Here are 15 practical tips to help new and returning players get the most out of every rune in the early stages.
1. Level Mind or Endurance Early
While damage stats are tempting, early survivability and stamina management are more impactful. Putting some early levels into Mind or Endurance helps you stay in fights longer, especially if you’re relying on Ashes of War or magic.
2. Don’t Overlevel One Stat
Avoid funneling all your early runes into a single stat like Strength or Intelligence. Builds can shift later based on what weapons and spells you discover. Keep your attributes balanced until your weapon choice is more defined.
3. Invest in a Smithing Stone Early
Don’t sleep on weapon upgrades. Even a basic weapon at +3 can outperform unupgraded rare weapons. Finding Smithing Stone Shards or spending runes to upgrade early weapons is a rune-efficient move.
4. Unlock Spirit Summons
Spend runes on unlocking Spirit Calling Bell and upgrading your favorite summons. These companions are invaluable against early bosses and make solo exploration much safer.
5. Buy the Crafting Kit Immediately
Available from Kale at the Church of Elleh, this cheap item opens up a wide array of crafting options. It allows you to create healing items, arrows, and more using materials found in the world, saving runes in the long run.
6. Prioritize Utility Gear
Instead of spending big on damage-boosting gear, consider buying items that improve utility — like a torch, lantern, or shield with 100% physical block. These make early areas more manageable.
7. Don’t Hoard Runes
It’s easy to get caught holding too many runes. When you're heading into risky zones, consider spending down or storing them in consumable form. There are always elden ring runes for sale if you want to recover what’s lost later.
8. Explore Before You Buy
Vendors offer a wide variety of items, but much of what they sell can be found for free if you explore thoroughly. Unless you urgently need something, wait until you’re sure it’s not hidden behind a nearby cliff or mini-dungeon.
9. Upgrade Flask Usage
Use Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears as soon as you find them to upgrade flask quantity and strength. This should be a rune-free priority in every region.
10. Use Cheap Elden Ring Items Smartly
Some consumables and basic tools — like throwing daggers or fire pots — can be lifesavers in certain boss fights. Stocking up on a few cheap Elden Ring Items can reduce rune loss from repeated deaths.
11. Bank Runes Into Useful Ashes
Ashes of War like Bloody Slash or Flame of the Redmanes can dramatically change your early combat effectiveness. Don’t hesitate to invest in these enhancements over raw stats.
12. Get a Mount Fast
Unlocking Torrent isn’t a rune cost, but it should be your early-game goal. Once mobile, you’ll be able to access more rune-rich zones and escape high-level enemies more easily.
13. Invest in Armor Only When Necessary
Armor sets can be heavy on the rune cost but don’t offer huge benefits in the early game. Only invest if you’re severely lacking poise or damage resistance.
14. Use U4GM Knowledge to Guide Spending
If you’ve seen players recommend specific early builds or farming paths from platforms like U4GM, it’s smart to base your rune investment on those suggestions. Proven strategies help you spend smarter, not harder.
15. Always Keep a Few Runes on Hand
Don’t zero out your balance. Keeping a couple thousand runes can help you grab emergency items, level quickly after a big find, or cover the cost of merchant wares on the fly.
Whether you’re a cautious explorer or an aggressive rune farmer, learning how to manage your early-game economy makes a major difference. And when progression slows or you hit a difficult area, having access to elden ring runes for sale or a stash of cheap Elden Ring Items can make experimentation far less punishing. In the Lands Between, smart spending isn’t just strategy — it’s survival.