I thought they looked decent, minus the glow, which I'm not really partial for in a general sense lol. I feel SE hits with maximum glow settings every time the things rank up lol. I hope they can find some more subtle glows (like in the sense the final weapon has activity but only to supplement the design and not "be the design").

For example the brotherhood sword in FFX is neat, if you imagine the "glow" for that weapon would simply be the sword bubbling and rippling about as if, or more like "because it", was made of water and dripping. The sword wouldn't be this huge glow. I imagine such intentional designs would take more time, but just my thought on them. More subdued and 'purposeful' animations. Maybe an eye on the shield moves about, or a katana glows red and dark through combat and then after a little while "drinks up" and sucks the purple/red energy and coloration up into the hilt (rated T version of a blood thirsty katana lol). Sun beams occasionally peer onto the sword of a Paladin while it gleams and radiates even in the dark. Animated tree staff for whm, perhaps that loses leaves as your mp % goes down. Weapons flaring up with energy when using a skill (but not as a 24/7 big glow).

Whatever, doesn't have to be a function response (like the mp %)- just stuff that kind of fits the vibe of the item and has a bit of story to it. Sure maybe the axe has something to do with rage so red fire is sort of in line, like dark knight with dark energy, but it's so big and screaming "I GLOW" that I find it's difficult to ascribe too much of a purpose beyond that it glows because it glows.