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Rogue specialization

Combat Rogue in WoW Forever

Weapon attacks and finishing moves.

  • Your role: Melee damage
  • Advice for every level to 60
  • Class notes checked

Your character

I’m playing
Updating…

Choose the level you are playing now. The playbook and gear rankings update to match.

Level 40 · Combat priorities

How to play at level 40

Your combat loop

Press the first one that is ready.

Use Instant Poison on the main hand, Deadly Poison on the off hand. It does 9% more than Instant Poison on both weapons. About even (within 3%): Deadly Poison on the main hand, Instant Poison on the off hand; or Deadly Poison on both weapons.

  1. Blade Flurry Cooldown · every 2 min

    Use it whenever it is ready, every 120 sec. It raises the rest.

  2. Adrenaline Rush For energy · every 5 min

    Use it whenever it is ready, every 300 sec, for energy.

  3. Shank Every 8 sec

    Use it whenever it is ready, every 8 sec.

    3% of your damage
  4. Slice and Dice Keep up · combo points

    Keep it up with combo points.

    no damage of its own
  5. Sinister Strike Filler

    Spend the rest of your energy on it.

    27% of your damage
  6. Eviscerate Finisher

    Spend the rest of your combo points on it.

    5% of your damage
  7. Instant Poison III Main hand

    Keep it on your main-hand weapon.

    3% of your damage
  8. Deadly Poison II Off hand

    Keep it on your off-hand weapon.

    11% of your damage
  9. Auto attack All the time

    Your weapon swings on its own. Stay in melee range.

    51% of your damage

The first 30 seconds

When to press each one from the pull. The blue line under a press is the global cooldown (1 sec) or cast it holds: nothing else on the global cooldown can go until it ends, so of two that are ready together the higher one goes first.

All the time
Instant Poison IIIDeadly Poison IIAuto attack

How MaxDPS works this out

Talents at level 40

The MaxDPS build at this level, in the game’s talent frame. Click a talent to learn it and right click to unlearn it, as in the game.

Talents
Unspent Talents
Point order: when each point goes in
  1. Efficient Strikes 2/2 · levels 10–11 +4.6% damage
  2. Coup de Grace 3/3 · levels 12–14 +0.9% damage
  3. Precision 3/3 · levels 15–17 +3.5% damage
  4. Deflection 3/3 · levels 18–20 no damage
  5. Endurance 2/2 · levels 21–22 no damage
  6. Composure 2/2 · levels 23–24 no damage
  7. Aggression 3/3 · levels 25–27 +4.4% damage
  8. Flawless Execution 1/1 · level 28 +0.9% damage
  9. Weapon Expertise 2/2 · levels 29–30 +2.3% damage
  10. Dual Wield Specialization 2/2 · levels 31–32 +8.7% damage
  11. Hack and Slash 1/5 · level 33 +1% damage
  12. Blade Flurry 1/1 · level 34 +0.6% damage
  13. Flash of Steel 5/5 · levels 35–39 +9% damage
  14. Adrenaline Rush 1/1 · level 40 +1.8% damage

Every Rogue talent

Preliminary item rankings

Combat Rogue gear rankings

Sustained weapon damage · Level 40 · Dungeons · Calculated defaults

Off hand 285 items · Updating…

Where it comes from
Faction

Level 40 dungeon loot is still being found.

Key stats show the stats behind the three largest score contributions, as the game tooltip states them; open an item’s details for every value and source.

Off hand items with imported stats, weighted scores and acquisition sources.
Rank Item Score (pts) Where to get it Actions
1 in this filtered list
Legionnaire's Sword Sword · iLvl 43 · Req. 38 · Vendor · Horde only Key stats: 29.26 Weapon melee DPS8 Strength3 Stamina
149.24
Kelm HargunthVendor · 7g 48s 21c · The Barrens

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 29.26 × 3.347 = 74.61 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 79 × 0.8723 = 68.91 pts
  • Strength: 8 × 0.6377 = 5.10 pts
  • Stamina: 3 × 0.2055 = 0.62 pts

Rare

Source

Kelm HargunthVendor · 7g 48s 21c · The Barrens
2 in this filtered list
Protector's Sword Sword · iLvl 43 · Req. 38 · Vendor · Alliance only Key stats: 29.26 Weapon melee DPS8 Strength3 Stamina
149.24
Illiyana MoonblazeVendor · 6g 35s 98c · Ashenvale

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 29.26 × 3.347 = 74.61 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 79 × 0.8723 = 68.91 pts
  • Strength: 8 × 0.6377 = 5.10 pts
  • Stamina: 3 × 0.2055 = 0.62 pts

Rare

Source

Illiyana MoonblazeVendor · 6g 35s 98c · Ashenvale
3 in this filtered list
Southsea Lamp Mace · iLvl 45 · Req. 40 · Other drop Key stats: 30.43 Weapon melee DPS9 Agility4 Stamina
148.48
Captain's ChestObject loot · 5.6% · Tanaris

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 30.43 × 3.347 = 77.60 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 70 × 0.8723 = 61.06 pts
  • Agility: 9 × 1 = 9.00 pts
  • Stamina: 4 × 0.2055 = 0.82 pts

Rare

3 sources

Captain's ChestObject loot · 5.6% · Tanaris
Cuergo's Hidden TreasureContainer loot · 2.4%
Pirate's FootlockerContainer loot · 1.1%
4 in this filtered list
Vanquisher's Sword Sword · iLvl 44 · Req. 39* · Quest Key stats: 30 Weapon melee DPS22 Attack power
148.10

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 30 × 3.347 = 76.50 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 66 × 0.8723 = 57.57 pts
  • Attack power: 22 × 0.6377 = 14.03 pts

Rare

2 sources

5 in this filtered list
Shovelphlange's Mining Axe Axe · iLvl 40 · Req. 35 · Other drop · Provisional stats Key stats: 27.32 Weapon melee DPS11 Attack power7 Strength
147.88
Digmaster ShovelphlangeBoss drop · 20% · Badlands

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 27.32 × 3.347 = 69.67 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 76.5 × 0.8723 = 66.73 pts
  • Attack power: 11 × 0.6377 = 7.01 pts
  • Strength: 7 × 0.6377 = 4.46 pts

Rare

Source

Digmaster ShovelphlangeBoss drop · 20% · Badlands
6 in this filtered list
Jhordy's Misplaced Screwdriver Dagger · iLvl 45 · Req. 40 · Vendor · Reputation required Key stats: 30.26 Weapon melee DPS9 Agility6 Strength
140.15
RettrickVendor · 9g 46s 14c · Tanaris

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 30.26 × 3.347 = 77.16 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 57.5 × 0.8723 = 50.16 pts
  • Agility: 9 × 1 = 9.00 pts
  • Strength: 6 × 0.6377 = 3.83 pts

Rare · Reputation required — check item requirements

Source

RettrickVendor · 9g 46s 14c · Tanaris
7 in this filtered list
Nordic Longshank Sword · iLvl 43 · Req. 38 · Dungeon drop · Provisional stats Key stats: 29.32 Weapon melee DPS8 Agility5 Stamina
140.06
BaelogNPC drop · 8.8% · Uldaman

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 29.32 × 3.347 = 74.77 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 64.5 × 0.8723 = 56.26 pts
  • Agility: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Stamina: 5 × 0.2055 = 1.03 pts

Rare

Source

BaelogNPC drop · 8.8% · Uldaman
8 in this filtered list
Gut Ripper Dagger · iLvl 45 · Req. 40 · Other drop · Provisional stats Key stats: 33.89 Weapon melee DPS
139.63
Galgann FirehammerNPC drop · 1.2% · Uldaman

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 33.89 × 3.347 = 86.42 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 61 × 0.8723 = 53.21 pts

Epic

28 sources

Galgann FirehammerNPC drop · 1.2% · Uldaman
Fungal OozeNPC drop · <0.1%
Southsea KidnapperNPC drop · <0.1% · Tanaris
Deeprot TanglerNPC drop · <0.1% · Maraudon
Zukk'ash WorkerNPC drop · <0.1% · Feralas
Saturated OozeNPC drop · <0.1% · Sunken Temple
Cavern ShamblerNPC drop · <0.1% · Maraudon
Constrictor VineNPC drop · <0.1% · Maraudon
Enraged Feral ScarNPC drop · <0.1% · Feralas
Sandfury Witch DoctorNPC drop · <0.1% · Zul'Farrak
All 28 sources
9 in this filtered list
Sickle Axe Axe · iLvl 39 · Req. 34 · Other drop Key stats: 26.54 Weapon melee DPS5 Agility6 Strength
137.31

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 26.54 × 3.347 = 67.68 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 69 × 0.8723 = 60.19 pts
  • Agility: 5 × 1 = 5.00 pts
  • Strength: 6 × 0.6377 = 3.83 pts
  • Stamina: 3 × 0.2055 = 0.62 pts

Rare

Source

10 in this filtered list
Mithril Claws Fist weapon · iLvl 45 · Req. 40 · Crafted Key stats: 26.54 Weapon melee DPS5 Agility6 Strength
136.69

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 26.54 × 3.347 = 67.68 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 69 × 0.8723 = 60.19 pts
  • Agility: 5 × 1 = 5.00 pts
  • Strength: 6 × 0.6377 = 3.83 pts

Uncommon

Source

11 in this filtered list
Sword of Serenity Sword · iLvl 44 · Req. 39* · Quest · Alliance only Key stats: 30 Weapon melee DPS9 Stamina
135.92

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 30 × 3.347 = 76.50 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 66 × 0.8723 = 57.57 pts
  • Stamina: 9 × 0.2055 = 1.85 pts

Rare

12 in this filtered list
Sword of Omen Sword · iLvl 44 · Req. 39* · Quest · Horde only Key stats: 29.74 Weapon melee DPS9 Strength3 Agility
134.68

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 29.74 × 3.347 = 75.84 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 56.5 × 0.8723 = 49.28 pts
  • Strength: 9 × 0.6377 = 5.74 pts
  • Agility: 3 × 1 = 3.00 pts
  • Stamina: 4 × 0.2055 = 0.82 pts

Rare

13 in this filtered list
Wicked Mithril Blade Sword · iLvl 45 · Req. 40 · Crafted Key stats: 26.6 Weapon melee DPS4 Agility6 Strength
133.66

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 26.6 × 3.347 = 67.83 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 66.5 × 0.8723 = 58.01 pts
  • Agility: 4 × 1 = 4.00 pts
  • Strength: 6 × 0.6377 = 3.83 pts

Uncommon

Source

14 in this filtered list
Bludgeon of Betrayed Virtues Mace · iLvl 42 · Req. 35 · Quest · Horde only Key stats: 28.64 Weapon melee DPS2 Agility3 Strength
133.13
Khan JehnQuest choice · Desolace

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 28.64 × 3.347 = 73.03 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 63 × 0.8723 = 54.95 pts
  • Agility: 2 × 1 = 2.00 pts
  • Strength: 3 × 0.6377 = 1.91 pts
  • Stamina: 6 × 0.2055 = 1.23 pts

Rare

Source

Khan JehnQuest choice · Desolace
15 in this filtered list
Blue Glittering Axe Axe · iLvl 44 · Req. 39 · Crafted Key stats: 25.83 Weapon melee DPS8 Agility
127.95

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 25.83 × 3.347 = 65.87 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 62 × 0.8723 = 54.08 pts
  • Agility: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts

Uncommon

Source

16 in this filtered list
Dwarf Captain's Sword Sword · iLvl 45 · Req. 40* · Quest · Alliance only Key stats: 26.6 Weapon melee DPS9 Stamina
127.69

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 26.6 × 3.347 = 67.83 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 66.5 × 0.8723 = 58.01 pts
  • Stamina: 9 × 0.2055 = 1.85 pts

Uncommon

Source

17 in this filtered list
Rockhide Strongfish Mace · iLvl 45 · Req. 40 · Other drop · Provisional stats Key stats: 26.6 Weapon melee DPS8 Stamina
127.48
Stranglethorn ValeOther source

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 26.6 × 3.347 = 67.83 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 66.5 × 0.8723 = 58.01 pts
  • Stamina: 8 × 0.2055 = 1.64 pts

Uncommon

2 sources

Stranglethorn ValeOther source
FishingFished
18 in this filtered list
Stalvan's Reaper Axe · iLvl 37 · Req. 32 · Other drop Key stats: 24.83 Weapon melee DPS
126.12
Shadowforge DarkweaverWorld drop · 1.5%

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 24.83 × 3.347 = 63.32 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 72 × 0.8723 = 62.81 pts

Rare

44 sources

Shadowforge DarkweaverWorld drop · 1.5%
Mottled Drywallow CrocoliskWorld drop · 1.2%
Syndicate SaboteurWorld drop · 0.9%
Drywallow VicejawWorld drop · 0.7%
Mosh'Ogg Witch DoctorWorld drop · 0.4%
Elder Mesa BuzzardWorld drop · 0.4%
Hoard of the Black DragonflightContainer loot · 0.3%
Syndicate SentryWorld drop · 0.2%
Alliance ChestObject loot · 0.2% · Arathi Highlands
Crushridge MaulerWorld drop · 0.1%
All 44 sources
19 in this filtered list
Scout's Blade Dagger · iLvl 43 · Req. 38 · Vendor · Horde only Key stats: 29.12 Weapon melee DPS8 Agility3 Stamina
126.05
Kelm HargunthVendor · 8g 67s 91c · The Barrens

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 29.12 × 3.347 = 74.26 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 49.5 × 0.8723 = 43.18 pts
  • Agility: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Stamina: 3 × 0.2055 = 0.62 pts

Rare

Source

Kelm HargunthVendor · 8g 67s 91c · The Barrens
20 in this filtered list
Sentinel's Blade Dagger · iLvl 43 · Req. 38 · Vendor · Alliance only Key stats: 29.12 Weapon melee DPS8 Agility3 Stamina
126.05
Illiyana MoonblazeVendor · 6g 55s 6c · Ashenvale

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 29.12 × 3.347 = 74.26 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 49.5 × 0.8723 = 43.18 pts
  • Agility: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Stamina: 3 × 0.2055 = 0.62 pts

Rare

Source

Illiyana MoonblazeVendor · 6g 55s 6c · Ashenvale

Item stats from the WoW Forever game files; sources from data collected from the live game.