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Legion Rogue Class Changes
By Wowhead
Last Updated:
2016/08/12
Changelog
Patch: 7.3.5
Table of Contents
Rating:
This post covers all of the changes to Rogues in Legion: talents, spec-specific abilities, artifacts, class changes, spell animations, glyphs, and tier sets.
Class Guides
Assassination Guide
|
Outlaw Guide
|
Subtlety Guide
|
Leveling 1-20 Guide
|
User Guides
Wowhead has guides to each spec written by popular
Warcraft
community members, linked above. All Rogue guides are by
Vigilate
.
New to Legion, you can also create and submit your own build guide! We designed a new user-friendly UI for writing class guides, which allows you to do the following new things:
Embed Talent, Honor Talents, and Artifact Calculator builds into the guide, with notes on each ability choice.
Leave tags specifying the skill level required for your build, and if it's suitable for different categories of PvE and PvP. Perhaps you're looking for a simple build for an alt, or something specifically for dungeons on your main.
Select stat weights and rank useful enchants, gems, and food.
Leave notes on any important items that impact your build, such as
Legion Legendaries
.
To set up a Legion Class Guide, just go to "
Create New Guide
" on any guide page and select "Classes" from the guide category, then pick a spec. You can also set up a guide for a spec via the "Create New Guide" option on the
Legion Talent Calculator
.
Class Changes
Rogue specs did not have clear distinct fantasies--so pretty bold changes were made.
Assassination is now the only spec with poisons and bleeds.
Garrote
is now a rotational ability for Assassination. When used from
Stealth
, it still silences the target for 3 seconds and applies a strong bleed. When not used from stealth, it just applies the bleed.
Vendetta
is no longer on the Global Cooldown.
Venomous Wounds
no longer deals poison damage when bleeds tick on a poisoned target. Instead, energy is restored when any of your bleeds ticks on a poisoned target.
Relentless Strikes
is no longer a passive for Assassination
Seal Fate
has been redesigned in Legion. Instead of one additional combo point when your combo point generating abilities crit, you instead generate one additional combo point for each of the attacks in the ability that crits. For example, if both of the attacks that
Mutilate
performs crit,
Seal Fate
will generate two combo points in Legion compared to the one combo point in Warlords.
Dispatch and Blindside have been removed.
Crimson Tempest has been removed.
Smoke Bomb
is now a pvp talent for Subtlety instead of a baseline Rogue ability.
Combat has been revamped into the new Outlaw spec--emphasis on playing dirty, less stealth, hidden pistols. They retain some core Combat abilities like Adrenaline Rush and Blade Flurry.
Sinister Strike
is the primarily ability to generate combo points, and has a chance to make another ability that generates points,
Pistol Shot
, free. This takes the place of Sinister Strike.
Dispatch
is the primary ability to spend combo points on, and the damage dealt increases based on the number of combo points. This takes the place of Eviscerate and can be used slightly farther away than melee range.
is another finishing move which also stuns the target, reminiscent of Kidney Shot.
Riposte
takes the place of Evasion's role for Outlaw Rogues. You have a 100% chance to parry for the duration of Riposte, and each parry will deal damage to the enemy.
Roll the Bones
fills a similar role to the old Slice and Dice, it is an self-buff finisher. However, it offers a variety of 6 random stat enhancements instead on use--you can get one, or multiple of these buffs:
Skull and Crossbones
,
Grand Melee
,
Ruthless Precision
,
True Bearing
,
Buried Treasure
,
Broadside
.
Slice and Dice
is now a talent which can replace
Roll the Bones
. If Roll the Bones is too complex for you, Slice and Dice just offers a haste buff.
Ruthlessness
no longer reduces your cooldown on major abilities based on each combo point spent. Instead, your finishing moves have a chance to grant a combo point--20% per point.
Bandit's Guile is now removed from Outlaw spec, and the risky
Killing Spree
has been moved to a talent from an ability.
is a new ability, on a very long cooldown, which allows an enemy NPC to fight for you for 5 minutes.
Subtlety emphasizes mastery of stealth more.
Shadow Dance
now has several charges, allowing players to use Stealth abilities more frequently. The new ability
Deepening Shadows
also enables your finishing moves to reduce the cooldown on
Deepening Shadows
.
Deepening Shadows
enables the use of several new openers:
Shadowstrike
which deals massive damage and ports you to the target, and
Symbols of Death
which increases damage done for 35 seconds.
Backstab
is still the primary combo point generator for Subtlety Rogues, but the positional requirement has been removed. However, it does additional damage when used from behind.
Shadow Blades
, a cooldown from MoP removed in Warlords, has returned.
Nightblade
has replaced Rupture, a damage over time finishing move which also reduces movement speed on the target.
Shuriken Storm
has replaced Fan of Knives, an AoE ability that deals extra damage when Stealth or Shadow Dance is up.
Honor Among Thieves has been replaced with
Shadow Techniques
.
Raid-wide buffs are removed in Legion and only healers can mass-resurrect.
Recuperate, a heal over time based on combo points, is removed for all Rogues. The new self heal is
Crimson Vial
and does not require combo points. Its potency can also be increased via
Iron Stomach
.
All three rogue specs now have different ranged attacks which award combo points:
Shuriken Toss
,
Pistol Shot
,
Poisoned Knife
Visual Updates
Most specialization received visual updates for Legion, especially melee, and rogues are no exception! We have videos of animations for all three Legion specs, Assassination, Outlaw, and Subtlety. Additional videos on our
Legion Spell Animations Playlist
.
Talents
There are more spec-specific talents in Legion, with each talent tree row offering more playstyle variety--active, passive, and proc talents. In addition, there are less "themed" rows--eg mobility talents are split among rows, instead of being in the same row.
Create your own talent build with our
Legion Talent Calculator
and if you find a build particularly interesting, click on "Create a Guide" after selecting your talents and leave a little explanation to share with other beta testers!
Legion
Legion
Legion
Deadly Throw
Nerve Strike
Combat Readiness
Cloak and Dagger
Shadowstep - now Assassination and Subtlety Specialization
Burst of Speed
Shuriken Toss - Baseline for Subtlety Only
Shadow Reflection
PvP Talents
The new max-level PvP Honor system allows you to select certain talents based on your Honor Level. These abilities selected will be active in addition to your regular Legion talents.
Rows 1 and 2 cover general talents, Rows 3 and 4 are Rogue talents, and Rows 5 and 6 have spec-specific talents. Please check out the
PvP Honor Calculator
to create your own build and save it with commentary as a guide.
Abilities
In Legion, more abilities are becoming spec-specific to enhance the fantasy for each spec. To see how an ability has changed each Legion build, click on the spell, and then view the "Changelog" tab on the spell page.
New (or now unique to spec)
Crippling Poison
:
Assassination only. Coats your weapons with a Non-Lethal Poison that lasts for 1 hour. Each strike has a 50% chance of poisoning the enemy, slowing movement speed by 50% for 12 sec.
:
Throw a poison-coated knife, dealing (60% of Attack power) damage and applying your active Lethal and Non-Lethal Poisons. Awards 1 combo point.
Shadowstep
: Step through the shadows to appear behind your target and gain 70% movement speed for 2 sec.
Wound Poison
:
Assassination only.
Sap
:
Assassination, Subtlety only. Incapacitates a target not in combat for up to 1 min. Only works on Humanoids, Beasts, Demons and Dragonkin. Any damage caused will revive the target. Only 1 target may be sapped at a time.
Garrote
:
Assassination only. Garrote the enemy, silencing them for 3 sec and causing (54%causing (675% of Attack power) damage over 18 sec Awards 1 combo point.
Subtlety
For the next 10 sec, your attacks bypass up to 100% of that enemy's armor
and awarding 1 combo point. Silences the target for 3 sec when used from Stealth.
Changes
Envenom
Deadly Poison
Fan of Knives
Mastery: Potent Assassin
Mutilate
Rupture
Seal Fate
Vendetta
Venomous Wounds
Cheap Shot
Removed
Relentless Strikes
- Now talent
Blindside - now gone
Dispatch - now gone
Master Poisoner - now gone
New (or now unique to spec)
:
Finishing move that deals damage with your pistol and stuns the target.
Riposte
:
Gain 100% chance to parry for 10 sec. While active, each time you parry an attack you will riposte the target for 100% Physical damage. Ripostes cannot occur more often than once per 1 sec.
:
Bribe a non-player humanoid target with fool's gold, convincing it to fight for you for 5 min.
:
You can sense nearby treasure, making it appear on the minimap. Lasts until cancelled.
Sinister Strike
:
Viciously slash an enemy, causing 260% Physical damage and awarding 1 combo point.
Saber Slash has a 35% chance to strike an additional time, granting additional damage and combo point, and making your next Pistol Shot free.
Pistol Shot
:
Draw a concealed pistol and fire a quick shot at an enemy, dealing (150% of Attack power) damage and reducing movement speed by 50% for 6 sec. Awards 1 combo point. Can be used at ranged.
Slice and Dice
:
Outlaw Talent only.
Gouge
:
Down to 25 Energy, Outlaw only Gouges the eyes of an enemy target, incapacitating the opponent for 4 sec. Target must be facing you. Any subsequentAny damage will cause the target to recover immediately. Generates 1 combo point.
Dispatch
:
Eviscerate for Combat has been renamed to Run Through for Outlaw. This can be used in an 8 yard range.
Ambush
:
Outlaw only. Ambush the target, causing 315% Physical damage to the target (damage increased 40% if a dagger is equipped). Awards 2 combo point.
Subtlety (Level 10)
For the next 10 sec, your attacks bypass up to 100% of that enemy's armor
Blind
:
Outlaw only. Blinds the target, causing it to wander disoriented for up to 1 min. Any Damage caused will remove the effect. Usable while stealthed.Limit 1 target. 20 sec cooldown, down from 2 minutes.
Roll the Bones
: Finishing move that rolls the dice of fate, providing a random combat enhancement. Lasts longer per combo point.
Changed
Adrenaline Rush
Blade Flurry
Fatal Flourish
Mastery: Main Gauche
Ruthlessness
Removed
Killing Spree
- now Talent
Bandit’s Guile - now gone
Revealing Strike - now gone
Evasion
Eviscerate
Sinister Strike
New (or now unique to spec)
Shadow Blades
:
Draws upon surrounding shadows to empower your weapons, causing auto attacks to deal Shadow damage and abilities that generate combo points to generate 1 additional combo point. Lasts 15 sec.
Shadowstrike
:
Strike through the shadows, appearing behind your target and dealing 850% Physical damage. Awards 1 combo point.
Nightblade
:
Finishing move that infects the target with shadowy energy, dealing Shadow damage over time and causing attacks against the target to reduce movement speed by 50% for 8 sec. Lasts longer per combo point. Lasts longer per combo point.
Shadow Techniques
:
Your autoattacks have a chance to generate a combo point.
Shuriken Toss
:
Subtlety ability, no longer Talent. Throws a shuriken at an enemy target for (120% of Attack power) Physical damage. Awards 1 combo point.
Shuriken Storm
:
Sprays shurikens at all targets within 10 yards, dealing (55.44% of Attack power) Physical damage. Damage increased by 200% while Stealth or Shadow Dance is active. Awards 1 combo points per target hit.
Deepening Shadows
: Your finishing moves reduce the remaining cooldown on Shadow Dance by 3 sec per combo point spent.
Eviscerate
: Subtlety only. Finishing move that disembowels the target, causing damage per combo point. Formula has changed as well.
Sap
:
Assassination, Subtlety only. Incapacitates a target not in combat for up to 1 min. Only works on Humanoids, Beasts, Demons and Dragonkin. Any damage caused will revive the target. Only 1 target may be sapped at a time.
Symbols of Death
: Invoke ancient symbols of power, increasing all damage you deal by 20% for 35 sec, and causing your next Shadowstrike to critically strike. Unaffected by the global cooldown.
Changed
Backstab
Mastery: Executioner
Cheap Shot
Shadow Dance
Removed
Fan of Knives
- Now Assassination
Hemorrhage
- Now Assassination Talent
Master of Subtlety
- Now Subtlety Talent
Relentless Strikes
- Now Talent
Rupture
- Now Assassination
Find Weakness - Now Gone
Honor Among Thieves - Now Gone
Premeditation
- Now Talent
Sanguinary Vein - Now Gone
Sinister Calling - Now Gone
New
Crimson Vial
:
An alchemical concoction that instantly heals for 30% of maximum health over 6 sec.
Changed
Vanish
: Level 32, down from 34.
Stealth
: 2 sec cooldown, down from 6 sec.
Removed
Ambush
- Outlaw only
Blind
- Outlaw only
Cheap Shot
- Assassination and Subtlety only
Crimson Tempest - now gone
Crippling Poison
- Assassination only
Deadly Poison
- Assassination only
Evasion - no longer Outlaw
Eviscerate
- Subtlety only
Garrote
- Assassination only
Gouge
- Outlaw only
Preparation - now gone
Recuperate - now gone
Sap
- Assassination and Subtlety only
Shiv - now gone
Shroud of Concealment - now gone
Sinister Strike - now gone
Smoke Bomb - now gone
Swiftblade’s Cunning - now gone
Tricks of the Trade - now gone
Wound Poison
- Assassination only
Artifact Weapons and Traits
Assassination Kingslayer Calculator
|
Outlaw Dreadblades Calculator
|
Subtlety Fangs of the Devourer Calculator
Our Artifact Calculators, linked above, let you browse traits, relics, and appearances in the modelviewer.
Our class guides have recommendations on how to spend Artifact Power and choose Relics.
The
comprehensive Artifact Weapon guide
covers the following:
All artifacts by spec
: any hidden abilities like
Gaze of the Val'kyr
, and flavor effects like
Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire
whispering you.
Traits
: their perks, costs, how to acquire traits, and max level bonus traits.
Relics
: how they increase ilvl, how they modify traits, and how to acquire them.
Acquiring artifacts
: your first one and later ones for offspecs.
Artifact Knowledge
: how this increases the rate at which you acquire Artifact Power, how to increase your AK level, how much extra AK you get at each rank.
Artifact Appearances
: Every appearance organized by spec, how to get them, and modelviewer and video links.
Artifact Lore, Wowhead's Art Interview on Artifacts, and FAQ.
Tier Sets
Rogues have class-specific sets from Raiding and PvP, as well as from the Order Hall. Dressing Room links and more armor sets are found in the
Legion Armor Guide
.
Cosmetic Abilities
Major glyphs have been removed in Legion and cosmetic effects have either been converted to minor glyphs, toys, or class books sold on vendors.
Dirty Tricks, Vol 1: Detection
: teaches
Detection
. Appears to be from Legion vendors
Cravitz Lorent
and
Kelsey Steelspark
.
Fantasy and Gameplay Blog
The following information has been taken from Blizzard's
Legion Class Preview Series: Rogue
blog.
One of the favorite tools of the assassin is a pair of daggers coated with vicious poisons. The damage they inflict is deceiving at first—the initial wounds often seem survivable, even superficial. Then the toxins set about their business. Wounds don’t close, and blood loss continues unabated. Assassins begin their work stealthily, choosing their targets and methods of engagement carefully—but once committed to a course of action, they stick to their target until the job is done rather than disappearing into the shadows to avoid their quarry’s blows.
Gameplay
For Rogues, no specialization describes itself better than Assassination, which also remains closely aligned with its existing fantasy. And we’re further enhancing those themes through their gameplay. First, this is now the only Rogue spec with access to poisons and bleeds, making much of your damage a little more delayed, but nonetheless massive. In addition, Venomous Wounds triggers based on a combination of bleeds and poisons now to accentuate that gameplay. Assassination is home to the most volatile combo-building. Mutilate is already effective in this regard, but Seal Fate needed some improvement—it now can trigger from both hands with Mutilate.
Combat...gone!
OK, not exactly. The lack of a clear theme for the Combat Rogue really gave us an opportunity to reimagine the spec in Legion, to ensure that they have their own depth of character and a unique fighting style that sets them apart from the other Rogue specs.
Outlaw rogues are the unscrupulous scoundrels of Azeroth. Operating outside the law, they bend the rules and distort the truth to get what they need. While they share plenty in common with other rogues, these outlaws have little use for tact or discretion, happy to engage in a tavern brawl or spontaneous duel, rarely patient enough to wait in stealth for the opportune time to engage. To survive in such a world, outlaws must become master swordsmen in toe-to-toe combat—and they can’t shy away from fighting dirty. If a blade fails to cut too deeply, the outlaw takes advantage of a concealed pistol, catching the enemy by surprise with a quick blast.
Gameplay
To achieve the “swordmaster” fantasy we’re going for with the Outlaw Rogue, we’re giving them several new and upgraded abilities, such as Saber Slash and Pistol Shot. We’re also deemphasizing Stealth, with Ambush being their only remaining opening move. Stealth will still provide its core Rogue utility, but Outlaws are more comfortable fighting toe-to-toe with a sword than skulking about. Finally, we’re ensuring that Outlaws retain several signature abilities from Combat, such as Adrenaline Rush and Blade Flurry. These abilities provide a good basis on which to build new and distinct flavor. A wide variety of talents enhance the fantasy further with themes of the swordmaster, brawler, or even pirate.
Subtlety rogues are the masters of the shadows, and they strike unseen. They don’t have the lethal poison-tipped daggers of the assassin or the brawling prowess of the outlaw, but their acumen on the battlefield and ability to hide in plain sight are unrivaled. Some claim the art of subtlety looks like malevolent shadow magic—but no matter from where their power is derived, these rogues are capable of performing devastating assaults on their enemies, slipping away unharmed to strike again without detection. Most rogues train their entire lives to learn how to walk in the shadows—subtlety rogues were born there.
Gameplay
As the true masters of stealthy gameplay, we’ve pushed Subtlety further toward making heavy use of Stealth as their primary combat mechanic. The new version of Shadow Dance allows Subtlety to weave in and out of Stealth rotationally. Meanwhile, Shadowstrike provides incredible mobility for attacking from Stealth. Finally, to further reinforce the matter of their relationship with sinister Shadow magic, Subtlety makes use of a new ability called Nightblade, which applies Shadow damage over time.
Rogues fend for themselves, looking for fights in which they dictate the terms. They’re the shadows in the night that remain unseen until the right moment comes to strike—then they dispatch an opponent with quick blade work or a deadly toxin snuck acutely into the bloodstream. Rogues are opportunistic thieves, bandits, and assassins, but there’s an unparalleled art to what they do.
As with Hunters, the three Rogue specializations have long suffered from a lack of distinct identity. What truly sets an Assassination Rogue apart from Subtlety? And just what is a “Combat” Rogue anyway? Aren’t all three pretty focused on the art of combat? With that in mind, we’re making some bold changes that take each spec in a much more pronounced direction. We’re finding what makes them each special and amplifying their fantasy by creating abilities and talents unique to each spec that better align with their core theme.
Blue Tweets
Blizzard has lately been very
active on Twitter
, posting clarifications on Legion developments in response to user questions. We track all of the significant tweets with our
Blue Tweet Tracker
, which lets you filter conversations by class and role.
All January 2016 Tweets (Click to view)
All November 2015 Tweets (Click to view)
Assassination
Outlaw
Subtlety
General
Datamining Updates
Links to major datamining updates:
22201 on July 12
22133 on July 5
22053 on June 28
22018 on June 23
21996 on June 21
21952 on June 14
21874 on June 8
21846 on June 2
21796 on May 26
21737 on May 19
21691 on May 9
21655 on May 5
21570 on April 27
21531 on April 21
21491 on April 13
21414 on April 6
21375 on March 30
21287 on March 17
21249 on Mar 9
21215 on Mar 3
21134 on Feb 23
21108 on Feb 18
21063 on Feb 10
20979 on Jan 27
20914 on Jan 13
20810 on Dec 15
20773 on Dec 2
20740 on Nov 20
Share your comments about this guide in our Rogue forum!
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