Combat Rogue
Swords out. Never stop swinging.
The sword rogue: Sinister Strike, Blade Flurry and Adrenaline Rush, with WoW Forever's Hack and Slash (any weapon), Flawless Execution and Shank.
Three things to remember
Hack and Slash for any weapon
Swords and axes: extra attacks. Daggers and fists: +1% crit. Maces: ignore 3% armor.
Cheaper Eviscerate
Flawless Execution cuts Eviscerate's cost by 15 energy.
Adrenaline Rush at 40
Your 31-point talent: double energy regeneration for a short burst.
What changed for you
Shank
New: an off-hand strike that cannot miss, cheap, on a 10-sec cooldown, and it gives you energy back. Several talents build on it.
Poisons are a secondary skill
Like First Aid, and Lockpicking is its own skill too. Train them up as you go.
Poised
New: at full energy out of combat, your next ability costs 10 less. Free value on every opener.
Hack and Slash
Replaces the weapon specializations: one talent for any weapon type.
Flash of Steel and Coup de Grace
More energy from Shank, and +7% Eviscerate damage.
Low-level tips and what to press as you level
- Sinister Strike to build combo points, Eviscerate at 3 to 5 points.
- Open from Stealth when you can; it is your free first hit.
- Use the fastest dagger or sword you find in the main hand.
- Take Efficient Strikes (cheaper Sinister Strike) and Lightning Reflexes.
- Slice and Dice at 1 to 2 points, then Eviscerate.
- Use Shank on cooldown.
- Take Precision, Riposte, Weapon Expertise and Aggression.
- Take Blade Flurry for two-mob pulls.
- Pick a weapon type and keep it for Hack and Slash.
- Adrenaline Rush (31-point) on elites and bosses.
- Take Hack and Slash, Flash of Steel and Dual Wield Specialization.
- Blade Flurry plus Adrenaline Rush on packs.
Your priority
The order the WoW Forever simulator uses for a Combat rogue.
- Blade Flurry and Adrenaline Rush at the start of the fight (Blade Flurry when two targets are close).
- Slice and Dice keep it up all fight.
- Shank on cooldown.
- Rupture at 5 combo points on long fights.
- Eviscerate at 5 combo points.
- Sinister Strike to build combo points.
Talents that matter
| Talent | Tree | Why take it |
|---|---|---|
| Coup de Grace | Combat | +7% Eviscerate damage. |
| Efficient Strikes | Combat | Cheaper Sinister Strike and Hemorrhage. |
| Lightning Reflexes | Combat | More dodge. |
| Precision | Combat | More hit. |
| Riposte | Combat | A strike after you parry. |
| Flawless Execution | Combat | Eviscerate costs 15 less energy. |
| Weapon Expertise | Combat | Fewer dodges and parries. |
| Aggression | Combat | More Sinister Strike and Eviscerate damage. |
| Blade Flurry | Combat | Hit a second target. |
| Hack and Slash | Combat | A bonus for whatever weapon you use. |
| Flash of Steel | Combat | More energy from Shank. |
| Adrenaline Rush | Combat (31) | Double energy regeneration. |
Best race for this spec
Artisan's Precision gives +1% hit, so fewer misses on every attack. Combat swings a lot, so hit pays off most.
Berserking stacks well with Blade Flurry and Adrenaline Rush. Orc is close.
| Race | Side | Racials |
|---|---|---|
| Human | Alliance | Ruthless: +1% crit. The Human Spirit: +10% Spirit. Will to Survive: break out of a stun. Perception: spot stealthed players. |
| Dwarf | Alliance | Artisan's Precision: +1% hit with attacks and spells. Stoneform: removes bleeds, poisons and diseases and cuts physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec. Big Game Hunter: +5% damage to Beasts. |
| Night Elf | Alliance | Elune's Light: +10% crit for 15 sec. Shadowmeld: hide when standing still. Quickness: +1% dodge and a little extra run speed. |
| Gnome | Alliance | Eureka!: 10% more damage and cheaper abilities for 8 sec (also boosts Power Word: Shield). Expansive Mind: +5% maximum mana (rage for Warriors, energy for Rogues). Escape Artist: break out of roots and slows. |
| Skyborne (High Order) | Alliance | Wind Blessed: +2% attack and casting speed. Elemental Insight: +5% damage to Elementals. Walk on Air. Read Leyline: +50% mana and health regeneration for 15 sec (+100% while Attuned from a Ley Line; Attuned ends when you enter a raid). Paid race. |
| Orc | Horde | Blood Fury: +10% attack power and spell power for 15 sec, every 2 minutes. Command: +5% damage for Hunter and Warlock pets. Shatter Curse: 5% less magic damage taken for 8 sec. |
| Undead | Horde | Touch of the Grave: your hits can drain health from the target (30% chance for casters, 20% for Paladins, Rogues and Warriors; once every 15 sec). Will of the Forsaken: break fear, charm and sleep. Cannibalize: eat a corpse to heal. |
| Troll | Horde | Berserking: faster attacks and casts for 15 sec. Beast Slaying: +5% damage to Beasts. |
| Skyborne (Windshaper) | Horde | Wind Blessed: +2% attack and casting speed. Elemental Insight: +5% damage to Elementals. Walk on Air. Skysight: +15% run speed for 15 sec (+30% while Charged from an elemental convergence; Charged ends when you enter a raid). Paid race. |
These are small edges, about 1 to 2 percent. Play the race you enjoy and the side your friends are on. Skyborne needs the paid Skyborne Heroic Pack.
Play it better
Slow main hand
Sinister Strike uses weapon damage: a slow main-hand weapon hits harder.
Hit cap first
Two weapons miss a lot. Precision and hit gear come before crit.
Save Adrenaline Rush
Use it on bosses and dangerous pulls, not on trash you can already kill.
Blade Flurry on packs
Two mobs side by side: Blade Flurry doubles your damage.
When something seems off
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Running out of energy | Do not spend energy on finishers at 1 or 2 combo points, and use Shank: it gives energy back. |
| My poisons are gone | Poisons are a secondary skill now: train it, buy the reagents, and put poison on both weapons. |
| Missing all the time | Take Precision and Weapon Expertise, and look for hit on gear. |
| Pulling aggro on packs | Blade Flurry spreads threat. Let the tank grab the pack first. |
Let Bonkr Compass+ call your buttons
Compass+ shows your next button and follows Slice and Dice, Blade Flurry and Adrenaline Rush from your casts. Type /cplus why to see why it picked a spell.