Elden Ring, like the FromSoftware games before it, is known for being notoriously difficult.Elden Ringbosses are incredibly challenging, and even the weaker enemies roaming the open world can put up a serious fight. Death is around every corner inElden Ring, and so it’s necessary for players to level up their character as much as possible.Elden Ringplayers can level up their characters by spending runes, but if they happen to die before reaching a Site of Grace to spend them, they risk losing those runes forever.
Like theDark Soulsgames,dying inElden Ringmeans players have to progress back to where they died if they want to recover their runes. If players are successful, they will get all their runes back. However, dying again means losing those runes. There’s a twist inElden Ring, however, in that sometimes players will notice their runes decreasing when they go to retrieve them, particularly in Stormveil Castle.
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Elden Ring’s Stormveil Castle is one of the first major areas of the game, and players will need all the runes they can get if they hope to stand a chance against itsbosses like Godrick the Graftedand Margit the Fell Omen. Because of this, some may be getting frustrated when they make it back to the spot they died only to find that they have less runes to collect before, with the number going down upon each death.
Why Your Elden Ring Runes Are Decreasing
The reason this is happening is because of an NPC inStormveil CastlenamedGatekeeper Gostoc. Gatekeeper Gostoc is encountered early whenElden Ringplayers first enter Stormveil Castle, giving players the choice to go through the main gate or the secret side path. It seems if players go through the side path, Gatekeeper Gostoc will follow them and steal some of their runes upon death. This is why someElden Ringplayers have noticed their runes decreasing when they go to retrieve them, but there’s a way to fix it.
AnyElden Ringplayers that want their stolen runes back simply need to kill Gatekeeper Gostoc to claim them. However, Gatekeepr Gostoc is one of themerchants inElden Ring, and so some players may want to buy things off him before they decide to kill him. In any case, killing Gatekeeper Gostoc in Stormveil Castle will get players their lost runes back, so at least they’re not gone forever.
It’s been reported that this happens in other areas ofElden Ring’s massive open worldas well, so players should stay vigilant and keep an eye out for any NPCs that may be stealing their runes.
Elden Ringis out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
