Scribes live and die by the pen, weaving words of power into parchment through sheer magic. Those who choose this path learn to craft the following:
- Scrolls: consumed on use to increase various attributes and other effects.
- Tomes: powerful off-hand equipped items favored by spellcasters.
- Darkmoon Cards: can be combined into complete decks offering wondrous abilities.
- Glyphs: powerful inscriptions for your Spellbook that enhance class skills and spells.
- Master Inscriptions: The most powerful enhancements for shoulder-slot items available.
Getting Started
Once the Wrath of the Lich King Classic pre-expansion patch launches, you’ll be able to get started on your journey to become a scribe. You can find Inscription trainers in any capital city (ask a guard for directions) and in Honor Hold or Thrallmar in Outland.
Inscription Materials
Most Inscription recipes require two types of materials: inks and parchments. Inks are crafted by combining specific pigments, and pigments are obtained from various plants and herbs by making use of the Inscription-learned Milling ability. In a nutshell:
- Gather herbs
- Mill herbs to get pigments
- Turn pigments into inks
- Use inks and parchments to craft Inscription recipes
Pigments are primarily obtained through plants and herbs. It is highly recommended that you pair Inscription with the Herbalism profession—or be ready to spend some time in the Auction House shopping for materials.
Learning New Glyphs
While you can learn some Glyphs from profession trainers, you’ll also need to research new Glyphs (by using Inscription-learned research skills) to expand your collection. Be sure to hit the books whenever you can. Researching nearly always results in you learning a new Glyph; you’ll also receive a few scrolls and other goodies—doing your homework pays off!
How do Glyphs Work?
In Wrath of the Lich King Classic, Glyphs work quite differently than the modern version of World of Warcraft. When you open your Talents pane (default hotkey: N), you’ll notice a new tab labeled “Glyphs”. A character has access to up to six Glyph slots, unlocked as you level. Glyphs are divided between Minor and Major Glyphs. You may have up to three Major and three Minor Glyphs active at any time. To activate a Glyph, simply right-click it in your inventory and then click on a corresponding Glyph slot. Like gems, you can overwrite an existing Glyph by applying a different one to the same slot.
Inscription Perk: Master’s Inscriptions
Each profession in Wrath of the Lich King Classic confers the artisan a unique bonus. For scribes, that bonus comes in the form of Master’s Inscriptions. These powerful shoulder enchantments are better than the shoulder inscriptions available to non-scribes through NPCs. However, you won’t be able to craft them until you get to Northrend.
Making the Most of Inscription
Glyphs represent a significant addition to a character's power. Since they can be bought and sold at Auction House, there's going to be a strong demand for these words of power. Scribes who keep up with their research to ensure they have the largest variety of Glyphs will have the most to gain. If you are a non-scribe herbalist, it is a good idea to supply a friendly scribe with your raw materials in exchange for cheaper Glyphs. Whether you choose to become your realm's Glyph and Darkmoon Card baron, or to simply recruit the services of a scribe, there's plenty of fun ways to enjoy this returning profession.
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We hope you enjoyed this refresher course on Inscription for Wrath of the Lich King Classic. We look forward to starting the journey to the frozen wastes of Northrend soon. Keep an eye on https://worldofwarcraft.com/news for all the latest news and updates. We’ll see you in Azeroth, champion!
