Shadowlands Rogue Leveling Guide & Best Leveling Spec 1-60

By Wowhead Updated: 2021/11/17

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Paryah MystlerImportant Changes to Leveling a Rogue in the Shadowlands Pre-Patch

There is a new tab on your spellbook between General and your talent specialization, simply titled "Rogue". These are abilities that are now shared by all Rogues regardless of any specialization they choose.

New Rogues will not begin in a default spec (Assassination) as they have in previous expansions. Until they are allowed to choose a spec at level 10, their abilities are drawn from the general Rogue abilities available to all specializations. Allied Race Rogues will be prompted to choose a specialization when they begin.

Experienced Rogues will notice some talents have been reworked or rearranged, and may require re-acquiring some talents.

AoE (Area of Effect) caps are being introduced in the Shadowlands pre-patch, which places a limit on how many targets the ability can hit at once. This affects some Rogue abilities.

Best Rogue Leveling Spec in ShadowlandsOutlawGrappling HookBlade FlurryStealthStealthSubtletySoothing DarknessChoosing a Rogue Specialization

Assassination: Use Sinister Strike to generate Combo Points to spend on Slice and Dice to speed up attacks or Eviscerate to do extra damage. At level 16, you will replace Sinister Strike with Mutilate, which generates more Combo points. At level 17, pick up Rupture to make the target bleed. At level 19, you will get Fan of Knives to attack enemies around you. With Envenom at level 22, you get a second combo point spender to use alongside Rupture. Always coat your weapons with Instant Poison or Deadly Poison to deplete the life of your enemies. Assassination's damage relies on keeping their poisons up on their enemies (while all Rogues can now use Poisons, it's a central part of an Assassination rogue's effectiveness).

Outlaw: Use Sinister Strike to generate Combo Points, and Pistol Shot once it's triggered. Spend Combo Points on Slice and Dice to speed up Attack Speed or Dispatch to cast devastating damage on your enemy. Keep up Roll the Bones to gain temporary combat bonuses. Outlaw's damage relies on managing your energy levels to constantly attack an enemy. At level 19, you get Blade Flurry, which gives you the ability to attack multiple targets!

Subtlety: Use Sinister Strike to generate combo points until you get Backstab at level 18 or Shadowstrike (if you're at least level 12 and in Stealth). Spend them on Eviscerate to damage a target. At level 14, you will get Shuriken Toss a ranged combo-point builder, and later Shuriken Storm for AoE damage -- with the added fun of 1 combo point per target hit. At higher levels, you can use Shadow Dance to temporarily allow you to use abilities like like Shadowstrike that are only possible in Stealth, out of Stealth. Subtlety's damage relies on balancing staying in and out of Stealth.

Choosing a Race for Your Rogue in Shadowlands

Default Races are races that are immediately available to be played when you start your WoW account.

Allied Races are races that are locked behind certain requirements that need to be met before you can create characters belonging to that race.

Alliance

Default Races:

Dwarf

Horde

Defaults Races:

Blood Elf

Best Rogue Leveling Talents in ShadowlandsSuggested Assassination Leveling Talents in ShadowlandsLeeching PoisonVigor

Level 15 Talents

Master Poisoner Passive damage increase, also provides self-sustaning synergies with Leeching Poison.

Elaborate Planning Most leveling mobs won't survive your finishers.

Blindside This ability exploits the vulnerability of foes with less than 30% health, dealing moderate Physical damage to the target.

Level 25 Talents

While Stealth is active, you move 20% faster and your abilities deal 50% more damage.

Subterfuge Your abilities requiring Stealth can still be used for 3 sec after Stealth breaks.

Master Assassin While Stealth is active and for 3 sec after breaking Stealth , your critical strike chance is increased by 50%.

This tier is less straightforward as to which talent is "best", so feel free to play with some of the other good options.

Level 30 Talents

Vigor Increases your maximum Energy by 50 and your Energy regeneration by 10%.

Deeper Stratagem You may have a maximum of 6 combo points, your finishing moves consume up to 6 combo points, and your finishing moves deal 5% increased damage.

Marked for Death This ability marks the target, instantly generating 5 combo points. Cooldown reset if the target dies within 1 min.

Level 35 Talents

Leeching Poison Adds a Leeching Poison effect to your Deadly Poison and Wound Poison, granting you 10% Leech.

Cheat Death Fatal attacks instead reduce you to 7% of your maximum health. For 3 sec afterward, you take 85% reduced damage. Cannot trigger more often than once per 6 min.

Elusiveness Feint also reduces all damage you take from non-area-of-effect attacks by 30% for 5 sec.

Level 40 Talents

Kidney Shot also deals moderate Bleed damage over 6 sec, based on combo points spent.

Iron Wire Increase the duration of Garrote's silence effect by 3 sec. Enemies silenced by Garrote deal 15% reduced damage for 8 sec.

Sting Like a Bee Enemies disabled by your Cheap Shot or Kidney Shot take 10% increased damage from all sources for 6 sec.

Level 45 Talents

Venom Rush Mutilate refunds 5 Energy when used against a poisoned target.

Alacrity Your finishing moves have a chance per combo point to grant 2% Haste for 20 seconds, stacking up to 5 times.

This ability twists your blades into the target's wounds, causing your Bleed effects on them to bleed out 100% faster.

Level 50 Talents

Poison Bomb Envenom and Rupture have a 4% chance per combo point spent to smash a vial of poison at the target's location, creating a pool of acidic death that deals moderate Nature damage over 2 sec to all enemies within it.

Hidden Blades Every 2 sec, gain 20% increased damage for your next Fan of Knives, stacking up to 20 times.

Finishing move that slashes at all enemies within 10 yards, dealing instant damage and causing victims to bleed for additional damage. Lasts longer per combo point.

Suggested Outlaw Leveling Talents in Shadowlands

Level 15 Talents

Airborne Irritant Sinister Strike has a 10% increased chance to strike an additional time.

Quick Draw Half-cost uses of Pistol Shot granted by Sinister Strike now generate 1 additional combo point, and deal 50% additional damage.

This ability strikes an enemy, dealing moderate Physical damage and causing the target to take 10% increased damage from your abilities for 10 sec. Awards 1 combo point.

Level 25 Talents

Increases the range on all your melee attacks by 3 yards.

Retractable Hook Reduce the cooldown of Grappling Hook by 15 sec. and increases its retraction speed.

Hit and Run Increases your movement speed at all times by 15%.

Level 30 Talents

Vigor Increases your maximum Energy by 50 and your Energy regeneration by 10%.

Deeper Stratagem You may have a maximum of 6 combo points, your finishing moves consume up to 6 combo points, and your finishing moves deal 5% increased damage.

Marked for Death This ability marks the target, instantly generating 5 combo points. Cooldown reset if the target dies within 1 min.

Level 35 Talents

Iron Stomach Increases the healing you receive from Crimson Vial, healing potions, and healthstones by 30%.

Cheat Death Fatal attacks instead reduce you to 7% of your maximum health. For 3 sec afterward, you take 85% reduced damage. Cannot trigger more often than once per 6 min.

Elusiveness Feint also reduces all damage you take from non-area-of-effect attacks by 30% for 5 sec.

Level 40 Talents

Dirty Tricks Cheap Shot , Gouge and Sap no longer cost Energy.

Blinding Powder Reduces the cooldown of Blind by 30 sec and increases its range by 15 yds.

Sting Like a Bee Enemies disabled by your , Cheap Shot or Kidney Shot take 10% increased damage from all sources for 6 sec.

Level 45 Talents

Loaded Dice Activating Adrenaline Rush causes your next Roll the Bones to grant at least two matches.

Alacrity Your finishing moves have a 20% chance per combo point to grant 2% Haste for 20 sec, stacking up to 5 times.

Dreadblades Strike at an enemy, dealing (95% of Attack power) Physical damage and empowering your weapons for 10 sec, causing your Sinister Strike, Ambush, and Pistol Shot to fill your combo points, but your finishing moves consume 5% of your current health.

Level 50 Talents

Dancing Steel Increases the duration of Blade Flurry by 3 sec. and its damage by 5%.

Blade Rush Charge to your target with your blades out, dealing Physical damage to the target and to all other nearby enemies. While Blade Flurry is active, damage to non-primary targets is increased by 100%.

Killing Spree Teleport to an enemy within 10 yards, attacking with both weapons for Physical damage over 2 sec. While Blade Flurry is active, also hits up to 4 nearby enemies for 100% damage.

Suggested Subtlety Leveling Talents in Shadowlands

Level 15 Talents

Weaponmaster Shadowstrike and Backstab have a 15% chance to hit the target twice each time they deal damage.

Premeditation After entering Stealth, your next Shadowstrike grants up to 10 sec of Slice and Dice, and generates 2 additional combo points if Slice and Dice is active.

Gloomblade This ability punctures your target with your shadow-infused blade for moderate Shadow damage, bypassing armor. Awards 1 combo point. Note that Gloomblade replaces Backstab.

Level 25 Talents

While Stealth is active, you move 20% faster and your abilities deal 12% more damage

Subterfuge Your abilities requiring Stealth can still be used for 3 sec after Stealth breaks. Also increases the duration of Shadow Dance by 1 sec.

Shadow Focus Abilities cost 20% less Energy while Stealth or Shadow Dance is active.

Level 30 Talents

Vigor Increases your maximum Energy by 50 and your Energy regeneration by 10%.

Deeper Stratagem You may have a maximum of 6 combo points, your finishing moves consume up to 6 combo points, and your finishing moves deal 5% increased damage.

Marked for Death This ability marks the target, instantly generating 5 combo points. Cooldown reset if the target dies within 1 min.

Level 35 Talents

Soothing Darkness You heal 3% of your maximum health every 1 sec while Stealth or Shadow Dance is active.

Cheat Death Fatal attacks instead reduce you to 7% of your maximum health. For 3 sec afterward, you take 85% reduced damage. Cannot trigger more often than once per 6 min.

Elusiveness Feint also reduces all damage you take from non-area-of-effect attacks by 30% for 5 sec.

Level 40 Talents

Shot in the Dark After entering Stealth or Shadow Dance, your next Cheap Shot is free.

Night Terrors Shuriken Storm reduces enemies' movement speed by 30% for 8 sec.

Sting Like a Bee Enemies disabled by your Cheap Shot or Kidney Shot take 10% increased damage from all sources for 6 sec.

Level 45 Talents

Dark Shadow While Shadow Dance is active, all damage you deal is increased by 30%.

Alacrity Your finishing moves have a 20% chance per combo point to grant 2% Haste for 20 sec, stacking up to 5 times.

Enveloping Shadows Deepening Shadows reduces the remaining cooldown of Shadow Dance by an additional 1 sec per combo point spent. Shadow Dance gains 1 additional charge.

Level 50 Talents

Master of Shadows Gain 25 Energy over 3 sec when you enter Stealth or activate Shadow Dance.

Secret Technique This ability is a finishing move that creates shadow clones of yourself. You and your shadow clones each perform a piercing attack on all enemies near your target, dealing Physical damage to the primary target and reduced damage to other targets. Cooldown is reduced by 1 sec for every combo point you spend.

Shuriken Tornado This ability makes you focus intently, releasing a Shuriken Storm every sec for the next 4 sec.

Best Rogue Leveling Rotation in ShadowlandsOptimal Ability Use While Leveling - All SpecializationsOptimal Assassination Rogue Ability Use While LevelingCheap ShotGarroteElite Mobs:BlindSapDistractRuptureEnvenomEvasionCrimson VialVanishLots of small mobs:Fan of KnivesSapDistractDungeons:Cheap ShotKidney ShotBlindKickKidney ShotOptimal Outlaw Rogue Ability Use While LevelingCheap ShotAmbushElite Mobs:BlindSapDistractPistol ShotEvasionCrimson VialVanishLots of small mobs:Blade FlurryKilling SpreeSapDistractDungeons:Cheap ShotKidney ShotBlindKickKidney ShotOptimal Subtlety Rogue Ability Use While LevelingCheap ShotShadowstrikeElite Mobs:BlindSapDistractNightbladeShuriken TossEvasionCrimson VialVanishLots of small mobs:Shuriken StormSapDistractDungeons:Cheap ShotKidney ShotBlindKickKidney ShotBest Weapons and Gear for Leveling a Rogue in Shadowlands

Assassination rogues should use only Daggers in both hands, as many of their abilities will not work otherwise.

Outlaw rogues have the most flexibility, and may use any combination of Daggers, Swords, Axes, Maces, and Fist Weapons. However, the level 22 finishing move Dispatch only works if you have a Melee weapon in your main hand, not a dagger, so it's best to have a non-dagger in the main hand.

Subtletey rogues should always use a Dagger in their main hand, but have flexibility on whatever other one-handed weapon they wish to use as an off-handed weapon, at least until level 27 . Many Subtlety abilities do not work without a Dagger in the main hand slot. At level 27, you get the passive skill Shadow Techniques, which works far better with a dagger equipped in your off-hand.

Rogue Heirlooms in Shadowlands

(2) Set: Rested experience consumed is reduced by 30%.

(3) Set: Increases your out-of-combat regeneration in the outdoors, normal dungeons and battlegrounds.

(4) Set: Gaining a level triggers Burst of Knowledge, dealing Holy damage to nearby enemies and granting you 40% primary stat for 2 minutes. Defeating additional enemies extends this effect, up to 2 additional minutes.

(6) Set: Rested experience consumed is reduced by an additional 30%.

Helm: Stained Shadowcraft Cap

Necklace: Man'ari Training Amulet

Shoulder: Stained Shadowcraft Spaulders

Cloak: Inherited Cape of the Black Baron

Chest: Stained Shadowcraft Tunic

Legs: Stained Shadowcraft Pants

Rings: Admiral Taylor's Loyalty Ring, Dread Pirate Ring

Trinkets: Swift Hand of Justice, Touch of the Void

Daggers: Balanced Heartseeker, Sharpened Scarlet Kris

1H Melee Weapons: Battleworn Thrash Blade, Venerable Mass of McGowan, Venerable Dal'Rend's Sacred Charge

Chauffeured ChopperHeirloom HoarderRelics of the Past

Relic of the Past I: Set the Item Level to 23 and the Required Level to 15.

Relic of the Past II: Set the Item Level to 33 and the Required Level to 25.

Relic of the Past III: Set the Item Level to 43 and the Required Level to 35.

Relic of the Past IV: Set the Item Level to 56 and the Required Level to 45.

Relic of the Past V: Set the Item Level to 100 and the Required Level to 50.

Stat Weights while Leveling in ShadowlandsBest Rogue Leveling Professions in ShadowlandsHerbalismMiningSkinningHerbalismMiningLeatherworkingSkinningAlchemyHerbalismBest Rogue Questing Path in Shadowlands

Levels 1-10: Your race's Starting Area or Exile's Reach

Levels 10-50: Battle for Azeroth zones or other expansion zones via Chromie Time

Levels 50-60: Shadowlands Storyline or Threads of Fate

The original Azeroth continents of Kalimdor and East Kingdoms offer great variety and nostalgia, with many of the base lore stories that serve as the base of the entire series.

Burning Crusade has some of the best dungeons of the expansions, with interesting variety and not a lot of complicated mechanics.

Wrath of the Lich King offers a linear story that provides much of the basis of events that are coming up in Shadowlands.

Cataclysm is more like a series of vignettes, with each of the five zones offering a different but contained story line.

Pandaria's beauty and humor appeal to those who like a good story, but also enjoy the more lighthearted side of things.

Draenor introduces the Garrison, a player-built development with your own choices of buildings. Its tone is overall much more grim and dark.

Legion offers the artifact weapons and Class Halls, which give interesting developments to your character as a class member.

Battle for Azeroth, as the expansion just prior to Shadowlands, gives the immediate story just prior to Shadowlands, so is a good choice for players who may be returning after a long hiatus and need to get caught up on the lore.

Threads of Fate LevelingShadowlands Rogue Leveling Gameplay MechanicsUsing Energy and Combo Points on Your RogueEnergyCombo PointsSinister StrikePistol ShotDispatchDeeper StratagemMarked for DeathRogue StealthStealth

Cheap Shot is an opening move which stuns the target and grants combo points.

Sap is a CC ability which can only be used from stealth.

Pick Pocket allows you to pick pockets for gold and other fun loot! This includes Coins of Air in Legion which is used to buy fun Rogue-only items!

Vanish

Garrote also silences the target when used from Stealth

Ambush is a strong Outlaw-only attack which generates 2 combo points and can only be used in Stealth.

A key part of Subtlety is usage of Shadow Dance, an ability which grants use of all Stealth abilities and benefits, such as the Stealth-only damage ability Shadowstrike.

Many Subtlety talents also enhance Stealth, such as Master of Subtlety which increases damage from Stealth and Shadow Focus to reduce the cost of abilities in Stealth, encouraging you to take advantage of Stealth and Shadow Dance frequently.

Rogue UtilityEvasionCrimson VialCloak of ShadowsSprintGrappling HookKickCrippling PoisonNumbing PoisonInstant PoisonWound PoisonShivSapBlindCheap ShotKidney ShotTricks of the TradeFeintShroud of ConcealmentShadowlands Rogue Class AbilitiesStarting Abilities: Exile's Reach and 1-10 ZonesSinister Strike

At level 2, you learn Eviscerate, your first Finishing move. This is a big strike, multiplying a percentage of your attack power for every Combo point you have to spend. The more Combo points you build, the harder it hits.

At level 3, you learn Stealth, which conceals you in the shadows until canceled, allowing you to stalk enemies without being seen. You will also learn Cheap Shot, your first ability that you can only use in Stealth. This strike stuns your target for 4 seconds, and is a very effective opening shot against enemies. Gives you a few free licks before your enemy can engage!

At level 4, you will learn the Fleet Footed passive effect, which increases your movement speed and reduces your fall damage.

At level 5, you learn Sprint, which increases your run speed by 70% for 8 seconds. You can even use it while stealthed! Save it for when you need to make a quick getaway.

At level 6, you learn Kick, which interrupts a spellcaster and prevents them from casting in the same school for 5 seconds. Very handy interrupt with a short cooldown. Kick often -- but not necessarily early. Letting an enemy get off a long cast and then interrupting it just before it goes off wastes more of the enemy's time!

At level 7, you learn Ambush, another attack out of Stealth. This one does damage alone, so now you will need to decide if you prefer to open with stun or damage.

At level 8, you learn Crimson Vial, a self-heal for 20% health over 4 seconds, with a fairly short cooldown. Not a big heal, but use as often as you can through the fight to keep yourself topped off.

At level 9, you learn, Slice and Dice, a finishing move that increases attack speed by 50%. Additional combo points affect duration, not power, but a Slice and Dice with a lot of Combo points behind it lasts a good long time and doesn't need immediate refreshing.

At level 10, you learn to Poison your weapons, and get the ability to apply Instant Poison. Rogues going through Exile's Reach may get this ability a bit earlier depending on when they do their special class quest.

Rogue General Class Abilities

Sap (Requires Stealth) (level 11): Incapacitates a target not in combat for 1 min. Only works on Humanoids, Beasts, Demons, and Dragonkin. Damage will revive the target. You can only have one target Sapped at a time; sapping another target will break the Sap on the first.

Kidney Shot (level 13): Finishing move that stuns the target. Lasts longer per combo point

Pick Lock (level 14): Allows opening of locked chests and doors that require a skill level of up to Level.

Evasion (level 21): Increases your dodge chance by 100% for 10 sec.

Vanish (level 23): Allows you to vanish from sight, entering stealth while in combat. For the first 3 sec after vanishing, damage and harmful effects received will not break stealth. Also breaks movement impairing effects.

Pick Pocket (Requires Stealth) (level 24): Picks the target's pocket. Doesn't work on all mobs; if that happens, you will get an error message that there are no pockets to pick.

Distract (level 28): Throws a distraction, attracting the attention of all nearby monsters for 10 seconds. Usable while stealthed. Helpful for stopping the progress of roaming see-invis mobs.

Improved Sprint (level 31, Rank 2): Cooldown reduced by 60 sec.

(level 32): Attack with your dealing Physical damage and applying a concentrated form of your active Non-lethal poison (crippling or numbing poison).

Crippling Poison (level 33): Coats your weapons with a Non-Lethal Poison that lasts for 1 hour. Each strike has a 30% chance to poison the enemy, slowing movement speed by 50% for 12 sec.

Feint (level 34): Performs an evasive maneuver, reducing damage taken from area-of-effect attacks by 40%

Wound Poison (level 36): Coats your weapons with a Lethal Poison that lasts for 1 hour. Each strike has a 30% chance to poison the enemy, which instantly inflicts Nature damage and reduces all healing received by 8% for 12 sec, stacking up to 3 times.

Blind (level 39): Blinds the target, causing it to wander disoriented for 1 min. Damage will interrupt the effect. You can only have one target Blinded; blinding another will break it on the first.

Cloak of Shadows (level 47): Provides a moment of magic immunity, instantly removing all harmful spell effects. The cloak lingers, causing you to resist harmful spells for 5 sec.

Tricks of the Trade (level 48): Increases you and the target's damage by 10%, and redirects all threat you cause to the targeted party or raid member, beginning with your next damaging attack within the next 30 sec and lasting 6 sec.

Shroud of Concealment (Requires Stealth) (level 49): Extend a cloak that shrouds party and raid members within 30 yards in shadows, providing stealth for 15 sec.

Numbing Poison (level 54): Coats your weapons with a Non-Lethal Poison that lasts for 1 hour. Each strike has a 50% chance of poisoning the enemy, clouding their mind and slowing their attack and casting speed by 15% for 10 sec.

Rogue Assassination Class Abilities

Mastery: Potent Assassin (Passive) (level 10): Increases damage done by your poisons.

Mutilate (level 12): Attack with both weapons, dealing Physical damage. Awards 2 combo points.

Sinister Strike (level 12, Rank 2): Sinister Strike's energy cost is reduced by 5.

Deadly Poison (level 13): Coats your weapons with a Lethal Poison that lasts for 1 hour. Each strike has a 30% chance to poison the enemy for Nature damage over 12 sec. Subsequent poison applications will instantly deal Nature damage.

Deadened Nerves (level 16): Garrote the enemy, causing Bleed damage over 18 sec.

Rupture (level 17): Finishing move that tears open the target, dealing Bleed damage over time. Lasts longer per combo point.

Shadowstep (level 18): Step through the shadows to appear behind your target and gain 70% increased movement speed for 2 sec.

Fan of Knives (level 19): Sprays knives at up to 8 targets within 10 yards, dealing Physical damage and applying your active poisons at their normal rate. Awards 1 combo points.

Envenom (level 22): Finishing move that drives your poisoned blades in deep, dealing instant Nature damage and increasing your poison application chance by 30%. Damage and duration increased per combo point.

Seal Fate (Passive) (level 27): When you critically strike with a melee attack that generates combo points, you gain an additional combo point per critical strike.

Poisoned Knife (level 29): Throws a poison-coated knife, dealing (16% of Attack power) damage and applying your active Lethal and Non-Lethal Poisons. Awards 1 combo point.

Venomous Wounds (Passive) (level 37): You regain 7 Energy each time your Garrote or Rupture deal Bleed damage to a poisoned target. If an enemy dies while afflicted by your Rupture, you regain energy based on its remaining duration.

Mastery: Potent Assassin (level 41, Mastery, Rank 2): Mastery: Potent Assassin also increases damage of your bleeds.

Vendetta (level 42): Marks an enemy for death for 20 sec, increasing the damage your abilities and auto attacks deal to the target by 30%, and making the target visible to you even through concealments such as stealth and invisibility. Generates 60 Energy over 3 sec.

Improved Poisons (Passive) (level 43): Increases the application chance of your poisons by 20%, and poisons are applied to your weapons 33% faster.

Improved Wound Poison (level 44, Rank 2): Wound Poison can now stack 2 additional times.

Deadened Nerves (level 46, Rank 2): Garrote silences the target for 3 sec when used from Stealth.

Improved Poisons (level 52, Rank 2): While Stealth is active, your attacks have a 100% chance to apply your active Lethal and Non-Lethal Poisons.

Slice and Dice (level 56, Rank 2): Slice and Dice increases attack speed by an additional 20%.

Improved Shiv (level 58, Rank 2): Shiv now also increases your Nature damage done against the target by 20% for 9 sec.

Rogue Outlaw Class Abilities

Sinister Strike (level 10): Replaces standard Sinister Strike with one that does more damage.

Mastery: Main Gauche (Passive) (level 10): Your main-hand attacks have a 30% chance to trigger an attack with your off-hand that deals Physical damage.

Pistol Shot (level 12): Draw a concealed pistol and fire a quick shot at an enemy, dealing Physical damage and reducing movement speed by 30% for 6 sec. Awards 1 combo point.

Opportunity (level 12, Rank 2): Sinister Strike has a 35% chance to hit an additional time, making your next Pistol Shot half cost and double damage.

(level 17): Finishing move that deals damage with your pistol, increasing your critical strike damage against the target by 20%.

Grappling Hook (level 18): Launch a grappling hook and pull yourself to the target location. (Very handy for reaching difficult-to-get treasures!)

Blade Flurry (level 19): Causes your single target attacks to also strike up to 4 nearby enemies for 40% of normal damage for 12 sec.

Dispatch (level 22): Finishing move that dispatches the enemy, dealing damage per combo point.

Ruthlessness (Passive) (level 27): Your finishing moves have a 20% chance per combo point spent to grant a combo point.

Roll the Bones (level 29): Roll the dice of fate, providing a random combat enhancement for 30 sec.

Fatal Flourish (Passive) (level 37): Your off-hand attacks have a 75% chance to generate 10 Energy.

Restless Blades (level 41): Finishing moves reduce the remaining cooldown of Adrenaline Rush, Between the Eyes, Blade Flurry, Grappling Hook, Roll the Bones, Sprint, Ghostly Strike, Marked for Death, Blade Rush, Killing Spree, and Vanish by 1 sec per combo point.

Adrenaline Rush (level 42): Increases your Energy regeneration rate by 60%, your maximum Energy by 50, and your attack speed by 20% for 20 sec.

Fatal Flourish (level 43, Rank 2): Your off-hand attacks have a 75% chance to generate 10 Energy.

Improved Between the Eyes (level 44, Rank 2): Critical strikes with Between the Eyes deal four times normal damage.

Gouge (level 46): Gouges the eyes of an enemy target, incapacitating for 4 sec. Damage will interrupt the effect. Must be in front of your target. Awards 1 combo point.

Blade Flurry (level 52, Rank 2): Blade Flurry now instantly strikes up to nearby 5 targets for Physical damage.

Grappling Hook (level 56, Rank 2): Cooldown reduced by 15 sec.

(level 58, Rank 2): Dodging an attack while Evasion is active will trigger Mastery: Main Gauche.

Rogue Subtlety Class Abilities

Mastery: Executioner (Passive) (level 10): Increases the damage done by your finishing moves by 19.6%.

Shadowstrike (level 12): (Requires Stealth) Strike the target, dealing Physical damage. Awards 2 combo points.

Backstab (level 14): Stab the target, causing Physical damage. Damage increased by 20% when you are behind your target. Awards 1 combo point.

Shuriken Toss (level 16): Throws a shuriken at an enemy target for Physical damage. Awards 1 combo point.

Rupture (level 17): Finishing move that tears open the target, dealing Bleed damage over time. Lasts longer per combo point.

Shadowstep (level 18): Step through the shadows to appear behind your target and gain 70% increased movement speed for 2 sec.

Shuriken Storm (level 19): Sprays shurikens at up to 8 targets within 10 yards, dealing Physical damage. Awards 1 combo point per target hit.

Shadow Dance (level 22): Allows use of all Stealth abilities and grants all the combat benefits of Stealth for 8 sec, and increases damage by 15%. Effect not broken from taking damage or attacking.

Relentless Strikes (Passive) (level 26): Your finishing moves generate 6 Energy per combo point spent.

Shadow Techniques (level 27): Your auto attacks have a chance to generate 1 combo point and 8 Energy.

Symbols of Death (level 29): Invoke ancient symbols of power, generating 40 Energy and increasing your damage done by 15% for 10 sec.

Find Weakness (Passive) (level 37): Cheap Shot and Shadowstrike reveal a flaw in your target's defenses, causing all of your attacks to bypass 30% of that enemy's armor for 18 sec.

Deepening Shadows (level 41) (Passive): Your finishing moves reduce the remaining cooldown on Shadow Dance by (10% / 10) sec per combo point spent.

Shadow Blades (level 42): Draws upon surrounding shadows to empower your weapons, causing your combo point generating abilities to generate 1 additional combo point and deal 50% additional damage as Shadow for 20 sec.

Sprint (level 43, Rank 3): Sprint now allows you to run over water.

Symbols of Death (level 43, Rank 2): Symbols of Death causes your next combo point generator to critically strike.

Eviscerate (level 44, Rank 2): Eviscerate deals an additional 50% damage as Shadow to targets with your Find Weakness active.

Improved Backstab (level 46, Rank 2): When you are behind your target, Backstab critical strikes now also expose a flaw in their defenses, applying Find Weakness for 6 sec.

Black Powder (level 52): Finishing move that launches explosive Black Powder at up to 8 nearby targets dealing Physical damage.

Improved Shuriken Storm (level 56, Rank 2): Shuriken Storm critical strikes apply Find Weakness for 6 sec.

Shadowlands Rogue End-Game GuidesRogue DPS Max Level Guides for ShadowlandsAssassination Rogue Shadowlands GuideOutlaw Rogue Shadowlands GuideSubtlety Rogue Shadowlands Guide

Comments

Comment by agatzepowr

thx guys for this guide, now i'll reroll rogue ^^

Comment by Twiceasnice

Important to note for new players that stealth is not without it's limits; get too close to an enemy (especially if it's a higher level than you) and you risk being seen and pulled out of stealth and attacked, so you should always keep your distance and stick to mobs peripheral vision rather than walking right in front / through them.

Comment by Parallax1712

Thank you for posting the new guide. Being a returning player I felt kinda lost with the new changes , but this guide really helped.

Comment by eyrie

Love the guide - thank you. Just as a note: under level 45 talents you have Fury instead of Outlaw plus the talents are all the same - not sure if this is the case but it isn't for other talent levels. cheers

Comment by OrbitStorm

For Outlaw Rogues, Kidney Shot is now .

Haven't touched my level 62 Rogue since pre-Legion and was highly confused when KS was a suggested part of the rotation. Lots of helpful information here but that bit definitely needs to be corrected.

Comment by Nasaud

Is it worth playing rogue nowadays ?

Comment by hevgirl

so where exactly is the 110-120 section of this guide?
...'cause I sure don't see it lol

Comment by MarcelRE

For some reason, I can't see the picture with Subtley's talent tree. Can someone help me please?

Comment by Gravelstein

How is Cheat Death better than Iron Stomach for leveling as an Outlaw Rogue? Hardly ever do you encounter the need to "cheat death" while leveling, but healing after a fight or two is. I believe that Cheat Death is better at max level, but Iron Stomach better in just about all cases for leveling.

Comment by sivla

its okay having best spec, but it missed out something very crucial, and thats the rotation.

Comment by Geiir

Assassination is by far the best leveling spec. While it lack teleports it deal way more damage and have better sustain than the other two specs.

With the new squish and rebalancing of the dungeons it really get to shine through. Now that a boss fight actually last 2-3 minutes assassination heavily out damage the other two specs.

Put dots on several mobs or keep the boss dotted while you’re burning down an add.

Subtlety and outlaw doesn’t get any sort of AoE before level 63 while assassination start its AoE at level 10. Then we get Garrote at 12 and Rupture at 20. At 30 we can put Garrote on 4 targets in the opener and have a full combo point Rupture ready to go.

Outlaw was the king of leveling, but now I have to say it is assassination after the rebalancing of mobs and instances.

Comment by Miuho

Outlaw rogues don't have evasion.

Use cooldowns like Evasion, Riposte and Crimson Vial to survive.

Comment by Jevnaker

what heirloom weapons to use for the different specs?

Comment by Trif55

Last time I was leveling was in Warlords of Draenor with the "Cloak and Dagger" talent where Sub spec got 45 yard ambush for jumping mob to mob, feels so painful now walking slowly through groups of mobs with either Shadowstep on cooldown (and only 25 yards) or the clunky grappling hook! I really hope they bring something like that back, really made stealth feel dynamic and exciting!

Comment by dmbiv

This guide should be updated(and it isnt going to be me). I've played Rogue since vanilla off and on and trying to level up an alt in BFA from level 1 is just about a nightmare. I get AOE at level 63 in outlaw spec! What! I'm only level 50 currently but it's going to be a stretch just to get the nerfed version of blades flurry. Heirlooms aren't really helping. I want to play outlaw but maybe the other specs would be easier. Why does this game have to start at level 120 now?

Comment by solitha

The guide recommends Outlaw for leveling, but because of two talents which aren't in the recommended leveling build. Could this be checked into please?

Comment by solitha

After spending some time with rogue alts at max level and in leveling, I'd recommend avoiding Outlaw. I like the spec, it's generally fun... except Roll the Bones. RtB is so incredibly random. The good buffs are too powerful to ignore the skill, but RNG may mean using RtB over and over without any worthwhile buffs. Meanwhile whatever you're fighting is having a delightful time eating your health away.

Comment by PaulGR

Beware. Guide is incomplete.

Assassination is possibly the worst choice for levelling, or soloing in general. You will be waiting for energy refills, have no viable heals, and generally won't be able to solo more than 2 mobs without dropping to half health. The best levelling choice for me is Subtlety.

Comment by sofibo12345

this guide was very helpful and my rogue would be nothing if i hadn't read it thanks for posting it

Shadowlands Rogue Leveling Guide & Best Leveling Spec 1-60

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