Look, I get it. You finally took down Godrick the Grafted after twenty tries, sweaty palms and all, and you got this "Godrick's Great Rune" thing. Feels amazing until... what now? It's just sitting in your inventory doing nothing. Sound familiar? Happened to me too. That's why I'm breaking down exactly how to use Great Runes in Elden Ring without the confusing jargon.
Here's the raw truth most guides won't tell you: Great Runes are game-changers but they're needlessly complicated. You can't just equip them like a sword. There's this whole rigmarole with Divine Towers and Rune Arcs that the game barely explains. I wasted three hours running around Limgrave before I figured it out. So let's save you that headache.
What Great Runes Actually Do (And Why You Should Care)
Think of each Great Rune as a temporary superpower. Not some wimpy +5% damage boost – we're talking massive stat jumps or health regeneration that turns impossible fights into winnable ones. But here's the kicker: they don't work right out of the box. You've got to activate them twice.
Honestly, I wish FromSoftware had made this less convoluted. The first time I activated Godrick's rune and saw my stats spike? Magic. Then I died to a random soldier and poof – bonus gone. Felt like a gut punch. Still, when you're stuck on Malenia or the Fire Giant, that extra edge is worth the trouble.
Where to Find Each Major Great Rune
You grab these from demigod bosses – the big story fights. Here's where to hunt them:
| Boss | Location | Required Progress |
|---|---|---|
| Godrick | Stormveil Castle | Be Margit |
| Radahn | Redmane Castle (Caelid) | Activate Grand Lift/Starscourge Festival |
| Rykard | Mt. Gelmir | Complete Volcano Manor quests |
| Morgott | Leyndell Royal Capital | Defeat Godfrey Shade |
| Mohg | Mohgwyn Palace | Access via Pureblood Knight's Medal or Consecrated Snowfield portal |
| Malenia | Haligtree Roots | Solve Haligtree Medallion puzzle |
That Mohg rune? Took me two weekends to get. His bloodflame attacks are brutal. Pro tip: bleed resistance gear is mandatory.
The Activation Process Demystified (Step-by-Step)
This is where players get stuck. Getting the rune is step one. Making it work? That's a whole other quest.
Step 1: Recharge at a Divine Tower
Every Great Rune corresponds to a Divine Tower. Godrick's is easy – head northeast from Stormveil's main gate. But Radahn's? You'll need to traverse the treacherous Divine Tower of Caelid. I fell off those narrow paths more times than I'd like to admit.
| Great Rune | Divine Tower Location |
|---|---|
| Godrick | Limgrave (NE of Stormveil) |
| Radahn | Caelid (Dragonbarrow region) |
| Rykard | Mt. Gelmir (Behind lava fall) |
| Morgott | East Altus Plateau |
| Mohg & Malenia | Isolated Divine Tower (Requires Waygate from Divine Bridge) |
When you reach the tower summit, interact with the glowing pedestal. Your rune will transform from "Great Rune of the Unborn" to "Activated Great Rune of the Unborn." Finally!
Step 2: Equip at a Site of Grace
Now open your menu at ANY Site of Grace. Navigate to "Great Runes" and select your activated rune. Important: You can only equip one at a time. I learned this the hard way trying to stack Godrick and Radahn's buffs (nope, doesn't work).
Critical Warning: Equipping ≠ activating. This just prepares the rune. You still need a Rune Arc to turn it on. Such a tedious system, honestly.
Unlocking the Power: Rune Arcs Explained
These consumables are the gasoline for your Great Rune engine. Without one? Your equipped rune does absolutely nothing. Zero. Zip.
Where to Farm Rune Arcs
You can find them, but farming is more reliable:
- Rats: Seriously. Those trash mobs in caves drop them at about 1% rate. Grindy but accessible early-game.
- Multiplayer: Help others beat bosses = free Rune Arc. My favorite method – helped 50+ players beat Margit.
- Invading/Killing Hosts: PvP approach, high risk but rewarding
- Purchase: Late-game vendors sell limited quantities for 4,000 runes each at Roundtable Hold
I've got about 80 hours racked up helping randoms in co-op. Not only do you get arcs, you learn boss patterns. Highly recommended.
Activating Your Great Rune Effect
Once equipped, open your inventory and use a Rune Arc. You'll see golden particles swirl around you and your Great Rune's icon will glow next to your health bar. That's when you know it's active.
Important stats:
| Effect Duration | Activation Cost | Deactivation Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Until death | 1 Rune Arc | Any death (even fall damage!) |
Yeah, it sucks that dying to gravity removes your hard-earned buff. I once lost a Radahn activation because I rolled off a cliff while admiring the scenery. Classic Elden Ring moment.
Every Great Rune Effect Tested
Not all runes are created equal. Some are broken good, others are situational. Here's my hands-on review:
| Great Rune | Effect | Best For | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Godrick | +5 to ALL attributes | Early-mid game, hybrid builds | ★★★★☆ (Essential starter) |
| Radahn | +15% HP, FP, Stamina | Tank builds, mage knights | ★★★☆☆ (Solid but outclassed) |
| Morgott | Massive HP boost (~25%) | Survival, boss fights | ★★★★★ (My Malenia-slayer) |
| Rykard | Restore HP on enemy kills | Exploration, dungeon crawls | ★★☆☆☆ (Overrated) |
| Mohg | Grants "Bloodboil" (damage buff when allies bleed) | Co-op groups, bleed builds | ★★★☆☆ (Situational) |
| Malenia | Heal on hit after taking damage | Aggressive players, no-shield runs | ★★★★☆ (High skill ceiling) |
Godrick's rune carried me until Leyndell. That +5 to strength let me wield the Grafted Blade Greatsword early. But Morgott's? That extra health pool saved me against Maliketh's combos more times than I can count. Rykard's sounded cool but restoring 80 HP per kill is pathetic when enemies hit for 600.
Advanced Tactics and Hidden Mechanics
Here's what 300 hours of testing taught me:
When to Activate
- Right BEFORE boss fog gates: Don't waste arcs on runs to the boss
- After respawning at stake of Marika: Close to boss arenas
- Never in platforming areas: Learned this after losing 3 arcs in Volcano Manor
Rune Arc Multiplayer Bonus
Forgot to mention: Using a Rune Arc without a Great Rune equipped gives a small HP boost. It's about +10% – decent early on but useless later. Still, better than nothing if you're out of Great Rune options.
Do Effects Persist Through Quitting?
Nope. Close the game? Buff gone. Such a weird design choice. Always activate right before the fight you need it for.
Fixing Common Mistakes
Seen these errors a thousand times in co-op:
"My Great Rune isn't working!"
- Did you activate at Divine Tower? (Check inventory - does it say "Activated"?
- Did you equip at Site of Grace? (Open menu to confirm)
- Did you consume a Rune Arc? (Icon should glow gold near HP bar)
Also worth noting: Great Rune effects don't work in PvP invasions. Tried cheesing invaders with Morgott's HP boost - didn't work. Disappointing but fair.
Great Rune FAQs
Can you stack multiple Great Rune effects?
No way. The game won't let you equip more than one. Believe me, I tried every button combination.
Do Rune Arcs carry to New Game+?
Yep! Stockpile them before ending your playthrough. Your activated Great Runes reset though – gotta climb those towers again.
Which Great Rune is best for magic builds?
Godrick early on (+5 mind/int), Radahn later (+15% FP). But honestly? Morgott's extra HP saved my squishy sorcerer more than extra FP ever did.
Can Great Runes be used in arenas?
Colosseum battles disable them. Tried activating before entering - effect vanished.
How many Rune Arcs should I hoard?
Keep at least 10 for tough boss fights. I burned through 7 on Maliketh alone.
Do rats drop more Rune Arcs with discovery boosts?
Silver Pickled Fowl Foot helps slightly. With 300 discovery, I averaged one arc per 15 minutes farming in Limgrave Tunnels.
Personal Insights After Hundreds of Hours
Look, the Great Rune system has flaws. It's too complex for new players and the death penalty feels harsh. Why can't we keep buffs until resting at Grace? But when it clicks - when Malenia's waterfowl dance leaves you with 3 HP and Morgott's rune lets you survive to heal - pure adrenaline.
My controversial take? Mohg's rune is underrated. Pair it with a Seppuku weapon during Radahn festival co-op. When other players bleed (and they will), your damage goes berserk. Saw 2,500+ hits on the big guy.
Final tip: Always carry rainbow stones. Divine Tower platforming kills more Great Rune runs than bosses. Fell during the Rykard tower climb after beating him? Soul-crushing. Pack those stones.
Mastering how to use Great Runes in Elden Ring separates casual players from veterans. It's about resource management - knowing when to burn that precious Rune Arc. Save them for brick wall bosses, not random dungeons. Now get out there and make those demigods regret giving you their power.
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