Rogue in WoW: Forever

What changed for Rogues in Forever

• Smooth energy regeneration replaces the old 2-second ticks. Poised (level 32) builds while you are out of combat at full energy.
• Combo points stay on their original target when you switch enemies, and Sap no longer breaks Stealth.
• Shank at level 24 is a new baseline attack. Rogues can equip one-handed axes and carry more poison charges; poisons stack with sharpening stones.
• Assassination: Mutilate and Death Mark at 31 points, Venom at 21 (+30% poison damage on the target), Cold Blood moved earlier.
• Combat: Hack and Slash replaces the weapon specializations, Restless Blades reduces Adrenaline Rush and Blade Flurry cooldowns on every damaging finisher.
• Subtlety: Premeditation at 11 points, Cutthroat gives Backstab a chance to enable Ambush out of Stealth, Thousand Cuts cheapens Hemorrhage or Backstab while Rupture ticks.

Specs and builds

Combat is the reliable leveling and dungeon tree. Assassination is the raid damage build once you have two good daggers. Subtlety is PvP and style.

Leveling 1–60

• Level Combat with a sword or axe main hand. Sinister Strike to five, Slice and Dice, then Eviscerate.
• Shank at 24 and Poised at 32 are the leveling milestones. Open every fight at full energy from Stealth.
• Keep Instant Poison on the main hand from level 20 and Crippling Poison on the off-hand for runners.
• Rogues are squishy. Bandage, eat, and pick off casters first.

Dungeon role

• Sap the marked target before the pull; it no longer breaks Stealth. Kick every heal you can.
• Blade Flurry on trash packs, Adrenaline Rush on bosses. Combo points stay on your target so you can swap to an add and swap back.
• Stay behind the boss. Feint if you pass the tank on the meter.

Raid prep for December 9

• Two fast daggers plus Assassination is the Barrow Deeps raid build. Agility, hit, crit, attack power.
• Carry Thistle Tea and both poisons. Distract and Sap make Hyjal trash waves manageable.
• Onyxia's deep breath and cleaves punish melee. Learn the tail swipe arc before December 9.

Professions

Skinning and Leatherworking to 40, then Engineering plus Mining for bombs and gadgets at 60.

Sources

Talent names and values reflect Blizzard's deep dives and the launch build and may change with hotfixes. Builds are The Outfit's recommendations, not official Blizzard guidance.