Rogue

The wily, elusive rogue is unique among all of the classes. While other classes offer the option to swap between damage and healing/tanking, or between melee damage and ranged damage, each of the three rogue specs focuses on slashing the enemy while within melee range. That said, each spec offers its own distinct spin on the rogue gameplay experience.

Defensively, the rogue is a paradox. On the one hand, it is vulnerable: It’s the only melee class that wears leather rather than mail or plate. On the other, it is hearty: Rogues have a host of ways to avoid or reduce incoming damage, and even stave off certain death.

Rogues are one of WoW’s clearest examples of a class that is easy to learn, but hard to master. Deceptively simple damage-dealing rotations require a lot of training to execute perfectly in difficult situations. Meanwhile, the rogue’s jam-packed toolkit of special tricks and abilities can save your character’s life, as well as that of your entire party/raid—provided you’ve got the know-how and the instincts to use them at the right moment.

Boosting to Level 90

There is no “best” spec for leveling. Assassination, Combat, and Subtlety are all good picks, and none will necessarily help you level any faster than another. You’ve got a long journey ahead of you on the way to 100; why not try out each spec for a few levels and see which you enjoy most?

Don’t bite off more than you can chew. As a Rogue, you’re built mainly for efficiently and ruthlessly dispatching a single target. Although you have the ability to deal damage to several targets at once, you’ll usually find the greatest success—and the lowest likelihood of dying—when picking off one enemy at a time.

Your tools were made to be used. Blind, Cheap Shot, Evasion, Feint, Kick, Recuperate—Rogues are outfitted with a wealth of abilities that help them avoid or reduce incoming damage. Similarly, your offensive cooldowns can be critical in giving you that extra burst of damage you need to take down a tough foe.

Stealth is your best friend. When you’re out of combat, use it to bypass enemies you don’t need to fight. When you’re in combat and find that you’re in over your head, the timely use of Vanish can save your life.

Watch your poison buff timers, which are located alongside other buffs in the top-right area of your screen. Using poisons is critical to getting the most out of a Rogue, but you must reapply them every hour. Try to keep your lethal and non-lethal poison active at all times.

Class Abilities and Resources

Combo Points and Energy

Rogues juggle two resources—combo points and energy—that limit the number and type of abilities they can use.

Rogues build combo points by using certain abilities in your spellbook. You’ll often hear these abilities referred to as “builders” or “generators.” Combo points stay with you even if you switch to a new target; so if you have two combo points on one enemy and kill it, then select a new target, you’ll still have two combo points when you begin attacking the new target. By default, Rogues can earn a maximum of five combo points.

Rogues gain energy automatically each second. Generally speaking, your energy will regenerate faster as you level and improve your gear. By default, a Rogue’s maximum energy is 100.

Most abilities that a Rogue uses cost combo points, energy, or both. Builders, for instance, cost energy but award combo points. Some of a rogue’s most powerful abilities are called “finishers”—these cost both combo points and energy, but their effects are usually much stronger than builders.

Stealth

Beyond its resource system, the Rogue is defined, above all else, by its use of stealth as a central part of its gameplay, especially when it’s out and about in the world. Rogues move at least as fast in stealth as they do when visible. Although stealth does not equal invisibility, it still allows Rogues to choose their battles, which can potentially save them a lot of time and hassle—and potentially avoid the need for long hikes back from the graveyard. Rogues also have a special array of abilities they can only use while stealthed; these are often more powerful than similar versions of those abilities that you’ll use when not in stealth.

Poison

The other class-defining feature of a rogue is their poisons. There are two types of poisons: lethal poisons damage your target, while non-lethal poisons impair your target or benefit you in some way. You’ll find these in your spellbook; a couple of additional poisons are also available via talents.

You can use one lethal poison and one non-lethal poison at any given time—and you always want to be using one of each. When you select a poison, it will stay active for one hour. Poisons remain active even if your Rogue dies.

Non-Specialization Abilities

Name	Level	Description
Sinister Strike	1	An instant strike that causes 160% Physical damage.
Throw	1	Hurl a dagger at an enemy target.
Eviscerate	3	Finishing move that causes more damage the more combo points you have.
Stealth	5	Conceals you in the shadows until cancelled, allowing you to stalk enemies without being seen.
Ambush	6	Requires stealth. Ambush the target, causing 300% Physical damage to the target (damage increased 40% if a dagger is equipped). Awards 2 combo points.
Evasion	8	Increases your dodge chance by 100% for 10 sec.
Deadly Poison	10	Coats your weapons with a Lethal Poison that lasts for 1 hour. Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy for Nature damage over 12 sec. Subsequent poison applications will instantly deal Nature damage.
Sap	12	Requires stealth. Incapacitates a target not in combat for up to 1 min. Only works on Humanoids, Beasts, Demons and Dragonkin. Any damage caused will revive the target. Only 1 target may be sapped at a time.
Slice and Dice	14	Finishing move that consumes combo points to increase attack speed by 40%. Lasts longer the more combo points you have.
Pick Pocket	15	Requires stealth. Pick the target’s pocket.
Recuperate	16	Finishing move that restores 3% of maximum health every 3 sec. Lasts longer the more combo points you have.
Kick	18	A quick kick that interrupts spellcasting and prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 5 sec.
Crippling Poison	20	Coats your weapons with a Non-Lethal Poison that lasts for 1 hour. Each strike has a 50% chance of poisoning the enemy, slowing movement speed by 50% for 12 sec.
Gouge	22	Gouges the eyes of an enemy target, incapacitating the opponent for 4 sec. Target must be facing you. Any subsequent damage will cause the target to recover immediately.
Pick Lock	24	Allows opening of locked chests and doors; your lockpicking skill begins at 120 and increases by 5 every level.
Sprint	26	Increases your movement speed by 70% for 8 sec. Usable while stealthed.
Distract	28	Throws a distraction, attracting the attention of all nearby monsters for 10 seconds. Usable while stealthed.
Cheap Shot	30	Requires stealth. Stuns the target for 4 sec. Awards 2 combo points.
Swiftblade’s Cunning	30	Increases the haste and multistrike chance of all party and raid members within 100 yards by 5%.
Wound Poison	30	Coats your weapons with a Lethal Poison that lasts for 1 hour. Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy, which instantly inflicts Nature damage and reduces all healing received for 12 sec.
Vanish	34	Allows you to vanish from sight, entering an improved stealth mode for 3 sec. For the first 3 sec after vanishing, damage and harmful effects received will not break stealth. Also breaks movement impairing effects.
Blind	38	Blinds the target, causing it to wander disoriented for up to 1 min. Any damage caused will remove the effect. Usable while stealthed.
Kidney Shot	40	Finishing move that stuns the target. Lasts longer the more combo points you have.
Feint	44	Performs an evasive maneuver, reducing damage taken from area-of-effect attacks by 50% for 5 sec.
Garrote	48	Requires stealth. Garrote the enemy, silencing them for 3 sec and causing damage over 18 sec. Awards 1 combo point.
Cloak of Shadows	58	Provides a moment of magic immunity, instantly removing all harmful spell effects. The cloak lingers, causing you to resist harmful spells for 5 sec.
Fleet Footed	62	Your movement speed is increased by 15% and you take reduced falling damage.
Preparation	68	Immediately resets the cooldown on your Sprint, Vanish, and Evasion.
Shiv	74	Deals 10% Physical damage, applying a concentrated form of your active Non-Lethal poison, and dispelling an Enrage effect from the target.
Shroud of Concealment	76	Requires stealth. Extend a cloak that wraps party and raid members within 20 yards in shadows, providing stealth for 15 sec.
Tricks of the Trade	78	The threat caused by your next damaging attack and all actions taken for 6 sec afterwards will be transferred to the target party or raid member. Transferred threat is not permanent, and will fade after 30 sec.
Crimson Tempest	83	Finishing move that slashes at the flesh of all enemies within 10 yards, dealing Physical damage and causing victims to bleed for an additional 240% of the initial damage over 12 sec. Causes more damage the more combo points you have.
Smoke Bomb	85	Creates a cloud of thick smoke in an 8 yard radius around the Rogue for 5 sec. Enemies are unable to target into or out of the smoke cloud. Allies take 10% less damage while within the cloud.

Talents

Talent	Description	Notes
Level 15 Tier (Stealth)
Nightstalker	While stealthed, you move 20% faster and your abilities deal 50% more damage.	Great when questing, exploring or simply walking through towns and cities. The movement buff means the Rogue actually moves faster in stealth than when visible.
Subterfuge	Your abilities requiring Stealth can still be used for 3 sec after Stealth breaks.	Often prized in PvP, where abilities used while stealthed can mean the difference between a win and a loss.
Shadow Focus	Abilities cost 75% less Energy while you are stealthed.	Potentially valuable in both PvP and PvE for quickly dealing heavy damage, but best used by players who have a solid plan of attack.
Level 30 Tier (Defense)
Deadly Throw	Finishing move that deals damage, reduces the target’s movement speed by 50% for 6 sec, and interrupts spellcasting when used with 5 or more combo points. Deals more damage the more combo points you have.	Mainly useful for PvP, but can also have value in PvE situations when a target needs to be slowed down or a spell cast needs to be interrupted.
Nerve Strike	Kidney Shot and Cheap Shot also reduce damage dealt by the target by up to 50% and healing done by the target by 10% for 6 sec after their effect fades.	A helpful tool to reduce the amount of damage an enemy is dealing to the Rogue or one of its allies, providing the enemy can be stunned.
Combat Readiness	Enter a state of heightened defensive awareness. Each successive weapon attack will deal 10% less damage, stacking 5 times. Lasts 20 sec or until not attacked with weapons for 10 sec.	Often preferred for PvE, this reduces the risk that a Rogue will die to prolonged physical attacks.
Level 45 Tier (Damage Reduction)
Cheat Death	Fatal attacks instead reduce you to 7% of your maximum health. For 3 sec afterward, you take 85% reduced damage. Cannot trigger more often than once per 90 seconds.	Very helpful when raiding, where one mistake can cost a Rogue its life. Can also prove useful in PvP, giving a Rogue’s healer a couple additional seconds of breathing room.
Leeching Poison	Coats your weapons with a Non-Lethal Poison that lasts for 1 hour. Your melee attacks have a 50% chance to poison the target for 12 sec, causing subsequent melee attacks to heal you for 15% of damage dealt.	Especially handy for solo play, this provides a steady trickle of additional health. Casting Shiv while this poison is active can provide a quick, larger self-heal.
Elusiveness	Feint also reduces all damage you take by 30% for 5 sec.	Most useful when expecting a large amount of incoming damage, which can often happen when fighting extremely strong enemies (such as raid bosses).
Level 60 Tier (Mobility)
Cloak and Dagger	Ambush, Garrote, and Cheap Shot have a 40 yard range, and cause you to teleport behind your target.	The combination of a free teleport with an opener can be especially powerful in PvP. When questing, this can save time when a rogue must kill many enemies within a small area.
Shadowstep	Step through the shadows to appear behind your target and gain 70% movement speed for 2 sec.	One of the iconic Rogue abilities, this has value in PvE and PvP when the rogue quickly needs to jump to its target—or away from an enemy. Requires skill and practice to use well.
Burst of Speed	Increases your movement speed by 70% for 4 sec and removes movement slowing effects. Usable while stealthed.	Easy to use and straightforward, this can briefly make the Rogue move as quickly as a mounted player—and can be used repeatedly when out of combat.
Level 75 Tier (Stun Bonuses)
Prey on the Weak	Enemies disabled with your Kidney Shot, Cheap Shot, Gouge, Sap, or Blind take 10% increased damage from all sources.	Especially valuable in group situations: 10% increased damage adds up quickly when multiple allies are attacking the target.
Internal Bleeding	Your Kidney Shot also causes the target to bleed for additional damage per combo point over 12 sec.	If the target is likely to survive for several seconds after your stun wears off, this can provide a nice amount of additional damage. In PvP, the bleed can make it harder for other Rogues or Feral Druids to quickly re-enter stealth.
Dirty Tricks	Gouge and Blind no longer cost Energy, and no longer break from your Poison and Bleed damage.	Handy when the Rogue needs a slightly longer stun, typically for PvP. Another plus: No-energy Blind/Gouge equals an extra spell interrupt to use when Kick is on cooldown.
Level 90 Tier (Rule Breakers)
Shuriken Toss	A ranged attack dealing Physical damage to an enemy target. If the enemy is farther than 10 yards away, your autoattacks gain a 30 yard range for 10 sec. Awards 1 combo point. Replaces Throw.	Though not nearly as strong as a Rogue’s melee abilities, this can be invaluable when an enemy needs to be “kited” (i.e., kept at range). It can also put pressure on an enemy who has turned the tables and is attempting to kite the rogue.
Marked for Death	Mark the target, instantly generating 5 combo points. Cooldown reset if the target dies within 1 min.	Easy to learn but hard to master, a skilled Rogue can use this talent to devastating effect by quickly stringing together a pair of maximum-effect finishers—for instance, two lengthy Kidney Shot stuns on two different nearby targets.
Anticipation	When one of your attacks generates a combo point while you already have 5 combo points, you gain an Anticipation charge. Performing an offensive finishing move consumes all Anticipation charges and grants you a combo point for each.	Beloved by raiders, this talent greatly simplifies a Rogue’s PvE rotation and makes it easier to use 5 combo point finishers without “wasting” energy to cast an additional builder at 4 combo points.
Level 100 Tier (Damage Enhancements)
Venom Rush	Increases your maximum energy by 15. Increases your energy regeneration rate by 5% for every enemy you have poisoned, up to 3.	The only ability in this tier that doesn’t require you to press a button to make it work. However, its damage will be more spread out over time. Meanwhile, a higher energy cap means a larger burst window whenever the Rogue’s energy bar is full, which can be especially valuable in PvP.
Shadow Reflection	Summon a shadow of yourself on the target that will watch you and memorize your offensive ability usage for the next 8 sec. After this time, it will mimic the memorized abilities on its target over the next 8 sec.	A unique and potentially devastating ability in both PvP and PvE—when it’s planned and executed skillfully.
Death from Above	Finishing move that consumes combo points on the target to empower your weapons with shadow energy and perform a devastating two-part attack. You whirl around, dealing damage to all enemies within 8 yds, then leap into the air and Eviscerate your target on the way back down, with such force that it deals an additional 50% damage.	Arguably one of the most visually striking abilities in the history of the class, this spell is intended to have value even when just a single target is within range. Its value only increases the more targets are nearby.

Assassination

Often referred to as the “poison spec,” Assassination relies on a heavy-hitting combo point builder and the well-timed use of Envenom to deal severe damage with your lethal poison. If you like daggers, then Assassination is definitely for you—it’s the only spec that literally prohibits the Rogue from using any other type of weapon. A new bonus for Warlords: At max level, Slice and Dice kicks in automatically.

Specialization Abilities

Ability	Level	Description
Assassin’s Resolve	10	While wielding daggers, your maximum Energy is increased by 20 and your damage is increased by 15%.
Improved Poisons	10	Increases the application chance of Deadly Poison and Wound Poison by 20%.
Mutilate	10	Requires daggers. Attack with both weapons, dealing 200% Physical damage with the main-hand and 200% Physical damage with the off-hand. Awards 2 combo points.
Envenom	20	Finishing move that deals instant Nature damage, refreshes the duration of Slice and Dice if it is active, and increases your poison application chance by 30%. Damage and duration increased per combo point. Replaces Eviscerate.
Seal Fate	30	When you critically strike with a melee attack that generates combo points, you gain an additional combo point.
Dispatch	40	Exploits the vulnerability of foes with less than 35% health, causing 315% Physical damage to the target. Awards 1 combo point. Your successful Mutilates have a 30% chance to make your next Dispatch free and usable on any target. Replaces Sinister Strike.
Rupture	46	Finishing move that causes damage over time. Lasts longer per combo point. While you have poisoned your target, this damage deals additional Nature damage and grants you 10 Energy. You gain additional energy if a target dies with Rupture active.
Relentless Strikes	54	Your finishing moves have a 20% chance per combo point to restore 25 Energy.
Fan of Knives	66	Sprays knives at all targets within 10 yards, dealing Physical damage and applying your active poisons at their normal rate. Awards 1 combo point.
Vendetta	80	Marks an enemy for death for 20 sec, increasing the damage your abilities and melee attacks deal to the target by 30%, and making the target visible to you even through concealments such as stealth and invisibility.
Master Poisoner	90	You gain 5% more of the Mastery stat from all sources.

Draenor Perks

One of the four following perks will be granted to an Assassination Rogue upon reaching level 92, 94, 96, and 98. Each perk is granted once. The order in which perks are granted is random.

Perk	Description
Empowered Envenom	While Envenom is active, you deal 30% more damage with Mutilate and Dispatch.
Enhanced Crimson Tempest	Crimson Tempest also increases the damage targets take from your poisons by 30% for 1 sec plus 1 sec per combo point.
Enhanced Vendetta	After activating Vendetta, your next Mutilate, Dispatch, Envenom, or Ambush has 100% increased chance to be a critical strike.
Improved Slice and Dice	Slice and Dice is now always passively active.

Rotation

Often regarded as the slowest-playing spec—and the easiest to learn—the Assassination rotation relies on abilities that cost a lot of energy but deal a lot of damage. A large portion of the spec’s damage also comes from poisons.

Open with Ambush or Mutilate.
With whatever combo points you have after opening, cast Rupture.
Keep Rupture active on your target at all times. Refresh it with as many combo points as possible.
Build combo points using Mutilate, unless your target is below 35% health—if that’s the case, build combo points using Dispatch.
Every now and then, casting Mutilate will trigger a very noticeable visual effect; when you see this, cast Dispatch immediately—it won’t cost you any energy.
If you don’t need to Rupture, cast Envenom at 4-5 combo points (5 if you selected Anticipation as your level 90 talent).
Cast Vendetta whenever it’s available.

Group Play

Rogues bring two key values to group play. One is dealing damage: Rogues are excellent at single-target damage, provided they can stay behind and within melee range of their target. The second is crowd control: A rogue’s versatile toolkit can also make it tremendously useful for stunning, slowing, interrupting, and frustrating the enemy.

Group Buffs

The primary buff a Rogue brings to a party or raid is a passive one: Swiftblade’s Cunning. This spell, which is always active, grants all allies within 100 yards a 5% bonus to their haste and multistrike statistics. (Note: The haste buff is also granted by Frost and Unholy Death Knights’ Unholy Aura, and Shamans’ Grace of Air.)

Preparing for High-End Content

Rogues exclusively wear leather armor, and only seek to use gear with the primary stat Agility (never Intellect, Spirit, or Strength). A Rogue may see any of several different secondary stats on their gear, each of which has benefits: Critical Strike, Haste, Mastery, Multistrike, and Versatility.

When upgrading weaponry, remember that Assassination Rogues must wield daggers in both hands. No other type of weapon will suffice; axes, fist weapons, maces, and swords are all useless to an Assassination Rogue.

Combat

Designed as the quintessential swashbuckler spec, Combat is the only option that encourages the use of “slow” weapons, a.k.a. axes, fist weapons, maces, and swords. This spec is all about up-front damage caused directly by your button presses: Compared to Assassination and Subtlety, it is much less reliant on damage-over-time effects such as poisons and bleeds.