This WoW guide (up-to-date for patch 3.3) will cover training your Inscription levels from 1 to 450 and what to make while leveling Inscription in World of Warcraft. Inscription is a primary profession (of which you can only choose two at any point in the game) and allows your character to create a variety of items such as cards, glyphs, scrolls, tomes and vellum. Inscription complements the Herbalism profession very well, as Herbalism can provide many of the raw materials required for Inscription. This guide focuses on making the training path easier by using plans that can be learned from Inscription trainers and plans with the most easily obtained materials. It also looks to make the items that will prove most cost effective at each stage.
Inscription was introduced with the Wrath of the Lich King expansion. Milling is an Inscription ability that allows the materials required for Inscription to be created by Milling herbs which results in pigments. No Inscription levels are gained from Milling herbs.
Pigments
| Common Pigment | Rare Pigment | Herbs |
|---|---|---|
| Alabaster | Earthroot, Peacebloom or Silverleaf | |
| Dusky | Verdant | Briarthorn, Bruiseweed, Mageroyal, Strangekelp or Swiftthistle |
| Golden | Burnt | Grave Moss, kingsblood, Liferoot or Wild Steelbloom |
| Emerald | Indigo | Fadeleaf, Goldthorn, Khadgar’s Whisker or Wintersbite |
| Violet | Ruby | Arthas’ Tears, Blindweed, Firebloom, Ghost Mushroom, Gromsblood, Purple Lotus or Sungrass |
| Silvery | Sapphire | Dreamfoil, Golden Sansam, Icecap, Mountain Silversage, Plaguebloom |
| Nether | Ebon | Ancient Lichen, Dreaming Glory, Felweed, Mana Thistle, Netherbloom, Nightmare Vine, Ragveil or Terocone |
| Azure | Icy | Adder’s Tongue, Deadnettle, Goldclover, Icethorn, Lichbloom, Talandra’s Rose or Tiger Lily |
Glyphs
Glyphs make up the majority of recipes for Inscription and come in two varieties, Major and Minor. A glyph provides a specific class spell or ability with a modification. Glyphs are learned from Inscription trainers, discovered through research or from books. Many major glyphs are learned from trainers, while others are discovered through Northrend Inscription Research. Additional major glyphs can be learned from a Book of Glyph Mastery which is dropped by mobs in Northrend. Minor glyphs are discovered through Minor Inscription Research, and occasionally Northrend Inscription Research.
Inscription Research
After reaching level 75 Inscription it is possible for players to perform Minor Inscription Research which offers the character a high chance of discovering a new minor glyph recipe.
After reaching level 385 Inscription it is possible for players to perform Northrend Inscription Research which offers the character a high chance of discovering a new major glyph recipe.
Inscription Research has a cooldown time of 20 hours, that is, it can only be performed once every 20 hours. Inscription Research can only discover glyphs that you are able to craft, that is, you can’t discover glyphs which have a minimum Inscription level requirement that is higher than your character’s current Inscription level.
Inscription Trainers
| Rank | Faction | Trainer | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Journeymen Expert Artisan |
Alliance | Catarina Stanford | The Canals, Stormwind |
| Elise Brightletter | The Great Forge, Ironforge | ||
| Feyden Darkin | Craftsmen’s Terrace, Darnassus | ||
| Thoth | The Crystal Hall , The Exodar | ||
| Horde | Jo’mah | The Drag, Orgrimmar | |
| Margaux Parchley | The Apothercarium, Undercity | ||
| Poshken Hardbinder | Spirit Rise, Thunder Bluff | ||
| Zantasia | The Court of the Sun, Silvermoon | ||
| Master | Alliance | Michael Schwan | Honor Hold, Hellfire Peninsula |
| Recorder Lidio | Aldor Rise, Shattrath | ||
| Horde | Neferatti | Thrallmar, Hellfire Peninsula | |
| Scribe Lanloer | Scryer’s Tier, Shattrath | ||
| Grand Master | Alliance | Mindri Dinkles | Valgarde, Howling Fjord |
| Tink Brightbolt | Valiance Keep, Borean Tundra | ||
| Horde | Adelene Sunlance | Warsong Hold, Borean Tundra | |
| Booker Kells | Vengeance Landing, Howling Fjord | ||
| Neutral | Arthur Denny | Argent Tournament Grounds, Icecrown | |
| Professor Pallin | Magus Commerce District, Dalaran |
Apprentice Levels (1-75)
Level 5 Character required
Learn Apprentice Inscription from an Inscription Trainer
Purchase a Virtuoso Inking Set from an Inscription Supplies Vendor. This tool is a requirement for everything you craft in the Inscription profession.
| Levels | Plan | Reagents |
|---|---|---|
| 1-20 | Ivory Ink | 1 x Alabaster Pigment |
| 21-35 | Scroll of Intellect | 1 x Ivory Ink 1 x Light Parchment |
| Scroll of Stamina | 1 x Ivory Ink 1 x Light Parchment |
|
| 36-50 | Moonglow Ink | 2 x Alabaster Pigment |
Journeymen Levels (76-150)
Level 10 Character required
Learn Journeymen Inscription from an Inscription trainer
Expert Levels (151-225)
Level 20 Character Required
Learn Expert Inscription from an Inscription trainer
Artisan Levels (226-300)
Level 35 Character required
Learn Artisan Inscription from an Inscription trainer
Master Levels (301-375)
Level 50 Character required
Learn Master Inscription from a Master Inscription trainer
Grand Master Levels (376-450)
Level 65 Character required
Learn Grand Master Inscription from a Grand Master Inscription trainer
I hoped you found this WoW Inscription Leveling Guide useful and that it has helped you on your way to level 450. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
If you’re leveling Herbalism at the same time, it may be a better idea to focus on the stat boosting “Scroll of…” items rather than the glyphs in the middle range (150-300 approx.). For me , the limiting factor was inks, not paper, so I did these scrolls, as opposed to glyphs that use 2 inks, until they turned green – only used 1 extra ink making Scroll of Agility III to skill level 185. If there is an upgrade scroll in the next bracket, switch to that of course.
Great guide, keep up the good work!
They’ve lowered most glyphs to needing 2 ink per, so this is less of an issue as of patch 3.3.3.
However, it’s worth noting that it might be better on some servers to stick to the armor/weapon vellum till they either go green or grey, especially if you have enchanting, since those items are generally fairly in-demand with enchanters, and can fetch a decent price in the auction house from enchanters looking to either level their enchanting or sell their wares (in the case of Weapon Vellum I and Armor/Weapon Vellum III).
What about “Hunter’s Ink”??
very informative and after looking aat your site i will switch to inscription instead of alchemy the benefits are good with both but i think you get more options in the inscription profession thanks for a good hard look into the inscription profession