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Great Runes in Elden Ring are special items tied to the game’s main bosses. If you want to know how to use Great Runes in Elden Ring and where to find them all, we’ve got you covered.
Each Shardbearer in the game, which includes the likes of Godrick, Radahn, Rykard, and so on, all have a Great Rune. Once you beat the boss, you will get the item and then you need to activate it. There are eight Great Runes in Elden Ring, but you can only have the effects of one of them at any given time.
Elsewhere in Elden Ring, make sure you read our guides covering Millicent’s questline in Elden Ring and our page on the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC speculative release. Now, this is how to use Great Runes in Elden Ring and where to find them.
All Great Runes in Elden Ring
There are eight Great Runes in Elden Ring and you can get them from specific bosses in the game. Each Great Rune can be equipped and will enhance specific aspects of your abilities or grant various stat bonuses. The Great Runes are as follows:
- Godrick’s Great Rune – obtained from beating Godrick the Grafted
- Great Rune of the Unborn – obtained from beating Rennala Queen of the Full Moon
- Radahn’s Great Rune – obtained from beating Starscourge Radahn
- Morgott’s Great Rune – obtained from beating Morgott
- Rykard’s Great Rune – obtained from beating Rykard
- Mohg’s Great Rune – obtained from beating Mohg
- Phantom Great Rune – obtained from invading while using Mohg’s Great Rune
- Malenia’s Great Rune – obtained from beating Malenia
Outside of these Great Runes, there are also three special Mending Runes in Elden Ring. Mending Runes are key items that are used to unlock specific endings. While technically Great Runes, they cannot be equipped: the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, The Mending Rune of the Death-Prince, and the Mending Rune of Perfect Order.
Godrick’s Great Rune location
- Effect: Increases all stats by five.
The first Great Run many of you will come across is Godrick’s Great Rune. You get this by defeating Godrick the Grafted at the end of the Stormveil Castle dungeon. When equipped, Godrick’s Great Rune will increase all of your stats by five. To activate this Great Rune, you need to take it to the top of the Divine Tower in Limgrave and interact with the sigil there.
Great Rune of the Unborn location
- Effect: Grants access to Rebirth.
The Great Rune of the Unborn is dropped by Rennala Queen of the Full Moon. She acts as the final boss of the Royal Academy of Raya Lucaria. This Great Rune cannot be equipped but instead lets you respec your stats in the Grand Library where you fought her. To respec your stats, you will also need the Larval Tear item.
Radahn’s Great Rune location
Effect: Increases HP, Stamina, and FP.
Radahn’s Great Rune is rewarded to you after defeating the Starcourge Radahn boss in Caelid. When equipped, this Great Rune will increase your HP, Stamina, and FP by 15%. To activate Radahn’s Great Rune, you will need to take it to the top of the Divine Tower of Caelid and interact with the sigil there.
Morgott’s Great Rune location
- Effect: Increases max HP
Morgott’s Great Rune is granted to you after you defeat Morgott, The Omen King boss in Leyndell. Equipping Morgott’s Great Rune will grant you an HP increase of 25%. In order to use Morgott’s Great Rune, you need to first restore its power at the Divine Tower of East Altus and interact with the Fingers at the top of the tower.
Rykard’s Great Rune location
- Effect: HP restoration upon enemy kill
Rykard’s Great Rune is a reward for beating the boss Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy in the Volcano Manor. Equipping Rykard’s Rune will grant you an HP restoration effect when you kill an enemy. To use Rykard’s Great Rune, you will need to bet Rykard and visit the Divine Tower of West Altus. Make your way to the top of the tower and restore the rune’s power.
Mohg’s Great Rune location
- Effect: Summoned Phantoms in your world gain the Blessing of Blood.
After you defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood, you will get this Great Rune. When you have this rune equipped, anyone or Spirit you summon to your world will have a buff called the Blessing of Blood. The Blessing of Blood provides various buffs, restoring your HP each time you get a kill or increasing your attack power when Bleed is triggered nearby. Using this Great Rune while invading people in PvP will grant you another type of Great Rune, known as the Phantom Great Rune. This rune is limited and unlike the other Great Runes in the game. To activate this rune, take it to the Divine Tower of East Altus.
Phantom Great Rune
While the Phantom run is technically a Great Rune, it doesn’t provide ytou with a buff and it is a limited resrouce. You get it for invading a host in PvP while you have Mohg’s Great Rune equipped.
Malenia’s Great Rune location
- Effect: Attacks dealt after taking damage recover HP. Reduces Flask of Crimson Tears healing.
Malenia’s Great Rune is given to you for defeating Malenia, Blade of Miquella. As one of the notoriously difficult boss fights in the game, you will have your work cut out for you getting this one. The effect granted by this rune will let you restore HP if you attack your enemy after being hit. It effectively gives you the regain system from Bloodborne, another of FromSoft’s games. You can activate Malenia’s Great Rune at the Isolated Divine Tower.
How to equip Great Runes in Elden Ring
To equip a Great Rune in Elden Ring, rest at any Site of Grace and select the ‘Great Rune’ option. This will bring up a menu showing you all the Great Runes you have. Bear in mind that you can only equip one Great Rune at a time.
To equip a Great Rune, you must first take the Great Rune to the specific Divine Tower to activate it. Once you have done this, you will be able to equip it.
How to use Great Runes in Elden Ring
To use the equipped Great Rune ability, you need to consume a Rune Arc item. Upon use, this consumable will trigger the effect of your Great Rune’s ability. The effects of the Great Rune will wear off if you die, which makes Rune Arcs more valuable. If you’ve played Dark Souls 3, think of these items as Embers.
That’s all you need to know about Great Runes and how to use them in Elden Ring. For more guides, read our pages covering how to parry in Elden Ring and whether or not Elden Ring is crossplay.
Elden Ring Great Runes FAQs
How many Great Runes are in Elden Ring?
There are eight Great Runes in Elden Ring. One from each of the seven major Shardbearer bosses and the Phantom Great Rune from Mohg.
