What are Glyphs and how to get them in WoW?
Solution 1:
Glyphs are kind of like meta-talents, that can be changed on the fly, without a full respec. They generally modify a specific spell or talent in some way, and come in three categories:
- Prime Glyphs modify a spell or talent in a way that is directly related to it's effectiveness in combat, such as reducing it's cost, cast time or cooldown, increasing it's duration, damage or healing (sometimes under special conditions), or providing an additional special effect of some sort.
- Major Glyphs can be considered 'utility glyphs'. These glyphs generally provide useful combat effects that don't translate into a direct increase in throughput. Some will improve your defensive capabilities, others affect crowd control. Still others, provide a tradeoff, increasing the direct damage of an ability, but removing a DoT effect (useful for PVP).
- Minor Glyphs provide cosmetic effects or minor out of combat conveniences, such as removing reagents, or allowing a Mages polymorph spell to display a different graphic.
Max level characters have a total of 9 Glyph slots. 3 Prime, 3 Major, and 3 Minor. These are gained while leveling, one of each at level 25, again at 50, and again at 75.
Glyphs are produced by the Inscription profession. They can be bought relatively cheaply from the Auction House, or any of the other usual channels (trade chat, dealing with friends and guild mates, etc.). To learn glyphs, once you're at an appropriate level, simply purchase them and right click the item to use it. Once a glyph is learned, it can be 'equipped' by going to the 'Glyphs' tab of your spellbook. You can switch between glyphs freely, so long as you have either Vanishing Powder (if below level 80) or Dust of Disappearance in your inventory. Both are easily purchasable from an Inscription Supply or Reagent vendor in nearly any town or city.
Solution 2:
Glyphs are enhancements you can add to your character. They are created by scribes using the inscription profession. You can buy them on the AH, or from a scribe.
See http://www.wowwiki.com/Glyph for more info.