In Elden Ring, understanding weapon scaling is key to building an effective character. Whether you’re looking to two-shot enemies or maximize your bleed procs, scaling affects how much damage your weapon inflicts based on your stats. The more you invest in this system, the more crucial it becomes to spend your Elden Ring Runes wisely. Below are 11 ideas to help you make the most of your runes and truly master the art of scaling.
1. Learn the Basics of Scaling Grades
Every weapon comes with scaling ratings like E, D, C, B, A, or S in stats like Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, or Arcane. Higher letter grades mean better returns per point. Recognizing these differences helps you plan rune investments efficiently.
2. Match Your Build to the Weapon
If a greatsword scales primarily with Strength and has a B scaling, it makes sense to pour Elden Ring Runes into Strength rather than Dexterity. Misaligned stat investment is one of the most common mistakes new players make.
3. Take Advantage of Smithing and Infusion
Changing a weapon’s affinity (like Heavy, Keen, or Sacred) can shift its scaling to different stats. If your Faith is high, Sacred or Flame infusion might yield better damage than a raw Strength setup. This is especially useful for hybrid builds that mix magic or healing with melee.
4. Use Ashes of War Strategically
Ashes of War not only grant new weapon skills but often change the scaling of the weapon as well. Choosing the right Ash aligned with your build can increase your overall damage output significantly.
5. Don’t Over-Level Early
It’s tempting to dump all your Elden Ring Runes into a favorite stat, but over-leveling too soon can leave your build unbalanced. Spread your early rune usage across survivability stats (Vigor, Endurance) and only specialize as you find your preferred weapon.
6. Watch for Diminishing Returns
Once a stat reaches around 40–60 points (depending on the stat), you start to get less value per rune spent. If your weapon only gains small bonuses past a certain point, it may be time to focus your runes elsewhere.
7. Two-Handing Can Help Scaling
When you two-hand a weapon, your Strength is effectively multiplied by 1.5 for scaling purposes. This means you can meet Strength requirements or gain bonus damage without needing to invest as many runes into Strength.
8. Consider Status Effects Over Raw Damage
Some weapons scale with Arcane, not for physical damage, but for applying status effects like Bleed, Poison, or Frost. Investing your Elden Ring Runes into Arcane can turn certain weapons into fast-acting debuff machines.
9. Experiment with Split Damage Types
Weapons with split scaling (e.g., physical and fire or magic) benefit from dual-stat builds. It might be worth planning a rune path that increases both Strength and Intelligence, depending on the scaling type and the enemies you’re targeting.
10. Utilize Buffs and Talismans
Temporary buffs from incantations or talismans that boost Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence can amplify your weapon scaling in the short term, allowing you to stretch your runes further by avoiding over-investment.
11. Optimize with Respect and Rebalancing
Later in the game, you can respec your character. This gives you the chance to realign your rune investments based on the gear you like best. If you find a weapon that scales better with Faith and Strength, for example, you can shift points from Dexterity to match.
When working toward a specific build, sometimes it’s more efficient to have the items and weapons first before dedicating runes toward scaling. That’s why experienced players often search for the Best Place to buy Elden Ring Items when testing multiple builds without grinding endlessly. It lets you focus on optimizing your stats once your toolkit is in place.
Mastering weapon scaling isn’t about maxing everything — it’s about spending wisely. By learning how stats interact with your gear and using your Elden Ring Runes with intention, you’ll see more consistent damage, smoother fights, and greater flexibility in how you approach the game. Whether you’re dual-wielding colossal weapons or casting lightning from a distance, smart scaling decisions will elevate your gameplay to the next level.
