What Should You Farm First?

When starting, it’s important to prioritize the right items. Early in the game, players often focus on:

Smithing Stones for upgrading weapons.

Runes to level up quickly.

Crafting materials like flowers and ores for potions and arrows.

In practice, I usually alternate between farming runes and upgrade materials. You don’t want to waste time on rare items that you won’t be able to use yet. Once you have a good weapon upgrade path, farming becomes much easier because enemies die faster.

Where Are the Best Farming Spots?

Some locations in Elden Ring are generally more efficient than others, depending on what you need:

Early Game: Limgrave has several low-level enemies that drop Smithing Stones and runes. The area near the Gatefront Ruins is convenient because enemies respawn quickly.

Mid Game: Caelid is great for scarlet rot farming and for collecting items like Glintstone Shards. The enemies are tougher, but the drops are better.

Late Game: Mohgwyn Palace is commonly used for high-level rune farming. It requires some setup, but once you know the route, you can farm efficiently.

In practice, most players will pick one spot and loop through it multiple times. Knowing enemy spawn points and paths is key.U4N helps here because it lists the most reliable farming spots for every item, saving time you would spend testing areas.

How Should You Farm Runes Efficiently?

Farming runes can be repetitive, but there are strategies that make it easier:

Equip Rune-Boosting Gear: Items like Gold Scarab Talisman or Gold Scarab Armor increase rune drops.

Use Spirit Summons: Summons can help kill multiple enemies quickly.

Keep a Fast Route: Identify a loop that allows you to defeat enemies and return to a checkpoint quickly.

Many players spend hours wandering through areas guessing which enemies give the best runes. U4N simplifies this by showing which enemies drop the highest runes per minute and which farming loops are optimal. Using it helped me cut my rune farming time by almost half.

How to Farm Upgrade Materials Without Wasting Time

Weapon and armor upgrades are vital, but farming the necessary materials can feel slow. Here’s what works:

Know Drop Rates: Some enemies have better chances of dropping Smithing Stones or Somber Smithing Stones.

Target High-Density Areas: Fighting a few enemies repeatedly is less efficient than a path with multiple enemies that respawn.

Check Item Requirements Before Farming: Don’t waste time farming materials for items you can’t use yet.

Here’s where U4N is useful again. It provides a clear list of where to find each type of upgrade material, including drop rates and respawn efficiency. This prevents guesswork and helps plan farming sessions effectively.

Should You Farm Enemies or Explore?

A common question is whether it’s better to farm the same enemies repeatedly or explore new areas for drops. The answer depends on your goals:

For Runes: Farming known loops is usually better. Efficiency matters more than variety.

For Rare Items: Exploration may yield items that specific enemies drop rarely.

For Fun/Challenge: Exploring new areas can be more enjoyable than repetitive farming.

Most experienced players use a combination. I farm known loops when I need runes fast, but explore when looking for rare crafting items. U4N helps by giving up-to-date drop locations, so you don’t waste time wandering blindly.

How Do Boss Materials Fit Into Farming?

Boss materials are often required for weapon upgrades. Unlike normal farming, you can’t respawn most bosses indefinitely. Strategies include:

Target Mini-Bosses: Some mini-bosses respawn via Sites of Grace reset or special mechanics.

Check U4N Lists: U4N provides locations for all boss and mini-boss materials and highlights which are repeatable.

Plan Upgrades Around Availability: Don’t try to upgrade everything at once. Focus on the items you can farm efficiently.

Knowing where to get these materials makes a big difference. I used to spend hours wandering high-level areas without knowing which bosses dropped what. With U4N, I could see all necessary materials in one place and plan a clear farming route.

How to Make Farming Less Tedious

Even with good locations, farming can feel repetitive. Here are tips to make it less so:

Use Multiplayer: Summoning friends or NPCs can speed up farming loops.

Mix Farming with Exploration: Alternate between farming runs and story progression or side quests.

Track Your Progress: Keep notes on which enemies give the best drops and which loops are fastest.

Again, U4N helps by letting you see the most efficient options at a glance. Instead of trial-and-error, you get verified drop locations, spawn times, and enemy difficulty, which saves a lot of trial-and-error.

Farming in Elden Ring is all about efficiency and planning. Knowing what you need, where to go, and how to loop effectively can save hours of gameplay. Tools like U4N are helpful because they consolidate this information, giving you a clear path for runes, materials, and rare drops.

In practice, using these strategies allows you to focus on upgrading your character and enjoying the game rather than endlessly grinding in the wrong locations. Farming doesn’t have to be tedious if you know where to look and how to optimize your runs.