Combat Rogue guide

Rotation and opener

Poison your main hand with Instant Poison and your off hand with Deadly Poison. Establish Slice and Dice before committing Blade Flurry and Adrenaline Rush to a target that will survive the cooldown window.

Combat priority

1. 
   Slice and Dice

   Use early combo points to establish the buff, then preserve it through the fight. Spending on Eviscerate is secondary if it would leave Slice and Dice down.

2. 
   Blade Flurry

   Use for a damage window with two nearby attackable enemies. Position so the extra target is useful rather than a mob the group is trying to control.

3. 
   Adrenaline Rush

   With the deep Combat talent, activate when you can stay in melee range. Spend actively throughout the increased Energy generation.

4. 
   Sinister Strike

   Build combo points with a strong main hand. For the dagger alternative use Backstab from the correct position; do not repeatedly fail a positional attack.

5. 
   Eviscerate

   Spend excess combo points without sacrificing Slice and Dice. Finish a nearly dead target before it takes your accumulated points with it.

Multiple targets and dungeon pulls

Use Blade Flurry when two enemies are close enough for your melee attacks to hit both. Continue attacking the priority target while Blade Flurry damages the second enemy.

Keep Slice and Dice active for faster auto-attacks. If Adrenaline Rush is available, combining the cooldowns can provide a strong damage increase during longer fights.

Use Kick to interrupt dangerous spells, and avoid attacking enemies that the group is trying to keep crowd-controlled.

Resources and cooldowns

Adrenaline Rush increases your Energy regeneration by 100% for 15 seconds. Use it when you can attack your target continuously, preferably during a boss fight or a longer encounter.

During Adrenaline Rush, spend Energy on Sinister Strike and finishers before reaching maximum Energy. Keep enough Energy available for Kick if you are responsible for interrupting an enemy spell.

Blade Flurry increases your melee attack speed by 20% and allows your attacks to hit a second nearby enemy for 15 seconds. Use it against two targets whenever possible. Activate Slice and Dice beforehand if it needs refreshing.

Against a single boss, Blade Flurry can still increase your attack speed. Use it for additional damage unless you need it for an upcoming fight with multiple enemies.

Sprint helps you reach targets quickly after movement. Use Evasion when you need to avoid incoming melee attacks, particularly if an enemy turns toward you.

Specialization mechanics and group play

Sinister Strike is your main Combo Point generator when using a sword, mace, axe or fist weapon in your main hand. If you choose a Backstab build instead, you need a dagger and must attack from behind your target.

Hack and Slash provides different bonuses depending on your weapon type. Swords and axes can trigger additional attacks, daggers and fist weapons improve critical strike chance, and maces provide armor penetration. Compare weapons based on their damage, speed, stats and the bonus available to your build.

Precision increases your chance to hit with melee attacks and poisons by 1% per talent rank. With three points invested, you gain 3% additional hit chance.

Kick interrupts enemy spellcasting. When fighting bosses or dangerous dungeon enemies, save enough Energy to interrupt important spells instead of spending everything on another Sinister Strike or Eviscerate.

PvE talent choices

50-point Sinister Strike core 50 points · 18 / 32 / 0

This 50-point core keeps one point unspent: the newer Flawless Execution talent is not part of the calculator’s retained talent version. The linked build preserves the displayed allocation exactly.

Assassination

0/3Improved Gouge0/3 · PassiveIncreases the duration of your Gouge ability by 0.5 sec.0/2Remorseless Attacks0/2 · PassiveAfter killing a non-trivial enemy, gives you a 20% increased critical strike chance on your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Mutilate, or Ghostly Strike. Lasts 20 sec.5/5Malice5/5 · PassiveIncreases your critical strike chance with all attacks and Poisons by 1%.3/3Ruthlessness3/3 · PassiveGives your finishing moves a 60% chance to add a combo point to your target.0/2Murder0/2 · PassiveIncreases all damage dealt by 2% against Humanoid and Giant targets.3/3Improved Slice and Dice3/3 · PassiveIncreases the duration of your Slice and Dice ability by 45%.1/1Relentless Strikes1/1 · PassiveYour finishing moves have a 20% chance per combo point to restore 25 energy.0/2Improved Expose Armor0/2 · PassiveReduces the Energy cost of your Expose Armor ability by 5, and refunds 1 Combo Point when cast with 5 Combo Points.5/5Lethality5/5 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Mutilate, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 6%.Requires Malice0/5Vile Poisons0/5 · PassiveIncreases the damage dealt by your poisons by 4% and gives your poisons an additional 8% chance to resist dispel effects.1/1Cold Blood1/1 · ActiveWhen activated, increases the critical strike chance of your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Eviscerate, or Mutilate by 100%.0/5Improved Poisons0/5 · PassiveIncreases the chance to apply Poisons to your target by 2%, and gives Poison applications a 10% chance to not consume a charge.0/2Vigor0/2 · PassiveIncreases your maximum Energy by 5.0/1Mutilate0/1 · ActiveInstantly attacks with both weapons for 75% weapon damage plus an additional 13 with each weapon. Damage increased by 20% against Poisoned targets. Awards 2 Combo Points.0/2Improved Kidney Shot0/2 · PassiveEnemies Stunned by your Kidney Shot ability take 5% increased damage from your poisons and attacks.0/5Seal Fate0/5 · PassiveYour critical strikes from abilities that add combo points have a 20% chance to add an additional combo point.0/1Venom0/1 · ActiveFinishing move that increases the damage of your Poisons by 30% and your chance to apply Poisons by 10%. Lasts longer per combo point: 1 point: 9 seconds 2 points: 12 seconds 3 points: 15 seconds 4 points: 18 seconds 5 points: 21 secondsRequires Mutilate

Malice 5/5Ruthlessness 3/3Improved Slice and Dice 3/3Relentless Strikes 1/1Lethality 5/5Cold Blood 1/1

Combat

3/3Improved Eviscerate3/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by your Eviscerate ability by 7%.2/2Improved Sinister Strike2/2 · PassiveReduces the Energy cost of your Sinister Strike ability by 5.0/5Lightning Reflexes0/5 · PassiveIncreases your Dodge chance by 1%.0/3Puncturing Wounds0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Backstab by 10% and your Mutilate by 5%, and gives Backstab a 15% chance to add an additional Combo Point.3/3Deflection3/3 · PassiveIncreases your Parry chance by 2%.3/3Precision3/3 · PassiveIncreases your chance to hit with all attacks and Poisons by 1%.2/2Endurance2/2 · PassiveReduces the cooldown of your Sprint and Evasion abilities by 30%.0/1Riposte0/1 · ActiveA strike that becomes active after parrying an opponent's attack. This attack deals 150% weapon damage and disarms the target for 6 sec.Requires Deflection2/2Improved Sprint2/2 · PassiveGives a 100% chance to remove all movement impairing effects when you activate your Sprint ability.0/2Improved Kick0/2 · PassiveGives your Kick ability a 50% chance to silence the target for 2 sec.0/1Restless Blades0/1 · PassiveYour damaging finishing moves reduce the remaining cooldown of your Adrenaline Rush, Blade Flurry, Evasion, Sprint, and Vanish abilities by 2 sec per combo point.5/5Dual Wield Specialization5/5 · PassiveIncreases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 25%.Requires Precision1/1Blade Flurry1/1 · ActiveIncreases your melee attack speed by 20% and your melee attacks strike an additional nearby opponent. Lasts 15 sec.5/5Hack and Slash5/5 · PassiveGives your melee weapon attacks a benefit depending on the weapon. Axe/Sword: Your successful melee attacks have a 5% chance to trigger an extra attack on the target. Dagger/Fist: Increases your critical strike chance by 5%. Mace: Your attacks ignore 15% of your target's armor.2/2Weapon Expertise2/2 · PassiveReduces the chance for your attacks to be Dodged or Parried by 1%.Requires Blade Flurry3/3Aggression3/3 · PassiveIncreases the damage of your Sinister Strike, Backstab, and Eviscerate abilities by 2%.Requires Hack and Slash1/1Adrenaline Rush1/1 · ActiveIncreases your Energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 sec.

Improved Eviscerate 3/3Improved Sinister Strike 2/2Deflection 3/3Precision 3/3Endurance 2/2Improved Sprint 2/2Dual Wield Specialization 5/5Blade Flurry 1/1Hack and Slash 5/5Weapon Expertise 2/2Aggression 3/3Adrenaline Rush 1/1

Subtlety

0/5Camouflage0/5 · PassiveReduces your speed penalty from your Stealth ability by 3% and reduces its cooldown by 2 sec.0/3Master of Deception0/3 · PassiveReduces the chance enemies have to detect you while in Stealth mode as if you were 1 level higher.0/2Opportunity0/2 · PassiveIncreases the damage dealt by your Backstab, Garrote, Ambush, and Mutilate abilities by 5%.0/3Setup0/3 · PassiveGives you a 33% chance to add a Combo Point to your target after Dodging an attack or fully resisting a spell.0/2Elusiveness0/2 · PassiveReduces the cooldown of your Vanish and Blind abilities by 45 sec.0/2Dirty Tricks0/2 · PassiveReduces the Energy cost of your Sap and Blind abilities by 25%.0/3Improved Ambush0/3 · PassiveIncreases the critical strike chance of your Ambush ability by 15%.0/3Initiative0/3 · PassiveGives you a 33% chance to add an additional combo point to your target when using your Ambush, Garrote, or Cheap Shot ability.0/1Ghostly Strike0/1 · ActiveA strike that deals 125% (180% if a Dagger is equipped in your Main Hand) weapon damage and increases your chance to dodge by 15% for 7 sec. Awards 1 combo point.0/2Improved Distract0/2 · PassiveIncreases the radius of your Distract ability by 3 yds, and further reduces the Stealth detection of distracted enemies as though they were an additional 1 level lower.0/2Heightened Senses0/2 · PassiveIncreases your Stealth detection as if you were 1 level higher and reduces your chance to be hit by spells and ranged attacks by 2%.0/1Premeditation0/1 · ActiveAdds 2 Combo Points to your target. You must add to or use those combo points within 20 sec or the combo points are lost.0/3Serrated Blades0/3 · PassiveCauses your attacks to ignore 3% of your target's Armor and increases the damage dealt by your Rupture ability by 10%.0/2Dirty Deeds0/2 · PassiveReduces the Energy cost of your Cheap Shot and Garrote abilities by 10, and your Garrote ability no longer requires you to be behind your target.0/1Preparation0/1 · ActiveWhen activated, this ability immediately finishes the cooldown on your other Rogue abilities.0/1Hemorrhage0/1 · ActiveAn instant strike that deals 100% weapon damage (145% if a Dagger is equipped) and causes the target to take 15% increased Rupture damage from the Rogue. Lasts 15 sec. Awards 1 Combo Point.Requires Serrated Blades0/5Quietus0/5 · PassiveYour Sinister Strike, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities cause 2% more damage against targets below 35% health.Requires Dirty Deeds0/5Cutthroat0/5 · PassiveYour Backstab has a 3% chance to cause your next Ambush within 10 sec to not require Stealth.0/1Thousand Cuts0/1 · PassiveWhen your Rupture ability deals periodic damage, the Energy cost of your next Hemorrhage or Backstab ability within 10 sec is reduced by 3, stacking up to 5 times.Requires Preparation

Open this exact build in the calculator

Build reference · Level-60 allocations are beta plans, not final launch performance rankings.

Important talent effects

Improved Sinister Strike

Reduces the Energy cost of your Sinister Strike ability by 3.

2 ranks

Precision

Increases your chance to hit with all attacks and Poisons by 1%.

3 ranks

Dual Wield Specialization

Increases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 5%.

5 ranks · Requires Precision

Blade Flurry

Increases your melee attack speed by 20% and your melee attacks strike an additional nearby opponent. Lasts 15 sec.

1 rank

Hack and Slash

Gives your melee weapon attacks a benefit depending on the weapon: Axe/Sword: Your successful melee attacks have a 1% chance to trigger an extra attack on the target. Dagger/Fist: Increases your critical strike chance by 1%. Mace: Your attacks ignore 3% of your target's armor.

5 ranks

Adrenaline Rush

Increases your Energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 sec.

1 rank

PvP talent choices and play

Riposte and Deflection are useful against melee opponents. Deflection improves your chance to parry, while Riposte gives you an additional attack after a successful parry.

Improved Sprint helps against movement-impairing effects, making it easier to stay close to your opponent.

Save Kick for important enemy casts, especially healing spells and crowd control. Use your stuns to prevent opponents from escaping, healing or attacking when you need time to recover.

Combat Rogue is strongest when you can stay in melee range and keep attacking. Against opponents who frequently slow or kite you, use Sprint and your control abilities to close the distance.

Recommended gear & upgrades

For a Sinister Strike build, prioritize a strong main-hand weapon with high weapon damage. A slower main-hand weapon is generally preferable when its damage and stats are competitive.

Your off-hand weapon contributes additional attacks and poison applications. Compare its speed, damage and secondary stats before choosing an upgrade.

Your Hack and Slash talent also affects weapon selection. Check which bonus applies to each weapon type rather than assuming swords are always the best choice.

When choosing between two weapons, consider both their individual stats and how they work with your talent build.

Head

Source / location

Azure Gustwoven Hoodleather · Level 30

LeatherworkingCrafted

Brawler's Leather Helmleather · Level 25

Multiple BossesDungeons

Brawler's Leather Hoodleather · Level 20

LeatherworkingCrafted

Cloudy Gustwoven Hoodleather · Level 30

LeatherworkingCrafted

Defender's Leather Helmleather · Level 25

LeatherworkingCrafted

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Chest

Source / location

Brawler's Leather Armorleather · Level 15

LeatherworkingCrafted

Brawler's Leather Tunicleather · Level 22

LeatherworkingCrafted

Bristlepelt Vestleather

Defender's Leather Tunicleather · Level 22

LeatherworkingCrafted

Dusky Leather Armorleather · Level 30

LeatherworkingCrafted

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Main Hand

Source / location

Darkspear Skirmisher's Bludgeonmace · Level 28

Darkspear Raiders - ReveredReputation

Guerrilla's Jagged Macemace · Level 28

Theramore Expeditionary Force - ReveredReputation

Ironspine's Fistmace · Level 30

IronspineScarlet Monastery

Pronged Reaveraxe · Level 30

Charlga RazorflankRazorfen Kraul

Ruby-Adorned Bladesword

The Eye of BhosscaQuest

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Off Hand

Source / location

Bloody Brass Knucklesfist weapon · Level 29

Interrogator VishasScarlet Monastery

Curly's Chopperaxe

Ironspine's Fistmace · Level 30

IronspineScarlet Monastery

Pronged Reaveraxe · Level 30

Charlga RazorflankRazorfen Kraul

Ruby-Adorned Bladesword

The Eye of BhosscaQuest

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View equipment for every slot

Stats and equipment decisions

Enchanting equipment

For inexpensive leveling preparation, Enchant Bracer - Inferior Stamina and Enchant Chest - Inferior Stamina add survival to equipment you expect to keep. Prioritize an important weapon or role-specific item upgrade before spending heavily on temporary armor.

Consumables and preparation

Instant Poison

For short leveling fights, coat both weapons. Reapply when charges run low, not just when the timer expires.

Deadly Poison

Use on the off hand for sustained encounters after it becomes available; short-lived enemies may die before its damage pays off.

Elixir of Agility

An Agility buff for dungeon runs and difficult quest chains. Save a supply for encounters where you expect to stay alive and keep attacking.

Greater Healing Potion

Emergency recovery when a stun or incoming damage prevents a bandage. Use it before the next hit would kill you.

Rough Sharpening Stone

A cheap weapon enhancement which can coexist with poison in Forever. Apply an appropriate stone when restocking.

Wool Bandage

Recover between pulls, or after Gouge when no bleed or poison will break the control. Incoming damage interrupts bandaging; wait until the enemy is controlled or you are safe.

Useful profession pairings

Skinning and Leatherworking suit a self-supplied leveling character: beasts provide leather for crafted armor. Keep useful Agility pieces rather than crafting purely to raise skill.

Mining and Engineering are a control-focused alternative. Bombs and other devices supplement Rogue tools in dangerous pulls and PvP, but crafting costs compete with weapon upgrades.

First Aid is particularly valuable without a healing spell. Cooking supplies recovery food and camping access; neither takes a primary-profession slot.

Skinning · Leatherworking · Engineering · First Aid · Recipe database · Camping buffs

Races and racial abilities

Orc: Blood Fury gives an offensive cooldown to use during a sustained damage window. Hardiness helps against stuns; Shatter Curse adds a response to hostile magic.

Gnome: Eureka! offers an active damage boost, while Escape Artist is useful when a root would keep you away from your target.

Undead: Will of the Forsaken answers fear, sleep and charm. Cannibalize supports recovery between fights; its value is practical downtime reduction.

Human swords and Dwarf maces have revised critical-strike racials in Forever. Compare the weapon you actually use rather than importing Classic weapon-skill rules. Skyborne can also play Rogue; faction tradition changes the racial toolkit.

Leveling and solo play

1. Train poisons at level 20 and refill supplies before leaving town. Instant Poison suits quick kills. Do not spend a long-duration finisher on an enemy which will die in the next couple of attacks.
2. For a difficult solo pull, Sap an extra enemy, use Evasion against incoming melee attacks and save Sprint for an escape route. A controlled pull followed by a bandage usually costs less time than a corpse run.

Leveling routes and preparation · Dungeon entrances and level ranges

Useful macros

#showtooltip Kick
/cast [@mouseover,harm,nodead][] Kick

#showtooltip Gouge
/stopattack
/cast Gouge

Strengths and weaknesses

Common mistakes

• Using Blade Flurry near a crowd-controlled enemy
• Capping Energy during Adrenaline Rush
• Spending the last combo points before Slice and Dice needs refreshing

Full Combat talent reference

Exact rank text and prerequisites from the calculator’s existing talent data. Use the interactive tooltip for additional ranks.

View every Combat talent

Improved Eviscerate

Passive · Tier 1 · 3 ranks

Increases the damage done by your Eviscerate ability by 7%.

Improved Sinister Strike

Passive · Tier 1 · 2 ranks

Reduces the Energy cost of your Sinister Strike ability by 3.

Lightning Reflexes

Passive · Tier 1 · 5 ranks

Increases your Dodge chance by 1%.

Puncturing Wounds

Passive · Tier 2 · 3 ranks

Increases the critical strike chance of your Backstab by 10% and your Mutilate by 5%, and gives Backstab a 15% chance to add an additional Combo Point.

Deflection

Passive · Tier 2 · 3 ranks

Increases your Parry chance by 2%.

Precision

Passive · Tier 2 · 3 ranks

Increases your chance to hit with all attacks and Poisons by 1%.

Endurance

Passive · Tier 3 · 2 ranks

Reduces the cooldown of your Sprint and Evasion abilities by 30%.

Riposte

Active · Tier 3 · 1 ranks

10 Energy; Melee Range; Instant; 6 sec cooldown

A strike that becomes active after parrying an opponent's attack. This attack deals 150% weapon damage and disarms the target for 6 sec.

Requires Deflection

Improved Sprint

Passive · Tier 3 · 2 ranks

Gives a 50% chance to remove all movement impairing effects when you activate your Sprint ability.

Improved Kick

Passive · Tier 4 · 2 ranks

Gives your Kick ability a 50% chance to silence the target for 2 sec.

Restless Blades

Passive · Tier 4 · 1 ranks

Your damaging finishing moves reduce the remaining cooldown of your Adrenaline Rush, Blade Flurry, Evasion, Sprint, and Vanish abilities by 2 sec per combo point.

Dual Wield Specialization

Passive · Tier 4 · 5 ranks

Increases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 5%.

Requires Precision

Blade Flurry

Active · Tier 5 · 1 ranks

25 Energy; Instant; 2 min cooldown

Increases your melee attack speed by 20% and your melee attacks strike an additional nearby opponent. Lasts 15 sec.

Hack and Slash

Passive · Tier 5 · 5 ranks

Gives your melee weapon attacks a benefit depending on the weapon: Axe/Sword: Your successful melee attacks have a 1% chance to trigger an extra attack on the target. Dagger/Fist: Increases your critical strike chance by 1%. Mace: Your attacks ignore 3% of your target's armor.

Weapon Expertise

Passive · Tier 6 · 2 ranks

Reduces the chance for your attacks to be Dodged or Parried by 1%.

Requires Blade Flurry

Aggression

Passive · Tier 6 · 3 ranks

Increases the damage of your Sinister Strike, Backstab, and Eviscerate abilities by 2%.

Requires Hack and Slash

Adrenaline Rush

Active · Tier 7 · 1 ranks

Instant; 5 min cooldown

Increases your Energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 sec.

Changes from Classic