Combat Rogue

What changed

Hack and Slash's bonus follows your weapon: swords and axes get a 5% chance of an extra attack, daggers and fist weapons 5% crit, and maces ignore 15% of armour. You no longer need to respec when you swap weapon type (ForeverDB changes; Wowhead). Puncturing Wounds (tier 2) gives Backstab 30% more crit and a 45% chance of a second combo point, which makes dagger Combat a real option. Wowhead reckons that brings Backstab's effective cost to about 41 Energy, level with Sinister Strike.

Talents by level

For 21–30, the ForeverDB and Icy Veins cells list the points added after 20. Wowhead's level 30 build is shown in full, because it leaves its level 20 builds behind.

ForeverDB's group build drops Riposte, since you stand behind mobs, and takes Puncturing Wounds for a main-hand dagger. Wowhead's alternative "Relentless Strikes Combat" at 30 is a 13/8/0 split (see [Hybrid builds](hybrid.md)). For Legacy points, Wowhead and Icy Veins both put the extras into Hack and Slash.

WoWSims defaults to "Combat SS" at 60 (18/33/0). It takes Assassination's Malice, Ruthlessness, Murder, Improved Slice and Dice, Relentless Strikes, Cold Blood and two points of Improved Poisons, then Combat down to Adrenaline Rush with Puncturing Wounds, Improved Sprint, Hack and Slash, Weapon Expertise and Aggression. "Combat BS" (16/33/2) is the dagger version, with two points of Opportunity.

Rotation and priorities

• Icy Veins: Instant Poison on both weapons. Open from Stealth with Ambush (dagger) or Garrote, use Blade Flurry early and often, Riposte whenever it lights up, then Backstab from behind with a dagger or Sinister Strike otherwise. At 5 points, Slice and Dice if the target will outlive it, otherwise Eviscerate. Its levelling page opens with Cheap Shot on mobs that can be stunned.
• Wowhead (level 30): Backstab or Sinister Strike, keep Slice and Dice up and refresh it as late as possible. Expose Armor for physical groups, and Blade Flurry with high Energy on packs or bosses. Spend spare points on Eviscerate against low armour and Rupture against high armour.
• ForeverDB: Spend the first 1–2 points on Slice and Dice on longer fights, then Eviscerate at 5. Never press Blade Flurry next to a Sapped or Gouged mob, because the extra hits break it (PvE guide).
• WoWSims, level 60 (default APL): Before the pull, Blade Flurry and Stealth. Open with Garrote, and Vanish to open again. Pair Adrenaline Rush with Blood Fury or Elune's Light, and drink Thistle Tea when Energy runs low. Recast Blade Flurry unless Slice and Dice is about to drop, and reapply Slice and Dice once it falls off. Use Cold Blood before a 5-point Eviscerate, and Eviscerate at 5 points (or 4 if Slice and Dice has 6 seconds or less left). The builder is Sinister Strike, or Backstab when the "Use Backstab" option is on.

Weapons and levelling

Wowhead's levelling tip is to get a slow axe, mace, sword or fist weapon early and train the matching weapon skill. ForeverDB recommends any one-handed weapon for Combat and a main-hand dagger only for the dagger build. Puncturing Wounds does nothing without one. Icy Veins' Combat levelling guide treats Riposte (20) and Blade Flurry (30) as the big power spikes; pair Blade Flurry with Evasion when two mobs are on you.

Gear and consumables

Icy Veins' level 30 list starts with the Ruby-Adorned Blade from the Stealth quest The Eye of Bhossca, Bloody Brass Knuckles for the off hand, and Leatherworking pieces. Wowhead rates the Ruby-Adorned Blade the best weapon at 30. Poisons and stones stack, so carry Rough Sharpening Stone alongside Instant Poison. ForeverDB's simulator rates Elixir of Agility and Tender Wolf Steak at about 3.2% each. WoWSims' level 60 defaults add Thistle Tea, weightstones and sharpening stones on top of poisons.

Where the guides disagree

• Slice and Dice at 30: ForeverDB's simulator did 2.7% more damage on one target without it and flags the result for testing. Every written guide, ForeverDB's included, keeps it up.
• Sword or dagger: ForeverDB's simulator builds with Backstab at 30, Icy Veins and ForeverDB's levelling build favour Sinister Strike, and Wowhead offers both.
• Riposte or not: in the solo builds (ForeverDB, Icy Veins, Wowhead) but dropped from ForeverDB's group build and the WoWSims presets.
• Icy Veins' level 30 calculator puts a point in Improved Sprint where its text says Lightning Reflexes. Its levelling page uses Lightning Reflexes.