Rogue leveling guide
Levels 1–60Alliance: Human, Dwarf, Gnome, Night Elf, SkyborneHorde: Orc, Troll, Undead, Skyborne
Alliance: Human, Dwarf, Gnome, Night Elf, Skyborne
Horde: Orc, Troll, Undead, SkyborneYour plan in game
Open your talent plan in Polestar:
/polestar talentsLevel as Combat with a sword (Riposte, Blade Flurry, Adrenaline Rush) for the steadiest kills, or Assassination with daggers and poisons (Mutilate). Subtlety's Hemorrhage plan suits stealth openers and is slower solo.
Polestar ships 3 leveling talent plans for Rogues (Assassination, Combat and Subtlety), 10 class quest guides, and Rogue steps in 11 leveling guides.
Who can be a Rogue
In WoW: Forever Rogues are open to 9 races on both sides. Each race starts on its own route and joins its side's shared road; the guides carry the Rogue steps for you.
Alliance
- HumanElwynn Forest 1–13Its road: 26 guides to level 60
- DwarfDun Morogh 1–13Its road: 26 guides to level 60
- GnomeDun Morogh 1–13Its road: 26 guides to level 60
- Night ElfTeldrassil 1–11Its road: 26 guides to level 60
- SkyborneZephras Isle 1–15Its road: 26 guides to level 60
Horde
- OrcDurotar 1–12Its road: 25 guides to level 60
- TrollDurotar 1–12Its road: 25 guides to level 60
- UndeadTirisfal Glades 1–13Its road: 24 guides to level 60
- SkyborneZephras Isle 1–15Its road: 24 guides to level 60
Leveling talent plans
Picks adapted from a community talent site's leveling builds up to level 30; the notes are written for Polestar. Every pick is checked against Forever's own Rogue talent tree (client 1.60.1.70450). Sources are named on Credits & data sources.
Each plan is written one point a level from 10. Points that come sooner (a Legacy talent can grant them from level 5) bring the picks sooner: in the game the plan follows its order, not the levels.
Assassination
31/20/0 · 51 picks, levels 10–60
| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | MaliceMalice first: crit for every attack and poison, and it opens Lethality. | 1–5 | Assassination |
| 15–17 | RuthlessnessRuthlessness gives finishers a chance at a free combo point; Murder adds damage against humanoids and giants. | 1–3 | Assassination |
| 18–19 | Murder | 1–2 | Assassination |
| 20 | Relentless StrikesRelentless Strikes refunds energy from finishers, so fights flow without waiting. | 1 | Assassination |
| 21–25 | Lethality | 1–5 | Assassination |
| 26 | Cold Blood | 1 | Assassination |
| 27–29 | Improved PoisonsImproved Poisons puts poisons on more often and makes charges last; take them as soon as you train poisons. | 1–3 | Assassination |
| 30 | MutilateMutilate is Forever's dual-wield dagger strike: two combo points a use, and more damage on poisoned targets. | 1 | Assassination |
| 31–32 | Remorseless Attacks | 1–2 | Assassination |
| 33–34 | Improved Poisons | 4–5 | Assassination |
| 35–39 | Seal FateSeal Fate turns crits into extra combo points; with Malice and Lethality it is the core of the build. | 1–5 | Assassination |
| 40 | VenomVenom is the capstone: a finisher that strengthens your poisons for a while. | 1 | Assassination |
| 41–42 | Improved Sinister StrikeThe last 20 points go to Combat: cheaper Sinister Strikes, a stronger Eviscerate, more hit and parry, Riposte and a stronger off-hand. | 1–2 | Combat |
| 43–45 | Improved Eviscerate | 1–3 | Combat |
| 46–48 | Precision | 1–3 | Combat |
| 49–51 | Deflection | 1–3 | Combat |
| 52 | Riposte | 1 | Combat |
| 53–55 | Puncturing Wounds | 1–3 | Combat |
| 56–60 | Dual Wield Specialization | 1–5 | Combat |
Combat
20/31/0 · 51 picks, levels 10–60
| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–11 | Improved Sinister StrikeImproved Sinister Strike first: cheaper Sinister Strikes are the biggest early gain. | 1–2 | Combat |
| 12–14 | Improved Eviscerate | 1–3 | Combat |
| 15–17 | PrecisionPrecision helps you hit more often; it also opens Dual Wield Specialization. | 1–3 | Combat |
| 18–20 | Deflection | 1–3 | Combat |
| 21 | RiposteRiposte follows each parry with a heavy strike that also disarms. | 1 | Combat |
| 22–24 | Puncturing Wounds | 1–3 | Combat |
| 25–29 | Dual Wield Specialization | 1–5 | Combat |
| 30 | Blade FlurryBlade Flurry is faster attacks and cleave on demand; Hack and Slash then adds extra attacks with swords and axes. | 1 | Combat |
| 31–35 | Hack and Slash | 1–5 | Combat |
| 36–37 | Weapon Expertise | 1–2 | Combat |
| 38–39 | Aggression | 1–2 | Combat |
| 40 | Adrenaline RushAdrenaline Rush is the capstone: double energy for 15 seconds, enough for a second mob. | 1 | Combat |
| 41–45 | MaliceThe remaining points go to Assassination for crit, free combo points, energy refunds and Lethality. | 1–5 | Assassination |
| 46–48 | Ruthlessness | 1–3 | Assassination |
| 49–50 | Murder | 1–2 | Assassination |
| 51 | Relentless Strikes | 1 | Assassination |
| 52–56 | Lethality | 1–5 | Assassination |
| 57–58 | Improved Slice and Dice | 1–2 | Assassination |
| 59–60 | Remorseless Attacks | 1–2 | Assassination |
Subtlety
0/20/31 · 51 picks, levels 10–60
| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–11 | OpportunityOpportunity adds damage to Backstab, Ambush and Garrote, your stealth openers. | 1–2 | Subtlety |
| 12–15 | Camouflage | 1–4 | Subtlety |
| 16–18 | Setup | 1–3 | Subtlety |
| 19–21 | Improved AmbushImproved Ambush and Initiative make the opener the fight: a likely crit and extra combo points. | 1–3 | Subtlety |
| 22 | Ghostly Strike | 1 | Subtlety |
| 23–25 | Initiative | 1–3 | Subtlety |
| 26 | Premeditation | 1 | Subtlety |
| 27–29 | Serrated BladesSerrated Blades ignores armor and is the way into Hemorrhage. | 1–3 | Subtlety |
| 30 | HemorrhageHemorrhage is your main builder from here, with any weapon, and it adds to Rupture damage. | 1 | Subtlety |
| 31 | Preparation | 1 | Subtlety |
| 32–33 | Dirty Deeds | 1–2 | Subtlety |
| 34 | Camouflage | 5 | Subtlety |
| 35–39 | QuietusQuietus adds damage to Hemorrhage and Ghostly Strike on a low-health target, finishing mobs sooner. | 1–5 | Subtlety |
| 40 | Thousand CutsThousand Cuts is the capstone: Rupture ticks make your next Hemorrhage cheaper. | 1 | Subtlety |
| 41–42 | Improved Sinister StrikeThe last 20 points go to Combat: cheaper Sinister Strikes, a stronger Eviscerate, more hit and parry, Riposte and a stronger off-hand. | 1–2 | Combat |
| 43–45 | Improved Eviscerate | 1–3 | Combat |
| 46–48 | Precision | 1–3 | Combat |
| 49–51 | Deflection | 1–3 | Combat |
| 52 | Riposte | 1 | Combat |
| 53–55 | Puncturing Wounds | 1–3 | Combat |
| 56–60 | Dual Wield Specialization | 1–5 | Combat |
Rogue class quests
10 class quest guides for Rogues, each a guide of its own in Polestar's Class menu.
- Blade of Cunning (Alliance)10–12AllianceBlade of Cunning
- Blade of Cunning (Horde)10–13HordeBlade of Cunning
- Certificate of Thievery16–20AllianceCertificate of Thievery
- Plundering the Plunderers16–20HordeThistle Tea
- Poisons (Alliance)20–24AlliancePoisons, Recipe: Thistle Tea, Eau de Mixilpixil
- Poisons (Horde)20–26HordePoisons, Recipe: Thistle Tea, Fizzule's Whistle, Hinott's Oil
- The Horn of Xelthos23–26Both factionsPyrewood Signet Ring
- Ravenholdt24–36Both factionsRavenholdt reputation
- The Eye of Bhossca25–35Both factionsRuby-Adorned Blade
- The Azure Key50–52Both factionsRavenholdt reputation
Rogue steps on the leveling routes
Steps the zone guides show only to Rogues (a few to one or two other classes as well): class quests on the way and visits to your trainer.
Alliance
- Dun Morogh1–13Dwarf, Gnome
Encrypted Rune (Dwarf), Encrypted Memorandum (Gnome)
- Elwynn Forest1–13Human
Encrypted Letter
- Teldrassil1–11Night Elf
Encrypted Sigil
- Zephras Isle1–15Skyborne
At Home in the Shadows
- Redridge Mountains20–23
Mathias and the Defias
- Duskwood22–26
Klaven's Tower, The Touch of Zanzil
Horde
- Durotar1–12Orc, Troll
Encrypted Parchment (Orc), Encrypted Tablet (Troll)
- Zephras Isle1–15Skyborne
At Home in the Shadows
- Tirisfal Glades1–13Undead
Encrypted Scroll
- The Barrens19–24
The Shattered Salute, Deep Cover, Mission: Possible But Not Probable, Hinott's Assistance
- Hillsbrad Foothills, Undercity & The Barrens24–28
Hinott's Assistance
Rogue gear
What Polestar's gear advice counts as a Rogue's, and how it weighs stats for each spec. It reads your spec from your talent points; before you spend any it uses Combat.
- Armor
- Leather
- Dual wield
- From level 10
- Weapons
- Bows, Guns, One-handed maces, One-handed swords, Fist weapons, Daggers, Thrown, Crossbows
| Spec | Stats | Own weights |
|---|---|---|
| Assassination | Agility 1 · Strength 0.55 · Stamina 0.45 · Spirit 0.05 | To level 39 |
| Combat | Agility 1 · Strength 0.55 · Stamina 0.45 · Spirit 0.05 | To level 39 |
| Subtlety | Agility 1 · Strength 0.5 · Stamina 0.5 · Spirit 0.05 | To level 39 |
How Polestar helps a Rogue level
- One route, your class's steps in it. The guides show the steps for your race and class and skip the rest, so the Rogue quests above turn up where they belong on your road, and a waypoint arrow walks you to every goal.
- Your talent plan on the talent frame. Pick a plan (or let Polestar follow your spec): a ring marks the next talent while a point is unspent, each talent shows where it comes in the plan, and a chat line names the next pick when a point is waiting. Nothing is spent for you. Open it with
/polestar talents; the settings are under Options, Questing, Talents. - Gear advice for your spec. Quest rewards and items in your bags that are upgrades for your Rogue get a green arrow, and a turn-in names the reward to take.