Losing a pile of Runes in Elden Ring is one of the most painful experiences in the Lands Between. Whether you’re ambushed just before reaching a Site of Grace or accidentally fall to your death with 100k Runes in your pocket, everyone’s had at least one devastating loss. Fortunately, there are ways to hedge against these disasters. Here are 10 backup plans to help you store or protect your Runes—and make sure your hard-earned progress doesn’t vanish in an instant.

1. Use the Sacred Flask to Level Up Frequently

The simplest way to protect your Runes is to spend them. Instead of hoarding Runes while farming, periodically return to a Site of Grace to level up. This reduces your risk of losing massive amounts of currency and gives a steady power boost. It’s a basic habit, but it works.

2. Stockpile Rune-Consuming Items

Golden Runes, Hero’s Runes, and Lord’s Runes are invaluable. These items act like Runes in a bank—you only get the Runes when you consume them. Don’t use them immediately after finding them. Instead, keep them in your inventory and crack them open only when you’re in a safe spot and ready to spend.

3. Teleport to Roundtable Hold When Things Get Dicey

If you’re carrying a large number of Runes and find yourself surrounded or in a hostile dungeon, immediately fast travel to Roundtable Hold. This area is completely safe and allows you to regroup and spend Runes on upgrades or items. It’s a great emergency exit.

4. Invest in Smithing and Weapon Upgrades

Upgrading your weapons is another reliable way to store Runes. Not only does this protect your wealth from being lost, but it also gives you the edge in future fights. Even if you’re on Elden Ring for PS4 or PC, this approach never goes out of style.

5. Buy Elden Ring Items PC Players Often Use

If you're playing on PC, consider purchasing consumables, upgrade materials, or gear to convert your Runes into tangible assets. Items like Arrows, Glovewort, and Boluses are always useful. If you’re preparing for a difficult area or boss fight, stocking up on these can turn the tide—and act as a form of Rune storage.

6. Stash Runes in Multiplayer Sessions

For players who engage in multiplayer, there’s a clever trick: intentionally dying in a safe area during co-op so your bloodstain is easy to recover. While not foolproof, this can allow you to temporarily “store” Runes without spending them. Just be sure the area is truly secure before attempting it.

7. Buy Elden Ring Runes PS4 to Offset Risk

For those playing on PS4, one strategy some players use is to buy Elden Ring Runes PS4 from trusted services to reduce farming time. This makes it easier to level up or buy gear early, minimizing the number of Runes you need to carry at once. While it’s not necessary for everyone, it’s one way to avoid losing progress after a rough patch.

8. Use the Twiggy Cracked Tear and Sacrificial Twigs

The Twiggy Cracked Tear, when mixed into your Flask of Wondrous Physick, prevents Rune loss on death. Similarly, the Sacrificial Twig is a one-time-use item that achieves the same effect. Keep these in your loadout when heading into unfamiliar territory or boss fights with lots of Runes in tow.

9. Turn to NPC Merchants for Inventory Buffers

Merchants across the Lands Between sell a wide range of items—many of which you can buy to “spend” Runes and then sell back later if needed. Think of this as a makeshift bank. While you’ll take a small loss on resale, it’s better than losing everything in an ambush.

10. Bank Runes Through Spirit Summons and Gear Upgrades

Upgrading your Spirit Ashes is an underrated method of spending Runes wisely. Strong summons like Lhutel the Headless or Black Knife Tiche require both Runes and materials. Not only does this boost your survivability in boss fights, but it’s a great way to transform volatile Runes into lasting power.

Losing Runes is a shared pain among Elden Ring players, but it doesn’t have to be a frequent one. By turning to smart spending, item storage, and tactical retreat, you can safeguard your progress and avoid those all-too-familiar “lost to the void” moments. Whether you’re looking to buy Elden Ring Runes PS4 or buy Elden Ring items PC players rely on, these strategies will help you manage your resources effectively and keep your build moving forward.