Elden Ring is one of the few most complete games delivered in the last decade. If you take a closer look, you will notice that FromSoftware Inc. has paid great attention to even the tiniest details and mechanics. Take Great Runes, for example; these Runes are the pieces of the Elden Ring (the whole concept of the lore).
You must defeat the shardbearers to acquire these Runes. Each Rune brings godly powers to your character in different ways. However, there are several hurdles in your way before you can feel like a complete Elden Lord.
Moreover, FromSoftware Inc. is notorious for its highly complex game mechanics. So, the game doesn’t let you enjoy such great buffs and powers for free. There are four steps that you must complete to unlock the powers of each Great Rune. So, How to Equip Great Rune in Elden Ring? If you don’t have the time to research on your own, then you are in the right place.
Table of Contents
What Are Great Runes
If you already know the answer, skip ahead. For those of you who are still new to the game, you should read this portion. Great Runes are actually pieces of the original Elden Ring. These pieces were distributed among various Shardbearer bosses scattered across the Lands Between.
Each Great Rune can buff or improve your character in different ways. However, to acquire each Great Rune, you must first defeat its Shardbearer Boss. There are seven different Great Runes in the game. Here are the important details:
| Great Rune | ShardBearer Boss | Effect |
| Rykard’s Great Rune | Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy | Restore 185 HP per enemy defeated |
| Radahn’s Great Rune | Starscourage Radahn | Raises maximum FP, HP, and Stamina by 15% |
| Morgott’s Great Rune | Morgott, the Omen King | Raises maximum HP by 25% |
| Mogh’s Great Rune | Mogh, Lord of Blood | Grants “Blessing of Blood” to summoned phantoms ** |
| Malenia’s Great Rune | Malenia, Blade of Miquella | Reduces the healing power of Flask of Crimson Tears by 25%, but attacks dealt after taking damage will partially recover HP |
| Great Rune of the Unborn | Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon | The ability to respec |
| Godrick’s Great Rune | Godrick the Grafted | Raises all Attributes by 5 |
How to Equip a Great Rune in Elden Ring?
Acquiring a Great Rune can be very challenging, as these are some of the toughest bosses in the game. However, you must fulfill other requirements to unleash the true powers of each Great Rune. In other words, the Great Rune will not grant you power just by sitting in your inventory. Moreover, you can only activate one Great Rune at a time. Here’s how to equip a Great Rune in Elden Ring:
Step 1: Acquire the Great Rune:
The first step is pretty obvious; you must find a Great Rune to use for yourself. The only way to get one is to defeat its shard-bearer boss. For instance, to acquire Godrick’s Great Rune, you must defeat him in the Stormveil Castle. Similarly, you can get other Shardbearers by exploring the world on your own. After acquiring a Great Rune, you must proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Activate the Great Rune:
This is the most important step of the process. A Great Rune will only unleash its power after you activate it in a Divine Tower. Like seven Great Runes, there are seven Divin Towers in the Lands Between. Each Great Rune corresponds to a specific Divine Tower. The easiest way to find the Divine Tower for your Great Rune is to explore the area where you acquired the Rune.
For example, Godrick’s Great Rune can only be activated in the Divine Tower of Limgrave near Stormveil Castle. All you need to do is to reach the Divine Tower and unlock it using the respective Great Rune to activate it. However, the path leading to a Divine Tower is often guarded by dangerous enemies and boss-like beasts. So, be careful on your way to greatness.
Step 3: Equip the Great Rune:
After activating a Great Rune, travel to the nearest Site of Grace and rest there. You can either fast-travel to the Site or go on your Torrent. Either way, rest at the Site of Grace and choose the Great Runes option from the menu. This option is only available when you have unlocked Great Runes in your inventory. Next, choose the Great Rune according to your needs. Be wise in your selection, as you can only equip one Great Rune at a time.
Step 4: Find a Rune Arc:
Rune Arcs are rare consumable items in Elden Ring. These arcs act like a medium for transferring a Great Rune’s powers to the Tarnished. However, the Rune Arc is consumed in the process. Moreover, the effect of a Rune Arc will only last till you are alive. In other words, if you die in the game, you must find another Rune Arc to again enjoy the buffs of your Great Rune.
The Rune Arcs are scattered across the Lands Between. So, the best chance of finding one is to look inside the structures and ruins. Moreover, there is a slight chance of dropping a Rune Arc from the Giant Rats in Earthbore Cave and Castle Morne. Alternatively, you can purchase Rune Arcs from the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold and various other Nomadic Merchants for 4,000 Runes.
Finally, it is time to unleash the powers of your Great Runes. After completing all of the steps, open your inventory and consume a Rune Arc to activate the powers of the equipped Great Rune. In case something kills you, you can rebuff your character by consuming another Rune Arc. Moreover, you can always rest at a Site of Grace to change the equipped Great Rune.
FAQs
What is the best Great Rune in Elden Ring?
Every Great Rune in Elden Ring brings some value to the right character build. However, in my opinion, Rykard’s Great Rune and Malenia’s Great Rune are some of the best items in the game. These Runes help you stay alive longer in the Lands Between. Similarly, you can also use Rennala’s Great Rune to customize your character by reallocating the character points.
How to find a Divine Tower?
There are seven Divine Towers in the Lands Between. Each tower requires a specific Great Rune to unlock it. The best way to find the Divine Tower for your Great Rune is to explore the area around the boss arena where you got the Great Rune. For example, the Divine Tower of Limgrave is located east of the Stormveil Castle across the bridge.
Can I use two Great Runes in Elden Ring?
You can carry all seven Great Runes in your inventory. However, you can only equip and use one Great Rune at a time. So, if you want to use another Great Rune, you must rest at a Site of Grace. So, enter the Great Runes menu and replace the Great Rune in the slot. Otherwise, it is impossible to use two Great Runes simultaneously in Elden Ring.
Conclusion
Elden Ring is a challenging game, but you can make it slightly easier by using the right tools. For instance, the Great Runes offer godly powers to your character. Hence, there are seven different Great Runes in Elden Ring. So, each Rune buffs the player in a unique way that can oftentimes prove to be the difference between life and death.
However, you must defeat the Shardbearer bosses to acquire these Great Runes. Moreover, the Rune doesn’t just unleash its power by sitting in your inventory. So, how to equip a Great Rune in Elden Ring? Finally, this article provides a step-by-step guide to help you with that problem.
