With Patch 3.0, prior to the release of Wrath of the Lich King, Blizzard introduced the new profession "Inscription". A Scribe can create items, so called glyphs, that modify the spells and abilities of a player. These spells will then do more damage or have an additional effect. At level 80 a player will have 6 glyph slots, 3 for minor glyphs and 3 for major glyphs. Minor glyphs often provide cosmetic changes or remove a reagent cost for a certain spell. Major glyphs provide a special bonus for a spell or an ability. Glyphs are created by a Scribe, who uses ink and parchment in the process. While parchment is bought from a vendor the ink has to be created from pigments by the scribe himself. You get these pigments by milling herbs. Depending on which herbs are milled you get different types of pigments and ink. Almost every high end glyph will require Northrend herbs.

The first glyph choice for a Hunter is the Glyph of Steady Shot. This Glyph increases the damage of Steady Shot by 10% whenever Serpent Sting is active on the target, which it should be almost all the time. This makes the choice for the second glyph rather obvious: the glyph of Serpent Sting which extends its duration by 6 seconds. Marksmanship Hunters don't need that glyph, as their Serpent Sting is refreshed by their Chimera Shot. They will often take the Glyph of True Shot instead. The third glyph varies from spec to spec.

Minor Hunter glyphs can increase the pet's happiness whenever you heal it or prevent the Hunter from being interrupted when reviving her pet. The minor glyph that reduces the cooldown of Feign Death is an obvious choice as well.