If you've made it to the mid-game in Elden Ring, you've likely realized that upgrading gear, leveling up, and acquiring essential items all come at the cost of a hefty number of runes. While early-game rune farming spots are decent, mid-game opens up new locations that drastically boost your efficiency. Here are 9 great places to farm runes quickly once you're past the early grind, perfect for players who want to strengthen their build without endless repetition.

1. Windmill Village (Altus Plateau)

Once you've reached Altus Plateau, Windmill Village becomes an ideal farming location. The celebrants are oddly docile, making them easy targets, and they drop a decent amount of runes for minimal effort. With quick respawns and low risk, this spot is great for a steady rune income.

2. Shaded Castle Perimeter

This often-overlooked area in the north of Altus Plateau offers several knights and soldiers with solid rune drops. Using area-of-effect abilities or spirit summons can make clearing them much faster. It’s also a good place to practice crowd control strategies.

3. East Capital Rampart (Leyndell, Royal Capital)

Once inside the capital, the East Capital Rampart grace gives access to a gauntlet of enemies that drop thousands of runes each. Though the enemies are tougher, the rewards match the risk. Equip gear that boosts rune acquisition to get the most out of each run.

4. Sealed Tunnel (Altus Plateau)

The enemies here can be tricky, but they drop solid rune amounts. It's a dungeon that offers not just farming potential, but also valuable loot. If you're looking for a combination of rune farming and item collection, this is a strong pick.

5. West Mountaintops of the Giants (Near Castle Sol)

While this is pushing into late mid-game, Castle Sol’s surroundings are packed with knights and soldier spirits. They're aggressive but slow, and each one drops a respectable amount of runes. It's ideal for players looking to push their build further without heading into endgame zones just yet.

6. Prayer Room (Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree)

For those who like a challenge, the Haligtree areas contain high-risk, high-reward farming potential. The Prayer Room grace point gives access to Cleanrot Knights and other tough enemies who drop substantial runes. Stock up on cheap Elden Ring items to stay alive longer during these tougher runs.

7. Caelid - Swamp of Aeonia Perimeter

Rot-infested and dangerous, Caelid still offers some of the most generous rune farming areas in mid-game. Enemies here are relentless, but the payoff makes it worth the effort. Using ranged spells or fast melee strikes can help you deal with the threats quickly.

8. Underground Roadside (Subterranean Shunning Grounds)

Hidden beneath Leyndell, this area is packed with powerful mobs in tight corridors. It’s not easy, but with the right strategy, it becomes a rune goldmine. Make sure to bring in cheap elden ring runes from your stash so you’re not under-leveled for this dangerous route.

9. Mohgwyn Palace - Early Access via Varre’s Quest

While traditionally considered late-game, some players access this zone early through White-Faced Varre’s questline. The bird and Albinaurics farming route here is notorious for its efficiency. If you’ve reached mid-game and haven’t tried this yet, it might be worth progressing Varre’s quest to open it up. Many players who farm here supplement their builds with cheap Elden Ring items from sources like U4GM to make the grind smoother.

As you progress through Elden Ring’s mid-game, finding efficient farming routes can dramatically reduce the time spent grinding. Whether you’re aiming to buy new weapons, upgrade your favorite Ashes of War, or simply gain enough levels to survive the next boss, these nine locations offer a solid balance between challenge and reward. Pair your farming with smart rune usage or even some help from sites like U4GM that offer cheap elden ring runes, and you’ll be well on your way to dominating the Lands Between.