Given that v1.16 seems to be the last major balancing patch before FromSoftware moves on to their next project (leaks suggest Spellbound is in development), this Rune Top is likely the final meta.
Pro Tip: Do not sell your Gilded Scadutree Fragments to merchants. They are finite per NG+ cycle. You can only find 6 per playthrough. To farm indefinitely, you must advance to New Game+ 2 (Journey 3), where the drop rate increases slightly.
FromSoftware secretly added an "Anti-Farming Protocol" in v1.16. If you kill the same 14 enemies more than 12 times within one hour, the enemies will spawn a "Phantom Horned Warrior" that drops zero runes and has 300% HP. elden ring shadow of the erdtree update v1 16rune top
Solution: Rotate between two grace sites. Run the Spiral Rise loop 11 times, then teleport to the "Cleansing Chamber Anteroom" in the Specimen Storehouse and run that loop for 10 minutes. This resets the hidden agro timer.
Note: Use at your own risk, though FromSoftware typically ignores PvE rune glitches. Given that v1
In the Shadow of the Erdtree v1.16 build, there is a consistent way to double the Rune drop from the Spiral Rise’s final Putrescent Knight Archer.
If you kill the archer with a Critical Hit (backstab or riposte) while he is standing on the small pressure plate near the staircase window, the game registers his death twice. You will see two Rune collection pop-ups. We have replicated this 9 out of 10 times. Did you finish the DLC but wonder why
How to trigger: Parry his rapid shot combo. He stumbles backward onto the plate. Riposte. Watch your Rune count jump by 24,000 instantly.
Did you finish the DLC but wonder why you couldn't summon a specific NPC for the final battle? v1.16 fixed a critical bug that blocked the conclusion of Leda’s Questline.
If you reached the final boss and found yourself fighting alone, load your save. Travel back to the "Fissure" area. You may find a new summon sign that wasn't there before. The "Age of the Tarnished" is best ended with friends (or pawns), and this update ensures no one gets left behind.
A hidden addition in v1.16 (unlisted in the patch notes) is the Gilded Scadutree Fragment. When consumed, this temporary buff (lasting 3 minutes) doubles rune acquisition from enemies killed in the Realm of Shadow. This is the cornerstone of the new Rune Top strategy.