When I first started exploring the Lands Between in Elden Ring, I was immediately captivated by the sheer scale and beauty of the world. But like many Tarnished, I quickly realized that acquiring enough Elden Ring runes to level up and gear properly is no easy feat—especially if you want to avoid triggering major boss events too early. Over time, through both personal trial and advice from experienced players, I’ve learned several reliable rune farming methods that don’t interfere with progression flags.

Below, I’ll share five safe and effective ways to farm runes without activating boss fights, based on personal experience and a strong understanding of the game mechanics. These strategies are ideal for both new players and veterans creating new characters.

1. War-Dead Catacombs Farming (Post-Radahn Optional)

This area becomes accessible after defeating General Radahn, but accessing it doesn't automatically trigger any other boss flags. Inside, you’ll find enemies that fight each other, allowing you to farm runes passively. If you've already cleared Radahn or reached this stage naturally, it's one of the most efficient rune farms, yielding around 5,000–6,000 runes every few minutes. Just let the spirits battle each other and collect the spoils.

Pro Tip: You can stand on the steps at the entrance and let the enemies eliminate each other. Using a Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot increases the yield.

2. Stormhill Trolls & Soldiers (Early Game)

During my first playthrough, I avoided major story triggers and instead focused on clearing the roaming trolls and soldiers in Stormhill. This method is completely safe and yields a steady rune income. Each troll gives around 1,000 runes, and the area resets quickly via nearby Sites of Grace.

This method is perfect for early game players trying to level up without heading straight into boss-heavy areas like Stormveil Castle.

3. Mohgwyn Palace (Without Triggering the Lord of Blood)

This zone is arguably the best farming area in Elden Ring. You can get there through Varre’s questline or via a portal in Consecrated Snowfield. While the area is connected to Mohg, the Lord of Blood, just being in the zone doesn't activate the boss fight.

Once there, I personally found the bird farming method to be extremely efficient. With a good bow or spell, shoot the bird across the cliff to make it fall. You'll earn over 10,000 runes per kill, and it resets quickly.

Note: If you’re short on time or prefer not to grind manually, many players choose to buy fast delivery Elden Ring runes online from reliable sellers like U4GM. I’ve used this option before, especially when re-rolling characters, and the delivery was impressively fast and secure.

4. Albinaurics in Mohgwyn Palace

Also in Mohgwyn Palace, just past the Site of Grace called “Palace Approach Ledge-Road,” there are packs of Albinaurics clustered together. With AoE spells or a strong weapon, you can take out entire groups in seconds, earning over 30,000 runes per loop. This is my go-to farming spot for new builds when I don’t want to rely on ranged bird farming.

Even better, none of this farming interferes with boss triggers, making it safe for long-term use.

5. Caelid Smoldering Wall & Radahn Soldiers

One underrated spot is near the Smoldering Wall in Caelid, where Radahn’s soldiers fight enemy creatures. These battles play out similarly to the War-Dead Catacombs, and you can collect runes passively.

This spot was one of my early discoveries when exploring Caelid before I felt ready for Radahn. It's particularly helpful because you can benefit from the conflict without actively engaging all enemies yourself.

As someone who enjoys taking a slower, more exploratory approach to Elden Ring, avoiding boss flags while farming runes is crucial. Whether you’re preparing for PvP, planning a respec, or simply want to get stronger without progressing too fast, these methods offer reliable options.

And if you’re ever in a rush or don’t have time to farm, it’s perfectly valid to buy fast delivery Elden Ring runes from trusted platforms like U4GM. My experience with them has always been smooth, and it’s a great way to jump back into the game when real-life responsibilities eat up gaming hours.

Just In: Elden Ring: How to Identify Rune-Heavy Dungeon Paths