Best Rogue spec for each activity
Combat is the safest default in Forever, while Assassination and Subtlety each need something specific: daggers or a PvP focus. All picks below are PewPewShop's recommendations.
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| Activity | Recommended spec | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Leveling 1-60 | Combat | Hits from the front, uses any one-handed weapon, cheaper Eviscerate |
| Dungeons | Combat, or Assassination with two daggers | Your weapons decide this more than the content does |
| Raids (open December 9) | Assassination with two daggers, otherwise Combat | Mutilate and Venom reward stronger Poisons; no raid logs exist, so this is not a damage ranking |
| PvP | Subtlety | Premeditation, frontal Garrote and cheaper Sap and Blind |
- Talents: open at level 10, with milestones at 11, 16, 21 and 31 points.
- Poised: learned at 18; out of combat at maximum Energy, your next Energy ability costs 10 less.
- Shank: learned at 24, with Rank 2 at 44.
- Dual spec: available at level 40.
- Training cost: 206-207 gold for class abilities across levels 1-60.
Help by the hourForever Hourly Leveling (per hour)Suits a Rogue who has hit a slow stretch and wants a vetted human pro on it for a set number of hours, with no fixed level target.from 12 EURSee options Which spec should you level with?
Combat is the best Rogue leveling spec in Forever because it asks the least of your gear and positioning. Sinister Strike works from the front, which is where a solo target usually stands.
Assassination's Mutilate needs a dagger in both hands and sits at the bottom of the tree as the 31-point talent. Subtlety pays off most around Stealth openers and Rupture, which slows down ordinary quest pulls. In Forever a solo player kills a normal creature in roughly 10-15 seconds, so a simple rotation matters more than burst.
Which talents should a Rogue take first?
Take hit and damage talents early, then head for Flawless Execution and Hack and Slash. Combat's 21-point talent is Blade Flurry and its 31-point talent is Adrenaline Rush. Plan the exact build in our WoW: Forever Talent Calculator. Read those in the in-game tree.
- Levels 10-20: start in Combat with Precision, which now also covers spells and Poisons, then Aggression for extra damage.
- Levels 20-40: reach Flawless Execution at the 16-point milestone, then Hack and Slash in row 5. Hack and Slash replaces the old weapon specializations and adds axes.
- Levels 40-60: add Weapon Expertise, which lowers the target's dodge and parry. Use your dual spec for Subtlety PvP, or for Assassination once you have two daggers.
The Legacy perk Talented gives talent points up to 5 levels earlier, so these brackets can arrive sooner on later characters. Blizzard plans a large tuning pass after it has data from players past level 30.
Forever Profession Leveling 1–300Any primary profession leveled to 300 on your Forever character, materials included.from 49 EURGet it doneWhat changed for Rogues from Classic?
Rogues keep their Classic identity but gain new Energy tools, a new weapon type and stronger Poisons. Blizzard describes the class as having the highest potential single-target melee damage in the game, which is a design goal rather than a measured result.
| Change | What it means in play |
|---|---|
| Rogues can equip one-handed axes | More usable drops and quest rewards |
| Poisons stack with Sharpening Stones and Weightstones | You can run both on one weapon; Poisons also have more charges |
| Deadly and Instant Poison attack power scaling doubled | Poisons grow much better with gear |
| Sap no longer breaks Stealth | You can stay hidden after using it |
| Distract lowers Stealth detection for 10 seconds | Easier to slip past enemies, but enemy players are told a Rogue is near |
| Feint threat reduction doubled | A stronger answer to pulling threat |
| Expose Armor equals 5 Sunder Armor stacks | It no longer blocks Sunder Armor |
| Mutilate and Death Mark added | New 31-point talents for Assassination and Subtlety |
What is the best race for a Rogue?
No race is required, because Human Sword Specialization and Orc Axe Specialization are gone and your weapon no longer has to match your race. PewPewShop's picks are Dwarf or Human for Alliance, Orc or Troll for Horde PvE, and Undead for Horde PvP.
| Race | Most relevant racial for a Rogue |
|---|---|
| Dwarf | Artisan's Precision: +1% hit chance; Stoneform removes Bleeds, Poisons and Diseases |
| Human | Ruthless: +1% critical strike chance |
| Orc | Blood Fury on a 2-minute cooldown |
| Troll | Berserking lasts 15 seconds |
| Undead | Will of the Forsaken removes Charm, Fear and Sleep; Touch of the Grave can drain life |
| Skyborne | Wind-Blessed: 2% haste; needs the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher |
What does a Rogue do in a group?
A Rogue is a melee damage dealer who also brings interrupts, crowd control and an armor debuff. Crowd control and threat still matter in Forever dungeons, so Sap on a dangerous pull is worth more than a few extra seconds of damage.
Watch your threat closely. Paladin Blessing of Salvation was removed for launch, so Feint is your own main tool when you pass the tank. Agree on Expose Armor with any Warrior in the group too, because the two debuffs no longer conflict.
Common Rogue mistakes in WoW: Forever
Most Rogue mistakes in Forever come from following Classic habits or old guides. These are the ones to fix first.
- Leaving Shank off your bars. Newly learned spells are no longer added to action bars automatically.
- Copying Classic talent builds. Murder, Sleight of Hand and Deadliness are gone, and the trees were reworked.
- Choosing weapons by old racial bonuses. Hack and Slash also makes maces ignore some armor instead of stunning.
- Respeccing on a whim. Changes need a class trainer in a major city, and the price climbs quickly before resetting once per week.
If you would rather have a vetted human pro handle the climb, PewPewShop offers progression help and coaching with no bots or cheats. Hourly leveling runs from 12 EUR, and a full 1-60 runs from 990 EUR.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Rogue spec in WoW: Forever?
Combat is the best all-round choice and the recommended leveling spec, since it uses any one-handed weapon and hits from the front. Assassination suits raiders with two daggers, and Subtlety suits PvP. Raids open December 9, so no raid logs exist yet, and Blizzard plans a large tuning pass that may shift advice for levels 30-60.
Can Rogues use axes in WoW: Forever?
Yes. Rogues can equip one-handed axes in WoW: Forever. The Combat talent Hack and Slash replaces the old Dagger, Mace, Sword and Fist Weapon Specialization talents and adds axes, giving them the extra-attack chance swords have. Maces ignore some armor instead of stunning, so several weapon types are now worth considering.
Do Rogues have the highest damage in WoW: Forever?
Blizzard says Rogues keep the highest potential single-target melee damage in the game, and Principal Designer Kris Zierhut described them as top single-target dealers on a standstill boss fight. That is a stated design goal, not a measured result. Forever raids open on December 9, so no raid damage data exists yet.
When do Rogues get dual spec in WoW: Forever?
Dual specialization is available at level 40. A Blizzard developer floated the idea of a lower level on the official podcast, but no change has been announced. Talent changes are made at a class trainer in a major city, and the price climbs quickly before resetting once per week, so dual spec is the better way to run two roles.
What does Shank do for Rogues in WoW: Forever?
Shank is a Rogue ability learned at level 24. It costs 5 Energy, has a 10-second cooldown, strikes with the off-hand for 50% weapon damage, generates 15 Energy and cannot miss. Rank 2 at level 44 generates 25 Energy. It does not appear on your bars automatically, so place it there yourself.