WoW Forever Rogue Talents: Trees, Ranks & Changes
Rogues strike from stealth. Assassination kills slowly with poisons and bleeds, Combat is straightforward swordplay, and Subtlety is about control: stuns, vanishes, and catching people off guard.
Compare talent ranks and prerequisites across Assassination, Combat, Subtlety. Once you have chosen the talents for your role, plan your points in the Rogue calculator.
Rogue talent ranks, tags and requirements
- Read rank 1 first, then compare the final rank with the point cost. Every Rogue talent shows its full beta-client wording.
- The tags explain the difference from Classic: NEW is Forever-only, Changed keeps the talent but alters its effect, and Active means you press a button to use it.
- Deeper rows require points in the same tree. A row 4 talent needs 15 points in the rows above it, so plan from the top down.
Assassination
Assassination has 17 talents across 7 rows. Mutilate, Venom are new in Forever. The final row includes Venom.
- Rank 1: Increases the duration of your Gouge ability by 0.5 sec.
- Rank 2: Increases the duration of your Gouge ability by 1 sec.
- Rank 3: Increases the duration of your Gouge ability by 1.5 sec.
- Rank 1: After 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.
- Rank 2: After killing a non-trivial enemy, gives you a 40% increased critical strike chance on your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Mutilate, or Ghostly Strike. Lasts 20 sec.
- Rank 1: Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks and Poisons by 1%.
- Rank 2: Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks and Poisons by 2%.
- Rank 3: Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks and Poisons by 3%.
- Rank 4: Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks and Poisons by 4%.
- Rank 5: Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks and Poisons by 5%.
- Rank 1: Gives your finishing moves a 20% chance to add a Combo Point to your target.
- Rank 2: Gives your finishing moves a 40% chance to add a Combo Point to your target.
- Rank 3: Gives your finishing moves a 60% chance to add a Combo Point to your target.
- Rank 1: Increases all damage dealt by 2% against Humanoid and Giant targets.
- Rank 2: Increases all damage dealt by 4% against Humanoid and Giant targets.
- Rank 1: Increases the duration of your Slice and Dice ability by 15%.
- Rank 2: Increases the duration of your Slice and Dice ability by 30%.
- Rank 3: Increases the duration of your Slice and Dice ability by 45%.
- Rank 1: Your finishing moves have a 20% chance per Combo Point to restore 25 Energy.
- Rank 1: Reduces the Energy cost of your Expose Armor ability by 5, and refunds 1 Combo Point when cast with 5 Combo Points.
- Rank 2: Reduces the Energy cost of your Expose Armor ability by 10, and refunds 2 Combo Points when cast with 5 Combo Points.
- Rank 1: Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Mutilate, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 4%.
- Rank 2: Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Mutilate, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 8%.
- Rank 3: Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Mutilate, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 12%.
- Rank 4: Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Mutilate, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 16%.
- Rank 5: Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Mutilate, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 20%.
- Rank 1: Increases the damage dealt by your poisons by 4% and gives your poisons an additional 8% chance to resist dispel effects.
- Rank 2: Increases the damage dealt by your poisons by 8% and gives your poisons an additional 16% chance to resist dispel effects.
- Rank 3: Increases the damage dealt by your poisons by 12% and gives your poisons an additional 24% chance to resist dispel effects.
- Rank 4: Increases the damage dealt by your poisons by 16% and gives your poisons an additional 32% chance to resist dispel effects.
- Rank 5: Increases the damage dealt by your poisons by 20% and gives your poisons an additional 40% chance to resist dispel effects.
- Rank 1: When activated, increases the critical strike chance of your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Eviscerate, or Mutilate by 100%.
- Rank 1: Increases the chance to apply Poisons to your target by 2%, and gives Poison applications a 10% chance to not consume a charge.
- Rank 2: Increases the chance to apply Poisons to your target by 4%, and gives Poison applications a 20% chance to not consume a charge.
- Rank 3: Increases the chance to apply Poisons to your target by 6%, and gives Poison applications a 30% chance to not consume a charge.
- Rank 4: Increases the chance to apply Poisons to your target by 8%, and gives Poison applications a 40% chance to not consume a charge.
- Rank 5: Increases the chance to apply Poisons to your target by 10%, and gives Poison applications a 50% chance to not consume a charge.
- Rank 1: Increases your maximum Energy by 5.
- Rank 2: Increases your maximum Energy by 10.
- Rank 1: Instantly 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.
- Rank 1: Enemies Stunned by your Kidney Shot ability take 5% increased damage from your poisons and attacks.
- Rank 2: Enemies Stunned by your Kidney Shot ability take 10% increased damage from your poisons and attacks.
- Rank 1: Your critical strikes from abilities that add Combo Points have a 20% chance to add an additional Combo Point.
- Rank 2: Your critical strikes from abilities that add Combo Points have a 40% chance to add an additional Combo Point.
- Rank 3: Your critical strikes from abilities that add Combo Points have a 60% chance to add an additional Combo Point.
- Rank 4: Your critical strikes from abilities that add Combo Points have a 80% chance to add an additional Combo Point.
- Rank 5: Your critical strikes from abilities that add Combo Points have a 100% chance to add an additional Combo Point.
- Rank 1: Finishing 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 sec 2 points: 12 sec 3 points: 15 sec 4 points: 18 sec 5 points: 21 sec
Combat
Combat has 17 talents across 7 rows. Flawless Execution, Hack and Slash are new in Forever. The final row includes Adrenaline Rush.
- Rank 1: Increases the damage done by your Eviscerate ability by 7%.
- Rank 2: Increases the damage done by your Eviscerate ability by 13%.
- Rank 3: Increases the damage done by your Eviscerate ability by 20%.
- Rank 1: Reduces the Energy cost of your Sinister Strike ability by 3.
- Rank 2: Reduces the Energy cost of your Sinister Strike ability by 5.
- Rank 1: Increases your Dodge chance by 1%.
- Rank 2: Increases your Dodge chance by 2%.
- Rank 3: Increases your Dodge chance by 3%.
- Rank 4: Increases your Dodge chance by 4%.
- Rank 5: Increases your Dodge chance by 5%.
- Rank 1: 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.
- Rank 2: Increases the critical strike chance of your Backstab by 20% and your Mutilate by 10%, and gives Backstab a 30% chance to add an additional Combo Point.
- Rank 3: Increases the critical strike chance of your Backstab by 30% and your Mutilate by 15%, and gives Backstab a 45% chance to add an additional Combo Point.
- Rank 1: Increases your Parry chance by 2%.
- Rank 2: Increases your Parry chance by 4%.
- Rank 3: Increases your Parry chance by 6%.
- Rank 1: Improves your chance to hit by 1%.
- Rank 2: Improves your chance to hit by 2%.
- Rank 3: Improves your chance to hit by 3%.
- Rank 1: Reduces the cooldown of your Sprint and Evasion abilities by 30%.
- Rank 2: Reduces the cooldown of your Sprint and Evasion abilities by 60%.
- Rank 1: A strike that becomes active after parrying an opponent's attack. This attack deals 150% weapon damage and disarms the target for 6 sec.
- Rank 1: Gives a 50% chance to remove all movement impairing effects when you activate your Sprint ability.
- Rank 2: Gives a 100% chance to remove all movement impairing effects when you activate your Sprint ability.
- Rank 1: Gives your Kick ability a 50% chance to Silence the target for 2 sec.
- Rank 2: Gives your Kick ability a 100% chance to Silence the target for 2 sec.
- Rank 1: Reduces the Energy cost of your Eviscerate ability by 10.
- Rank 1: Increases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 5%.
- Rank 2: Increases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 10%.
- Rank 3: Increases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 15%.
- Rank 4: Increases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 20%.
- Rank 5: Increases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 25%.
- Rank 1: Increases your melee attack speed by 20% and your melee attacks strike an additional nearby opponent. Lasts 15 sec.
- Rank 1: 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.
- Rank 2: Gives your melee weapon attacks a benefit depending on the weapon. Axe/Sword: Your successful melee attacks have a 2% chance to trigger an extra attack on the target. Dagger/Fist: Increases your critical strike chance by 2%. Mace: Your attacks ignore 6% of your target's armor.
- Rank 3: Gives your melee weapon attacks a benefit depending on the weapon. Axe/Sword: Your successful melee attacks have a 3% chance to trigger an extra attack on the target. Dagger/Fist: Increases your critical strike chance by 3%. Mace: Your attacks ignore 9% of your target's armor.
- Rank 4: Gives your melee weapon attacks a benefit depending on the weapon. Axe/Sword: Your successful melee attacks have a 4% chance to trigger an extra attack on the target. Dagger/Fist: Increases your critical strike chance by 4%. Mace: Your attacks ignore 12% of your target's armor.
- Rank 5: Gives 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.
- Rank 1: Reduces the chance for your attacks to be Dodged or Parried by 1%.
- Rank 2: Reduces the chance for your attacks to be Dodged or Parried by 2%.
- Rank 1: Increases the damage of your Sinister Strike, Backstab, and Eviscerate abilities by 2%.
- Rank 2: Increases the damage of your Sinister Strike, Backstab, and Eviscerate abilities by 4%.
- Rank 3: Increases the damage of your Sinister Strike, Backstab, and Eviscerate abilities by 6%.
- Rank 1: Increases your Energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 sec.
Removed from Classic Combat (4)
The following Classic talents are absent from the current Forever tree. An older build may need different picks if it relies on one of them.
- Dagger Specialization (was 5 ranks, row 4). Increases your chance to get a critical strike with Daggers by 1%.
- Mace Specialization (was 5 ranks, row 5). Increases your skill with Maces by 1, and gives you a 1% chance to stun your target for 3 sec with a mace.
- Sword Specialization (was 5 ranks, row 5). Gives you a 1% chance to get an extra attack on the same target after dealing damage with your Sword.
- Fist Weapon Specialization (was 5 ranks, row 5). Increases your chance to get a critical strike with Fist Weapons by 1%.
Subtlety
Subtlety has 19 talents across 7 rows. Dirty Tricks, Improved Distract, Quietus, Cutthroat are new in Forever. The final row includes Thousand Cuts.
- Rank 1: Reduces your speed penalty from your Stealth ability by 3% and reduces its cooldown by 2 sec.
- Rank 2: Reduces your speed penalty from your Stealth ability by 6% and reduces its cooldown by 3 sec.
- Rank 3: Reduces your speed penalty from your Stealth ability by 9% and reduces its cooldown by 4 sec.
- Rank 4: Reduces your speed penalty from your Stealth ability by 12% and reduces its cooldown by 5 sec.
- Rank 5: Reduces your speed penalty from your Stealth ability by 15% and reduces its cooldown by 6 sec.
- Rank 1: Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you while in Stealth mode as if you were 1 level higher.
- Rank 2: Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you while in Stealth mode as if you were 2 levels higher.
- Rank 3: Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you while in Stealth mode as if you were 3 levels higher.
- Rank 1: Increases the damage dealt by your Backstab, Garrote, Ambush, and Mutilate abilities by 5%.
- Rank 2: Increases the damage dealt by your Backstab, Garrote, Ambush, and Mutilate abilities by 10%.
- Rank 1: Gives you a 33% chance to add a Combo Point to your target after Dodging one of their attacks or fully resisting one of their spells.
- Rank 2: Gives you a 67% chance to add a Combo Point to your target after Dodging one of their attacks or fully resisting one of their spells.
- Rank 3: Gives you a 100% chance to add a Combo Point to your target after Dodging one of their attacks or fully resisting one of their spells.
- Rank 1: Reduces the cooldown of your Vanish and Blind abilities by 45 sec.
- Rank 2: Reduces the cooldown of your Vanish and Blind abilities by 90 sec.
- Rank 1: Reduces the Energy cost of your Sap and Blind abilities by 25%.
- Rank 2: Reduces the Energy cost of your Sap and Blind abilities by 50%.
- Rank 1: Increases the critical strike chance of your Ambush ability by 15%.
- Rank 2: Increases the critical strike chance of your Ambush ability by 30%.
- Rank 3: Increases the critical strike chance of your Ambush ability by 45%.
- Rank 1: Gives you a 33% chance to add an additional combo point to your target when using your Ambush, Garrote, or Cheap Shot ability.
- Rank 2: Gives you a 67% chance to add an additional combo point to your target when using your Ambush, Garrote, or Cheap Shot ability.
- Rank 3: Gives you a 100% chance to add an additional combo point to your target when using your Ambush, Garrote, or Cheap Shot ability.
- Rank 1: A 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.
- Rank 1: Increases 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.
- Rank 2: Increases the radius of your Distract ability by 5 yds, and further reduces the Stealth detection of distracted enemies as though they were an additional 2 levels lower.
- Rank 1: Increases your Stealth detection as if you were 1 level higher and reduces your chance to be hit by spells and ranged attacks by 2%.
- Rank 2: Increases your Stealth detection as if you were 3 levels higher and reduces your chance to be hit by spells and ranged attacks by 4%.
- Rank 1: Adds 2 Combo Points to your target. You must add to or use those combo points within 20 sec or the combo points are lost.
- Rank 1: Causes your attacks to ignore 3% of your target's Armor and increases the damage dealt by your Rupture ability by 10%.
- Rank 2: Causes your attacks to ignore 6% of your target's Armor and increases the damage dealt by your Rupture ability by 20%.
- Rank 3: Causes your attacks to ignore 9% of your target's Armor and increases the damage dealt by your Rupture ability by 30%.
- Rank 1: Reduces 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.
- Rank 2: Reduces the Energy cost of your Cheap Shot and Garrote abilities by 20, and your Garrote ability no longer requires you to be behind your target.
- Rank 1: When activated, this ability immediately finishes the cooldown on your other Rogue abilities.
- Rank 1: An 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.
- Rank 1: Your Sinister Strike, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities cause 2% more damage against targets below 35% health.
- Rank 2: Your Sinister Strike, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities cause 4% more damage against targets below 35% health.
- Rank 3: Your Sinister Strike, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities cause 6% more damage against targets below 35% health.
- Rank 4: Your Sinister Strike, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities cause 8% more damage against targets below 35% health.
- Rank 5: Your Sinister Strike, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities cause 10% more damage against targets below 35% health.
- Rank 1: Your Backstab has a 3% chance to cause your next Ambush within 10 sec to not require Stealth.
- Rank 2: Your Backstab has a 6% chance to cause your next Ambush within 10 sec to not require Stealth.
- Rank 3: Your Backstab has a 9% chance to cause your next Ambush within 10 sec to not require Stealth.
- Rank 4: Your Backstab has a 12% chance to cause your next Ambush within 10 sec to not require Stealth.
- Rank 5: Your Backstab has a 15% chance to cause your next Ambush within 10 sec to not require Stealth.
- Rank 1: When 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.
Removed from Classic Subtlety (3)
The following Classic talents are absent from the current Forever tree. An older build may need different picks if it relies on one of them.
- Sleight of Hand (was 2 ranks, row 2). Reduces the chance you are critically hit by melee and ranged attacks by 1% and increases the threat reduction of your Feint ability by 10%.
- Improved Sap (was 3 ranks, row 4). Gives you a 30% chance to return to stealth mode after using your Sap ability.
- Deadliness (was 5 ranks, row 6). Increases your Attack Power by 2%.
Rogue talent reference FAQs
How do I read this talent tree?
Top down. Row 1 is open from the start; every 5 points you spend in one tree unlocks the next row in that same tree. Assassination, Combat, Subtlety all work this way. A row 4 talent needs 15 points in the rows above it before it opens.
What does each rank do?
Every Rogue talent lists its ranks in the exact beta-client wording. Rank 1 is the weakest version and the final rank is the full-strength effect. Read rank 1 first, then decide how many points the talent deserves.
What do the NEW and Changed tags mean?
NEW means the talent never existed in Classic. It is Forever-only. Changed means the Classic talent still exists but works differently now. Active means you press a button to use it; everything else just happens.
Take it to the Rogue calculator
Try your choices in the Rogue calculator, or adapt a starter build for your preferred role.
For learned abilities, browse all Rogue spells, including their ranks and changes from Classic.
