Glyphs are spell and ability enhancements created by scribes. Until used, they are not soulbound and can be traded or sold. The colors used in Glyphs are colors of the class for which they are meant.

Once learned, glyphs are permanent and may be switched out at any time outside of combat. Changing a glyph requires a Vanishing Powder for characters level 25-80, and a Dust of Disappearance for characters over level 80.

Prime glyphs

Prime glyphs are effective in combat, and generally increase the healing or damage of an ability.

Examples:

• Increases the healing done by an ability: [Glyph of Frenzied Regeneration], [Glyph of Holy Light].
• Increases the damage done by an ability: [Glyph of Steady Shot], [Glyph of Dark Death].
• Add an additional effect to your ability: [Glyph of Molten Armor], [Glyph of Heart Strike].

Major glyphs

Major glyphs feature spell changes that may increase the damage, or another feature of the spell. Some of these glyphs have trade-offs. For example increasing direct damage but removing a DoT effect of the spell.

Minor glyphs

Minor glyphs give convenient or cosmetic improvements, such as reducing a spell’s cost or removing the need for a spell’s reagent.

Examples:

• Increases the duration of a spell: [Glyph of Blessing of Might].
• Removes the reagent cost of a spell: [Glyph of Levitate].
• Changes the graphics of a spell: [Glyph of the Penguin].
• Increases the effectiveness of a spell: [Glyph of Thunderstorm].

Some minor glyphs do have a more substantial effect, such as reducing cooldowns ( [Glyph of Challenging Roar], [Glyph of Lay on Hands]) or increasing damage ( [Glyph of Sense Undead]) so don’t dismiss minor glyph slots straight away.

Patch 4.0.1 completely changed how the glyphing system works, added new glyphs and also changed around the values and effects of a huge number of existing glyphs. It may look complicated on the surface, but with a bit of time and patience you can easily navigate the new glyphs and figure out what’s best for you and your spec.

Types of Glyphs

4.0.1 added a new type of glyph: Prime Glyphs. Primes fill the role that used to be occupied by Major Glyphs, they’re the ones that will buff your primary healing, damaging, or tanking abilities and will have the greatest impact on your min/maxing. They’re also boring. Most Prime Glyph choices are no-brainers just as Major Glyphs tended to be pre-4.0.1. As a result, there’s less to talk about with this new type of glyph than with the more exciting and dynamic re-done Major Glyphs.

Major Glyphs are now the in-between glyph that don’t offer linear benefits like Prime Glyphs do, but add utility and flavor to the class. These glyphs often add interesting new mechanics to existing abilities, and Blizzard has used them to give players a lot of the abilities and effects that have been on their wish lists for years. For instance: Glyph of Entangling Roots makes the Druid Root instant cast but gives it a 5 second cooldown and Glyph of Blind for Rogues removes any damage-over-time effects from the target of the Rogue’s Blind. These are minor quality of life adjustments but give a real sense of choice and flexibility to the Major Glyphs that is very appealing. You’re not going to feel forced to pick up any of your Major Glyphs for min/maxing purposes, it’ll mostly be based on your personal preferences and which ones appeal to you personally.

Minor Glyphs are pretty much the same, a couple new ones have been added but they’re relatively insignificant and nothing to get excited about.

New Interface

Ever realize you need to re-glyph and can’t find the glyph you need on the Auction House? Or worse, you find the glyph only to see that it’s priced at over 50 times what it costs to make? That’s all over now. The new glyphing UI allows you to learn glyphs permanently and interchange them at will once you’ve learned them. All you need to change between glyphs you’ve already learn is an inexpensive reagent called “Vanishing Powder�that can be purchased from the Inscription vendors.

The UI has been somewhat altered to accommodate the addition of Prime Glyphs, but remains similar looking. It also includes a nice tool which allows you to search for glyphs and filter the results to show both glyphs you already know and ones that you don’t. Getting a full set of glyphs is inexpensive and quick if you know a scribe, but if you’re looking on the Auction House then prepare to pay through the nose.

Notes

• Players gain access to glyph slots based on their level:
  • Level 25: 1 Prime, 1 Major, 1 Minor.
  • Level 50: 2 Prime, 2 Major, 2 Minor.
  • Level 75: 3 Prime, 3 Major, 3 Minor.
• The Glyph window can be found under in the player’s spellbook under the Glyphs tab.
• Players who bought their Dual Talent Specialization will have two different sets of glyphs, and will need to activate a specialization in order to change its glyphs.
• Glyphs can be installed at any time except when the player is in combat.
• Like gems, once installed, a glyph is consumed. It cannot be recovered.
• Glyphs are now learned. Once purchased and read, they are added to a library.
• Glyphs are no longer destroyed; however in order to switch one for another you must use vanishing dust.
• Glyph effects cannot be stacked (they are Unique-equipped).

Patch changes

Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Added Prime Glyphs and Glyph slots. The minimum level requirement to use glyphs is 25. You will unlock a Prime Glyph slot, a Major Glyph slot and a Minor Glyph slot at level 25, 50 and 75.