Combat is the easiest rogue spec in Forever and the one almost everyone levels with: no positional requirements, little downtime, and every weapon type works thanks to Hack and Slash. It is also the only rogue spec with cleave. The new Shank gives you energy instead of costing it, and Flash of Steel makes it even better.
Talents and builds
The links open the talent calculator with the finished build, including why the points go where they go.
- Leveling: Combat leveling (points 16/35/0). The calculator shows the point-by-point order below the tree.
- Raid: Combat PvE (simulated) (points 16/35/0). The best simulated Combat setup for a two-minute boss fight on the reworked Rogue trees: Blade Flurry, Adrenaline Rush and Flash of Steel in Combat, with Malice and Improved Slice and Dice from Assassination.
Where it ranks
| Category | Tier | Range |
|---|---|---|
| PvE DPS (raid) | B | B–S |
| PvE dungeon DPS (level 30) | A | A |
| PvP (battleground/open world) | B | C–S |
| Leveling | B | B |
- PvE DPS (raid): Both simulations say B, as do most lists: Adrenaline Rush and Blade Flurry cleave are the case for A or S.
- PvP (battleground/open world): Drops from A to B: Adrenaline Rush and a reliable Kick help, but without cooldown resets long fights go badly. The new lists say A to C.
- Leveling: All three lists say B: solid single-target damage with Sinister Strike, but breaks to eat and little help against several mobs besides Blade Flurry.
The tiers combine several tier lists and level-60 simulations. Raid logs only exist from 9 December, so treat this as a snapshot. Every spec side by side: rankings.
Shank and the new energy flow
Energy now regenerates continuously instead of in two-second ticks. Shank (trained at 24) costs 5 energy, can't miss, hits with your off-hand for 50% weapon damage and gives back 15 energy, 25 from rank 2 at level 44. With 5/5 Flash of Steel it returns another 15 and its cooldown drops by 2 seconds. Use it on cooldown, but never when the energy would cap.
Poised (level 18) makes your first ability out of combat 10 energy cheaper when you are at full energy, and Composure adds more. In practice that only affects the opener.
Single-target rotation
- Open from Stealth with Garrote.
- Keep Slice and Dice up at all times. It is the finisher you refresh first.
- Shank on cooldown without capping energy.
- Eviscerate at five combo points.
- Sinister Strike to build combo points.
Rupture has no place in the rotation. Don't build combo points on a second target, because switching costs you the points you have.
Blade Flurry and Adrenaline Rush
Adrenaline Rush doubles your energy regeneration for 15 seconds. Don't start it near full energy. Blade Flurry adds 20% attack speed for 15 seconds and makes your attacks hit one extra nearby target. On a boss, pair it with Adrenaline Rush. On trash it is your only AoE, and you keep playing the normal rotation while it runs. Careful next to a sapped or gouged mob: Blade Flurry breaks the crowd control.
Weapons and stats
Hack and Slash depends on the weapon: axes and swords give a 5% chance for an extra attack, daggers and fist weapons 5% crit, maces ignore 15% armor. The standard setup is a slow main hand that is not a dagger, so a sword, axe or mace, for Sinister Strike and a fast off-hand for poisons. Whether swords or maces come out ahead is still open. Dual Wield Specialization now gives 50% off-hand damage in two ranks, which also boosts Shank.
Stats: hit up to 8% for special attacks against raid bosses, then Agility, weapon damage, crit and haste. At 10 hit rating per percent that is 80 rating, or 50 with 3/3 Precision. Poisons use the same hit, but need 17% against bosses. Instant Poison goes on the main hand, Deadly Poison on the off-hand. Since launch, poisons scale about twice as much with attack power.
Common mistakes
- Pressing Sinister Strike at five combo points, or finishing with too few.
- Capping energy, especially around Shank and Adrenaline Rush.
- Building combo points on a second target.
- Breaking Sap or Gouge with Blade Flurry.
- Spending energy on Kick, Feint or Gouge when nothing calls for it.
Leveling
Combat is the recommended rogue leveling spec: no mana, any weapon, and you don't depend on Stealth or getting behind the target. Riposte unlocks with 10 points, Blade Flurry with 20 and Adrenaline Rush with 30. The linked build gets them at 22, 32 and 42. Endurance cuts the cooldowns of Sprint and Evasion by 60%, which saves you more than one fight that goes wrong.
In groups and raids
In dungeons Combat is rated A: steady damage, cleave with Blade Flurry and a Kick that silences for 2 seconds with Improved Kick. Feint now drops twice as much threat. Expose Armor works like five stacks of Sunder Armor, so with a warrior in the raid it adds nothing. In raids the two simulations disagree completely: one makes Combat the best rogue spec, the other the weakest.
Further reading
- Rogue class guide: races, new abilities and every build of the class
- The other specs: Assassination Rogue, Subtlety Rogue
- Raid comp planner: put your raid together and see which buffs are still missing
- Rogue talent calculator: plan your own build and share it as a link
Frequently asked questions
Should a Combat Rogue use Rupture in Forever?
No. Slice and Dice and Eviscerate carry the damage, and Rupture doesn't show up in any of the current Combat rotations.
