WoW Forever

    Combat Rogue build and talents in WoW Forever

    The key Combat talents, what to raise first, and how to spend your Energy and combo points. A melee damage build for leveling, dungeons and raids, explained for new players.

    Based on betaChecked Patch Launch (Nov 4)

    At a glance

    RoleMelee DPS (two one-handed weapons)
    Stat priority
    1. Hit, until your attacks stop missing
    2. Agility (Attack Power, critical strike and dodge)
    3. Critical strike
    4. Strength and Attack Power
    Key gear
    • A strong main-hand weapon. Most of your damage comes from it.
    • Any one-handed weapon type works. Hack and Slash gives a bonus for daggers, fist weapons, swords, axes and maces.
    • Poisons on both weapons. They now work alongside sharpening stones and weightstones.
    Tips
    • Keep Slice and Dice up. Spend extra combo points on Eviscerate.
    • Use Shank on cooldown. It is cheap, can't miss and gives Energy back.
    • Use Blade Flurry and Adrenaline Rush together when there are two or more enemies.

    Talent plan by level

    The level-by-level talent order is being written.

    Is Combat right for you?

    Combat is the Rogue’s straightforward damage spec. You fight face to face with two one-handed weapons and build combo points with Sinister Strike. It doesn’t need you to open from Stealth, which makes it easy to learn.

    It works well for leveling, dungeons and raids. In WoW Forever, Combat can use every one-handed weapon type, so you can use whatever good weapon drops. See the Rogue leveling guide for leveling tips.

    Key talents

    These are the talents experienced players build Combat around. For the exact points, use the Wowhead talent calculator until we add a full order.

    • Hack and Slash. New in WoW Forever. It replaces the old dagger, sword, mace and fist weapon talents in one talent, and adds an axe bonus. Swords and axes get a chance for an extra attack. Maces ignore some of the target’s armor. Guides call it the core of the build.
    • Dual Wield Specialization. Your off-hand weapon hits harder. Since November 2 it gives 50% more off-hand damage in only 2 points.
    • Efficient Strikes. Makes Sinister Strike (and Hemorrhage) cost less Energy. A good first pick while leveling.
    • Flash of Steel. New on November 2. Makes Shank better, so you get more Energy back.
    • Improved Slice and Dice. Slice and Dice lasts longer, so you refresh it less.
    • Ruthlessness. Your finishers can give a combo point back.
    • Coup de Grace. Up to 20% more Eviscerate damage. It used to be Improved Eviscerate.
    • Precision. More chance to hit. In WoW Forever it also helps your poisons land.
    • Riposte. An attack you can use after you parry. Wowhead calls it the key leveling talent.
    • Blade Flurry. Combat’s only cleave. Your attacks are faster and also hit a second enemy.
    • Flawless Execution (16 points). New in WoW Forever. Eviscerate costs 15 less Energy since November 2.
    • Adrenaline Rush. The capstone. Much faster Energy regeneration for a short time, for your biggest burst.

    How to play

    Use your abilities in this order:

    1. Keep Slice and Dice up. Refresh it when it runs out.
    2. Use Shank whenever it’s ready. It costs 5 Energy, can’t miss and gives 15 Energy back (25 at rank 2, from level 44).
    3. Build combo points with Sinister Strike.
    4. At 5 combo points, spend them on Eviscerate. On long boss fights, use Expose Armor if your group needs it.
    5. Use Blade Flurry and Adrenaline Rush together, best when there are two or more enemies.
    6. Use Kick to stop enemy casts.

    Tips for new players

    • Don’t waste combo points. Don’t use Sinister Strike at 5 combo points, and don’t switch targets before you spend them.
    • Start fights with full Energy. Out of combat at full Energy, Poised makes your next Energy ability cost 10 less.
    • Expose Armor helps Warriors now. In WoW Forever it no longer blocks Sunder Armor, and it reduces as much armor as 5 Sunders.
    • Poisons are stronger. They have more charges, and since November 2 they gain twice as much from Attack Power. Put them on both weapons.
    • Sap keeps you in Stealth. Use it to take one enemy out of a fight before you start.
    • Get hit chance first. A miss does no damage and wastes Energy.

    Sources

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