This site makes extensive use of JavaScript.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser.
Live
PTR
10.2.7
PTR
10.2.6
Beta
Choosing a Race (Updated 10/24/08)
Post Reply
Return to board index
Post by
kicklucky
10/24/2008. Racial traits updated for 3.0 Please let me know if you find any errors.
CHOOSING A RACE
This guide is to provide basic information on choosing a race for starting a Rogue. I am going to refrain from discussing the base stats for each race, as they are largely irrelevant as you progress. Ultimately, it comes down to a personal choice as to what you want to play, but this will attempt to inform you of the hard statistics and racial differences to guide you in your decision.
Table of Contents:
Alliance Rogue Lore
Horde Rogue Lore
Racial Traits
Race Lore taken from
WoWwiki.com
Post by
kicklucky
Alliance
Human:
Human rogues can find respectable employment by working for
SI:7
organization. These rogues primarily work as spies and field operatives, working to keep the Wrynn Dynasty safe and protecting the kingdom from potential harm. There are a considerable number of human rogues who find employment within the Syndicate instead, and work to undermine the very things their brethren in SI:7 try to preserve.
Starting Stats
Str | Agi | Sta | Int | Spi
21 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 21
Dwarf:
Stocky and impeccable, the dwarves of Ironforge are known for their love of loot and treasure, and perhaps not quite as well known for their proficiency in planting a blade through the lower spine of an unfortunate victim. The condemned tunnels and half-razed sections of Ironforge are home to countless brigands, fortune-seekers, grave robbers and similar vermin. Dwarves also have the amazing ability to temporarily turn their skin into stone, which purifies the body and removes any unwanted diseases or poisons - as well as sealing up any cuts and bruises made. Coupled with their naturally strong body and muscles they make excellent rogues.
Starting Stats
Str | Agi | Sta | Int | Spi
23 | 19 | 24 | 19 | 19
Night Elf:
Due to their agile nature, nocturnal behavior and inborn ability to Shadowmeld, many night elves are drawn to the path of the rogue. Furthermore, night elves of all kinds fight in ways that would not seem out of place in a rogue's repertoire - ambush, rapid attacks, focusing upon the swift dealing of deadly force before vanishing into the shadows. Consequently, rogues are not viewed with the same disdain among the kaldorei as they are within other societies. Some night elven rogues have chosen to become the arbiters of stern night elven justice - the
wardens
- while others seem content to act as scouts, assassins or spies in the employ of the main
Sentinel
army. Though night elven rogues are based within the barrow deeps beneath the Cenarion Terrace in Darnassus, they show little allegiance to the Cenarion Circle, save in working with the Circle to preserve Teldrassil from corruption.
Starting Stats
Str | Agi | Sta | Int | Spi
18 | 28 | 20 | 20 | 20
Gnome:
Gnomish rogues are known to take advantage of their small stature to make excellent thieves, assassins, and anything else with a focus on subtlety. Their naturally expansive intellect tends to make them clever and quick witted, but what's most attributed to their race is their engineering prowess. Gnome rogues often use their racial teachings to make gadgets of malice to help aid in escape or taking enemies by surprise. Because Gnomeregan is overrun, the majority of them take their work from the dwarves, most notably
Hulfdan Blackbeard
in Ironforge.
Starting Stats
Str | Agi | Sta | Int | Spi
16 | 26 | 20 | 24 | 20
Post by
kicklucky
Horde
Orc:
Orcs aren't exactly known for their agility or subtlety, but Orc rogues are among the strongest and most enduring enemies any fool with a price on his head could possibly have. Cunningness and stamina makes for a deadly combination together with the Horde's nimbler races. Orcs are extremely resilient, have incredible willpower and will stop at nothing until their chosen target lies dead. Although many members of the Alliance view the Orcs as brutish creatures their method of combat holds a certain beauty, while other more agile races dodge and weave through enemy blows, Orc Rogues simply use their massive strength to punch through their opponents defences, while their carefully honed blades, strike at the very heart of the enemy with incredible efficiency. Even though underappreciated in their culture, many Orcs choose this darker path as their way of life and
Thrall
knows full well their incredible value.
Many orc rogues base themselves in the
Cleft of Shadow
in Orgrimmar, where many of the city's less well-to-do denizens reside. Almost all Orc rogues belong to an organisation called the
Shattered Hand Clan
which has reformed itself as the main
Assassin
guild in the Cleft of Shadow in Orgrimmar. Using the Cleft of Shadow as a base of operations the Orc and Troll assassins make their checks across the vast continent of Kalimdor, they are ultimately tasked with 'Policing' and 'Tracking' any traitors to the Horde and bringing them to justice. Orc Assassins work tirelessly to keep the Horde strong, though they are no longer the heartless killers from the time of the
Burning Legion
. Now, they track down and dispatch those who would threaten the security of the Horde.
Starting Stats
Str | Agi | Sta | Int | Spi
24 | 20 | 23 | 17 | 23
Undead:
The
Deathstalkers
are perhaps the most feared assassins in the world. The very first Deathstalkers were culled from the highwaymen led by the bandit king
Blackthorn
, a year after the Third War. These men eventually became the order of Deathstalkers who act as the
Dark Lady's
personal assassins and honor guard. Deathstalkers are feared not only for their phenomenal skills of
infiltration and murder, but also because they are assassins who have no need for sleep, air, food, water or physical rest. Deathstalkers can remain submerged in water or inside a casket indefinitely. They can also pose as corpses in a battlefield or a graveyard, since by all means, that is exactly what they are. Deathstalkers are a formidable asset to both the Forsaken and the Horde, and those who incur Sylvanas' wrath can expect a swift and sure death by their hands.
Starting Stats
Str | Agi | Sta | Int | Spi
20 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 25
Troll:
As long as there has been troll tribes, so has there been troll enemies of said tribe. With a racial history full of assassination and subterfuge and a physique well lent to sneaking and killing, combined with astonishing physical resilience in the forms of healing grievous physical injuries and regenerating lost limbs (An ability inherent to all Trolls), the rogue profession isn't an uncommon choice for the opportunistic Troll. Troll rogues operate out of the same city as their Orc brethren. They also receive similar training and contacts. Orc and Troll rogues can often be seen working in tandem on the battlefield - employed under the same assassin clans.
Starting Stats
Str | Agi | Sta | Int | Spi
22 | 25 | 22 | 16 | 21
Blood Elf:
The natural agility of any elf, combined with a racial control over and thirst for magical energy, ensures that blood elf rogues are the most impeccable mage-slayers in all of Azeroth. The dark alleys of Silvermoon City crawl with shadowy figures representing the dark side of the blood elf psyche. Before the Sunwell was destroyed the
high elves
did not have a full fledged group of
assassins
as they were deemed dishonorable and an unworthy asset, however when the Sunwell was destroyed this attitude changed dramatically, the blood elves decided to create a small force of Rogues that would prevent any more security threats which could disestablish the recovering blood elf race. Because of this most rogues are members of the
Farstrider
organization which are tasked with protecting and securing the blood elf race from any potential threats from within and from without. It is without a doubt that the blood elf assassin population is increasing rapidly and although not as famous as the Forsaken Deathstalkers they are slowly making their presence felt in the Horde through their ruthless tactics and incredible skills.
Starting Stats
Str | Agi | Sta | Int | Spi
18 | 25 | 19 | 24 | 19
Post by
kicklucky
Racial Traits
Dwarf:
Stoneform
Good for both PvP and PvE to remove poisons and bleed effects.
Gun Specialization
Not especially beneficial to Rogues, as most will choose a throwing weapon for
Deadly Throw
.
Mace Specialization
Good for Combat Builds to increase PvP DPS and PvP performance.
Frost Resistance
Good for all classes, no specific benefit to Rogues.
Find Treasure
Good for all classes, helpful for picking lockboxes. =)
Gnome:
Escape Artist
Good for PvP to remove snare and root effects.
Expansive Mind
Intellect is only helpful to a Rogue for increasing weapon skill, not especially useful.
Arcane Resistance
Good for all classes, no specific benefit to Rogues.
Engineering Specialization
Good for all classes, favored for 29 Rogue twinks to gain access to additional profession recipes.
Human:
Every Man for Himself
Arguably the best Alliance PvP trait. Added in 3.0 as the replacement for Perception.
The Human Spirit
Spirit only increases health regeneration for Rogues, not especially useful.
Diplomacy
Incredible racial, good for PvP, awesome for PvE to gain faction reputation.
Perception
Formerly an active spell, Perception is a passive boost to stealth detection, making it useful in PvP.
Sword
and
Mace
Specialization
Especially nice for PvE for added DPS for combat Rogues.
Night Elf:
Shadowmeld
Previously a out of combat pseudo stealth, Shadowmeld has been given a buff for Rogues as a second Vanish in the sense that you can use it to drop Combat and restealth.
Passively boosts stealth mode of rogues and druids.
Quickness
Much better than it used to be, Mage's pay talent points for a similar effect.
Wisp Spirit
Good for all classes, no specific benefit to Rogues.
Nature Resistance
Good for all classes, no specific benefit to Rogues.
Orc:
Blood Fury
Good for both PvE and PvP to increase DPS.
Hardiness
Especially good for PvP to avoid stun procs as well as abilities.
Command
Useless to a Rogue.
Axe Specialization
Does not apply to throwing axes, useless to a Rogue.
Troll:
Berserking
Good for PvP, better for PvE to increase DPS.
Regeneration
Good for all classes, no specific benefit to Rogues.
Beast Slaying
Good for all classes, no specific benefit to Rogues.
Da Voodoo Shuffle
Passive boost to movement impairing effects. With the changes to Rogues mobility this has become increasingly useful. Stacks with other similar effects.
Bow Specialization
Not especially beneficial to Rogues, as most will choose a throwing weapon for
Deadly Throw
.
Throwing Specialization
Fairly useless in PvE, mediocre in PvP, as most Rogues use thrown weapons in conjunction with
Deadly Throw
.
Undead:
Will of the Forsaken
Arguably the best Horde PvP racial, allows you to save your trinket.
Cannibalize
Good for all classes, no specific benefit to Rogues.
Underwater Breathing
Good for all classes, helpful for picking lockboxes. =)
Shadow Resistance
Good for all classes, no specific benefit to Rogues.
Blood Elf:
Arcane Torrent
Helpful in PvE for the energy gains, but most boss encounters are immune to silence effects, so you won't be getting the full benefit of the talent.
Very nice for PvP to silence casters.
Arcane Affinity
Good for all classes, no specific benefit to Rogues.
Magic Resistance
Good for all classes, no specific benefit to Rogues.
Post by
kicklucky
RESERVED
Post by
kicklucky
RESERVED
Post by
109106
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
KidB
Well written, good job. Should get stickied.
However, in some of the last patches, intellect was changed to no longer affect weapon skill-ups I believe, so you might want to check on that :)
Post by
18754
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
TheAlchemisttt
Berserking costs more energy as you lvl. not 10 energy at lvl 70 :)
good guide though ^^
Post by
kicklucky
Berserking costs more energy as you lvl. not 10 energy at lvl 70 :)
good guide though ^^
I think you may have it confused with casters. They get charged 7% of their mana, which would change, but I can't seem to find a place to confirm that energy scales with level. I'll keep looking.
Post by
kicklucky
Well written, good job. Should get stickied.
However, in some of the last patches, intellect was changed to no longer affect weapon skill-ups I believe, so you might want to check on that :)
The only thing that I found on that was an old forum thread, and I actually
read
all the old patch notes (yes I had that kind of time) and haven't come up with anything. Do you know what time, roughly, that that would have been put in affect?
Post by
Random0514
Undead:
Underwater Breathing
Good for all classes, no specific benefit to Rogues.
Particularly useful though when opening all those underwater lockboxes in Desolace :)
Post by
kicklucky
Particularly useful though when opening all those underwater lockboxes in Desolace :)
True enough... fixed ;-)
Post by
105900
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
kicklucky
I think more than anything, he was being comical about the trait itself.
=)
Post by
korlith
i haven't played my be rogue in awhile but doesn't the mana drained with mana tap convert to 10 energy per charge when released with arcane torrent, making it useful.
Post by
kicklucky
i haven't played my be rogue in awhile but doesn't the mana drained with mana tap convert to 10 energy per charge when released with arcane torrent, making it useful.
Arcane Torrent
is the racial that converts to energy. Mana tap just drains it from them, so its useful in conjunction with Arcane Torrent, but the actual mana drain has no explicit advantage for Rogues over any other class. Still good, just not "Rogue Specific" good.
Post by
152701
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
kicklucky
Thank you, now lets see if we can get it stickied =).
Post Reply
You are not logged in. Please
log in
to post a reply or
register
if you don't already have an account.