Glyphs, which are created by characters who have the new Inscription profession (if you didn't already know), add a pretty interesting new element to the game. They're basically alternative talents that, in many cases, do interesting or unusual things to your spells, and they can actually change the way you play, unlike most of the benefits you receive from the other professions. Here's a list of the new Shaman Glyphs, and whether or not they're worth getting.
Major Glyphs
Glyph of Chain Heal (Req. lvl. 40) - Your Chain Heal heals 1 additional target.
I like the idea of our Chain spells hitting additional targets, but this glyph may be a bit too weak, at least compared to other glyphs. This seems to increase your total healing done by CH by about 7%, which isn't terrible, but it all depends on your style, and how often you use CH. It'd be nice if this glyph also reduced the per-jump power decrease by 5% or something.
Glyph of Chain Lightning (Req. lvl. 32) - Your Chain Lightning strikes 1 additional target.
This seems like the same thing as the CH glyph, but because CL loses less power per jump (30% instead of 50% on CH) it winds up adding about 13% to your total damage done by a single CL cast. However, unlike CH, CL has a 6-second cooldown. With the Storm, Earth, and Fire talent, Elemental specs can get that down to 3.5 seconds, which makes this a pretty attractive glyph to use, especially in PvP. It's not bad for Enhancement specs too, but I think there are better ones for you to use.
Glyph of Earth Shock (Req. lvl. 15) - Reduces the global cooldown triggered by your Earth Shock ability by 1 sec.
This strikes me as something that'll probably be useful in Arenas, but not anywhere else.
Glyph of Earthliving Weapon (Req. lvl. 30) - Increases the chance for your Earthliving weapon to trigger by 5%.
Pretty small buff, but it's probably a good one to use if you're a healer.
Glyph of Elemental Mastery - Reduces the cooldown of your Elemental Mastery ability by 30 sec.
Personally, I don't think I'd even notice having this.
Glyph of Fire Elemental Totem (Req. lvl. 68) - Reduces the cooldown of your Fire Elemental Totem by 4 min.
The Fire Elemental does a pretty decent amount of damage, especially if you're Elemental-specced. A definite "maybe".
Glyph of Fire Nova Totem (Req. lvl. 15) - Increases the radius of Fire Nova Totem's effect by 2 yards.
If you use FNT a lot, this one's pretty good. Effectively, it's increasing the totem's area of effect by 44% (452 square yards vs. 314). The newest version of Improved FNT increases the totem's damage by 20% AND gives a 2-second stun (but no detonation time reduction anymore), so this will allow you to damage and stun a much larger amount of people, potentially.
Glyph of Flame Shock (Req. lvl. 15) - Increases the duration of your Flame Shock ability by 6 sec and it is not consumed by casting Lava Burst.
This one has just been updated, and it's phenomenal for Elementals now. Let's crunch some numbers: Rank 9 Flame Shock (lvl. 80) does 500 dmg, then 556 over the next 12 seconds. With the Storm, Earth, & Fire talent, 556 becomes 843. With the Flame glyph, that's 1264 over 18 seconds. To put that in perspective, baseline Corruption (warlock spell) only does 1080 over 18 seconds. AND you won't have to keep recasting it, because Lava Burst won't eat it up. Essential glyph. Will probably get nerfed.
Glyph of Flametongue Weapon (Req. lvl. 15) - Increases spell critical strike chance by 2% while Flametongue Weapon is active.
Not bad, I suppose. Extra crit is always good. If you're Elemental and can't find a glyph that you'd find more useful, get this.
Glyph of Frost Shock (Req. lvl. 20) - Increases the duration of your Frost Shock by 2 sec.
Meh. Go for it, if you do a lot of kiting or flag-pursuing. Dungeoneers shouldn't bother.
Glyph of Healing Stream Totem (Req. lvl. 20) - Your Healing Stream Totem heals for an additional 20%.
There are much better Resto glyphs. I wouldn't bother.
Glyph of Healing Wave (Req. lvl. 15) - Your Healing Wave also heals you for 20% of the healing effect when you heal someone else.
Great if you find yourself as Main Healer often.
Glyph of Lava - Your Lava Burst spell gains an additional 10% of your spellpower
I think this one kinda sucks. This would be great if it affected Lightning Bolt instead. But 10% more spellpower on a spell you can only cast every 8 seconds is pretty lame.
Glyph of Lava Lash - Damage on your Lava Lash is increased by an additional 10% if your weapon is enchanted with Flametongue.
I'm still trying to figure out how LL will affect Enhancement players, but this looks pretty weak. Even weaker than Glyph of Lava Burst.
Glyph of Lesser Healing Wave (Req. lvl. 20) - Your Lesser Healing Wave heals for 20% more if the target is also affected by your Earth Shield.
This makes it easier to keep your MH (or yourself) alive in a pinch. Depends on how often you use LHW, I guess.
Glyph of Lightning Bolt (Req. lvl. 15) - Reduces the cost of your Lightning Bolt ability by 10%.
Probably essential for raiding shamans.
Glyph of Lightning Shield (Req. lvl. 15) - Increases the damage from Lightning Shield by 20%.
Pretty powerful if you also have Static Shock and Improved Shields.
Glyph of Mana Tide Totem (Req. lvl. 40) - Your Mana Tide Totem grants an additional Spell Power of each target's maximum mana each time it pulses.
Makes a powerful totem even more poweful? Sure, go for it.
Glyph of Stormstrike (Req. lvl. 40) - Increases the nature damage bonus from your Stormstrike ability by an additional 8%.
Could add a pretty decent amount of extra DPS to your meter.
Glyph of Water Mastery (Req. lvl. 20) - Increases the passive mana regeneration of your Water Shield spell by 30%.
A good one if you're having troubles with mana, although you may want a different glyph instead (like the ones that affect Lightning Bolt or Mana Tide).
Glyph of Windfury Weapon (Req. lvl. 30) - The attack power bonus on the additional attacks granted by Windfury Weapon is increased by 40%.
Seems good, but not as powerful as it once would have been, since I think just about everyone's going to be going WF/FT now instead of WF/WF.
Minor Glyphs
Glyph of Astral Recall (Req. lvl. 30) - Cooldown of your Astral Recall spell reduced by 2.5 min.
For those people who are so neurotic that they need to get to the AH more than 5 times every hour. Otherwise, worthless.
Glyph of Ghost Wolf (Req. lvl. 20) - Your Ghost Wolf form regenerates an additional 1% of your maximum health every 5 sec.
Not too bad for Enhance shamans, actually.
Glyph of Renewed Life (Req. lvl. 30) - All stats increased by 5% for 1 min when you Reincarnate.
Improved Death glyph. If you have Imp. Reincarnate and you like to pop up and finish off the guy who just finished YOU off, this could be handy to get the upper hand.
Glyph of Water Breathing (Req. lvl. 22) - Your Water Breathing spell no longer requires a reagent.
I don't think I should have to get a glyph to have this effect. But I will anyway, because the other minor glyphs suck.
Glyph of Water Walking (Req. lvl. 28) - Your Water Walking spell no longer requires a reagent.
See above.
Probably most useful for Resto shamans with Imp. Water Shield and Imp. Shields.
Dammit, I want a Glyph of Hex. I want to be able to turn people into penguins or skunks or other critters, like Mages can turn people into sheep, pigs, cats, snakes, and turtles.
