ESO Enchanting — runes & glyphs, decoded
How the three-rune system works, and the exact gold-quality value of the glyphs people actually use — so you stop wasting runes on the wrong combination.
🎮 Works on console (no add-ons)✓ Current as of Update 50 (2026)
The three runes
Every glyph is crafted from exactly three runes: a Potency rune, an Essence rune, and an Aspect rune. Match the three and you get a glyph; the values below are for the top tier (CP160) at Gold (Legendary) quality.
- Potency rune. Sets whether the glyph INCREASES or REDUCES a stat, and the glyph's level requirement. Additive potency (e.g. Okori) = an “increase” glyph; Subtractive potency (e.g. Deni) = a “reduce” glyph. The gold-worthy top tier requires CP160.
- Essence rune. Sets WHAT the glyph affects — Health, Magicka, a damage element, Weapon Damage, and so on. (Same Essence rune can make a damage glyph on a weapon or a resistance glyph on jewelry, depending on the Potency.)
- Aspect rune. Sets the quality (color):
| Aspect rune | Quality | Color |
|---|---|---|
| Ta | Normal | White |
| Jejota | Fine | Green |
| Denata | Superior | Blue |
| Rekuta | Epic | Purple |
| Kuta | Legendary | Gold |
Weapon glyphs
| Glyph | Effect at gold (CP160) |
|---|---|
| Weapon Damage (Berserker) | Grants +268 Weapon & Spell Damage for 5s on hit. |
| Crushing (Crusher) | Reduces the target's Physical & Spell Resistance by 1247 for 5s. |
| Flame / Poison Damage | Deals 2045 Flame or Poison Damage. |
| Frost / Shock / Disease (Foulness) | Deals 1948 damage of that element. |
| Absorb Magicka / Stamina | Deals 1461 damage and restores 272 Magicka or Stamina. |
| Absorb Health | Deals 1461 Magic Damage and restores 675 Health. |
| Prismatic Onslaught | Deals 1461 Magic Damage; restores 338 Health, 136 Magicka & Stamina. |
| Weakening | Reduces the target's Weapon & Spell Damage by 268 for 5s. |
| Hardening | Grants a 2911-point damage shield for 5s. |
Armor glyphs
| Glyph | Effect at gold (CP160) |
|---|---|
| Health | +954 Maximum Health |
| Magicka | +868 Maximum Magicka |
| Stamina | +868 Maximum Stamina |
| Prismatic Defense (tank) | +367 Max Health, +334 Max Magicka, +334 Max Stamina |
| Magicka Recovery | +121 Magicka Recovery |
| Stamina Recovery | +121 Stamina Recovery |
Jewelry glyphs
| Glyph | Effect at gold (CP160) |
|---|---|
| Increase Physical Harm | +134 Weapon Damage |
| Increase Magical Harm | +134 Spell Damage |
| Increase Magicka Recovery | +121 Magicka Recovery |
| Increase Stamina Recovery | +121 Stamina Recovery |
| Reduce Spell Cost | Reduces the Magicka cost of abilities by 154 |
| Reduce Feat Cost | Reduces the Stamina cost of abilities by 154 |
| Prismatic Recovery | +60 Health, Magicka & Stamina Recovery |
| Bracing | Reduces the cost of Blocking by 154 (older community name: Glyph of Shielding) |
| Bashing | +422 Bash Damage |