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Distract

Distract

30 Energy	30 yd range

Instant	30 sec cooldown

Requires Rogue
Requires level 28

Throws a distraction, attracting the attention of all nearby monsters for 10 seconds. Usable while stealthed.

Spell Details

Duration

n/a

School

Physical

Mechanic

Distracted

Dispel type

n/a

GCD category

Normal

Cost

30 Energy

Range

30 yards (Medium)

Cast time

Instant

Cooldown

n/a

GCD

1 second

Effect

Distract
Value: 10
Radius: 10 yards

Flags

Guides

Rogue PvE
compendium - the
do's and dont's

Comments

Comment by prophetx2

Probably one of the most overlooked skills in PVP. A rogue can distract another player in pvp which forces the other player's character to turn towards the area where you "threw" the distract.

This is very useful against players that are running away from you as well as mis-directing the user from where you are.

Comment by skitzosmeagol

Distract is very effective against flag carriers in WSG. Some FC dont even realize they have been distracted and will run back at least 20-30 yeards, and even if they realize it delays their run for at least 2 seconds.

Comment by Sebas

PvE: Use it to stop monsters and such from noticing you or to stop a patrol for a few seconds.

PvP: Use it to stop an opponent from running away or to turn an opponent away from yourself so you can get an ambush.

Comment by phylen

1vs1 is not that useful. It costs energy.

Comment by Gilmat

The ability can also be used OUTSIDE of stealth too, as long as the "distractee"/target isn't in combat. Also quite useful for pickpocketing whilst soloing.

Comment by SSdraken

Can also be used in PvE for 'splitting' patrols. For example, if an elite mob is escorted by some others, distract the elite mob only (get the aoe green circle so it just covers him) and only he will turn and stop, whilst his patrol keeps walking.

Comment by oblivion

I find this can also be very useful in instances. If you're fighting some mobs and see a pat coming right for the group, just drop a distract behind them quick and you just gave the group an extra 10 seconds. It's like ranged crowd control!

PS: Helps if you have distract bound to a key...

Comment by Sneakyhoof

discussion that this ability on PTR makes players stand still for 10 seconds, like as aoe repentance.

Comment by FlipperGandalf

This saved my life some times in pvp.
A Mage casted Polymorph on me, then went a few steps away and did pyroblast.
When I got out of the sheep, i just threw the distract on the back of the mage, so he turned the wrong way and couldn't hit me with the pyroblast.
But the target must be out of combat.

Comment by arcanum

Here's a fun thing to try....

In AB, at the lumber mill, if you see an enemy riding past, throw a distraction close to the cliff. If all works well, your enemy will run straight off the cliff. Makes for some hilarious BG's

Comment by laraken

Blizz allows this on pvp but not taunt? there is a problem.

Comment by Argus9

A very useful ability for any Rogue. Any mobs in the area of effect will turn towards the spot you clicked on, or the center of the circle. They will then stay pointed in that direction for about five seconds, giving you an opportunity to sneak by, creep up for a sap or Ambush/Garrote, etc.

Comment by bobgoatse

if you distract a character who has been 'disoriented' (polymorph, blind) for at least 5 seconds his movement gets @#$%ed up for a further 5 seconds. Kinda wiggy when it happens to you, try it out.

Comment by Beetroot

Second most useful Rogue ability ever.

Comment by matrixcy

rogues have to use it in MH to stop bossess so plp rest

Comment by DeathBlood

If there is a single Rogue ability that separates a "pro" Rogue from the average Rogue, this is it! I have it bound to a hotkey on my twink. And although it takes some practice, once you have it down, you will be using it every 30 seconds. Distract has many uses in PvP, some already mentioned above:

-Turn a running enemy toward you, so you can sap/cheap shot/gouge etc.

-Turn a running enemy toward a cliff. ;)

-Turn an enemy caster away before they fire their first spell, cancelling it.

-Confuse a group of enemies. In WSG, I'll quite often sap a target 10 yards away and then throw Distract down on the enemies around him. They'll stop for like 15 seconds, Mages using Arcane Explosion, Pallys using Consecration, etc., and I'm long gone. I just saved my team 15 seconds to prepare for an incoming.

-Make a mage blink the wrong way! Takes a lot of practice and timing, and thinking in the perspective of the mage (I've played a mage in pvp before, so I know when they like to blink), but you can turn a mage and make them blink in the wrong direction. =)

-Defense in WSG, turn an enemy FC if they just escape your reach of sap.

The list goes on and on! Often overlooked, Distract is a must hotkey for "pro" Rogue PvP. It'll impress your friends too. ;)

EDIT: Consider getting the Glyph too for increased range! http://www.wowhead.com/?item=43376

Comment by Ameran

Anyone find it odd that sometimes you miss when you throw this?

... You literally throw something at the ground and miss.

Comment by Abomb

i remember a fun time in and AB where me and 3 other rogues were going to get the BS and were all stealthed, when we reached the 1 warrior who was guarding i went up from behind 2 ambush when another rogue used distract to turn him away from me and a almost hit him. so i did the same thing back to him which led 2 a game of distracting the warrior back and forth while the warrior was probobly very confused why he was spining around. very funny AB. next me and the 3 rogues would go around together making auto runners on their mounds run in zigzags and run into the water or a wall

Comment by reflectivesol

Just a warning, but distract can miss. So be prepared to have a backup plan when that patrol guy comes.

Comment by Pachirisuneytor

I see no one has posted it here, but Distract can help you against stealthed targets, throw it where you think someone is and upon them turning around you may have a moment to get them.

Comment by Dual1ty

Does anybody else feel like this is a skill that should be available from a lower level? It's so essential in my opinion yet Rogues wait until 22 to get it.

I really don't see any balance reasons for this being restricted to level 22...

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

Comment by tyberriuss

Very situational but still possible: You can annoy other rogues ( preferably of the other faction ) by throwing a distract right at their feet, and turning whatever mob(s) they were trying to sneak up on, towards them

Very funny results to be expected

Comment by Flipppppyyy

This is extremely hard to do but sometimes if you know a mage is going to blink, make them face a close wall. This way the blink is cut off. Extremely hard but if your lucky and get it to work its a nice little advantage.

Comment by Flimer

Also in PvP you may throw it to place where may be your enemy in stealth, prowl or shadowmeld and this skill will brake inviz!

Comment by snow72

no u wont break stealth

i use this to send people down cliffs and elevators \\0/, here's a good example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3puv1nnFJs

if you have any good place you think this will work (good for horde, since i'm horde) say it... i just have few in mind.

Comment by Nemesyst

Everytime I use this in PvP, on hunter pets at least, they automatically run straight at me. I'm at max range when I do it too. Is it just bad luck?

Comment by Heretic013

Best way to stop flag runners for a sec. Doesnt work when enemy is in combat. It is great when you cant catch on them and cant mount (like in tunnel WSG). They stop and turn into that direction so its best to throw it a yrd behind them. They mostly start running that way (your way - assuming you are behind).

Comment by Sacrosterion

Can this act as a taunt in PvE?

Comment by Ranguvar13

Flavor text should be...
"Look, a distraction!"

Comment by Swiftling

And i tough that only superman can miss the ground when throwing something. Guess i was wrong all along.

Comment by Bumluffa

Nerfed somewhat with Cataclysm. Distract now cancels your targets movement so they no longer keep travelling in the direction you've changed them to. This makes it much harder for you to distract people to fall off cliffs and what not as they now have to press once more to move

Comment by ifjkl

Distract macro:

#showtooltip distract
/cast !distract

Corrects a known error: You'll notice, that while moving and trying to cast Distract your summoning circle will go away. Replace your Distract-button (or better bind it to a key) with this macro. Your summoning circle will work again correctly. Useful for hasty situations, where every second does count, e.g. PvP, but not only pvp.

Comment by Yakeshi

Distract is affected by silence. Just thought I'd mention that.

Comment by vindurza

if you time this spell right during pvp matches you can use it to make players run off cliffs

Distract

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