For players looking to rack up runes efficiently in Elden Ring, the area around the Third Church of Marika offers a surprisingly smooth farming loop that can be tackled early and revisited multiple times. Whether you’re building your strength for tougher bosses or simply trying to stock up for weapon upgrades, knowing the right path and enemy targets can save you a ton of time.

Setting Up Your Loop

Before you start farming, it’s crucial to make sure your gear and stats are optimized. Around the Third Church of Marika, you’ll encounter a mix of humanoid enemies and smaller creatures. While they’re not the toughest foes, fighting them in large numbers can be risky if your character isn’t properly leveled. A good tip is to keep your health and stamina boosts stocked, and consider using Spirit Summons to keep enemies distracted.

The loop itself starts just outside the Third Church, moving clockwise toward the northern hill, then looping back along the eastern path. The path is simple and safe to memorize, making it ideal for repeated runs. By the time you complete a few laps, you’ll notice a steady rune income, enough to fund some key early-game purchases if you’re looking to skip minor grind moments. If you ever feel short on runes, you can always choose to buy elden ring runes from trusted sources to save time instead of grinding excessively.

Targeting the Right Enemies

Not all enemies are created equal when it comes to farming. Around this church, focus on the groups of humanoid soldiers that patrol the hilltops. They have predictable attack patterns, drop a decent amount of runes, and respawn consistently after resting at a nearby site of grace. Additionally, the smaller creatures along the eastern path are weak, but they can be useful for quick farming if you’re looking for shorter loops.

A small personal tip: patience is key. Instead of rushing through the loop and getting overwhelmed, take your time to engage enemies in controlled skirmishes. It might feel slower at first, but your rune yield per minute ends up higher than just sprinting through. And if you ever want a shortcut to power-level quickly, many players use U4GM to buy elden ring runes to level up fast, which can be handy if you’re trying to tackle mid-game bosses without repeated farming sessions.

Efficient Loop Execution

The beauty of this loop is its compactness. Starting at the Third Church, you head north to the hill where two groups of soldiers patrol. After clearing them, descend east toward the cluster of smaller creatures near a minor ruin. From there, swing south back to the church. The entire loop takes only a few minutes for a mid-level character and can be repeated indefinitely with minimal risk.

When executing the loop, it’s worth noting which enemies drop additional loot like upgrade materials. This can complement your rune farming and reduce trips to other, more dangerous zones. Remember to always rest at the church’s site of grace after a few laps to reset enemy positions efficiently. And if you’re pressed for time or looking to reduce grind fatigue, you can safely buy elden ring runes to level up fast from a reliable platform, letting you invest more energy into exploring new zones instead of endlessly repeating the loop.

Tips and Tricks from Experience

From personal experience, a few tweaks can make the farming loop even smoother:

Spirit Summons: Using a summon to tank the initial enemy groups allows you to quickly eliminate weaker enemies while staying safe.

Upgrade Priority: Focus on weapons that can hit multiple enemies at once. This helps especially when engaging the patrol groups on the hill.

Patience Pays Off: If an enemy patrol is tough, wait and observe patterns before attacking. Rushing often leads to unnecessary deaths and lost runes.

Supplement with Runes: Even with optimized farming, there are times when running loops feels grindy. In these cases, U4GM has been a reliable source for players wanting to buy elden ring runes, allowing a smoother experience without breaking the game’s challenge.

The loop near the Third Church of Marika is one of those hidden gems for early to mid-game rune farming. It’s safe, compact, and yields consistent rewards, making it a go-to for players looking to strengthen their characters without wandering into high-risk areas. With the combination of strategic enemy engagement, smart use of Spirit Summons, and optional rune purchases from platforms like U4GM, leveling up efficiently becomes much less of a headache.

So next time you’re near the Third Church, take a few laps, enjoy the rhythm of the loop, and watch your rune count climb steadily. Elden Ring farming doesn’t have to feel like a chore, and this spot proves it.

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