Upcoming changes to glyphs in patch 4.0.1
Blizzard has just released key information on the upcoming changes to the glyph system in patch 4.0.1, which we are expecting to drop tomorrow. This is more or less what we've been hearing all along throughout the Cataclysm beta. The big points from Blizzard's release are:
Glyphs are separated into three tiers: minor, major and prime.
Prime glyphs typically provide direct increases to damage or healing throughput.
Major glyphs typically augment spells and abilities to offer additional utility.
Minor glyphs typically provide players with additional convenience or cosmetic changes.
Glyphs are now single-use; once you learn them, you know them forever.
In order to switch glyphs, you need a reagent called a Dust of Disappearance. Get those from an inscription vendor or crafted by scribes.
The full statement after the break.
In its Prime
Glyphs will now be separated into three different tiers: minor, major, and prime.
In total, there will be nine glyph slots: three minor, three major, and three prime. As players level, they will be able to progressively unlock "sets" of these slots in increments of three (one minor slot, one major slot, and one prime slot). The first set of glyph slots will be unlocked at level 25, the second at level 50, and the final at level 75.
Teach a Man to Glyph...
In addition to the glyph tier changes, glyphs will also be transitioning from single-use items to permanent spells that a player can learn. While the item from which a glyph will be taught will still be consumed on use, once a glyph is learned, a player will always have access to it. This functionality will feel very similar to the current mechanic that allows players to learn certain recipes and patterns from item drops.
Despite these changes, activating a glyph will more or less function as it does now. To activate a glyph, players will simply need to select the desired glyph from their list of known glyphs and then click on the appropriate tiered slot.
Dust to Dust
With the transition from single-use items to permanent spells, the process for switching activated glyphs has been slightly altered. Similar to activating a learned glyph, players will need to select the new glyph from their list of known glyphs and then "place" it on top of the old glyph. While this process will not destroy the old glyph as it does at present, it will require a new reagent, Dust of Disappearance, which can be purchased from Inscription vendors or be crafted by scribes.
As a precaution, the following dialogue will also appear before a glyph is exchanged:
Players will be given the opportunity to confirm the exchange or cancel out of it. Please note that the old glyph will not be permanently lost; it will simply be deactivated.
Gotta Catch'em All
To complement each of these changes, the glyph UI window has been completely redesigned. All glyphs will now be organized in the glyph panel according to their tier (minor, major, or prime) and, much like how class spells and abilities display in the trainer window, will be sortable by "Already Known," "Unavailable," and "All Glyphs" categories. Players will also be able to search for glyphs using keywords and results will populate under each corresponding collapsible tier.
To access the new glyph UI, players will need to open up the Talent pane (default: N) and then click on the "Glyphs" tab.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it; nothing will be the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion (available Dec. 7, 2010), from brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.
