What is there to gain when helping people with bosses?

[Rossere]

In Elden Ring, there is always people seemingly ready to help right before a boss.

The playthroughs I look at never get to the point where they try that mechanic. But from what I understood, it's not always people that also are at that point in the story and need help for the boss.

So I don't really understand: is there anything to gain by rerunning bosses as a helper to someone that needs the help?

[shizuka]

There are a couple of incentives to helping the Host of Fingers defeat the area boss.

1. You gain a portion of the runes acquired when the boss is defeated. This amount appears to be about 1/4th of the number of runes the Host of Fingers gets. For example, if you help someone defeat https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Margit,+the+Fell+Omen in Stormveil Castle on a non-NG+ run, you'll receive around 3,750 runes (or 1/4th of 15,000).
2. You also gain a https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Rune+Arc . This is the typical multiplayer-related reward when a summoned player (ally or adversary) completes their goal.

Additionally, while not an explicit benefit, the helpers may also get a sense of accomplishment by helping out struggling players, if the monetary rewards aren't enough to incentivize them.