Melee class · B tier
Rogue build guide
The fastest hero and great against elites and guardians, but a fragile melee class. Rewarding for players who already know the zones.
Tier
B
Ease
#9 of 9
Damage ceiling
#7 of 9
Range
Melee
Best race
Human / Night Elf / Undead
“Fast, fragile and lethal. The quickest hero, with crits that delete elites.” The game's own pitch
Best Rogue build
Recommended
Toxic chain
- Toxic Bloom capstone
- Deadly Poison
- crit bleeds
- Treasure Finding / pickup range
Poisoned deaths explode into the pack, which covers the Rogue weakness against crowds.
Avoid: Face-tanking. Use your speed and the death-save milestone.
Rogue talents: capstones and milestones
A capstone rebuilds Rogue around one idea, and you run one at a time. Milestones are the big mid-tree talents on the way there. Text below is the game's own. For every talent with its numbers, see all Rogue talents.
Capstones
Killing Spree
Sinister Strike hits 1 more enemy and fires on its own every 3 sec.
Toxic Bloom
Enemies that die poisoned or bleeding burst in a toxic cloud for 15% of their max health within 7 yd.
Shadow Dance
Start with Backstab; Backstab and Eviscerate splash 20% damage onto enemies within 5 yd.
Milestones worth chasing
- Deadly Poison: every strike adds Deadly Poison for 40% damage over 6 sec.
- Adrenaline Rush: every 20th kill grants a free Adrenaline Rush (60% faster cooldowns for 11 sec).
- Mutilate: Sinister Strike and Backstab strike with both blades, hitting a second time for 50% damage.
- Cheat Death: a killing blow leaves you at 25% health and untouchable for 3 sec (every 2.5 min).
Spells you will see
- Sinister Strike
- Eviscerate
- Backstab
- Gouge
- Blade Flurry
- Adrenaline Rush
All Rogue talents & planner (game 0.114.1)
All 39 talents in the three Rogue trees, in the game's own words. A row opens after 5 more points in that tree, and you can spend up to 51 points in total with one capstone active. Numbers are for the first rank; click any talent below to plan a 51-point build and share the link.
Assassination 0 pts · 13 talents
Available at once
-
Improved Eviscerate
Eviscerate deals 8% more damage.
-
Malice
Increases your critical strike chance by 1%.
5 points in Assassination
-
Ruthlessness
You deal 10% more damage to enemies below 30% health.
-
Murder
You deal 4% more damage to elites and bosses.
10 points in Assassination
-
Deadly Poison
Your strikes poison: every swing and every strike adds Deadly Poison, 40% of the hit over 6 sec.
-
Lethality
Increases your critical strike damage by 8%.
15 points in Assassination
-
Improved Poisons
Rupture deals 10% more damage.
-
Vile Poisons
Your damage-over-time effects deal 10% more damage.
20 points in Assassination
-
Mutilate
Sinister Strike and Backstab strike with both blades: everything they hit is struck again at once for 50% of the blow.
Requires Deadly Poison
-
Seal Fate
3% chance for any spell to strike twice.
25 points in Assassination
-
Vigor
Regenerate 0.6 more health per second.
-
Remorseless Attacks
Increases all damage by 4%.
30 points in Assassination
-
Toxic Bloom
Enemies that die poisoned or bleeding burst in a toxic cloud for 15% of their maximum health on everything within 7 yd.
Requires Mutilate
Combat 0 pts · 13 talents
Available at once
-
Precision
Increases your critical strike chance by 1%.
-
Lightning Reflexes
Reduces all damage taken by 1%.
5 points in Combat
-
Improved Sinister Strike
Sinister Strike deals 10% more damage.
-
Endurance
Your cooldowns recover 1.5% faster.
10 points in Combat
-
Blade Flurry
Sinister Strike and Eviscerate fly on: each hit also strikes 2 more enemies near its target for 25% of it.
-
Dual Wield Specialization
Increases all damage by 2%.
15 points in Combat
-
Sword Specialization
1.2% chance for any spell to strike twice.
-
Weapon Expertise
Increases all damage by 3%.
20 points in Combat
-
Adrenaline Rush
Every 20th kill floods you with adrenaline: a free Adrenaline Rush, your cooldowns 60% faster for 11 sec.
Requires Blade Flurry
-
Aggression
Sinister Strike and Eviscerate deal 4% more damage.
25 points in Combat
-
Improved Slice and Dice
Slice and Dice and Adrenaline Rush last 15% longer.
-
Riposte
When an enemy strikes you in melee, 12% chance to answer with a free Ghostly Strike.
30 points in Combat
-
Killing Spree
Sinister Strike strikes 1 more enemy, and you strike on your own: a free Sinister Strike every 3 sec.
Requires Adrenaline Rush
Subtlety 0 pts · 13 talents
Available at once
-
Master of Deception
Increases your movement speed by 1.5%.
-
Opportunity
Backstab deals 5% more damage.
5 points in Subtlety
-
Elusiveness
Reduces all damage taken by 1.2%.
-
Initiative
Increases your luck by 6%.
10 points in Subtlety
-
Cheat Death
A blow that would kill you leaves you at 25% health instead, and you fade into the shadows: nothing can touch you for 3 sec. Once every 2.5 min.
-
Improved Ambush
Increases your critical strike damage by 8%.
15 points in Subtlety
-
Serrated Blades
Your damage-over-time effects deal 6% more damage.
-
Setup
Kidney Shot and Gouge cooldowns are 8% shorter.
20 points in Subtlety
-
Preparation
A free Gouge stuns the enemies around you every 6 sec.
Requires Cheat Death
-
Dirty Deeds
You deal 8% more damage to stunned, rooted, slowed or fleeing enemies.
25 points in Subtlety
-
Deadliness
Increases all damage by 2%.
-
Heightened Senses
Increases your maximum health by 4%.
30 points in Subtlety
-
Shadow Dance
You start every run with Backstab instead of Sinister Strike, and Backstab and Eviscerate splash 20% of their damage onto every enemy within 5 yd of their target.
Requires Preparation
Best rings, trinkets, amulets & gear for Rogue
Rogue builds combo points twice as fast on crits; stacking crit chance (Master Dragonslayer’s Ring) and crit splash/bleed (Onyxia Tooth Pendant, The Eye of Hakkar) turns single-target daggers into screen-wide AoE. See the full items, trinkets & Codex guide for every ring, trinket and amulet in game 0.120.4.
In-run · Codex jewelry
Best rings, trinkets & amulets
- Rings: Master Dragonslayer's Ring, Quick Strike Ring
- Trinkets: Blackhand's Breadth, Hand of Justice
- Amulets: Onyxia Tooth Pendant, The Eye of Hakkar
Between runs · Armory (Leather)
Rogue armor sets & weapons
- Armor sets (Common → Legendary): Footpad's → Shadowcraft → Nightslayer → Bloodfang → Bonescythe
- Main hand: Worn Dagger → Assassin's Blade → Shadowcraft Dirk → Blackwing Shiv → Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker
- Off hand: Rusty Shiv → Thief's Blade → Nightslayer Kris → Fang of the Faceless → Kingsfall
Best race for Rogue
Default starting races: Human, Dwarf, Gnome, Night Elf, Orc, Undead and Troll. (In v0.120.0+, any other race can be unlocked for 100 achievement points on the Rewards tab.) Our pick: Night Elf (speed and Shadowmeld), Human or Undead.
Cross-Race Unlock Tip: On the title screen's Rewards → Races tab (new in v0.120.0), any race can be unlocked for all classes for 100 achievement points. Bought races stay permanently unlocked through resets, enabling cross-race synergy builds.
Recommended
Human
- Perception: +15% damage for 10 sec, every 30 sec
- Diplomacy: +20% gold
- The Human Spirit: +10% experience
Alliance
Dwarf
- Stoneform: a shield worth 30% of max health, every 45 sec
- Gun Specialization: +6% damage
- Treasure Finding: +30% pickup range
Alliance
Gnome
- Escape Artist: roots nearby enemies for 2 sec, every 20 sec
- Engineering Specialization: +20% luck
- Expansive Mind: -8% cooldowns
Recommended
Night Elf
- Shadowmeld: 3 sec of immunity near death (75 sec cooldown)
- Quickness: +8% move speed
- Nature Resistance: +5% damage reduction
Horde
Orc
- Blood Fury: +35% damage for 12 sec, every 40 sec
- Hardiness: +10% max health
Recommended
Undead
- Will of the Forsaken: 4 sec of immunity near death (60 sec cooldown)
- Cannibalize: every kill heals 1 health
- Shadow Resistance: +4% damage reduction
Horde
Troll
- Berserking: cooldowns 30% faster for 10 sec, every 35 sec
- Throwing Specialization: +3% crit
- Regeneration: +1.5 health per second
Zone path with Rogue
Zones unlock per class: each win with Rogue opens the next zone for your Rogues only. Here is the road from the tutorial to the endgame, and who waits at the end of each run.
- 1 Elwynn Forest Final boss: Edwin VanCleef
- 2 Duskwood Final boss: Morbent Fel
- 3 Warsong Gulch Final boss: Lord Kazzak
- 4 Un'Goro Crater Final boss: King Mosh
- 5 Arathi Basin Final boss: Lord Aliden Perenolde
- 6 Feralas Final boss: King Gordok
- 7 Gurubashi Arena Final boss: Hakkar the Soulflayer
- 8 Scarlet Monastery Final boss: High Inquisitor Whitemane
- 9 Alterac Valley Final boss: Azuregos
- 10 Blackrock Mountain Final boss: Nefarian
- 11 Gates of Ahn'Qiraj Final boss: C'Thun
- 12 Naxxramas Final boss: Kel'Thuzad
Rogue vs other classes
| Class | Tier | Range | Ease | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | A | Melee | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Paladin | A | Melee | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Hunter | S | Ranged | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Warlock | S | Ranged | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Druid | B | Hybrid | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Shaman | A | Hybrid | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Priest | B | Ranged | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Mage | S | Ranged | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Rogue | B | Melee | 2/5 | 4/5 |
Sorted by ease. Rankings are our opinion for game 0.120.4; see the full tier list for the reasoning.
Rogue FAQ
Is Rogue good in Azeroth Survivors?
Rogue is B tier in our tier list: #9 of 9 for ease and #7 of 9 for damage ceiling. The fastest hero and great against elites and guardians, but a fragile melee class. Rewarding for players who already know the zones.
What is the best Rogue build?
Toxic chain: Toxic Bloom capstone, Deadly Poison, crit bleeds, Treasure Finding / pickup range. Poisoned deaths explode into the pack, which covers the Rogue weakness against crowds.
What are the Rogue capstone talents?
- Killing Spree. Sinister Strike hits 1 more enemy and fires on its own every 3 sec.
- Toxic Bloom. Enemies that die poisoned or bleeding burst in a toxic cloud for 15% of their max health within 7 yd.
- Shadow Dance. Start with Backstab; Backstab and Eviscerate splash 20% damage onto enemies within 5 yd.
You can only run one capstone at a time; respecs are free between runs.
How many talents does Rogue have?
39 talents in three trees: Assassination (13), Combat (13), Subtlety (13). Each row of a tree opens after 5 more points in it: the first milestones at 10 points, the next at 20 and the capstones at 30. See every Rogue talent.
What is the best race for Rogue?
Night Elf (speed and Shadowmeld), Human or Undead. Default starting races: Human, Dwarf, Gnome, Night Elf, Orc, Undead and Troll. (In v0.120.0+, any other race can be unlocked for 100 achievement points on the Rewards tab.) Starting in version 0.120.0, you can also unlock any race for 100 achievement points on the Rewards → Races tab. If cross-race unlocked, Gnome (+20% Luck, -8% cooldowns) is a premier scaling choice for proc and cooldown builds, while Orc (+35% Blood Fury damage) provides unmatched burst damage.
How do you unlock Rogue talents?
Play Rogue runs. Every run pays talent experience to the class you played, based on time survived, kills, bosses, a win and how hard the zone was. If Rogue is behind your best class it earns bonus experience, so it catches up faster. Zones also unlock per class: beating Elwynn Forest with Rogue opens Duskwood for Rogue only.
More: Azeroth Survivors guide · builds for every class · items, trinkets & amulets · how to play · all zones and bosses