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U4GM - 8 Best Ways to Spend Runes Before Entering NG+ in Elden Ring
Entering New Game Plus (NG+) in Elden Ring is an exciting step for any Tarnished, but it’s also a critical moment to think carefully about your hard-earned resources. After hundreds of hours exploring the Lands Between, defeating bosses, and collecting loot, I found myself sitting on a massive pile of Elden Ring runes with no idea how best to use them before starting NG+. If you’re in the same boat, this guide is here to help.
These are the 8 most effective and strategic ways I’ve discovered to spend your runes before venturing into NG+—based on both personal experience and best practices shared by the Elden Ring community.
1. Max Out Your Favorite Weapons
One of the most impactful uses of Elden Ring runes is upgrading your weapons to the maximum level. Whether you prefer colossal greatswords, agile katanas, or faith-based incantation tools, fully upgrading your main gear ensures you enter NG+ with a strong foundation. Combine this with Smithing Stones purchased from Twin Maiden Husks or farmed in late-game zones.
Personal tip: Before NG+, I spent runes and bell bearings to upgrade my Moonveil and Blasphemous Blade to +10. That decision made the early areas of NG+ feel much smoother and more rewarding.
2. Stockpile Upgrade Materials
Spend excess runes on Smithing Stones and Somber Smithing Stones from the Roundtable Hold or vendors unlocked via bell bearings. These materials are critical if you plan to experiment with new weapons or builds in NG+.
Also, don’t forget Gloveworts and Ghost Gloveworts for spirit ash upgrades. Upgraded ashes like Black Knife Tiche or Mimic Tear can be game-changers.
3. Buy Out Merchants and the Roundtable Hold
Before entering NG+, all merchants will reset, and so will many NPC questlines. Buy out consumables, cookbooks, gear, and crafting items from vendors like Patches, Seluvis (if alive), and the Twin Maiden Husks. Stocking up on crafting materials ensures you’re ready for any situation in NG+.
From experience: I completely overlooked the cookbooks on my first playthrough. Before NG+, I bought them all and finally explored Elden Ring’s crafting system properly—it added a whole new layer to the game.
4. Respec and Optimize Your Build
Use Larval Tears to respec your character via Rennala before NG+. Experiment with different builds or refine your current one. This is the perfect moment to reallocate stats, especially if you've changed your playstyle or want to try new weapons and spells.
Having an optimized build saves time and lets you dominate early NG+ enemies without much struggle.
5. Purchase Rune Arcs and Buff Items
Rune Arcs, Warming Stones, Preserving Boluses, and other consumables can make tough NG+ areas more manageable. Stock up using your leftover Elden Ring runes to give yourself every possible advantage.
Consumables are often underrated, but in my NG+ journey, Rune Arcs were critical for maximizing my Great Runes in boss fights.
6. Upgrade and Experiment with New Armor Sets
Spend runes to buy and try new armor sets, especially those you didn’t get to explore in your first run. Mixing and matching armor not only helps with fashion (a crucial part of any FromSoftware game) but also lets you test different defenses, poise levels, and weight thresholds.
Don’t forget to check vendors like Enia or the merchants in Volcano Manor and Leyndell before jumping to NG+.
7. Level Up Alternate Weapons for NG+ Builds
Instead of hoarding runes, invest in leveling up weapons you haven’t tried yet. For instance, I leveled up the Serpent-Hunter and Cleanrot Spear just before NG+. It gave me fresh gameplay options and kept NG+ from feeling like a rehash of my original playthrough.
This is especially relevant if you've purchased cheap Elden Ring runes to try out multiple builds quickly.
8. Increase Your Level—But Not Too Much
It’s tempting to spend all your runes on leveling, but be cautious. Over-leveling can trivialize early NG+ content and make invasions or co-op matchmaking more difficult.
I recommend finding a sweet spot—level enough to improve your build but leave room for growth in NG+. For example, I entered NG+ at Level 150, which allowed me to stay within PvP meta range while maintaining challenge and progression.
Spending your Elden Ring runes wisely before starting NG+ can drastically enhance your next adventure. Whether you’ve earned your runes through grinding or picked up cheap Elden Ring runes online, the key is strategic investment. Having gone through the transition to NG+ myself, I can say that preparation is what makes it enjoyable rather than frustrating.Pro Picks:Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition Introduces New Classes and Features