Players familiar with FromSoftware’s titles often wonder about the core similarities and differences between Elden Ring runes and Souls from earlier games like Dark Souls. Both serve as a central resource in their respective games, yet understanding how they function differently can help new and returning players make smarter choices in combat, leveling, and acquiring Elden Ring items.
What Are Runes in Elden Ring?
In Elden Ring, runes are the primary currency. They are used for everything—from leveling up your character to purchasing weapons, armor, and crafting materials. They drop from defeated enemies and bosses and can also be found in consumable forms, such as the “Golden Rune” items scattered throughout the Lands Between. Just like Souls in earlier games, when a player dies, they drop all their Elden Ring runes at the spot of death and must retrieve them without dying again.
However, runes do more than just level up your character. They’re tied into a broader in-game economy, especially when it comes to collecting and upgrading Elden Ring items. Runes are also essential for summoning Spirit Ashes and upgrading gear at blacksmiths, adding a more expansive layer to their usage compared to Souls.
Souls in the Dark Souls Series
In the Dark Souls franchise, Souls functioned as both experience points and currency. Enemies and bosses dropped Souls upon defeat, which players could spend to increase their stats or purchase gear. Much like Elden Ring runes, these were also lost upon death and could be recovered by reaching the spot of death before dying again.
While Souls are fundamental to progression in the Dark Souls games, they are typically used in a more limited scope. Most mechanics revolve around leveling and purchases, without as many uses for crafting or summoning mechanics as we see in Elden Ring.
Key Differences
| Aspect | Elden Ring Runes | Souls (Dark Souls Series) |
|---|---|---|
| Currency & XP | Used for leveling, buying, crafting | Used for leveling and buying |
| Death Penalty | Drop all runes; recoverable | Drop all souls; recoverable |
| Item Integration | Tied to crafting Elden Ring items, summoning | Less integration with crafting or summons |
| Resource Forms | Golden Runes and other items | Soul items (like Soul of a Lost Undead) |
| Game World | Open-world gameplay, more dynamic loot system | Linear to semi-open zones, static loot paths |
Why the Change?
The shift from Souls to Runes in Elden Ring reflects FromSoftware’s evolution of its game design. The open-world format necessitated a broader economic system. With more merchants, crafting systems, and upgrade paths, Elden Ring runes needed to support a wider range of gameplay mechanics. The renaming to “Runes” also aligns better with the mythic tone of the game’s lore, distancing the title from its previous entries while keeping the spirit of challenge and progression intact.
While Elden Ring runes and Souls serve the same fundamental purpose, runes are part of a more expansive gameplay system that reflects the open-world and item-rich nature of Elden Ring. Players must manage runes not only for leveling up but also for acquiring and upgrading essential Elden Ring items, crafting materials, and summoning aids. Understanding these differences can help new players make strategic decisions as they progress through the Lands Between.
