WoW Forever Rogue Talents and Changes: Assassination, Combat and Subtlety

WoW Forever keeps the Rogue’s three specs, Assassination, Combat and Subtlety, along with stealth, combo points and poisons, but every tree gets something new. Energy now regenerates smoothly, Assassination picks up MutilateMutilateTalent ability · Assassination · 1 rankInstantly attacks with both weapons for 75% weapon damage plus an additional 17 with each weapon. Damage increased by 20% against Poisoned targets. Awards 2 Combo Points. and a new VenomVenomTalent ability · Assassination · 1 rankFinishing move that increases the damage of your Poisons by 30% and your chance to apply Poisons by 10%. Lasts longer per combo point: 1 point : 9 seconds 2 points: 12 seconds 3 points: 15 seconds 4 points: 18 seconds 5 points: 21 seconds finisher, Combat’s Hack and SlashHack and SlashTalent · Combat · 5 ranksGives your melee weapon attacks a benefit depending on the weapon. Axe/Sword: Your successful melee attacks have a 5% chance to trigger an extra attack on the target. Dagger/Fist: Increases your critical strike chance by 5%. Mace: Your attacks ignore 15% of your target's armor. works with any weapon, and Subtlety can AmbushAmbushAbilityAmbush60 Energy · Melee RangeAmbush the target, causing 250% weapon damage plus 125 to the target.  Must be stealthed and behind the target.  Requires a dagger in the main hand.  Awards 1 combo point. outside of stealth.

Below is every Rogue change from Blizzard’s official class preview, the talents that matter most in each tree, and the best races to play a Rogue.

How energy works in WoW Forever

The first change every Rogue will notice is energy. It now recovers continuously instead of in fixed ticks, so your regeneration is steady and predictable, and you’re no longer waiting on the next tick to afford a Sinister StrikeSinister StrikeAbilitySinister Strike45 Energy · Melee RangeAn instant strike that causes 68 damage in addition to your normal weapon damage.  Awards 1 combo point. or a finisher.

Assassination Rogue changes

MutilateMutilateTalent ability · Assassination · 1 rankInstantly attacks with both weapons for 75% weapon damage plus an additional 17 with each weapon. Damage increased by 20% against Poisoned targets. Awards 2 Combo Points. now strikes with both weapons at once, for 75% weapon damage each plus a flat bonus, and deals 20% more to poisoned targets. Because it’s two hits, it has two chances to crit, which makes Seal FateSeal FateTalent · Assassination · 5 ranksYour critical strikes from abilities that add Combo Points have a 100% chance to add an additional Combo Point. much better, as every crit from a combo point ability adds an extra combo point.

VenomVenomTalent ability · Assassination · 1 rankFinishing move that increases the damage of your Poisons by 30% and your chance to apply Poisons by 10%. Lasts longer per combo point: 1 point : 9 seconds 2 points: 12 seconds 3 points: 15 seconds 4 points: 18 seconds 5 points: 21 seconds is a new finisher that increases your poison damage by 30% and your chance to apply poisons by 10%, and it lasts longer the more combo points you spend, up to 21 sec. Improved PoisonsImproved PoisonsTalent · Assassination · 5 ranksIncreases the chance to apply Poisons to your target by 10%, and gives Poison applications a 50% chance to not consume a charge. adds 10% more application chance and a 50% chance not to use a charge. If you’re picking professions, our professions guide has the best pair for a Rogue.

Combat Rogue changes

Combat is far less tied to one weapon type in Forever. The separate weapon specialization talents are merged into Hack and SlashHack and SlashTalent · Combat · 5 ranksGives your melee weapon attacks a benefit depending on the weapon. Axe/Sword: Your successful melee attacks have a 5% chance to trigger an extra attack on the target. Dagger/Fist: Increases your critical strike chance by 5%. Mace: Your attacks ignore 15% of your target's armor., which works with whatever you’re holding: axes and swords get a 5% chance for an extra attack, daggers and fist weapons get 5% crit, and maces ignore 15% of your target’s armor.

That means when a better weapon drops, you can equip it straight away instead of going back to a trainer to respec. Adrenaline RushAdrenaline RushTalent ability · Combat · 1 rankIncreases your Energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 sec. is still the capstone, doubling your energy regeneration for 15 sec.

Subtlety Rogue changes

Subtlety is still about opening from stealth with a burst of damage, but now it has more to do after the opener. CutthroatCutthroatTalent · Subtlety · 5 ranksYour Backstab has a 15% chance to cause your next Ambush within 10 sec to not require Stealth. gives BackstabBackstabAbilityBackstab60 Energy · Melee RangeBackstab the target, causing 150% weapon damage plus 140 to the target.  Must be behind the target.  Requires a dagger in the main hand.  Awards 1 combo point. a 15% chance to let your next AmbushAmbushAbilityAmbush60 Energy · Melee RangeAmbush the target, causing 250% weapon damage plus 125 to the target.  Must be stealthed and behind the target.  Requires a dagger in the main hand.  Awards 1 combo point. be used without stealth, so you can land more than one AmbushAmbushAbilityAmbush60 Energy · Melee RangeAmbush the target, causing 250% weapon damage plus 125 to the target.  Must be stealthed and behind the target.  Requires a dagger in the main hand.  Awards 1 combo point. in a fight.

Bleeds like RuptureRuptureAbilityRupture25 Energy / 1 to 5 Combo Points · Melee RangeFinishing move that causes damage over time, increased by your Attack Power.  Lasts longer per combo point:   1 point  : 159 damage over 8 secs   2 points: 222 damage over 10 secs   3 points: 295 damage over 12 secs   4 points: 377 damage over 14 secs   5 points: 469 damage over 16 secs and GarroteGarroteAbilityGarrote50 Energy · Melee RangeGarrote the enemy, causing 552 damage over 18 sec, increased by your Attack Power.  Must be stealthed and behind the target.  Awards 1 combo point. play a bigger part too. Serrated BladesSerrated BladesTalent · Subtlety · 3 ranksCauses your attacks to ignore 9% of your target's Armor and increases the damage dealt by your Rupture ability by 30%. increases RuptureRuptureAbilityRupture25 Energy / 1 to 5 Combo Points · Melee RangeFinishing move that causes damage over time, increased by your Attack Power.  Lasts longer per combo point:   1 point  : 159 damage over 8 secs   2 points: 222 damage over 10 secs   3 points: 295 damage over 12 secs   4 points: 377 damage over 14 secs   5 points: 469 damage over 16 secs‘s damage by 30% and ignores 9% armor, and the capstone Thousand CutsThousand CutsTalent · Subtlety · 1 rankWhen your Rupture ability deals periodic damage, the Energy cost of your next Hemorrhage or Backstab ability within 10 sec is reduced by 3, stacking up to 5 times. lowers the cost of your next HemorrhageHemorrhageTalent ability · Subtlety · 1 rankAn instant strike that deals 100% weapon damage (145% if a Dagger is equipped) and causes the target to take 15% increased Rupture damage from the Rogue. Lasts 15 sec. Awards 1 Combo Point. or BackstabBackstabAbilityBackstab60 Energy · Melee RangeBackstab the target, causing 150% weapon damage plus 140 to the target.  Must be behind the target.  Requires a dagger in the main hand.  Awards 1 combo point. every time RuptureRuptureAbilityRupture25 Energy / 1 to 5 Combo Points · Melee RangeFinishing move that causes damage over time, increased by your Attack Power.  Lasts longer per combo point:   1 point  : 159 damage over 8 secs   2 points: 222 damage over 10 secs   3 points: 295 damage over 12 secs   4 points: 377 damage over 14 secs   5 points: 469 damage over 16 secs ticks. Dirty DeedsDirty DeedsTalent · Subtlety · 2 ranksReduces the Energy cost of your Cheap Shot and Garrote abilities by 20, and your Garrote ability no longer requires you to be behind your target. makes GarroteGarroteAbilityGarrote50 Energy · Melee RangeGarrote the enemy, causing 552 damage over 18 sec, increased by your Attack Power.  Must be stealthed and behind the target.  Awards 1 combo point. usable from the front.

Best race for a Rogue in WoW Forever: Gnome

Gnome is our best in slot race for a Rogue. Expansive MindExpansive MindPassive racial · GnomeMaximum Mana, Rage or Energy increased by 5%, whichever your class uses. raises your maximum Energy by 5%, so every opener and burst window goes further, and Eureka!Eureka!Active racial · GnomeInstant · 2 min cooldownMage and Warlock: your next 3 damaging abilities cost 50% less Mana and deal 10% more damage. Warrior: 40% less Rage and 10% more damage. Rogue: 20% less Energy and 10% more damage. Priest: your next 3 damaging or healing abilities cost 15% less Mana and deal 10% more damage or healing. makes your next 3 attacks cost 20% less Energy and hit 10% harder every 2 minutes, which lines up perfectly with a stealth opener.

Escape Artist gets you out of roots and slows so you can stay on your target or get away, and Gnomes are small and hard to click in PvP. On the Horde, Orc is the best Rogue thanks to HardinessHardinessPassive racial · OrcDuration of Stun effects on you reduced by 20%. and Blood FuryBlood FuryActive racial · OrcInstant · 2 min cooldownIncreases Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 sec.. Our races and classes tool has our verdict on every Rogue race, and the racials guide covers each racial in full, while our WoW Forever class tier list ranks all 9 classes.

More WoW Forever class guides: Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Priest, Shaman, Mage, Warlock and Druid. For a short summary of every class, see all WoW Forever class changes.

WoW Forever Rogue FAQ