// Designer

Ichor Glyphs

Ichor glyphs are the deepest layer of Icaroid tuning. You place crystalline, conductive ichor pieces onto a component's upgrade grid. Certain patterns of conductive cells form a glyph, which grants a bonus tailored to the part hosting it - stat boosts, an effect, or even an ability. The same shape on a weapon, a core, legs, or a utility part may do entirely different things, but each glyph will often have a theme.

How glyphs work

Each component - and the core - has its own ichor grid, a small field of valid cells. You drop ichor pieces (each a small shape) onto those cells. When your Icaroid deploys into a battle, it pumps energy through its upgrade grid, activating each glyph's pattern and providing its bonus to the host part or the whole Icaroid for the fight.

A glyph's bonus is keyed to the host's component type - weapon, core, mobility, or utility. The same shape gives different rewards depending on what it sits on.
Multiple glyphs can match on one Icaroid and even in each component; their bonuses stack.
Stat bonuses are flat (+structure, +armor, +mobility, etc.). Some glyphs instead - or also - grant effects and abilities.
Empty space matters: what you leave out is just as important as what you fill in. Most glyphs require that certain cells remain unoccupied.

Build around the host

Put offensive shapes on weapons for special on-hit effects, defensive shapes on the core, speed shapes on legs, etc. The Tower may make a weapon harder to destroy, but on a core it grants Siege Mode and on legs it grants a significant +100 mobility - read the per-type lines before you commit to an upgrade strategy.

Ichor pieces

Pieces are your raw material for shaping glyphs. Each piece occupies a fixed footprint of cells and carries its own small stat deltas (and occasionally even a minor effect). You fit them together to both buff the part directly and spell out glyph shapes. Bigger pieces give more powerful bonuses, but can be harder to use to form glyphs.

Piece	Cells	Bonuses
Chunk	2	+5 structure
Bracing L	3	+20 structure, +15 armor, +8 weight
Ichor Spine	3	+30 structure, +10 weight
Ablative Stack	3	+15 armor, +5 weight
Mobility Vane	3	+10 mobility, −5 weight
Power Triplet	3	+15 shielding, Reactive Lattice
Null Slab	3	−15 weight (filler)
Ichor Matrix	4	+20 struct, +15 armor, +10 shield, Ichor Resonance
Longbow	4	+50 structure, +30 weight
Resonance Coil	4	+25 shielding, Reactive Lattice
Crucible	4	+20 structure, +15 armor
Stabilizer Wing	4	+20 structure, +10 mobility
Counter-Brace	4	+20 armor
Ichor Cluster	5	+30 struct, +20 shield, Ichor Resonance
Ichor Lattice	5	+40 struct, +35 armor, −15 mobility
Power Array	5	+40 shielding
Flanged Plate	5	+50 armor
Grand Spine	6	+75 structure, Reinforced Housing

Reading a pattern

Glyph patterns in this guide use three characters:

# - a cell that must be filled by a placed upgrade.
X - a cell that must be empty for the glyph to match.
. - don't care (padding, shown for alignment).

Patterns can match in any rotation, so you don't have to orient pieces exactly as drawn - only the shape matters.

Glyph catalogue

Every glyph, with its shape and the bonus it grants on each host type. Stat shorthand: structure / armor / shielding / weight / mobility / speed / height / damage / accuracy / range / ammo. Effects and abilities link to their guides where covered.

Structural

###
###
###

The Brick

Blocky. Weighty. Solid. Dense.

Weapon +15 structure, +5 armor, +50 weight
Core +25 structure, +25 armor, +50 weight, Rocklike
Mobility +15 structure, +50 weight, No Displacement
Utility +25 structure, +15 armor, +50 weight

####
#XX#
#XX#
####

The Fortress

A hollow square of reinforced plating - the walls matter, not the space within.

Weapon +25 structure, +15 armor
Core +35 structure, +35 armor, Thick-Skinned
Mobility +25 structure, +15 armor, −5 mobility
Utility +25 structure, +25 armor, Thick-Skinned

#XXX
##XX
###X
####

The Rampart

Defense of the walls is key to fending off the slavering hordes.

Weapon +15 structure, +15 armor
Core +25 structure, +15 armor, −25 mobility
Mobility +25 structure, +15 armor, −3 speed
Utility +15 structure, +15 armor

X#X
X#X
X#X
###

The Tower

The construction and defense of towering edifices is a time-honored tradition.

Weapon +15 structure, +5 armor, +10 damage
Core +25 structure, +15 armor, Siege Mode
Mobility +15 structure, +100 mobility, −3 speed, +3 height
Utility +15 structure, +5 armor, Thick-Skinned

###
###

The Crusher

A dense block of Ichor - no finesse, just mass.

Weapon +15 structure, +5 armor, +20 weight
Core +25 structure, +15 armor, +30 weight
Mobility +15 structure, −5 mobility

Offensive

###
XXX
###
XXX
###

The Barrage

Firing this much ammunition is an artform unto itself.

Weapon +5 structure, −5 armor, Rapid Fire
Utility +15 structure, +5 ammo replenishment

X#X
X#X
X#X
###
X#X
X#X

The Sniper's Eye

Tall vertical column with a crossbar near the top.

Weapon +5 structure, Targeting Computer
Core +15 structure, Indirect Sensors
Utility +5 structure, Targeting Computer, Indirect Sensors

#X#
##X
###

The Fang

Nature's weapons provide many lessons.

Weapon +5 structure, −5 armor, Armor Piercing
Mobility +5 structure, +35 mobility

XX#
X##
##X
#XX

The Disruptor

Strategic interference with the machinations of the enemy leads to victory.

Weapon +5 structure, Sensory Disrupted
Core +15 structure, +15 shielding, Weather Bubble
Mobility +5 structure, +15 mobility, Entangler
Utility +25 shielding, Weather Bubble

#X#
#X#
###

The Maw

Hunger leads to aggression. Aggression, violence.

Weapon +5 structure, Teeth
Core +15 structure, +15 armor, Consuming (lifesteal)
Mobility +5 structure, +5 mobility, Predator
Utility +15 structure, grants Fire Everything

###X
X##X
XX##
XXX#

The Scorched Earth

Fight fire with fire. Or, perhaps, just eat it.

Weapon +5 structure, Melt Terrain
Core +15 structure, +5 armor, Melt Terrain
Mobility +5 structure, +15 mobility, Plasma Trail
Utility +10 structure, Consume Heat

#X#X#

The Volley

Fire more, less.

Weapon +5 structure, Volley Fire

Mobility & evasion

XXXX#
XXX##
XX##X
X##XX
##XXX

The Sprinter

Charge into combat - or escape from it. Moving faster always helps.

Weapon +15 mobility, +15 accuracy
Core +15 mobility, Initiator
Mobility +100 mobility, Ghost Step
Utility +25 mobility, +4 speed

#XXX#
##X##
X###X

The Vaulter

Leap tall obstacles in a single bound.

Weapon +5 mobility, Curved Flight
Core +15 mobility, Hover
Mobility +50 mobility, +2 height
Utility +15 mobility, +2 speed

X###
X#XX
###X

The Coil

Controls lightning. Nikola Tesla would have been proud.

Weapon +5 mobility, +10 electrical damage
Core +25 mobility, Thunderstorm
Mobility +35 mobility, −5 structure, Grounded
Utility +15 mobility, Tesla Coil

###
#X#
###

The Container

Sometimes you keep things in. Sometimes out. The Container does both.

Weapon +20 ammo, +10 shielding
Core +20 ammo, +3 ammo replenishment, +30 shielding
Mobility +10 shielding, Water Immune
Utility +10 shielding, +10 ammo, +1 ammo replenishment

##X
X##
#XX

The Shadow

Everywhere and nowhere. Hard to shoot properly.

Weapon +5 mobility, Shadowed
Core +15 mobility, Shadowed
Mobility +25 mobility, Shadowed
Utility +15 mobility, Shadowed

Shield & energy

X###
##XX
##XX
X###

The Shell

Embrace. Extend. Extinguish.

Weapon +15 shielding, +15 electrical damage
Core +35 shielding, Dampening Field, Plasma Resistance
Mobility +25 shielding, Plasma Resistance
Utility +35 shielding, Dampening Field

X###X
##X##
#XXX#
##X##
X#X#X
XX#XX

The Wellspring

Water flows with purpose. Ichor flows create that purpose.

Weapon +15 shielding, +5 structure, Digger
Core +75 shielding, Resonant Field
Mobility +15 shielding, grants Flow
Utility +50 shielding, Resonant Field

X##
##X
X##
##X

The Conduit

Reach enlightenment. Or at least en-lightning-ment.

Weapon +15 shielding, +10 electrical damage
Core +35 shielding, Electrical Resist, Resonant Field
Mobility +15 shielding, grants Charged Dash
Utility +35 shielding, grants Resonate

##X##
XX#XX

The Capacitor

Stored tension waiting to be unleashed.

Weapon +15 shielding, +15 structure, Stored Charge
Core +50 shielding, +25 structure, Electrical Resist
Mobility +15 shielding, Stored Dash
Utility +50 shielding, Reactive Lattice

Targeting

X#X
#X#
X#X

The Reticle

Four cells at the diagonals around an empty centre.

Weapon +30 accuracy, −20 mobility
Core +15 accuracy, −20 mobility
Utility Indirect Sensors

X###X
##X##
#XXX#
##X##
X###X

The Lens

Focus on what's really important - like exploding that guy over there.

Weapon +4 range, +30 accuracy, −30 mobility
Core +2 range, +25 accuracy, −50 mobility
Utility Indirect Sensors

#X#X#
X#X#X
#X#X#
X#X#X
#X#X#

The Web

What tangle have we wrought?

Weapon +50 stability damage
Core Entangler
Mobility +5 mobility
Utility active-sensor-suite

Ammo & resource

###
###
X#X
X#X

The Reservoir

If you never throw anything away, you'll always find something to fit the situation.

Weapon +20 ammo, +1 replenishment
Core +50 ammo, +3 replenishment
Mobility +30 ammo, +2 replenishment
Utility +20 ammo, +2 replenishment

X###
X#XX
###X
#XXX

The Siphon

Draw from everything around you. And we do mean everything.

Weapon Siphoned Shot
Core +50 structure, Salvage Repair
Mobility Weather Siphon
Utility grants Mining Repair

#X##
X#XX
#X##

The Efficient Round

Efficiency sometimes means firing more accurately. Sometimes it means never firing at all.

Weapon −10 weight, Efficient
Core −50 weight
Mobility +2 speed, +50 mobility
Utility +5 replenishment, −20 weight

Special & rare

X#X#X
#XXX#
X#X#X

The Resonant Star

The music of the spheres gives the lie to the silence of space.

Weapon +5 structure, +15 shielding, Ichor Resonance
Core +25 structure, +25 shielding, Resonant Field
Mobility +25 shielding, Shield Resonance
Utility +15 structure, +25 shielding, grants Resonate

#X#X#
X###X

The Iron Crown

Heavy is the crown.

Weapon +15 structure, +15 armor
Core +35 structure, +15 armor, Thick-Skinned
Mobility +15 structure, +5 armor, −5 mobility
Utility +25 structure, +25 armor

X###X
XX#XX
X###X
XX#XX
XX#XX

The Anchor

Hold fast to your position. The betrayal of the earth is not among your concerns.

Weapon applies Weighed Down on hit
Core +35 structure, +10 armor, Terrain Anchor
Mobility +25 structure, −15 mobility, Terrain Anchor
Utility +25 structure, +15 armor, Terrain Anchor

X#X
###
X#X
##X
X##

The Relay

Coordination is the key to victory.

Weapon +5 structure, Beacon
Core +15 structure, +30 shielding, Relay Boost
Mobility Coordinated Movement
Utility +50 shielding, Relay Boost

##X
###
#X#
#X#

The Font

Let the river flow.

Core +25 structure, +25 shielding, Mending Field
Mobility +25 structure, +25 shielding, Mending Trail
Utility +15 structure, +35 shielding, Mending Field

#X#
XXX
#X#

The Null

A presence defined by absence.

Weapon Null Zone
Core Null Zone
Utility Null Zone

X#X
X#X
###
X#X
X#X

The Beacon

Aid has been sought. Will you answer?

Weapon applies Beacon on hit
Core Beacon Self
Mobility grants Drop Beacon
Utility grants Drop Beacon

#X#
X#X
#XX

The Mending Web

Time may heal all wounds, but sometimes you want to speed things up.

Core Regeneration
Mobility Ammo Pickup
Utility Mending Field

Nulling & deployment

Glyph bonuses are snapshotted onto your Icaroid the instant it deploys, merged together with each component's inherent effects and tagged to the part that granted them. That tagging matters in two ways:

Destruction revokes them. If the component carrying a glyph is destroyed, its glyph bonuses go with it - losing a weapon can cost you the aura or ability it was hosting.
Nulling suppresses them. The Chorus Null Suppressing weapon effect inflicts Nulled, which switches off every glyph-sourced bonus on the target for its duration. Inherent component effects keep working; only glyph bonuses go dark, then snap back when Nulled expires.
A stabilized grid is immune. Grid Stabilized - from the Chorus Grid Stabilizer utility component - holds the grid online: while it is installed and intact, Nulled cannot suppress your glyph bonuses at all. Destroy the stabilizer and nulling bites again.

Glyph-reliant builds are fragile

An Icaroid that leans hard on glyphs - especially Chorus ichor-scaled builds - can be neutered by a single Null Field Projector. Spread your value across inherent stats and glyphs, or carry a Grid Stabilized grid, so a null doesn't switch you off.

Grid amplifiers

Several Chorus parts exist purely to get more out of the grid:

Part	What it does
Grid Amplifier mod	Doubles the stat deltas of every ichor piece in the host's grid (not glyph bonuses).
Pattern Lock mod	Freezes the grid permanently; in exchange its glyph bonuses gain 25–50% effectiveness.
Expanded Grid Framework mod	Enlarges the host's grid by 2 cells, room for bigger patterns.
Adaptive Matrix mod	Once per battle, reposition one piece without disturbing the rest.
Ichor Panel mod	Adds a column to a component's grid (even one with no grid).
Ichor Conduit Hub util	Single-weapon glyph bonuses apply to all weapons.
Resonance Relay util	Broadcasts this Icaroid's glyph bonuses to an ally at reduced strength.
Planet Siphon util	Places a structure; friendly Chorus Icaroids near it gain 10–25% glyph effectiveness.