All Great Runes in Elden Ring (2025): Effects, Activation, and Strategy
In Elden Ring, Great Runes represent some of the most powerful items players can acquire, each tied to a major demigod boss. These items aren’t just trophies—they significantly impact your character’s performance once restored and equipped. With ongoing updates and DLC content extending into 2025, the List of Elden Ring Great Runes 2025 has expanded, introducing new strategic layers to character builds and boss fights.
This guide breaks down every known Great Rune, their effects, how to restore them, and the best scenarios for their use.
Godrick’s Great Rune
Source: Godrick the Grafted (Stormveil Castle)
Activation Site: Divine Tower of Limgrave
Effect: Raises all attributes by +5
This is often the first Great Rune players encounter, and it's incredibly useful early-game. It boosts every core stat, offering flexibility for hybrid builds or for overcoming early difficulty spikes. Best paired with Godrick’s arsenal for a well-rounded buff.
Radahn’s Great Rune
Source: Starscourge Radahn (Redmane Castle)
Activation Site: Divine Tower of Caelid
Effect: Increases HP, FP, and Stamina
Radahn’s Great Rune is ideal for tanky characters or anyone leaning into melee-focused combat. The boost to survivability and resource pools makes it a go-to choice for long dungeon runs or boss fights where sustain is key.
Morgott’s Great Rune
Source: Morgott, the Omen King (Leyndell, Royal Capital)
Activation Site: Divine Tower of East Altus
Effect: Greatly increases maximum HP
Unlike Radahn’s rune, which provides balanced increases, Morgott’s offers a major HP surge. It’s often used in high-risk areas like Farum Azula or when attempting no-summon challenges.
Rykard’s Great Rune
Source: Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy (Mt. Gelmir)
Activation Site: Divine Tower of West Altus
Effect: Restores HP upon defeating enemies
Perfect for aggressive players or those using life-leech builds. In mob-heavy areas or against multiple NPC invaders, Rykard’s rune can sustain you without the need to constantly heal.
Mohg’s Great Rune
Source: Mohg, Lord of Blood (Mohgwyn Palace)
Activation Site: Divine Tower of East Altus (via isolated path)
Effect: Grants a blessing of blood to summoned spirits
This rune is designed for summon-heavy builds, particularly in PvE scenarios. It synergizes with Spirit Ashes, especially those that hit frequently or apply bleed effects. While niche, it can be devastating when used correctly.
Malenia’s Great Rune
Source: Malenia, Blade of Miquella (Elphael, Haligtree)
Activation Site: Isolated Divine Tower
Effect: Heals HP upon taking damage and successfully attacking afterward
This one is notoriously difficult to acquire, but its reward is unmatched for aggressive duelists. The lifesteal effect kicks in only if you retaliate, pushing players toward fast-paced, high-risk combat.
Miquella’s Great Rune (DLC – Shadow of the Erdtree)
Source: Miquella the Kindred (DLC content, 2025)
Activation Site: Tower of the Sainted Tree
Effect: Enhances healing items and sacred incantations
Added in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Miquella’s rune supports Faith builds and co-op players. It's especially helpful in multiplayer settings where you’re healing allies and relying on quick recovery mid-fight.
Tips on Using Great Runes Effectively
Rune Arcs are Essential: A Great Rune must be activated with a Rune Arc to take effect. Plan when and where to use Rune Arcs, especially since they can be rare in early playthroughs.
Match Rune to Build: Don’t just equip the rune you most recently found—match its passive bonus to your current build or challenge.
Keep a Rotation: Some players carry multiple Rune Arcs and switch runes based on boss mechanics or dungeon types.
The List of Elden Ring Great Runes 2025 offers a range of strategic options for every playstyle. Whether you prefer brute strength, spellcasting, or bleed builds, there’s a Great Rune to support your path through the Lands Between. With each update and DLC, FromSoftware continues to deepen the role of these runes, making them more than just endgame trinkets—they're now critical parts of your tactical toolkit.