Learn the art of imbuing an item with magical runes or glyphs powered by soul energy, to grant additional effects to jewelry, weapons, and armor. Your crafting station is an Enchanting Table, usually found at a chironasium where an Enchanter vendor resides.
This trade skill enables you to gather a number of different runes from across Tamriel and hone them into glyphs with particularly helpful bonuses. The glyphs are then set into your armor, weaponry, and jewelry. This occurs at an Enchanting Table and works a little like reagents used in the Alchemy trade skill. The combination of runes you use in the Enchanting process determines the effects and impressiveness of the glyph.
To begin with, you need three different rune stones to craft a glyph. These are gathered throughout the lands at resource nodes, which look like tiny shrines and appear in a variety of colors related to the rune type. They can also be purchased from other players. Potency runes are available from Enchanters you may encounter. In addition, any of the three rune types can be obtained from a Hireling, or as an Enchanting writ reward.
The three types of runes are Aspect, Essence, and Potency. Each time you find a Runestone node, you automatically pry out an Aspect and Essence rune, and you have about a one-in-three chance of gaining a Potency rune. The runes you find are usually around the same level as either your character or your Enchanting trade skill. This means that if your character’s level is high but your Enchanting level is low, you may find runes you can’t use yet.
When crafted into new glyphs, your obtained runes are translated and their effects learned.
Runes
All runes have a strange, secretive language carved onto them, and once each rune is translated, that code is translated into a magical effect, which you can add to your created glyph. As you find runes, you’ll see they come in three shapes, or types:
Aspect: These are circular in shape and affect the quality (also known as rarity) of the glyph you make. There are five variants, and the quality works in a similar way to the color-coding of other materials (white, green, blue, purple, and gold). The better the quality, the rarer the rune, and the better the final glyph will be.
Example: You find a Denata rune. It translates to “Superior” (blue) quality.
Essence: These appear to be triangular in shape, with the corners sliced off. They determine the precise Attribute or bonus the Enchanting effect will give you. There are around 20 types of Essence runes, which give you a variety of single bonuses to Health, Stamina, or Magicka (or other statistics).
Potency: This appears as a square or cube-shaped rune, and determines how powerful the effects of the glyph will be, along with the level you need to be to craft it. Potency runes are divided into two sub-groups, each including around 16 Runestones: Additive and Subtractive. As you might expect, in general terms an Additive Potency rune grants you a bonus, while a Subtractive Potency rune gives you a negative power, usually a resistance.
Example: You find a Jora rune. It translates to “Develop” and a “Trifling” title, and can be placed on Level 1-10 gear. If you combine the Makkoma Essence rune with the Jora rune, you create a Trifling Glyph of Magicka Recovery, if applied to jewelry gear.
Now that you have a basic understanding of the three types of runes, consult the following tables to learn all the variations these runes offer:
Enchanting: Aspect Runes
| Rune | Name | Translation | Glyph Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Ta | Common | White |
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Jejota | Fine | Green |
 |
Denata | Superior | Blue |
 |
Rekuta | Artifact | Purple |
 |
Kuta | Legendary | Gold |
Enchanting: Essence Runes
| Rune | Name | Translation | Example Effects (Additive/Subtractive)* |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Dakeipa | Frost | Frost Damage/Resistance |
 |
Deni | Stamina | Stamina Recovery/Maximum Stamina Improvement |
 |
Denima | Stamina Recovery | Stamina Recovery/Reduced Stamina Cost |
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Deteri | Armor | Shield Damage/Target’s Armor Reduced |
 |
Hakeijo | Prism | Prismatic Defense (Maximum Health, Stamina, Magicka)/Magic Damage to Daedra and Undead |
 |
Haoko | Disease | Disease Damage/Disease Resistance |
 |
Jaedi | Shield | Reduced Bash and Blocking Cost (Subtractive only)** |
 |
Kaderi | Shield | Reduced Bash and Blocking Cost (Subtractive only) |
 |
Kuoko | Poison | Poison Damage/Poison Resistance |
 |
Lire | Physical Harm | Weapon Damage/Greater Armor Resistance** |
 |
Makderi | Spell Harm | Spell Damage/Spell Resistance |
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Makko | Magicka | Magic Damage and Recovery/Maximum Magicka Improvement |
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Makkoma | Magicka Recovery | Magicka Recovery/Reduced Magicka Spell Cost |
 |
Meip | Shock | Shock Damage/Shock Resistance |
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Oko | Health | Health Recovery/Maximum Health Improvement |
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Okoma | Health Recovery | Damage (ignoring defenses)/Health Recovery |
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Okori | Power | Increased Power (wearer)/Reduced Power (target) |
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Oru | Alchemist | Potion Effect Improvement/Reduced Potion Cooldown |
 |
Rakeipa | Fire | Fire Damage/Fire Resistance |
 |
Taderi | Physical Harm | Weapon Damage/Greater Armor Resistance |
* These are examples of the general effect you should expect, though there are more, and variations depend on the type of Potency rune and whether the glyph you create is placed on armor, weapons, or jewelry.
** These runes are usually no longer used in Enchanting, and should be kept as keepsakes or sold.
Enchanting: Potency Runes (Additive and Subtractive)
| Rune | Additive Name (Translation) | Rune | Subtractive Name (Translation) | Glyph Prefix | Potency Level | Equipment Level* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Jora (Develop) |  |
Jode (Reduce) | Trifling | 1 | Levels 01-10 |
 |
Porade (Add) |  |
Notade (Subtract) | Inferior | 1 | Levels 05-15 |
 |
Jera (Increase) |  |
Ode (Shrink) | Petty | 2 | Levels 10-20 |
 |
Jejora (Raise) |  |
Tade (Decrease) | Slight | 2 | Levels 15-25 |
 |
Odra (Gain) |  |
Jayde (Deduct) | Minor | 3 | Levels 20-30 |
 |
Pojora (Supplement) |  |
Edode (Lower) | Lesser | 3 | Levels 25-35 |
 |
Edora (Boost) |  |
Pojode (Diminish) | Moderate | 4 | Levels 30-40 |
 |
Jaera (Advance) |  |
Rekude (Weaken) | Average | 4 | Levels 35-45 |
 |
Pora (Augment) |  |
Hade (Lessen) | Strong | 5 | Levels 40-50 |
 |
Denara (Strengthen) |  |
Idode (Impair) | Major | 5 | Levels CP 10-30 |
 |
Rera (Exaggerate) |  |
Pode (Remove) | Greater | 6 | Levels CP 30-50 |
 |
Derado (Empower) |  |
Kedeko (Drain) | Grand | 7 | Levels CP 50-70 |
 |
ReKura (Magnify) |  |
Rede (Deprive) | Splendid | 8 | Levels CP 70-90 |
 |
Kura (Intensify) |  |
Kude (Negate) | Monumental | 9 | Levels CP 100-140 |
 |
Rejera (Intensify) |  |
Jehade (Negate) | Superb | 9 | Level CP 150 |
 |
Repora (Intensify) |  |
Itade (Negate) | Truly Superb | 9 | Level CP 160 |
* Your gear must at least meet this range of levels in order to imbue it with the resulting glyph.
Once you know the general effects of the three types of runes, you can begin to enchant them into appropriately potent glyphs for your various gear
Passive Abilities
There are five Enchanting Passive Abilities:
Enchanting Passive Abilities
| Ability | Name | Description | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Aspect Improvement | This is important when enchanting with the various Aspect Runestones, as it allows you to utilize the better-quality, color-coded types: Standard/green, Superior/blue, Artifact/purple, and finally Legendary/gold. The higher the quality, the better the statistical bonuses of your glyph. Invest in this as soon as you can, or the moment you receive a more potent Aspect Runestone and you have enough levels to do so. Four Ranks at Levels 1, 6, 16, and 31 | 10 Ranks at Levels 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 50 |
 |
Potency Improvement | This is arguably the key to enchanting better glyphs. It enables you to unlock the use of the more impressive Potency Runestones, increasing the level of the glyph you enchant. Simply put, if you don’t invest in this skill, you can’t access the better Potency Runestones listed in the previous table, and your glyphs won’t be nearly as powerful. This is also the key to power-leveling as an Enchanter. | 10 Ranks at Levels 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 50 |
 |
Keen Eye: Runestones | This enables you to spot Runestone nodes more easily, especially at night, as a glow emits from them at 20, 30, or 40 meters. However, as these nodes are reasonably easy to spot, this ability isn’t really necessary, unless you’re a completionist. | Three Ranks at Levels 2, 7, and 14 |
 |
Hireling | A Hireling will do the Runestone rummaging and searching for you, returning once every 24 hours (at Ranks 1 and 2) with a number of Runestones, possibly including some rarer ones. At Rank 3, the Hireling becomes an Enchanter who gathers Runestones every 12 hours. What’s better than free Runestones? Free Runestones you don’t have to search for! | Three Ranks at Levels 3, 12, and 32 |
 |
Aspect Extraction | The most proficient way to gain Inspiration when enchanting is to break down, or deconstruct, a glyph a fellow adventurer has made, separating it into its component parts. Though there’s a chance the runes will be destroyed during the process, this ability increases the chances of successful extraction by up to 10%. This becomes more helpful when you’re hoping for rarer or more powerful Runestones. | Three Ranks at Levels 4, 19, and 29 |
Glyphs
With a basic understanding of every rune type, head to an Enchanting Table and begin crafting glyphs! Even though your character may not know the effects of some runes in-game, you can still combine one of each type and create a glyph as if the effects are known, assuming you’ve unlocked any necessary Enchanting Passive Abilities.
Adding to Your Gear
Once you’ve translated the runes, place one of each type to display the glyph you’re about to create. Some differences apply when creating an armor, weapon, or jewelry glyph. Armor glyphs are only craftable using Additive Potency runes. Weapon and jewelry glyphs can be created using either Additive or Subtractive Potency runes. Note the shape and color of the glyph icon in the middle menu box, and craft away.
Afterward, choose the apparel you want to enchant (remember, you need to have armor, weapons, or jewelry to fit an enchantment on!), and make sure you enchant the glyph you favor onto it. Now the glyph becomes active and useful.
Prior to completion, make sure to compare the before-and-after stats of your gear so you know whether the enchantment is worthwhile. You don’t, for example, want to enchant a Champion-level sword with a Trifling glyph, now, do you?
Armor glyphs are particularly potent, as you can add this type to every single part of your protective gear. However, you only receive the full benefit of the statistical increases if you place your glyph on your head, chest, legs, or shield armor. Your shoulders, hands, waist, and feet armor only receive a portion of the effect, and should therefore be augmented later.
The following table lists the available glyphs you’re able to create, along with their general effects. To find the rune you need to make a glyph, consult the tables earlier in this section of the guide.
Enchanting: Available Glyphs
| Glyph | Type | Name | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Armor | Glyph of Health | Maximum Health Improvement |
 |
Armor | Glyph of Magicka | Maximum Magicka Improvement |
 |
Armor | Glyph of Prismatic Defense | Health, Magicka, Stamina Improvements |
 |
Armor | Glyph of Stamina | Maximum Stamina Improvement |
 |
Jewelry | Glyph of Bashing | Increased Bash Damage |
 |
Jewelry | Glyph of Decreased Physical Harm | Increased Armor |
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Jewelry | Glyph of Decreased Spell Harm | Increased Spell Resistance |
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Jewelry | Glyph of Disease Resistance | Increased Disease Resistance |
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Jewelry | Glyph of Fire Resistance | Increased Fire Resistance |
 |
Jewelry | Glyph of Frost Resistance | Increased Frost Resistance |
 |
Jewelry | Glyph of Health Recovery | Increased Health Recovery |
 |
Jewelry | Glyph of Increased Magical Harm | Increased Spell Damage |
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Jewelry | Glyph of Increased Physical Harm | Increased Weapon Damage |
 |
Jewelry | Glyph of Magicka Recovery | Increased Magicka Recovery |
 |
Jewelry | Glyph of Poison Resistance | Increased Poison Resistance |
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Jewelry | Glyph of Potion Boost | Increased Potion Potency |
 |
Jewelry | Glyph of Potion Speed | Reduced Potion Cooldown |
 |
Jewelry | Glyph of Reduced Feat Cost | Reduced Stamina Cost for Abilities |
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Jewelry | Glyph of Reduced Spell Cost | Reduced Magicka Cost for Spells |
 |
Jewelry | Glyph of Shielding | Reduced Bashing and Blocking Cost |
 |
Jewelry | Glyph of Shock Resistance | Increased Shock Resistance |
 |
Jewelry | Glyph of Stamina Recovery | Increased Stamina Recovery |
 |
Weapon | Glyph of Absorb Health | Health Recovery and Magic Damage |
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Weapon | Glyph of Absorb Magicka | Magicka Recovery and Magic Damage |
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Weapon | Glyph of Absorb Stamina | Stamina Recovery and Magic Damage |
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Weapon | Glyph of Crushing | Decreases Enemy’s Armor Temporarily |
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Weapon | Glyph of Decrease Health | Inflicts Unresistable Damage |
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Weapon | Glyph of Fire | Inflicts Fire Damage |
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Weapon | Glyph of Foulness | Inflicts Disease Damage |
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Weapon | Glyph of Frost | Inflicts Frost Damage |
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Weapon | Glyph of Hardening | Grants Damage Shield Temporarily |
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Weapon | Glyph of Poison | Inflicts Poison Damage |
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Weapon | Glyph of Prismatic Onslaught | Deals Magic Damage to Daedra and Undead |
 |
Weapon | Glyph of Rage | Increases Your Power Temporarily |
 |
Weapon | Glyph of Shock | Inflicts Shock Damage |
 |
Weapon | Glyph of Weakening | Decreases Enemy Power Temporarily |
Extracting Glyphs
The Enchanting Table has an Extraction menu where you can take glyphs you’ve acquired, either by making them yourself or obtaining them from traders or other players, and deconstruct them into separate runes. There’s a chance you’ll receive one or more runes, or nothing at all. Increase the chances of obtaining runes by spending points in the Aspect Extraction Passive Ability. The main reason for extracting glyphs is to gain Inspiration; extraction grants you the most leveling potential in a trade skill that is otherwise lengthy to level up.