Anyone who’s spent time in the brutal world of Elden Ring knows the sting of losing a massive stash of runes. Whether it’s a surprise boss, a poorly timed dodge, or an ambush around a dark corner, death can come swiftly—and with it, the risk of losing everything you’ve earned.



But it doesn’t have to be that way. After multiple playthroughs and plenty of painful mistakes, I’ve collected 11 practical tips to help you stop losing your runes and keep progressing smoothly through the Lands Between.



1. Always Spend Before Risky Areas

If you’ve accumulated enough runes to level up or make a significant purchase, don’t risk them by exploring unknown territory. Head back to a Site of Grace and spend what you can. Even if you don’t level up, consider investing in Elden Ring items from vendors or upgrading your gear.



2. Use the Memory of Death

Learn from each death. If a certain enemy or area keeps catching you off guard, slow down and approach it differently next time. Take a detour, find a better route, or change up your build. Dying is part of learning in Elden Ring, but repeating the same mistake isn’t.



3. Mark Rune Drop Locations

When you die with a lot of runes, place a custom marker on the map immediately. This helps if you’re exploring a new region or the drop is in a confusing multi-level dungeon. Retrieving them becomes easier when you don’t have to rely solely on memory.



4. Avoid Boss Fog Gates with High Runes

Heading into a boss fight with 100,000 runes is asking for heartbreak. Always spend what you can before stepping through a fog gate. If you’re short on time, quickly use the runes for consumables, upgrades, or hold onto them via consumable rune items.



5. Use the Twiggy Cracked Tear

This item, when used in the Flask of Wondrous Physick, prevents rune loss on death. It’s one of the most useful defensive tools in the game and is perfect for tough fights or unfamiliar areas.



6. Equip Sacrificial Twigs

Sacrificial Twigs function similarly to the Tear—they’ll preserve your runes after death but break upon use. Keep a few in your inventory for particularly dangerous situations. They're a smart insurance policy when you're holding more than you're comfortable losing.



7. Warp Instead of Walking

If you’re carrying a lot of runes, avoid taking the scenic route. Use fast travel to jump back to safety. While tempting to explore “just a little more,” it’s often how large rune losses happen.



8. Don’t Chase Runes Recklessly

When you die and leave a rune pile in a dangerous location, take a breath. Rushing in blindly to recover them often leads to a second death. Consider luring enemies away or clearing the path carefully before attempting to reclaim them.



9. Farm Smart, Not Long

If you’re farming runes in high-risk areas, set a clear goal. Know when to stop and bank your progress. Don’t get greedy—it’s better to make multiple smaller deposits than lose one massive payout. If you’re short on time, some players consider thebest place to buy Elden Ring runes to help bridge the gap without the grind.



10. Use Runes in Base Management

Beyond leveling, investing runes into things like Spirit Ash upgrades, crafting materials, or unique merchant stock can enhance your long-term power. This way, even if you die, you’ve still made lasting progress.



11. Have a Backup Strategy

Sometimes, rune losses happen no matter how cautious you are. When they do, have a recovery plan. That could be a low-risk farming spot to rebuild or simply keeping a stash of Elden Ring items that help you regain ground. For players who want to get back on track quickly, services like U4GM are sometimes used to regain lost momentum.



Losing runes is part of the Elden Ring experience, but managing the risk is what separates a good player from a great one. By using these strategies, you’ll not only keep more of your hard-earned runes, but you’ll also develop smarter habits that carry over into tougher fights and NG+ runs.



The Lands Between are unforgiving, but with the right approach, your rune count doesn’t have to suffer. Stay sharp, spend wisely, and never let a single death ruin your entire session.