Elden Ring has no shortage of creative ways to earn runes, but not all of them involve intense boss fights or risky farming routes. One of the more relaxed and often overlooked methods uses a pair of unusual weapons: the Celebrant weapons. If you enjoy squeezing extra value out of everyday combat or just want a steady trickle of runes while exploring, this setup is worth understanding.
In this guide, I’ll break down how Celebrant weapons work, where to get them, and how to use them effectively for passive rune farming. This isn’t about exploiting glitches or breaking the game. It’s more about smart efficiency and making normal gameplay slightly more rewarding.
Understanding Celebrant Weapons and Their Hidden Value
Celebrant weapons come with a special effect that isn’t immediately obvious if you only look at raw damage numbers. Every time you land a successful hit on an enemy, you gain a small number of runes. This effect works regardless of the enemy type, as long as the hit connects.
The amount of runes per hit is small, so this method won’t replace high-level farming spots. However, it adds up over time, especially if you fight groups of enemies or use fast-hitting attacks. Think of it as background income rather than a main paycheck.
The key thing to remember is that these runes are earned per hit, not per kill. That single detail changes how you approach combat.
Where to Find Celebrant Weapons
There are a few Celebrant weapons in Elden Ring, and they all drop from specific enemies in Windmill Village, also known as Dominula. These enemies look harmless at first, but they can be surprisingly aggressive in groups.
You’re mainly looking for:
Celebrant’s Cleaver
Celebrant’s Rib-Rake
Celebrant’s Sickle
The drop rates aren’t amazing, so expect to spend some time farming. A small tip from experience: using items that boost item discovery can save you a lot of frustration. Even then, patience helps more than anything else.
Why Passive Rune Farming Matters
Passive rune farming isn’t about standing still and watching numbers go up. It’s about getting extra value from things you’re already doing. Exploring dungeons, clearing camps, and revisiting older areas all become slightly more profitable when every hit pays you back.
This approach is especially useful early to mid-game, when rune costs are manageable and every level-up feels impactful. It’s also a nice option for players who don’t enjoy repeating the same farming loop over and over.
Some players reach a point where time feels more limited than in-game challenges. At that stage, people sometimes look into options like buy elden ring runes just to keep builds moving forward. Passive methods like Celebrant weapons can help reduce that pressure by making normal play more efficient.
Best Builds for Celebrant Weapon Farming
Fast attacks are the heart of this strategy. Weapons that swing quickly or hit multiple times will trigger the rune gain effect more often.
Dexterity-focused builds tend to work best, especially when paired with stamina management. Dual-wielding Celebrant weapons can also increase the number of hits you land, though this depends on your comfort level with the moveset.
Ashes of War that add multi-hit attacks or wide sweeps can be surprisingly effective. You’re not chasing maximum damage per hit here. You’re chasing maximum hits per second.
How to Farm Without Making It Feel Like a Chore
The biggest mistake players make is treating passive farming like an active grind. Instead of camping one spot, try rotating through areas you enjoy. Clear enemy groups on the way to side objectives. Revisit early-game zones with higher speed and confidence.
Because Celebrant weapons reward hits, weaker enemies are actually useful. You can safely land multiple strikes without killing them instantly, especially if you avoid over-upgrading the weapon.
This method shines during longer play sessions. You might not notice the gains right away, but after an hour of exploration, the extra runes are there.
When Passive Farming Isn’t Enough
As your level climbs, rune requirements increase fast. Passive methods start to feel slower, especially if you’re pushing into late-game content or experimenting with multiple builds.
Some players, particularly those short on time, look for external ways to stay competitive, such as checking a buy elden ring runes trusted marketplace recommended by the community. Others prefer sticking fully to in-game methods and accepting the slower pace. Both approaches exist in the player base, and it mostly comes down to personal preference and available time.
The nice thing about Celebrant weapons is that they remain useful even when they stop being your main source of income. Extra runes are still extra runes.
Stacking Small Advantages Over Time
Elden Ring rewards players who pay attention to small systems. Celebrant weapons are a perfect example. On their own, the effect feels minor. Combined with fast combat, frequent encounters, and long play sessions, it becomes meaningful.
You can even treat these weapons as utility tools. Swap them in while clearing trash mobs, then switch back to your main weapon for tougher fights. That flexibility keeps combat fun and avoids forcing one playstyle.
I’ve seen players mention services like U4GM when talking about rune efficiency, but honestly, understanding mechanics like this already puts you ahead of the curve. Knowledge is its own kind of advantage in this game.
Celebrant weapons won’t turn Elden Ring into an idle game, but they do make the journey smoother. If you enjoy optimizing your build without turning the game into a grind, they’re worth adding to your toolkit.
New Features Breakdown: Game mechanics and Weapons changes for Elden Ring DLC