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Rogue Class Guide - Tactics, U.I., Talent Builds Rogue Guide Hunter Guide Warrior Guide Priest Guide Mage Guide Warlock Guide Shaman Guide Druid Guide Paladin Guide

• Rogue Guide - Main Page
• Rogue Guide - Basics
• Rogue Guide - Talent Builds, Tactics, and U.I.
• Rogue Guide - Quests
• Rogue Guide - Trainers
• Rogue Guide - Weapons and Armor
• Rogue Guide - Abilities, Talents, and Poisons
• Appendix - Where to Adventure

6.0 - Roles - Tactics - UI

There are two different styles of play In WoW, and the rogue is well suited for both. Playing solo and playing in a group.

Solo
When going solo, you may kill many of the enemies you find as long as they don't terribly outlevel you. If you're leveling as Combat, which is the easiest tree to level up with, you will have plenty of cooldowns in order to deal with the tougher foes and maybe even some big elite monsters. Keep in mind that your cooldowns can be used every 2 to 5 minutes and plan ahead! Since you will be mostly fighting enemies straight-on, don't bother with abilities such as Gouge and Backstab, instead, focus on Sinister Strike and Eviscerate if possible for quick grinding.

Group
When playing in a group, you need to keep in mind a few additional things other than opening with Garrote or Cheap Shot. First, you may be required to Crowd Control humanoids if any, if so, you will need to use your Sap ability, and for that, generally you will also need to use Distract in order to get the monsters facing away from you so you get close to them and Sap your target.

Keep in mind your tank needs to establish aggro and don't go all out, generally wait 2-3 seconds before launching your Sinister Strikes, and if you see the monster turning to you, Feint is a great ability to use to reduce your own threat.

Remember to use Kidney Shot and Kick a lot whenever possible to interrupt monsters beating on your tank, giving your group a little leeway in order to keep the encounters going well.

Kick is an essential ability as some encounters require rogues to kick a lot to interrupt pelirous spellcasting. Charged Fist from the Tempest-Forge Destroyers in Mechanar comes to mind.

6.1 - Roles

There are two basic roles a rogue can adopt. The first is pure DPS. This is what we signed up for, we go up to the mob, and we start pounding away until it's dead. The second role the rogue may need to take is that of a crowd controller or interrupter. You may need to hold back on the DPS, but use Kicks and Crippling/Mindnumbing Poisons in order to cripple your enemy and allow your team an easier time. Cheap Shot, Kidney Shot, and Blind are all your best skills in these kinds of situation.

6.2 - Tactics

The rogue’s combat system is built on an energy meter and a combo system. There are opening moves, standard special attacks and finishing moves.

Opening moves and standard special attacks give combo points when executed for a hit. As many as 5 points can be built up. The more points you build the more effective your finishing move will be.

Finishing moves deal damage according to how many points have been built up. After completing a finishing, the combo meter is cleared and you start building combo points over again.

Combat
The direct approach and the way you should be leveling up. Pull with either a bow or a thrown weapon, or simply Cheap Shot the monster, then Sinister Strike 2-3 times, and finish up with Eviscerate. You may also include Slice&Dice after the first 3 combo points and then repeat for an Eviscerate or Rupture if it is a long battle.

Assassination

The stealth approach usually goes like this: go into stealth mode maneuver behind the target, Pickpocket (for extra loot), Ambush or Cheap Shot, Gouge, Backstab. Then as the target turns to face you finish with some Sinister strikes and Eviscerate. Good talents for an assassin are Improved Sinister Strike, Improved Eviscerate, Improved Backstab, Ruthlessness, Lethality, Relentless Strikes.

Sample combos

Solo Combo- Cheap Shot, Sinister Strike (x3), Eviscerate. This combo is easy to accomplish and quick to finish off mobs.

6.3 - Your U.I. Setup

User Interface. Generally, common skills such as Sinister Strike, Sprint, Eviscerate, Rupture, Kick, and Kidney shot go into your main key bindings for quick access. Cooldowns such as Vanish, Adrenaline Rush, Blade Flurry, Evasion should go on a separate bar since they have a cooldown and you must be wary not to activate them by mistake.

Have comments or suggestions? Thought of something that has been missed? Found an error? We would love to hear from you! Please post in our Rogue Class guide forum, or email me at darkfact@tentonhammer.com