Rogue PvE guide

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 Rogue PvE guide

At level 20, Assassination in a dungeon is a Slice and Dice and Eviscerate spec: Malice adds crit to everything, Improved Slice and Dice keeps the buff up for longer, and Ruthlessness often hands a point back after each finisher. Since the 4 November build its Forever tools come later: Venom, a tier 5 talent at 30, makes each Shank boost your poisons, and Mutilate, now the tier 7 talent, needs level 40. At 20 you stand behind the tank's target and alternate Backstab or Sinister Strike with Eviscerate.

Your job in a group

Single-target melee damage from behind the tank's target, and a reliable interrupt: Kick locks a caster out of that spell school. Before a pull, Sap one Humanoid out of the pack from Stealth so the tank faces one fewer mob, and Gouge a loose add that nobody else is hitting. You have no area damage at 20, so kill mobs in the order the tank marks them and use Feint to stay below the tank's threat. Don't pull; stay in Stealth until the tank has the mobs' attention.

Opener

Stealth: Stay stealthed while the tank sets up; rank 2, trained at 20, slows you by 40% instead of 50%.
Sap: Before the pull, Sap one Humanoid the group isn't ready to fight. It lasts up to 25 sec and doesn't break Stealth, so you can still open afterwards. Any damage breaks it, so tell the group which mob it is.
Ambush: Once the tank has the target's attention, Ambush from behind with a main-hand dagger for 250% weapon damage plus a flat bonus.
Slice and Dice: On any pull that will last, spend the first 1 or 2 points here; the 20% attack speed is the same at every point count, only the duration grows.
Backstab: Your builder from behind with a main-hand dagger: 150% weapon damage plus a flat bonus. With any other weapon, build with Sinister Strike instead.
Eviscerate: Spend 5 points; Ruthlessness may put a point straight back on the target. Spend points before a mob dies, since they stay on that target.

Cooldowns

Kick: Interrupt heals and dangerous casts; the target can't cast spells of that school for 5 sec. On caster pulls, keep enough Energy for it.
Feint: Use it when you're close to the tank's threat, especially right after a big Eviscerate crit.
Evasion: If a mob turns on you anyway, 50% more dodge for 15 sec keeps you alive until the tank takes it back.
Gouge: Hold a loose add for 4 sec while the tank picks it up. It must be facing you, and any damage breaks it, so don't use it next to area damage.
Sprint: 50% more speed for 15 sec to reach a caster standing at range, or to get out of a pull that has gone wrong.

Stats

Hit, Agility, Critical Strike, Attack Power, Strength. Hit first, so Backstab, Eviscerate and Kick land. Agility is the main stat on Rogue gear, and Critical Strike stacks with Malice. Attack Power and Strength come after. Your main-hand weapon matters more than any single stat, because Backstab and Ambush deal a percentage of its weapon damage and Sinister Strike adds to it.

Tips

Use the hardest-hitting main-hand dagger you can find. Backstab and Ambush deal a percentage of weapon damage, so a bigger dagger hit raises both.
Puncturing Wounds, the Forever talent that makes Backstab crit far more often, sits in Combat's second tier, not in Assassination. If you want a crit-heavy dagger Backstab in groups at 20, the Combat dungeon build takes it.
Relentless Strikes is a tier 5 Assassination talent since the 4 November build. At 5/5, from the level 40 group build, each finisher has a 20% chance per combo point to restore 25 Energy, so every 5-point Eviscerate and Slice and Dice gives Energy back.
Sap doesn't break Stealth in Forever, so you can Sap one mob and still Ambush the tank's target.
Rupture is weak at 20: rank 1 lists 87 damage over 16 secs at 5 points before Attack Power. Eviscerate is the better finisher on almost every pull.
Assassination has no area damage at 20. On trash packs, stay on the tank's first target and spend combo points before it dies.

Combat Rogue PvE guide

Combat is the steady, forgiving damage spec, and in Forever it's also the dagger Backstab spec: Puncturing Wounds, a tier 2 Combat talent, makes Backstab crit far more often and often add a second combo point. The level 20 dungeon build pairs it with Coup de Grace (called Improved Eviscerate before the 4 November build), Efficient Strikes and Precision; at 30 it reaches Flawless Execution, Aggression and Blade Flurry, Combat's cleave and burst cooldown, and at 40 Dual Wield Specialization, Flash of Steel and Adrenaline Rush. With a sword, mace, axe or fist weapon, Sinister Strike is your builder instead.

Your job in a group

Steady single-target melee damage with any weapon type, and an interrupt: Kick locks a caster out of that spell school. Before a pull, Sap one Humanoid out of the pack from Stealth, and Gouge a loose add that nobody else is hitting. You have no area damage at 20, so follow the tank's kill order and Feint when you get close to the tank's threat. At 30, Blade Flurry adds cleave on pairs of mobs, but it breaks Sap and Gouge on anything nearby.

Opener

Stealth: Wait in Stealth while the tank pulls; rank 2, trained at 20, slows you by 40%.
Sap: Before the pull, take one Humanoid out for up to 25 sec; it doesn't break Stealth, so you can still open.
Ambush: With a main-hand dagger, open from behind once the tank has the mob: 250% weapon damage plus a flat bonus.
Garrote: The opener without a dagger; the bleed runs for 18 sec, so save it for mobs that will live that long.
Slice and Dice: First finisher at 1 or 2 points; the 20% attack speed speeds up both weapons.
Backstab: Main builder from behind with a main-hand dagger; Puncturing Wounds adds crit chance and a chance at a bonus combo point.
Sinister Strike: When a mob turns to face you, or as your main builder with any other weapon; cheaper with Efficient Strikes.
Eviscerate: 5-point finisher while Slice and Dice is running; Coup de Grace adds damage.

Cooldowns

Kick: Interrupt heals and dangerous casts; the target can't cast spells of that school for 5 sec.
Feint: Lower your threat when you're close to the tank's, before a mob turns on you.
Evasion: If a mob turns on you, 50% more dodge for 15 sec buys time for the tank.
Gouge: Hold a loose add for 4 sec while the tank picks it up; any damage breaks it.
Sprint: 50% more speed for 15 sec to reach a caster at range or get out of a pull gone wrong.

Stats

Hit, Agility, Critical Strike, Attack Power, Strength. Hit first, so Backstab, Kick and both weapons' swings land. Then Agility and Critical Strike, then Attack Power and Strength. Your main-hand weapon's damage matters most, since Backstab deals a percentage of it and Sinister Strike adds to it; the off-hand gains value with Shank, from 24, which strikes with it, and with Dual Wield Specialization at 40.

Tips

Refresh Slice and Dice before it drops. At 20 Combat has no Energy regeneration talents, so faster swings from both weapons are a steady share of your damage.
Puncturing Wounds only helps Backstab (and Mutilate), so the dungeon build is for a main-hand dagger. With a sword, mace, axe or fist weapon, put those three points into Malice in Assassination tier 1 and build with Sinister Strike.
Coup de Grace, called Improved Eviscerate before the 4 November build, is in Combat's first tier: 20% more Eviscerate damage at 3/3, the first points every Combat build takes.
Kick costs 25 Energy and has a 10 sec cooldown, so on caster pulls don't drain your Energy right before a cast you need to stop.
At 30, never press Blade Flurry next to a Sapped or Gouged mob: the extra hits break it.

Subtlety Rogue PvE guide

Subtlety at 20 is an opener and dagger spec. Opportunity makes Backstab, Garrote and Ambush hit harder, Improved Ambush makes the opener crit, and Dirty Tricks makes Sap cheap. Ghostly Strike, a builder from any angle that raises your dodge, moved to tier 4 in the 4 November build and comes at 25. Dungeons suit Subtlety, because you can stay behind the target; at 30 the dungeon build reaches Serrated Blades and Hemorrhage, and Rupture becomes a real finisher.

Your job in a group

Single-target melee damage from behind the tank's target, interrupts with Kick, Sap on a Humanoid before the pull and Gouge on a loose add. Dirty Tricks halves Sap's Energy cost, so you can Sap before the pull and still open with Ambush, and Stealth's short cooldown lets you restealth between pulls for another one. You have no area damage at 20; kill targets in the tank's order and Feint when you get close to the tank's threat.

Opener

Stealth: Stay stealthed while the tank sets up; rank 2 slows you by 40%.
Sap: Before the pull, remove one Humanoid for up to 25 sec; it doesn't break Stealth, so you can still Ambush.
Ambush: With a main-hand dagger once the tank has the target: 250% weapon damage plus a flat bonus; Opportunity adds damage and Improved Ambush crit chance.
Slice and Dice: 1 or 2 points on longer pulls for 20% attack speed.
Backstab: Your filler builder from behind: 150% weapon damage plus a flat bonus, boosted by Opportunity.
Eviscerate: 5-point finisher; spend points before a mob dies, since they stay on that target.

Cooldowns

Kick: Interrupt heals and dangerous casts; that school stays locked for 5 sec.
Feint: Use it when you're close to the tank's threat, especially right after an Ambush crit.
Evasion: If a mob turns on you, 50% more dodge for 15 sec buys time for the tank to take it back.
Gouge: Hold a loose add for 4 sec while the tank picks it up; any damage breaks it.
Stealth: Between pulls, re-enter Stealth as soon as its cooldown allows, so every pull starts with Ambush.

Stats

Hit, Agility, Critical Strike, Attack Power, Strength. Hit first, so your Ambush, Backstab and Kick land. Agility and Critical Strike next; Critical Strike adds to Improved Ambush's bonus on your opener. The main-hand dagger's damage matters most, because Ambush, Backstab and Ghostly Strike are all percentages of it.

Tips

Every pull can start with Ambush: restealth as soon as a fight ends. Camouflage, in the level 40 group build, cuts Stealth's cooldown by 6 sec at 3/3.
Ghostly Strike, from the level 30 build, costs 40 Energy and has a 20 sec cooldown in the client. Press it whenever it's ready: it lets your next Ambush or Garrote skip Stealth, and its dodge helps if a mob turns on you.
Rupture is weak at 20 (87 damage over 16 secs at 5 points before Attack Power). Use Eviscerate until Serrated Blades and Hemorrhage at 30.
Opportunity boosts Backstab, Garrote and Ambush, so Subtlety wants a main-hand dagger even more than Assassination does.
Sap doesn't break Stealth in Forever, and Dirty Tricks halves its cost: Sap one Humanoid, then Ambush the tank's target.

Checked against WoW Forever build 1.60.1.70862.

Tips & tricks: what ForeverDB learned

Assassination

Updated 11 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70888 · 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 has a 3 min cooldown. The simulator uses it right before Eviscerate, and it accounts for 3.7% of your DPS at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60, Elixir of Greater Agility is your best consumable at +2.1% DPS in the simulator. Flank au Poivre is next at +1.7%. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60, Battle Shout from a Warrior gives you the biggest party buff boost at +7.7% DPS in the simulator. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 44%, Sinister Strike 22%, Off hand 22% (recommended build, best gear, 60 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 accounts for 10.7% of your DPS at level 60, based on the simulator's fight without it. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60, the simulator values stats like this (1 attack power = 1): haste rating 1.57, Agility 1.48, hit rating 1.28. (level 60)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, Flank au Poivre is your best consumable at +5.2% DPS in the simulator. Elixir of Greater Agility comes next at +2.8%. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, Blessing of Might from a Paladin gives you the biggest party buff boost at +5.5% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 49%, Sinister Strike 25%, Off hand 23% (recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Slice and Dice accounts for 4% of your DPS at levels 20-29, based on the simulator's fight without it. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Cold Blood has a 3 min cooldown. The simulator uses it right before Eviscerate, and it accounts for 1.9% of your DPS at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, Elixir of Greater Agility is your best consumable at +3.4% DPS in the simulator. Flank au Poivre is next at +3.4%. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, Blessing of Might from a Paladin gives you the biggest party buff boost at +5.6% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 45%, Sinister Strike 28%, Off hand 22% (recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (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 accounts for 4.3% of your DPS at levels 30-39, based on the simulator's fight without it. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Slice and Dice accounts for 3.2% of your DPS at levels 30-39, based on the simulator's fight without it. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Cold Blood has a 3 min cooldown. The simulator uses it right before Eviscerate, and it accounts for 2.8% of your DPS at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, Elixir of Greater Agility is your best consumable at +3.8% DPS in the simulator. Flank au Poivre is next at +2.3%. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, Blessing of Might from a Paladin gives you the biggest party buff boost at +5.9% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 45%, Sinister Strike 27%, Off hand 20% (recommended build, best gear, 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 accounts for 7.3% of your DPS at levels 40-49, based on the simulator's fight without it. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Cold Blood has a 3 min cooldown. The simulator uses it right before Eviscerate, and it accounts for 3.7% of your DPS at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, Elixir of Greater Agility is your best consumable at +2.8% DPS in the simulator. Flank au Poivre is next at +2.2%. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, Blessing of Might from a Paladin gives you the biggest party buff boost at +6.2% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 39%, Backstab 26%, Off hand 19% (recommended build, best gear, 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 accounts for 12.1% of your DPS at levels 50-59, based on the simulator's fight without it. (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 1.8% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Eviscerate: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready; worth 10.7% 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 47.7% 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:

Battle Shout (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Might (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Kings (Simulator, Forever client)
Mark of the Wild (Simulator, Forever client)
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:

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)
7 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Combat

Updated 11 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70888 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

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

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 level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60, Elixir of Greater Agility is your best consumable at +2.2% DPS in the simulator. Flank au Poivre is next at +1.8%. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60, Battle Shout from a Warrior gives you the biggest party buff boost at +7.9% DPS in the simulator. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 38%, Off hand 28%, Sinister Strike 23% (recommended build, best gear, 60 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 accounts for 10.6% of your DPS at level 60, based on the simulator's fight without it. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60, the simulator values stats like this (1 attack power = 1): Agility 1.56, crit rating 1.14, hit rating 1.08. (level 60)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, Flank au Poivre is your best consumable at +5.3% DPS in the simulator. Elixir of Greater Agility comes next at +2.9%. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, Blessing of Might from a Paladin gives you the biggest party buff boost at +5.6% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 48%, Sinister Strike 27%, Off hand 23% (recommended build, best gear, 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: The simulator's 60 s single-target fight did 5.4% more damage without Slice and Dice at levels 30-39. 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: At levels 30-39, Elixir of Greater Agility is your best consumable at +3.4% DPS in the simulator. Flank au Poivre is next at +3.4%. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, Blessing of Might from a Paladin gives you the biggest party buff boost at +5.8% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 45%, Sinister Strike 32%, Off hand 22% (recommended build, best gear, 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: The simulator's 60 s single-target fight did 8.2% more damage without Slice and Dice at levels 40-49. 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: At levels 40-49, Elixir of Greater Agility is your best consumable at +4.1% DPS in the simulator. Flank au Poivre is next at +2.5%. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, Blessing of Might from a Paladin gives you the biggest party buff boost at +6.2% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 41%, Off hand 29%, Sinister Strike 28% (recommended build, best gear, 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: At levels 50-59, Elixir of Greater Agility is your best consumable at +3% DPS in the simulator. Flank au Poivre is next at +2.4%. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, Blessing of Might from a Paladin gives you the biggest party buff boost at +6.7% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 39%, Off hand 28%, Backstab 22% (recommended build, best gear, 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 accounts for 6.1% of your DPS at levels 50-59, based on the simulator's fight without it. (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: 88% of the sim's fight; worth 2.2% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Eviscerate: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready; worth 10.6% 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 46.3% 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:

Battle Shout (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Might (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Kings (Simulator, Forever client)
Mark of the Wild (Simulator, Forever client)
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:

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)
7 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Subtlety

Updated 11 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70888 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

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

Simulator: At level 60, Elixir of Greater Agility is your best consumable at +2.2% DPS in the simulator. Flank au Poivre is next at +1.8%. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60, Battle Shout from a Warrior gives you the biggest party buff boost at +8.1% DPS in the simulator. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 45%, Off hand 22%, Hemorrhage 18% (recommended build, best gear, 60 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 accounts for 7.1% of your DPS at level 60, based on the simulator's fight without it. (level 60)
Simulator: At level 60, the simulator values stats like this (1 attack power = 1): Agility 1.53, crit rating 1.13, Strength 1. (level 60)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, Flank au Poivre is your best consumable at +5.3% DPS in the simulator. Elixir of Greater Agility comes next at +2.8%. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, Blessing of Might from a Paladin gives you the biggest party buff boost at +5.6% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 50%, Sinister Strike 25%, Off hand 24% (recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, Elixir of Greater Agility is your best consumable at +3.5% DPS in the simulator. Flank au Poivre is next at +3.5%. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, Blessing of Might from a Paladin gives you the biggest party buff boost at +5.9% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: At levels 30-39, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 46%, Hemorrhage 24%, Off hand 22% (recommended build, best gear, 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: The simulator's 60 s single-target fight did 4.6% more damage without Slice and Dice at levels 40-49. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, Elixir of Greater Agility is your best consumable at +4.3% DPS in the simulator. Flank au Poivre is next at +2.5%. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, Blessing of Might from a Paladin gives you the biggest party buff boost at +6.4% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: At levels 40-49, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 47%, Hemorrhage 23%, Off hand 21% (recommended build, best gear, 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: The simulator's 60 s single-target fight did 4.9% more damage without Slice and Dice at levels 50-59. 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: The simulator's 60 s single-target fight did 4.3% more damage without Hemorrhage at levels 50-59. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, Elixir of Greater Agility is your best consumable at +3.2% DPS in the simulator. Flank au Poivre is next at +2.5%. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, Blessing of Might from a Paladin gives you the biggest party buff boost at +7% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: At levels 50-59, your damage splits like this in the simulator: auto attacks 44%, Off hand 21%, Hemorrhage 20% (recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Ambush accounts for 4% of your DPS at levels 50-59, based on the simulator's fight without it. (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; worth 2.8% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Eviscerate: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready; worth 7.1% 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 3.8% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

Keep up:

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

Before the pull:

Battle Shout (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Might (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Kings (Simulator, Forever client)
Mark of the Wild (Simulator, Forever client)
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:

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)
7 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

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

Common questions

What's the best race for a Rogue in WoW Forever?

It depends on your faction and spec. ForeverDB's best race for each class lists the picks, and every racial is on the races page. Forever reworked most racials, so Classic advice does not carry over.

Alliance:
- Human: Ruthless adds 1% critical strike chance to all spells and attacks, Will to Survive instantly removes all stuns, and Perception sharply raises stealth detection for 20 sec.
- Night Elf: Quickness adds 1% dodge and 2% movement speed and makes you harder to detect in Stealth, Elune's Light adds 10% critical strike chance for 15 sec, and Shadowmeld drops you out of sight.
- Gnome: Eureka! makes your non-periodic damaging abilities cost 10% less Energy and deal 10% more damage for 8 sec, and Escape Artist frees you from snares and roots.

Horde:
- Orc: Blood Fury raises Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 sec, and Hardiness shortens stuns by 20%.
- Undead: Will of the Forsaken removes Charm, Fear and Sleep, and Touch of the Grave gives your hits a 20% chance to drain Health (up to 5% of your maximum).
- Troll: Berserking raises attack and casting speed by 10%, and Rapid Regeneration restores half your Health over 6 sec out of combat.

No race is uniquely best for a Rogue; pick for your spec and whether you PvP.

Sources: Which race to play: best races for every class · Races and racials · checked on build 1.60.1.70888

Is there a Rogue levelling guide for Forever?

Yes. ForeverDB has a full Rogue levelling guide built from the Forever client: which race to pick, every ability by level, what to press on one or several enemies, class quests, gear and dungeons, and the mistakes new Rogues make.

For talents, the Rogue builds page now has builds at levels 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 for all three trees (Combat, Assassination and Subtlety), with levelling, group and PvP versions, the reason for every point and a talent calculator, all checked against the current client. Combat is the most forgiving to level with: any one-handed weapon works and you don't need to stand behind the mob.

Everything Forever changed for Rogues is on the Rogue changes page.

Sources: Leveling a Rogue · Rogue talent builds and rotations · Rogue changes in Forever · checked on build 1.60.1.70888

How much damage does Mutilate do and when do Rogues get it?

Yes, but at level 40 now, not 30. In the current build Mutilate sits at tier 7 of the Assassination tree and needs Venom at 1/1 first. The cap is 60, so you can reach it.

Rank 1, from the client: instantly attacks with both weapons for 90% weapon damage plus an extra 39 with each weapon, with the damage raised by 20% against poisoned targets, and it awards 2 combo points. It costs 60 Energy. Higher ranks add more flat damage (Rank 2 plus 56, Rank 3 plus 79).

Mutilate needs a dagger in each hand even though the tooltip doesn't say so, and there's no positional requirement, so you don't have to stand behind the target. Everything Forever reworked for Rogues is on the Rogue changes page.

Sources: Mutilate (Forever client) · Rogue changes in Forever · Leveling a Rogue · checked on build 1.60.1.70862

The whole FAQ

Data from the WoW Forever client, build 1.60.1.70888, extracted 2026-11-11.