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World of Warcraft: Forever · Class guide

Combat Rogue: specialization guide

Melee DPS #9 in the ranking · 690 DPS

Combat is the Melee DPS specialization of the Rogue in WoW: Forever. This page summarizes its talent tree as it appears in the game client (build 1.60.1.70753); the role is the one stated by the Icy Veins guide for the specialization.

Quick answers: Combat Rogue

Is Combat Rogue a good spec in WoW Forever?

In our level-60 simulation (180 seconds on a stationary boss, raid buffs, best known gear), Combat Rogue ranks #9 of 20 DPS specs with 690 DPS. #1 is Affliction Warlock (907 DPS). A stationary boss does not tell everything: group utility and moving fights matter too.

Which talents should Combat Rogue take?

Our simulator's build uses 51 points, split Assassination 16 / Combat 35. The talents that weigh the most in the simulation: Flash of Steel, Dual Wield Specialization, Aggression. Open this build in the talent calculator →

What gear should Combat Rogue wear?

Without raid items, the best set the simulator finds gives 682 DPS, −1.2% against the set that includes raid items. Stat priority: Weapon Damage > Hit Chance > Agility. Full gear and enchantments →

What rotation does Combat Rogue play?

Opening: Keep Slice and Dice up ; Sinister Strike to build combo points ; Eviscerate at 5 combo points. Full rotation →

Which race should Combat Rogue pick?

The top race in our simulation: Night Elf. All races of the class →

How do I level Combat Rogue from 1 to 60?

The first talent point comes at level 10, then one per level up to 51 at level 60. The guide gives the talent order step by step (derived from the level-60 build, not tested while leveling), the dungeons of each level band and the spec's best item in each. See the leveling →

Where can Combat Rogue find gear before level 60?

Our dungeon finder shows, for every dungeon, the best item for this spec according to the simulator's stat weights. Best dungeon items →

Talent template (level 60)

Our level-60 simulator build (51 points), the one used for the ranking: talents, gear and rotation are on the ranking page.

Gear, rotation and damage by ability for this level-60 build: Rogue Combat →

How to read these trees

The class's three trees, with the talents of the level-60 build (51 points) in colour and all the others in grey. The small number on the left of each row is the points you must have spent in the tree to reach it, and each talent's badge shows the points invested. This section is fixed: it does not move and does not depend on the calculator.

Recommended Optional

Combat this guide

Coup de Grace3/3
Efficient Strikes2/2
Lightning Reflexes5
Puncturing Wounds3
Deflection1/3
Precision3/3
Improved Sprint2/2
Endurance2/2
Riposte1
Composure2/2
Improved Kick2
Flawless Execution1/1
Weapon Expertise2/2
Aggression3/3
Dual Wield Specialization2/2
Blade Flurry1/1
Hack and Slash5/5
Flash of Steel5/5
Adrenaline Rush1/1

Assassination

Improved Gouge3
Remorseless Attacks2
Malice5/5
Ruthlessness3/3
Improved Expose Armor2
Improved Slice and Dice3/3
Vigor2/2
Blood Splatter1
Lethality2/2
Vile Poisons5
Cold Blood1/1
Improved Poisons5
Relentless Strikes5
Venom1
Improved Kidney Shot2
Seal Fate3
Mutilate1

Subtlety

Setup3
Master of Deception3
Opportunity5
Dirty Deeds2
Camouflage3
Improved Ambush3
Dirty Tricks2
Initiative3
Premeditation1
Serrated Blades3
Elusiveness2
Ghostly Strike1
Quick Getaway2
Heightened Senses2
Preparation1
Hemorrhage1
Boot Knife5
Death Mark1
Talent details of the build (21)
Coup de Grace Combat · Tier 1 · 3 ranks · 3 pts · Recommended

Rank 3/3: Increases the damage of your Eviscerate ability by 20%, and the damage Death Mark stores and its maximum by 20%.

Efficient Strikes Combat · Tier 1 · 2 ranks · 2 pts · Recommended

Rank 2/2: Reduces the energy cost of your Sinister Strike ability by 5.

Deflection Combat · Tier 2 · 3 ranks · 1 pts · Recommended

Rank 1/3: Increases your Parry chance by 2%.

Precision Combat · Tier 2 · 3 ranks · 3 pts · Recommended

Rank 3/3: Improves your chance to hit by 3%.

Improved Sprint Combat · Tier 2 · 2 ranks · 2 pts · Recommended

Rank 2/2: Gives a 100% chance to remove all movement impairing effects when you activate your Sprint ability.

Endurance Combat · Tier 3 · 2 ranks · 2 pts · Recommended

Rank 2/2: Reduces the cooldown of your Sprint and Evasion abilities by 60%.

Composure Combat · Tier 3 · 2 ranks · 2 pts · Recommended

Rank 2/2: Poised reduces the energy cost of your next ability by 10 more.

Flawless Execution Combat · Tier 4 · 1 rank · 1 pts · Recommended

Rank 1/1: Reduces the Energy cost of your Eviscerate ability by 15.

Weapon Expertise Combat · Tier 4 · 2 ranks · 2 pts · Recommended

Rank 2/2: Reduces the chance for your attacks to be Dodged or Parried by 2%.

Aggression Combat · Tier 4 · 3 ranks · 3 pts · Recommended

Rank 3/3: Increases the damage of your Sinister Strike and Eviscerate abilities by 15%.

Dual Wield Specialization Combat · Tier 5 · 2 ranks · 2 pts · Recommended

Rank 2/2: Increases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 50%.

Blade Flurry Combat · Tier 5 · 1 rank · 1 pts · Recommended

Rank 1/1: Increases your melee attack speed by 20% and your melee attacks strike an additional nearby opponent. Lasts 15 sec.

Hack and Slash Combat · Tier 5 · 5 ranks · 5 pts · Recommended

Rank 5/5: 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.

Flash of Steel Combat · Tier 6 · 5 ranks · 5 pts · Recommended

Rank 5/5: Shank returns 15 more energy and its cooldown is reduced by 2 sec.

Adrenaline Rush Combat · Tier 7 · 1 rank · 1 pts · Recommended

Rank 1/1: Increases your Energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 sec.

Malice Assassination · Tier 1 · 5 ranks · 5 pts · Recommended

Rank 5/5: Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks and Poisons by 5%.

Ruthlessness Assassination · Tier 2 · 3 ranks · 3 pts · Recommended

Rank 3/3: Gives your finishing moves a 60% chance to add a Combo Point to your target.

Improved Slice and Dice Assassination · Tier 2 · 3 ranks · 3 pts · Recommended

Rank 3/3: Increases the duration of your Slice and Dice ability by 45%.

Vigor Assassination · Tier 3 · 2 ranks · 2 pts · Recommended

Rank 2/2: Increases your maximum Energy by 10.

Lethality Assassination · Tier 3 · 2 ranks · 2 pts · Recommended

Rank 2/2: Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Mutilate, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 20%.

Cold Blood Assassination · Tier 4 · 1 rank · 1 pts · Recommended

Rank 1/1: When activated, increases the critical strike chance of your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Eviscerate, or Mutilate by 100%.

Leveling Combat Rogue from 1 to 60

The first talent point comes at level 10, then one per level: 1 point at level 10, 11 at level 20, 21 at level 30, 31 at level 40, 41 at level 50 and 51 at level 60. A row of a tree opens for every 5 points spent in that tree.

Derived order: we computed it from our simulator's level-60 build, following the tree rules (rows, prerequisites) and taking at each point the talent the simulation values most. It was not tested while leveling a character: it is a starting point, not a proven leveling build, to be revisited with the released game's data.

Levels 1 to 9: no talent point yet, the first one comes at level 10.

Level 10: 1 talent point (levels 10 to 19)

Take: Efficient Strikes. See the tree at this step →

Dungeons at these levels (5)

All dungeons at this level →

Level 20: 11 talent points (levels 20 to 29)

Take: Efficient Strikes, Malice ×5, Improved Slice and Dice ×3, Ruthlessness. See the tree at this step →

Dungeons at these levels (5)

All dungeons at this level →

Level 30: 21 talent points (levels 30 to 39)

Take: Ruthlessness ×2, Coup de Grace ×3, Lethality ×2, Precision ×3. See the tree at this step →

Dungeons at these levels (2)

All dungeons at this level →

Level 40: 31 talent points (levels 40 to 49)

Take: Vigor ×2, Cold Blood, Deflection, Improved Sprint ×2, Endurance ×2, Composure ×2. See the tree at this step →

Dungeons at these levels (5)

All dungeons at this level →

Level 50: 41 talent points (levels 50 to 59)

Take: Flawless Execution, Aggression ×3, Weapon Expertise ×2, Dual Wield Specialization ×2, Blade Flurry, Hack and Slash. See the tree at this step →

Dungeons at these levels (3)

All dungeons at this level →

Level 60: 51 points, full build

Take: Flash of Steel ×5, Adrenaline Rush, Hack and Slash ×4. See the tree at this step →

At launch: level 60, build 1.60.1

Updated November 4, 2026 · simulator data build 1.60.1.69913 · 180-second simulation, 6000 runs

Recommended talents

51 points: Assassination 16 / Combat 35

The talents that weigh the most in the simulation: Flash of Steel, Dual Wield Specialization, Aggression.

See the full tree →

Spell order

  1. Keep Slice and Dice up.
  2. Sinister Strike to build combo points.
  3. Eviscerate at 5 combo points.
Full rotation →

Consumables

All consumables →

Pre-raid gear (no raid items)

The best set the simulator finds among the known dungeon and profession items, raid excluded: 682 DPS, −1.2% against the set that includes raid items (690 DPS).

Head Mask of the Unforgiven Stratholme — The Unforgiven
Neck Beads of Ogre Might Dire Maul — Falrin's Vendetta
Shoulders Dark Warder's Pauldrons Blackrock Depths — Warder Stilgiss
Back Cape of the Black Baron Stratholme — Baron Rivendare
Waist Molten Belt Leatherworking — skill 300
Feet Shadowcraft Boots Scholomance — Rattlegore
Ring 1 Blackstone Ring Maraudon — Princess Theradras
Ring 2 Masons Fraternity Ring Zul'Farrak — Divino-matic Rod
Main hand Persuader Blacksmithing — skill 300
Off hand Black Amnesty Blacksmithing — skill 300

Full gear, enchantments included →

Figures come from our simulator, not from players: they move with patches.

Level 60 stat priority

StatDPS gainedRelative value
Agility per point 0.5221.96
Hit per rating point 0.4781.79
Crit per rating point 0.4241.59
Haste per rating point 0.3461.29
Strength per point 0.2941.1
Attack power per point 0.2671.0
Intellect per point 0.0no effect
Spirit per point 0.0no effect

Gain curves by stat

0295887115080160240320400points added (rating or stat value)DPS gainedCrit: +0 → +0 DPSCrit: +35 → +15 DPSCrit: +70 → +30 DPSCrit: +105 → +43 DPSCrit: +140 → +55 DPSCrit: +175 → +64 DPSCrit: +210 → +70 DPSCrit: +245 → +76 DPSCrit: +280 → +83 DPSHit: +0 → +0 DPSHit: +23 → +12 DPSHit: +45 → +20 DPSHit: +68 → +29 DPSHit: +90 → +39 DPSHit: +113 → +48 DPSHit: +135 → +58 DPSHit: +158 → +62 DPSHit: +180 → +62 DPSHit: capHaste: +0 → +0 DPSHaste: +25 → +6 DPSHaste: +50 → +17 DPSHaste: +75 → +23 DPSHaste: +100 → +32 DPSHaste: +125 → +40 DPSHaste: +150 → +48 DPSHaste: +175 → +56 DPSHaste: +200 → +64 DPSAgility: +0 → +0 DPSAgility: +15 → +8 DPSAgility: +30 → +16 DPSAgility: +45 → +24 DPSAgility: +60 → +32 DPSAgility: +75 → +40 DPSAgility: +90 → +48 DPSAgility: +105 → +56 DPSAgility: +120 → +64 DPSStrength: +0 → +0 DPSStrength: +15 → +5 DPSStrength: +30 → +9 DPSStrength: +45 → +13 DPSStrength: +60 → +18 DPSStrength: +75 → +22 DPSStrength: +90 → +26 DPSStrength: +105 → +31 DPSStrength: +120 → +35 DPSAttack power: +0 → +0 DPSAttack power: +50 → +13 DPSAttack power: +100 → +27 DPSAttack power: +150 → +40 DPSAttack power: +200 → +53 DPSAttack power: +250 → +67 DPSAttack power: +300 → +80 DPSAttack power: +350 → +93 DPSAttack power: +400 → +107 DPS
How to read these measures

Measured by the simulator on the character above: the DPS gained by one more point of each stat, with the same random draws on both sides. The relative value compares each stat with one point of attack power. Crit, hit and haste are counted per rating point, like Strength or Agility, so they compare directly; they respect the caps: hit at the cap adds nothing. A value near zero or negative is within the margin of error or tied to a limit (mana, cap).

DPS gained when points of each stat are added on top of the simulated gear. Click a stat (or its row in the table) to bring its curve forward; the ring marks the estimated cap, past which every point is worth less than 20% of what it gave at the start.

Level 60 rotation

  1. Keep Slice and Dice up.
  2. Sinister Strike to build combo points.
  3. Eviscerate at 5 combo points.
  4. Adrenaline Rush and Blade Flurry on cooldown.
  5. Shank on cooldown whenever it does not push the energy past the cap.
  6. Instant Poison on the main hand, Deadly Poison on the off hand.
Method, Icy Veins recommendations and comparison

Our simulator's priority at level 60, set against what Icy Veins recommends. Their guides are written before launch, for level 30 and for leveling: we keep what everyone agrees on, adopt what the simulation confirmed at level 60 and say where the two differ.

What Icy Veins recommends (level 30)

Our comparison

Agreed: Sinister Strike, Slice and Dice, Eviscerate at 5 points. The simulator adds Adrenaline Rush and Blade Flurry on cooldown. Poisons: Instant on the main hand and Deadly on the off hand, Classic values (assumed).

Suggested professions

Other Rogue specializations

Level 60 gear

Head Mask of the Unforgiven Stratholme — The Unforgiven —
Neck Beads of Ogre Might Dire Maul — Falrin's Vendetta Enchant Necklace - Agility +5 Agility
Shoulders Dark Warder's Pauldrons Blackrock Depths — Warder Stilgiss —
Chest Primal Batskin Jerkin Leatherworking — skill 300 Enchant Chest - Greater Stats +4 Strength, +4 Agility, +4 Stamina, +4 Intellect, +4 Spirit
Waist Molten Belt Leatherworking — skill 300 —
Legs Devilsaur Leggings Leatherworking — skill 300 Forceful Rugged Armor Kit 40 target armor
Ring 2 Blackstone Ring Maraudon — Princess Theradras —
Main hand Persuader Blacksmithing — skill 300 Enchant Weapon - Agility +15 Agility
Off hand Black Amnesty Blacksmithing — skill 300 Enchant Weapon - Agility +15 Agility
Method and enchant notes

The gear our optimizer picks for this specialization among the items known so far (dungeons, the few raid items already known and crafted gear, which can be bought or made for you: prices and materials are not taken into account), with item effects simulated. Nothing is hand-picked: it is the result of the ranking's computation, and it will change as new items are discovered.

Enchantments up to skill 300, valued by the simulator when they give flat stats or flat weapon damage. The character does not need the profession: they can be bought or applied by an enchanter; Leatherworking armor kits (chest, legs, feet, hands) and Engineering scopes are counted too. A kit and an enchantment share the same permanent slot: a piece carries one or the other, and the legs, which have no enchantment, get the kit; spell-proc enchants (Crusader, Fiery Weapon...) and school damage are not simulated. The client data has no ring enchantment up to skill 300.

Icy Veins guide dated 2026-11-03, read on September 21, 2026.

Best level 60 consumables

simulated set ●

Scrolls

Scroll of Agility ●+8.9+1.3 %

Elixirs and flasks

Potions, food and others

How to read these gains

The three best of each category, measured by the simulator on the character above. Only one scroll and one elixir or flask can be worn at a time: each gain is the DPS this consumable brings alone, compared with an empty slot, the rest of the set unchanged. Gains in the same category therefore do not add up. The row marked with a dot is the one in the simulated set.

The last-tier talents

These are the deepest talents in the tree: they require 30 points already spent in the specialization. Official game text, at maximum rank.

Adrenaline Rush Tier 7 · 1 rank

Increases your Energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 sec.

Open Rogue in the talent calculator

Spend your 51 points, compare the three specializations and share your build by link.

Sources and method

Talent data comes from the game client. The level-60 build, gear, stats and rotation come from our simulator and are validated by DPS measurements; the rotation is compared with the Icy Veins guides, written before launch for level 30. Healing is not simulated. This data will change with future patches.

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