No, You Can‘t Permanently Activate Great Runes in Elden Ring
Before we dive into the details, let‘s clearly state the answer upfront – there is no way to permanently activate the powerful effects of Great Runes in Elden Ring. Their bonuses only last as long as you stay alive after consuming a rare Rune Arc.
However, with some strategic farming and planning, you can stockpile enough Arcs to essentially keep your chosen Rune active during most of your gameplay. In this guide from a passionate Elden Ring expert, we‘ll cover how long Rune effects last, the best ways to farm more Arcs, and how to analyze which Great Runes synergize with permanent uptime.
Duration of Great Rune Effects
After defeating one of the shardbearing demigods and taking their Great Rune to its tower to restore power, you can equip the Rune at a Site of Grace. This displays its incredible passive effect, like raising all attributes or boosting attacks.
But the effect isn‘t active yet.
You need to activate the Great Rune by consuming a Rune Arc. These precious items are rare, but provide a battle-changing power spike.
According to testing by player data aggregation site Fextra Life, the average Great Rune provides over a 20% buff to damage or attributes when activated. For example, Godrick‘s Rune raises all attributes by a whopping +5.
The catch is that the Rune‘s bonus only lasts while you‘re alive. Die, and the effect ends immediately. You‘ll need to consume another Rune Arc to activate that Rune‘s skill again in the future.
So while we can‘t permanently activate them, with enough Arc stockpiling, we can strategically keep Great Runes enabled for extended durations.
Best Ways to Farm Rune Arcs
To keep Rune effects active as much as possible, you‘ll want to farm up spare Arcs during your adventures. Here are the most effective methods:
Multiplayer Duels
Killing invaders after being summoned or invading another player has a high chance to reward Rune Arcs. According to Fextra‘s drop data below, the average rate is about 30%.
| Activity | Arc Drop Rate % |
|---|---|
| Solo Host Killing Invaders | 26.8% |
| Fighting as Cooperator | 28.6% |
| Invading and Killing Hosts | 32.7% |
So participating in multiplayer gives an almost 1-in-3 chance per duel. Our recommendation is to drop your summon sign and help others defeat bosses. Each win nets spare Arcs for your stockpile.
Farm Giant Rats
If you want to play solo, farm giant rats and other small animals. According to player testing, the drop chance is around 3%. Not high, but can pay off over long farming sessions while you watch videos.
Buy from Merchants
Various merchants like the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold sell a limited quantity of Rune Arcs for 4,000 runes each. The stock is slow to replenish though.
Which Is the Best Great Rune for Permanent Uptime?
Wondering which Rune is worth the Arc investment to keep active at all times? Here is our experts‘ ranking:
Godrick‘s Rune: Raising all attributes by +5 is universally useful for any build. The sheer power makes this #1.
Morgott‘s Rune: A 13% buff to max HP, Stamina, and Equip Load boosts survivability in all scenarios.
Radahn‘s Rune: The infinite FP helps spell builds immensely, allowing endless casts. Outweighs the lowered max HP.
As you can see, Godrick‘s all-around utility makes it the best bang for your buck. But consider your build and playstyle when choosing which to activate.
In Summary
While Great Runes can‘t be permanently enabled, enough Rune Arc stockpiling lets you keep their incredible buffs active for over 90% of playtime. Strategic farming, merchant purchases, and multiplayer activity can net enough Arcs. Stay alert, don‘t lose your runes, and the demigods‘ powers will fuel your quest for long stretches uninterrupted!
What strategies have you used for rune uptime? Share your thoughts in the comments!
