Glyphs

At level 20, players in TERA can customize their skills with glyphs. A glyph is an object used to modify skills and customize them to fit a player's style. Much like crystals for equipment, glyphs can be used to boost skills and give them unique attributes.

Obtaining Glyph Points
Upon reaching level 20, the player will receive 10 glyph points that can be allowed in any Glyph from an already learned skill. From level 21 to 65, the player will receive 1 glyph point per level, for a total of 55 glyph points at level 65, therefore limiting the amount of glyphs a player can place on his or her character.

Finishing Apex quest gives 5 more glyph points. Each level after it gives 1 more, up to 65 glyph points at level 70.

Glyph costs from 1-7 glyph points, depending on the strength of the glyph.

Applying Glyph Points
By pulling up the skill window (shortcut 'K') and selecting the 'Glyphs' tab, the player can see all the possible glyphs. The screen will show glyphs next to what skill they modify. At the bottom right corner of the glyph icon is a circle with a number below it. The number indicates how many glyph points it will cost to equip the glyph. Glyphs a player has enough points to equip are colored; glyphs that the player can't afford are greyed out. At the bottom right is a number that indicates free glyph points over total glyph points.

Clicking on the glyph icon will select it, spending those points.

You can change glyphs configuration whenever you want. There is the possibility to save up to 5 glyphs configuration at the same time, free of cost.

Glyph effects
Every glyph increases a skill’s effect:


 * Glyphs of Influence and Brilliance help skills cost less MP.


 * Glyphs of Energy and Persistence give skills shorter cooldowns.


 * Glyphs of Lingering increase skill or effect durations.


 * Glyphs of Power increase damage of an ability.


 * Glyphs of Powerlink give a boost to a specific Chain Skill.


 * Glyphs of Carving and Keen glyph increase crit factor or skill crit chance.

There are hundreds of glyphs for hundreds of skills, each of which has one to six different glyphs available. Many different types of glyphs exists, making a wide variety of glyph tree, making each character unique in itself.

Upgrading Glyphs
Some glyphs cannot be accessed even when the skill is learned. They can be recognized by the green (uncommon) or blue triangle (rare) in the upper-left portion of the glyph icon.

These glyphs are acquired as guest reward or bought with glyph tokens. There are two levels of glyphs you can buy. Lower ones are bought from Vanguard Initiative merchant glyph tokens. Higher ones are bought with tokens earned in Island of Dawn missions.

New level 65 glyphs were released last time with Brawler/Kalivan's Dreadnaught patch in late 2015. These are available from Plunder Glyph Boxes. You could grind them with Island of Dawn missions.

With the level 70 cap and release of Exodor Scout gear you automatically get all the previously glyphs when reaching level 65. So grinding for glyphs is now past.

All level 65 glyphs are available with Glyph Tokens from Vanguard Initiative Quartermaster or directly from Master Supply Commissioner Mia in Velika's Freedom Plaza for Guardian Legion credits.

One superior (yellow/gold) glyph is earned as reward for finishing Apex quest. There is also one level 70 glyph you get automatically when reaching that level.

Strategies
One sorcerer may focus all her glyphs on speeding up access to and boosting the power of his or her favorite skill (Blazing, Impelling, and Empowered Fireblast), while another focuses on reducing downtime on all his or her skills (Energetic Overchannel, Blazing Fireblast, Energetic Void Pulse).

Whether soloing or tanking, lancers may find defensive combos advantageous. Pumped Stand Fast, Influential Stand Fast, plus Threatening Shield Counter give a lancer facing a BAM extra damage with more aggro for less MP cost.

Slayers capitalize on knocking the enemy down. Persistent Overhand Strike, Restorative Overhand Strike, and Stunning Knockdown Strike provide a slayer the means to be more effective more often.

For healers in party play, most focus on healing themselves first (Restorative Heal Thyself or Energetic Thrall of Life), then everyone else second (Multiplicative Focus Heal or Blazing Arun's Tears and Arun's Vitae).