The human beings ofElden Ringis filled with enigma . The game does n’t hold your hand for long before let you venture out in any direction you care – which is both a blessing and a execration . hit upon newweapons , enemies , or another gorgeous vantage point is what makesElden Ringso entertaining , and if the plot simply pointed you towards all these location , it would n’t be nearly as exciting .

But on the other bridge player , Elden Ringdoes a wretched job explaining some of its most utilitarian systems , which can be frustrative if you ’re new to the invention philosophy ofFromSoftware . No where is this more apparent than Great Runes , which get glossed over without giving you any musical theme as to why they ’re important or how to use them .

That ’s a bit of a shame , as Great Runes offer a noteworthy way to promote your skills and stay alive during the biz ’s most hard conflict . To help you decipher these strange items , here ’s a comprehensive look at how Great runic letter work inElden Ring , let in where to find them , how to Awaken Great Runes , and how to rein in their powers .

What are Great Runes?

Without spoiling too much , Great Runes are one of the two new prizes you get for flummox the final honcho ofElden Ring ’s main dungeons . In lore , they ’re the pieces of the titulary Elden Ring , and there are six you’re able to collect . The first you are going to encounter will be Godric ’s Great Rune after fill out Stormveil Castle .

In gameplay , they serve two purposes : one is to merely get at the terminal area of the game ( you will need at least two ) , and they also provide very unassailable buffs for your case . However , you wo n’t be able to do either of these unless you do some very specific natural process first .

How to Awaken Great Runes

Before a Great Rune can do anything for you , you take to first Awaken it . However , as we mention before , the plot itself wo n’t give you any help in count on out how to do this . Here are all the steps you need to take .

Step 1 : Get a Great Rune . patently , you will involve at least your first Great Rune in your possession before you’re able to waken any of them . If you just follow the chief path inElden Ring , you will eventually get your first after conquering Stormveil Castle .

Step 2 : regain the Divine Tower . You ’d never know it , but there ’s a very specific location you take to gossip so as to Awaken your Great Rune . This Divine Tower is actually not terribly far from Stormveil Castle . count at the map , follow the long break bridge that runs from the palace to the northeastern United States . At the very end of that route is the Divine Tower .

whole tone 3 : Open Stormveil Castle ’s front logic gate . If you did n’t do so your first time through , you will call for to do so in fiat to enter the span .

dance step 4 : live on crossing the bridge . you may select to run or fight back your manner across this bridge circuit , but either way you ’re in for a rough clip . You ’ll be face with three Guardian Golems ( not at once gratefully ) , with the last one wield a monumental prow that can easily kill you , even at full health .

Step 5 : Reach the teleporter . You may have noticed on the map that the bridge circuit does n’t really fully link to the Divine Tower any longer . venerate not , because at the edge of the passable portion of the bridgework , someone was considerate enough to leave behind a teleporter that will shoot you to the other side where a Site of Grace take into account you to take a much needed rest .

Step 6 : Take the lift up the tower . At the top , you will find a series of shrine - look altars and statues surrounding a monumental bone in the midsection . Use the Great Rune with the statue to finally Activate it .

How to use Great Runes

Once trip , Great Runes are also an item you may equip for very powerful buffs , but again the room to do so is n’t as simple as it would be in another secret plan . Here ’s how to take advantage of these powerful items .

Step 1 : After Activating the Great Rune , visit a Site of Grace .

Step 2 : Select theGreat Runesoption and outfit your Great Rune of option into your expansion slot .

gradation 3 : Use aRune Arc . Slotting in a Great Rune alone wo n’t give you any of the welfare of the Great Rune . To raise whatever power that Great Rune will give you , you need to use a rare and worthful item called a Rune Arc . you may faithfully buy them from a certain merchant in the Roundtable Hold for 4,000 runes , or you may find them in the world , and even occasionally as very rare drops from enemies .

Step 4 : Enjoy your buff while it go . Once you utilize your Rune Arc , the buff of your equipt Great Rune will stay active for as long as you’re able to manage to go without dying . Once you do go bad — because it will find — you will have to spend another Rune Arc if you need to find those incentive . These are best economize for challenging party boss where you know you may succeed if you just had a bit more of an edge .

Step 5 : Secondarily , without spoiling again , all you need to do is achieve the terminal domain with at least two Awakened Great Runes for the door to open . Otherwise , it will just stay shut with little clue as to why .