Meals & nutrition

Leveling up in Elden Ring is one of the most satisfying parts of the game, but it also comes with long-term consequences. Allocating your stats too quickly—or in the wrong order—can slow your progress or even lock you out of certain builds early on. That’s why it’s crucial to think smart and stretch your Elden Ring Runes as far as possible before committing them to level-ups.

Here are 20 essential tricks that experienced players often use before leveling up, helping them maximize efficiency and get the most out of their Elden Ring experience.

1. Stock Up on Key Elden Ring Items First

Before leveling up, prioritize buying necessary Elden Ring Items like the Crafting Kit, Pickled Turtle Neck, or Stonesword Keys. These can provide immediate exploration or combat benefits that outweigh a couple of extra points in Vigor.

2. Unlock Torrent Early

Getting Torrent from Melina is one of the best early investments. Explore faster, evade stronger enemies, and reach rune farming spots more easily before even touching your stats.

3. Explore Limgrave Thoroughly

Don't rush through the early zones. Limgrave is packed with caves, mini-bosses, and loot—perfect for rune farming and acquiring powerful gear without needing to level up.

4. Use Rune-Boosting Talismans

Talismans like the Gold Scarab (later in Caelid) can increase your rune gain dramatically. Save your runes and grab these tools first to multiply your returns down the road.

5. Master Guard Counters and Backstabs

These techniques scale with player skill rather than stats. By mastering these early on, you can defeat strong enemies without spending Elden Ring Runes on Strength or Dexterity yet.

6. Sell Unused Items

Vendors will buy gear and materials you don’t use. Trade them in for extra runes and purchase early-game Elden Ring Items that support survivability and mobility.

7. Use U4GM for Strategy References

Sites like U4GM can be a helpful resource when planning efficient rune use or finding tips about hidden rune farming locations, without diving too deep into spoilers.

8. Clear Out Easy Dungeons

Before leveling, take on easier dungeons like Groveside Cave or Coastal Cave. These offer great rune rewards and useful loot—perfect for getting stronger without stat investment.

9. Practice Spellcasting with Starter Gear

If you're leaning toward a magic build, experiment with basic sorceries and incantations. Many can be used effectively without needing high stats right away.

10. Bank Runes in Consumables

Golden Runes and similar items can be kept in your inventory until you’re ready to level. This helps protect your runes if you're unsure about stat allocation.

11. Respec Is Limited—So Plan Ahead

While you can eventually respec with Rennala, the resources are limited. Use this early time to experiment with weapons and spells rather than rushing levels.

12. Scout Weapon Scaling

Check which stats scale best with the weapons you like. If your preferred weapon favors Dexterity, there’s no point rushing into Strength-based leveling.

13. Fight Tree Sentinel Later

Instead of trying to out-stat him, sneak past the Tree Sentinel early on and return with better gear or magic. Save your runes for smarter investments.

14. Buy Smithing Stones When Available

Before you pour runes into levels, use them to upgrade your weapons. A +3 sword often outperforms raw stat increases at early levels.

15. Use Ashes of War to Test Builds

Ashes of War can dramatically alter weapon playstyle. Experiment with them before investing in levels to see which playstyle you prefer.

16. Balance FP and Stamina Management

Learning when to dodge, cast, or block matters more than having higher stats early on. Improve your technique while your stats are still low.

17. Equip Load Matters

Weight classes affect your mobility. Instead of increasing Endurance right away, choose lighter Elden Ring Items to stay nimble and efficient.

18. Explore With Map Fragments

Before leveling up, gather as many map fragments as possible. They reveal rune-rich areas, valuable items, and secrets you’ll want to explore wisely.

19. Join Online Co-op for Extra Runes

Summon or get summoned to help other players with bosses. It’s a relatively low-risk way to earn runes without risking your own.

20. Don’t Fear Losing Runes

Part of the game’s tension is the risk of loss. If you’ve invested wisely in gear and information—through guides or sources like U4GM—losing a few thousand runes isn’t the end of the world.

Before committing to level-ups in Elden Ring, the real key is strategic patience. Use your Elden Ring Runes to build up your knowledge, tools, and positioning. The result is a more efficient and rewarding experience—especially for those aiming to master the game rather than brute-force their way through it.

By using these tricks, you’ll not only save runes but learn how to get the most value out of every step.