Rogue

Rotations & Guide · PvE guide · PvP guide · Talent builds · Abilities · Talent Calculator · Macros · Changes vs Classic · Poisons

Other classes: Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Priest, Shaman, Mage, Warlock, Druid

Rogues are energy-based melee assassins built around combo points, finishers and stealth openers. Forever gives them Shank (an off-hand strike from the trainer at 24), Mutilate (the Assassination capstone at level 40) and Venom (an Assassination talent that makes Shank boost your poisons), the Combat talents Coup de Grace for harder Eviscerates, Puncturing Wounds for Backstab crits and Flawless Execution, which makes Eviscerate cheaper, and Death Mark, Subtlety's capstone finisher.

Assassination (Melee DPS)

Assassination is the poison spec in Forever: Mutilate, the level 40 capstone, hits with both weapons for 2 combo points and 20% extra damage against poisoned targets, and Venom makes each Shank raise your poison damage by 30% and your chance to apply poisons by 20% for 6 sec. Seal Fate and Cold Blood feed crits, and Eviscerate is the finisher.

Combat (Melee DPS)

Combat is the steady sustained-damage spec using Sinister Strike or Backstab, Slice and Dice and Eviscerate with swords, axes, maces, fists or daggers. Hack and Slash is a single talent whose bonus follows your weapon (extra attacks for axes and swords, crit for daggers and fists, armor penetration for maces), Adrenaline Rush and Blade Flurry are the burst windows, and Flawless Execution, a tier 4 Combat talent, makes Eviscerate cost 15 less Energy. Dagger Combat builds with Backstab and Puncturing Wounds, a tier 2 Combat talent.

Subtlety (Melee DPS)

Subtlety is an opener and burst spec with Premeditation, Ambush and Preparation, mostly for PvP and short fights. Hemorrhage is the builder and now increases your Rupture damage by 15%, and Serrated Blades adds armor penetration and 30% Rupture damage, making Rupture the main finisher. Death Mark, the level 40 capstone, is a finisher that stores part of your damage and deals it 6 sec later.

Tips & tricks: what ForeverDB learned

Assassination

Updated 13 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70938 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Observed cast patterns, not a proven optimal rotation. Gear, buffs, healing assignments and incoming damage can explain performance differences. HPS is effective healing; overhealing does not increase it. HPS counts effective healing, APS counts recorded shield absorption, and EHPS is their combined rate. Shield application sizes and overhealing do not increase EHPS. Healing assignments and incoming damage still limit healer comparisons. Build groups use the version reported by the log; some logs omit the hotfix build number.

Simulator: Cold Blood (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it right before Eviscerate; it's worth 1.5% of your DPS at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.2% DPS in the simulator); then Flank au Poivre (+1.7%). (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: auto attacks 39%, Sinister Strike 23%, Off hand 19% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 180 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Eviscerate at 5 combo points (Classic: 3% of attack power per combo point)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Eviscerate is worth 11.8% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (level 60)
Simulator: Stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 attack power = 1): Agility 1.8, hit rating 1.46, crit rating 1.37. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 20-29: Flank au Poivre (+4% DPS in the simulator); then Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.1%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 20-29 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +4.2% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 20-29: auto attacks 37%, Instant Poison 25%, Sinister Strike 19% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Slice and Dice is worth 6% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Cold Blood (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it right before Eviscerate; it's worth 1.6% of your DPS at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.5% DPS in the simulator); then Flank au Poivre (+2.5%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 30-39 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +4.2% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: auto attacks 34%, Instant Poison 24%, Sinister Strike 21% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Slice and Dice is worth 4.6% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Eviscerate at 5 combo points (Classic: 3% of attack power per combo point)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Eviscerate is worth 3.2% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Cold Blood (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it right before Eviscerate; it's worth 2.2% of your DPS at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Elixir of Greater Agility (+3.1% DPS in the simulator); then Flank au Poivre (+1.9%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 40-49 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +4.7% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: auto attacks 36%, Sinister Strike 22%, Instant Poison 20% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Eviscerate at 5 combo points (Classic: 3% of attack power per combo point)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Eviscerate is worth 5.7% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Cold Blood (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it right before Eviscerate; it's worth 3.1% of your DPS at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.3% DPS in the simulator); then Flank au Poivre (+1.8%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 50-59 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +5.1% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: auto attacks 32%, Backstab 21%, Instant Poison 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Eviscerate at 5 combo points (Classic: 3% of attack power per combo point)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Eviscerate is worth 8.9% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Slice and Dice is worth 3.3% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Slice and Dice: When it's missing from you: Keep it up: 90% of the sim's fight; worth 2.1% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Eviscerate: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready; worth 11.8% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Sinister Strike: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 48.2% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client)

Keep up:

Slice and Dice on you, at least 90% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)

Cooldowns:

Cold Blood: with:Eviscerate (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

Before the pull:

Elixir of Greater Agility (Simulator, Forever client)
Flank au Poivre (Simulator, Forever client)
Scroll of Agility IV (Simulator, Forever client)
Elixir of Greater Strength (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

13 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70888 -> 1.60.1.70938; 20-29: Sinister Strike worth 38.8% -> 36.7%; 30-39: Sinister Strike worth 43.6% -> 40.2%; 40-49: Sinister Strike worth 45.3% -> 42.3%; 50-59: Eviscerate worth 12.1% -> 8.9%; 50-59: Backstab worth 47.7% -> 43.1% (new client build 1.60.1.70938)
11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; 50-59: added Ambush, Backstab; 50-59: removed Sinister Strike; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
8 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Combat

Updated 13 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70938 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Simulator: Blade Flurry (2 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.4% DPS in the simulator); then Flank au Poivre (+1.9%). (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: auto attacks 35%, Off hand 26%, Sinister Strike 25% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 180 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Eviscerate at 5 combo points (Classic: 3% of attack power per combo point)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Eviscerate is worth 13.9% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (level 60)
Simulator: Stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 attack power = 1): Agility 1.87, crit rating 1.41, hit rating 1.22. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 20-29: Flank au Poivre (+3.9% DPS in the simulator); then Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.1%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 20-29 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +4.1% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 20-29: auto attacks 36%, Instant Poison 26%, Sinister Strike 20% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Speculation: The class guide's rotation card uses Slice and Dice here and the simulator disagrees: check it in game before trusting either: Leave Slice and Dice out of single-target fights at levels 30-39: the simulator's 60 s fight did 2.7% more damage without it. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Blade Flurry has a 2 min cooldown. The simulator uses it on the pull at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.8% DPS in the simulator); then Flank au Poivre (+2.8%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 30-39 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +4.8% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: auto attacks 37%, Sinister Strike 26%, Off hand 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Speculation: The class guide's rotation card uses Slice and Dice here and the simulator disagrees: check it in game before trusting either: Leave Slice and Dice out of single-target fights at levels 40-49: the simulator's 60 s fight did 5.5% more damage without it. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Blade Flurry has a 2 min cooldown. The simulator uses it on the pull at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Elixir of Greater Agility (+3.5% DPS in the simulator); then Flank au Poivre (+2.1%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 40-49 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +5.3% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: auto attacks 35%, Off hand 24%, Sinister Strike 24% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Blade Flurry has a 2 min cooldown. The simulator uses it on the pull, and it accounts for 1.2% of your DPS at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.7% DPS in the simulator); then Flank au Poivre (+2.2%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 50-59 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +5.9% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: auto attacks 35%, Off hand 25%, Backstab 20% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Eviscerate at 5 combo points (Classic: 3% of attack power per combo point)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Eviscerate is worth 5% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Slice and Dice is worth 3.5% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Slice and Dice: When it's missing from you: Keep it up: 87% of the sim's fight; the sim gains little from it (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Eviscerate: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready; worth 13.9% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Sinister Strike: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 48.8% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

Keep up:

Slice and Dice on you, at least 85% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)

Cooldowns:

Blade Flurry: On the pull (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

Before the pull:

Elixir of Greater Agility (Simulator, Forever client)
Flank au Poivre (Simulator, Forever client)
Scroll of Agility IV (Simulator, Forever client)
Elixir of Greater Strength (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

13 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70888 -> 1.60.1.70938; 60-60: Eviscerate worth 10.6% -> 13.9%; 60-60: Sinister Strike worth 46.3% -> 48.8%; 1 new tip(s); 1 tip(s) dropped (new client build 1.60.1.70938)
11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; 50-59: added Ambush, Backstab; 50-59: removed Sinister Strike; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
8 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Subtlety

Updated 13 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70938 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.3% DPS in the simulator); then Flank au Poivre (+1.9%). (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: auto attacks 40%, Hemorrhage 20%, Off hand 20% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 180 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Eviscerate at 5 combo points (Classic: 3% of attack power per combo point)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Eviscerate is worth 5.9% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (level 60)
Simulator: Stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 attack power = 1): Agility 1.86, crit rating 1.34, hit rating 1.11. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 20-29: Flank au Poivre (+4% DPS in the simulator); then Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.1%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 20-29 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +4.1% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 20-29: auto attacks 37%, Instant Poison 26%, Sinister Strike 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Slice and Dice is worth 3.2% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.9% DPS in the simulator); then Flank au Poivre (+2.9%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 30-39 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +4.7% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: auto attacks 37%, Instant Poison 20%, Hemorrhage 19% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Speculation: The class guide's rotation card uses Slice and Dice here and the simulator disagrees: check it in game before trusting either: Leave Slice and Dice out of single-target fights at levels 40-49: the simulator's 60 s fight did 2.1% more damage without it. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Elixir of Greater Agility (+3.6% DPS in the simulator); then Flank au Poivre (+2.1%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 40-49 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +5.4% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: auto attacks 40%, Hemorrhage 19%, Off hand 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Speculation: The class guide's rotation card uses Slice and Dice here and the simulator disagrees: check it in game before trusting either: Leave Slice and Dice out of single-target fights at levels 50-59: the simulator's 60 s fight did 2.1% more damage without it. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: The class guide's rotation card uses Hemorrhage here and the simulator disagrees: check it in game before trusting either: Leave Hemorrhage out of single-target fights at levels 50-59: the simulator's 60 s fight did 2.8% more damage without it. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.7% DPS in the simulator); then Flank au Poivre (+2.2%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 50-59 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +6% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: auto attacks 38%, Off hand 18%, Hemorrhage 17% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Ambush is worth 3.8% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Slice and Dice: When it's missing from you: Keep it up: 89% of the sim's fight; worth 1.3% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Eviscerate: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready; worth 5.9% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Ghostly Strike: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (20 s cooldown); the sim gains little from it (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Hemorrhage: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 4.2% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

Keep up:

Slice and Dice on you, at least 85% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)

Before the pull:

Elixir of Greater Agility (Simulator, Forever client)
Flank au Poivre (Simulator, Forever client)
Scroll of Agility IV (Simulator, Forever client)
Elixir of Greater Strength (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

13 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70888 -> 1.60.1.70938; 20-29: Slice and Dice worth 1% -> 3.2%; 20-29: Sinister Strike worth 36.8% -> 34.7%; 1 new tip(s); 1 tip(s) dropped (new client build 1.60.1.70938)
11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; 50-59: added Ambush, Ghostly Strike; 50-59: removed Hemorrhage; 2 new tip(s); 1 tip(s) dropped; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
8 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Every spec's latest changes. Re-studied every week and after each new game build.

Best in slot gear at any level: Assassination, Combat, Subtlety

Best professions for Rogues: Leatherworking + Skinning.

Rogue abilities

Vanished
Eviscerate (level 1)
Sinister Strike (level 1)
Stealth (level 1)
Backstab (level 4)
Pick Pocket (level 4)
Gouge (level 6)
Evasion (level 8)
Sap (level 10)
Slice and Dice (level 10)
Sprint (level 10)
Kick (level 12)
Expose Armor (level 14)
Garrote (level 14)
Feint (level 16)
Ambush (level 18)
Poised (level 18)
Rupture (level 20)
Distract (level 22)
Vanish (level 22)
Detect Traps (level 24)
Shank (level 24)
Cheap Shot (level 26)
Disarm Trap (level 30)
Kidney Shot (level 30)
Blind (level 34)
Safe Fall (level 40)

No longer trainer abilities in the live client

Coup de Grace

Data from the WoW Forever client, build 1.60.1.70938, extracted 2026-11-13.