Restore a shardbearer’s Great Rune so it can be equipped and later activated with a Rune Arc.
PC / Global, base game plus Shadow of the Erdtree expansion
WHERE & HOW TO FARM
Where to farm
The Divine Tower tied to the Great Rune you obtained, such as Limgrave’s Divine Tower for Godrick’s Great Rune.
Defeating a shardbearer gives you a Great Rune, but it must first be restored at its corresponding Divine Tower. Once restored, equip it from a Site of Grace. A Rune Arc then activates that equipped rune’s effect, which lasts until death. The tower and route depend on the specific Great Rune; use its item description to identify the destination rather than assuming all runes share a tower. The base-game system also applies in an edition with the expansion.
Defeat the shardbearer and obtain their Great Rune.
Read the Great Rune’s description to identify its associated tower.
Have a route into the tower area; some approaches require dungeon or region progression.
Open inventory and inspect the Great Rune to confirm its matching Divine Tower.
Travel to the tower’s region and locate its entrance or approach route.
Work through the access path and reach the tower’s upper level.
Interact with the restoration point at the summit to activate the Great Rune.
Rest at any Site of Grace and open the Great Runes menu.
Equip the restored rune you intend to use.
Carry Rune Arcs and use one when you want that equipped effect active.
Farming tips
Restoration and equipping are separate actions; completing the tower does not automatically equip the rune.
Rune Arc activation is temporary and ends on death, so save it for a stretch where the bonus is useful.
Repeat, collect and use
Restoration is a one-time task for each Great Rune. Equipping can be changed at a grace; use another Rune Arc each time you need to reactivate after death.
Common mistakes
Using a Rune Arc before restoring the rune: visit its tower first, then equip it at a grace.
Going to the wrong tower: match the item’s description to the named Divine Tower.
Expecting the effect to survive death: plan for a fresh Rune Arc after dying.
When to stop or switch
Stop once the rune is restored and equipped; conserve Rune Arcs until a boss attempt or difficult section where the benefit matters.
