Classic Rogue DPS Guide (2024)

Last updated on Dec 02, 2020 at 11:28by Sellin43 comments

Welcome to our Rogue DPS guidefor WoW Classic, tailored for PvE content. Here, you will learn how all youneed to know to play theRogue class as DPS. Click the links#below to navigate the guideor read this page for a short introduction.

If you were looking for TBC Classic content, please refer to our TBC Classic Rogue DPS guide.

Viability of Rogues in Groups

Rogues have a lot of CC abilities such as Gouge, Sap, Kidney Shot, and Blind, as well as Crippling Poisonand Mind-numbing Poison, which makes them incredibly useful in groups,especially dungeons. Rogues also have an ability called Expose Armor,which is very useful in a group where either your Warrior tank is not using Sunder Armor or your group does not have a Warrior tank at all.If you are talented into Improved Expose Armor, then Expose Armor willreduce more armor than Sunder Armor.

Rogue in the Season of Mastery

Although the Season of Mastery brings with it a number ofchanges to how you may experience the content of WoW Classic, these tweaks donot include any adjustments to how you play Rogue. As such, this guidewill cover all you need to know regardless of which version of Classic you wishto play.

However, due to certain pieces of content from later Phases now being availableat an earlier date, gearing recommendations for Rogue will be different.Because of this, we have created additional pages detailing your best in slotitems for both pre-raid gear and the current raids available.

Rogue Season of Mastery Pre-Raid BiSRogue Season of Mastery Phase 6 BiS

Rogue Strengths

Has Lockpicking, which is a fantastic way to make gold without worrying aboutcombat or survivability.
Very powerful burst in PvP, thanks to Stealth allowing you to open on a targetat your own discretion.
Amazing CC abilities ( Blind, Sap, Kidney Shot).
High base damage on moves such as Eviscerate makes them strong evenwhen undergeared.
Stealth allows safer exploration of areas.

Rogue Weaknesses

Can be very difficult to level due to lack of self healing.
Rogues are not able to do much AoE damage beyond Blade Flurry'scleave effect.
Rogue abilities have long cooldowns that are very impactful, such as Vanish, Evasion, and Sprint.
Some abilities require reagents, which also take up inventory slots, such as Blind, Vanish and poisons.

Best Races for DPS Rogues

To find out which races are the best for DPS Rogues in WoW Classic, please refer to thededicated pages we wrote for Alliance and Horde.

Best Alliance races for RogueBest Horde races for Rogue

Rogue Poisons

For more information about Rogue poisons, please refer to our guide.

Rogue poison guide

Changelog

02 Dec. 2020 (gear page): Updated for Phase 6, added Naxrammas BiS Gear.
02 Dec. 2020 (enchants page): Updated for the release of Phase 6, added new enchants from Naxxramas.
02 Dec. 2020 (stats page): Updated for Phase 6.
02 Dec. 2020 (rotation page): Updated for Phase 6, improved the Rotation section to be more optimized.
02 Dec. 2020 (talents page): Changed notes on Seal Fate build's viability with release of Phase 6.
06 Aug. 2020 (gear page): Guide updated for Phase 5.
21 Jul. 2020 (gear page): Guide added.
15 Apr. 2020 (enchants page): Updated for the release of Phase 4.
27 Feb. 2020 (gear page): Updated recommended gear.
11 Feb. 2020 (gear page): Revamped for Phase 3.
10 Dec. 2019 (gear page): Added link to PvP BiS page.
17 Nov. 2019 (gear page): Fixed drop source for Hand of Justice and location for The Unforgiving.
15 Nov. 2019 (gear page): Updated for Phase 2.
15 Oct. 2019 (gear page): Updated for the release of Dire Maul.
14 Oct. 2019 (gear page): Added a Raid BiS list.
29 Sep. 2019 (talents page): Fixed Ruthlessness' explanation.
28 Sep. 2019 (talents page): Clarified description of Ruthlessness.
14 Sep. 2019 (gear page): Updated Ring recommendations.
09 Sep. 2019 (gear page): Updated some choices.
05 Sep. 2019 (gear page): Updated some choices.
26 Aug. 2019 (enchants page): Added a note about Grilled Squid.
16 Aug. 2019 (rotation page): Improved rotation.
13 Aug. 2019 (enchants page): Added Winterfall Firewater to consumables list.
13 Aug. 2019 (stats page): Added much more detail about the stats.
13 Aug. 2019 (talents page): Added the Seal Fate Dagger build guide.
13 Aug. 2019 (spells page): Added more info about Lockpicking and Pickpocketing.
13 Aug. 2019 (this page): Added more detail to the races and poisons sections.
20 Jun. 2019 (gear page): Page added.
20 Jun. 2019 (enchants page): Page added.
20 Jun. 2019 (stats page): Page added.
20 Jun. 2019 (rotation page): Page added.
20 Jun. 2019 (talents page): Page added.
20 Jun. 2019 (spells page): Page added.
20 Jun. 2019 (this page): Page added.

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