Elden Ring Nightreign rune farming guide: Best spots to level up early

Elden Ring Nightreign, the latest expansion time farming guides are harder but give permanent powers to help your party throughout the run
An undated image of Elden Ring Nightreign. — IGN
An undated image of Elden Ring Nightreign. — IGN

Elden Ring Nightreign, the latest expansion of FromSoftware’s hit game Elden Ring, introduces a darker world with rogue-like gameplay. 

Each run offers a new map layout, but a few key locations stay the same, giving players a chance to farm runes early and level up fast.

Day One: Start strong with evergaols and world bosses

The best place to farm runes on Day One is inside Evergaols. These challenge zones scale with your current level, so they’re easier to clear, especially with three players. All you need is a Stonesword Key to unlock them. 

Not only do you get a boss rune cache, but some Evergaols also give you a permanent Rune Acquisition boost for the rest of your run.

You’ll also notice blue-circled areas on your map. These mean stronger enemies are nearby, and even though they’re tough, they’re worth it. Around level six, it’s smarter to skip normal enemies and go directly for mini-bosses to save time and farm runes faster.

No matter how the map changes, the central castle is always in the same place. The enemies inside vary, but try to find Crucible Knights, they drop over 10,000 runes each. 

You’ll also find glowing trees near the river that give you a temporary rune boost, making this area perfect for quick leveling.

Day Two: Focus on big rewards and world events

If you missed the central castle on Day One, Day Two is the time to return. By now, smaller enemies aren’t worth your effort. Instead, head straight to bosses and Shifting World Events. These events are harder but give permanent powers to help your party throughout the run.