World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Assassination Rogue: Talents

Client build 1.60.1.70425 · updated 16 October 2026

Every Assassination build and leveling order, on all three Rogue trees from the Forever beta client (build 1.60.1.70425). Pick a build and move the level slider to see where its points are at that level.

You get one talent point per level from 10. A tier opens after 5 points in the tiers above it in the same tree, and a talent joined by a line to one above it needs that one maxed first.

Build Your level60 Talented perk (+5 points)

51 points spent

Shown: Assassination leveling order at level 60.

Assassination 28

0/3
Improved GougeRank 0/3
Assassination talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed
0/2
Remorseless AttacksRank 0/2
Assassination talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Now also boosts Mutilate: after you kill a non-trivial enemy, your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Mutilate or Ghostly Strike gets +40% crit chance for 20 seconds. Assassination 30 takes both ranks.
5/5
MaliceRank 5/5
Assassination talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Now covers Poisons as well as attacks: +5% crit chance at 5/5. Every Rogue build takes it, so poison crits come along for free.
3/3
RuthlessnessRank 3/3
Requires 5 points in Assassination Talents
Assassination talent, tier 2, level 15+
0/2
MurderRank 0/2
Requires 5 points in Assassination Talents
Assassination talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Doubled to 2% per rank, but now Humanoids and Giants only.
3/3
Improved Slice and DiceRank 3/3
Requires 5 points in Assassination Talents
Assassination talent, tier 2, level 15+
1/1
Relentless StrikesRank 1/1
Requires 10 points in Assassination Talents
Your finishing moves have a 0% chance per Combo Point to restore 25 Energy.
Assassination talent, tier 3, level 20+
0/2
Improved Expose ArmorRank 0/2
Requires 10 points in Assassination Talents
Assassination talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Rewritten: no longer adds armor reduction. It cuts Expose Armor's energy cost by 10 and refunds 2 combo points on a 5-point cast, so Expose Armor costs a Rogue less, not the group more.
5/5
LethalityRank 5/5
Requires 10 points in Assassination Talents
Requires 5 points in Malice
Assassination talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Crit damage bonus cut to 20% (Classic 30%); now covers Mutilate.
5/5
Vile PoisonsRank 5/5
Requires 15 points in Assassination Talents
Assassination talent, tier 4, level 25+
Moved Moved from column 2 to column 1. At 5/5 poison damage is +20% and your poisons get +40% resistance to dispels. Assassination 60 takes it.
1/1
Cold BloodRank 1/1
Instant3 min cooldown
Requires 15 points in Assassination Talents
When activated, increases the critical strike chance of your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Eviscerate, or Mutilate by 100%.
Assassination talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Moved from tier 5 to tier 4 and now works on Mutilate too: your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Eviscerate or Mutilate gets +100% crit chance. Every Assassination and Combat build takes it.
1/5
Improved PoisonsRank 1/5
Requires 15 points in Assassination Talents
Assassination talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Reworked: +10% chance to apply Poisons at 5/5, plus Poison applications have a 50% chance not to use a charge. Both Assassination builds take it, but not at 5/5.
0/2
VigorRank 0/2
Requires 20 points in Assassination Talents
Assassination talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed Two ranks of +5 energy each, moved down to the 20-point row (Classic: one rank of +10 at 31).
1/1
MutilateRank 1/1
60 EnergyMelee range
Instant
Requires 20 points in Assassination Talents
Requires Daggers
Instantly attacks with both weapons for 75% weapon damage plus an additional 50 with each weapon. Damage increased by 20% against Poisoned targets. Awards 2 Combo Points.
Assassination talent, tier 5, level 30+
New New in Forever. An instant two-weapon attack for 75% weapon damage plus 17 with each weapon at rank 1, 20% more against Poisoned targets, and 2 combo points. It needs daggers. Assassination's 20-point talent.
0/2
Improved Kidney ShotRank 0/2
Requires 20 points in Assassination Talents
Assassination talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed No longer a group debuff: the 10% only applies to your own attacks and poisons (Classic: damage from all sources).
3/5
Seal FateRank 3/5
Requires 25 points in Assassination Talents
Assassination talent, tier 6, level 35+
Changed No longer needs Cold Blood.
0/1
VenomRank 0/1
25 Energy100 yd range
Instant
Requires 30 points in Assassination Talents
Requires 1 point in Mutilate
Requires Melee Weapon
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
Assassination talent, tier 7, level 40+
New New in Forever: Assassination's capstone. A finishing move that adds 30% Poison damage and 10% Poison application chance for 9 to 21 seconds, longer per combo point. It needs Mutilate, and Assassination 60 takes it.

Combat 21

3/3
Improved EviscerateRank 3/3
Combat talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Moved from Assassination to Combat, which changes which trees can take it cheaply. At 3/3 it adds 20% Eviscerate damage. Assassination, Combat and Subtlety builds all take it.
2/2
Improved Sinister StrikeRank 2/2
Combat talent, tier 1, level 10+
0/5
Lightning ReflexesRank 0/5
Combat talent, tier 1, level 10+
3/3
Puncturing WoundsRank 3/3
Requires 5 points in Combat Talents
Combat talent, tier 2, level 15+
New New: replaces Improved Backstab, and adds Mutilate crit and a chance for Backstab to award a second combo point.
3/3
DeflectionRank 3/3
Requires 5 points in Combat Talents
Combat talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed 3 ranks of 2% parry (Classic 5 ranks of 1%).
3/3
PrecisionRank 3/3
Requires 5 points in Combat Talents
Combat talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed 3 ranks of 1% hit (Classic 5 ranks). Hit is one stat across melee, ranged and spells in Forever, so it covers poisons too.
2/2
EnduranceRank 2/2
Requires 10 points in Combat Talents
Combat talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed The client lists this as changed. It is now a percentage cooldown cut: 60% off Sprint and Evasion at 2/2 (Classic a flat cut). Combat and Assassination builds take both ranks.
1/1
RiposteRank 1/1
10 EnergyMelee range
Instant6 sec cooldown
Requires 10 points in Combat Talents
Requires 3 points in Deflection
A strike that becomes active after parrying an opponent's attack. This attack deals 150% weapon damage and disarms the target for 0 sec.
Combat talent, tier 3, level 20+
0/2
Improved SprintRank 0/2
Requires 10 points in Combat Talents
Combat talent, tier 3, level 20+
0/2
Improved KickRank 0/2
Requires 15 points in Combat Talents
Combat talent, tier 4, level 25+
1/1
Flawless ExecutionRank 1/1
Requires 15 points in Combat Talents
Reduces the Energy cost of your Eviscerate ability by 10.
Combat talent, tier 4, level 25+
New New Combat 16-point talent: Eviscerate costs 10 less energy.
2/5
Dual Wield SpecializationRank 2/5
Requires 15 points in Combat Talents
Requires 3 points in Precision
Combat talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Cut to 5% off-hand damage per rank (Classic 10%).
1/1
Blade FlurryRank 1/1
25 Energy
Instant2 min cooldown
Requires 20 points in Combat Talents
Increases your melee attack speed by 20% and your melee attacks strike an additional nearby opponent. Lasts 15 sec.
Combat talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed The client lists this as changed. +20% melee attack speed and your attacks hit one extra nearby enemy for 15 seconds. Both Combat builds and the levelling order take it as the spec's main cooldown.
0/5
Hack and SlashRank 0/5
Requires 20 points in Combat Talents
Combat talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed New: replaces Sword, Dagger, Fist and Mace Specialization. Whatever weapon you hold gets its bonus, so changing weapon type needs no respec.
0/2
Weapon ExpertiseRank 0/2
Requires 25 points in Combat Talents
Requires 1 point in Blade Flurry
Combat talent, tier 6, level 35+
Changed Rewritten: 1–2% less chance to be dodged or parried (Classic: +3/+5 weapon skill).
0/3
AggressionRank 0/3
Requires 25 points in Combat Talents
Combat talent, tier 6, level 35+
Changed Now also boosts Backstab: +6% damage to Sinister Strike, Backstab and Eviscerate at 3/3. Combat 60 and the levelling order take it.
0/1
Adrenaline RushRank 0/1
Instant5 min cooldown
Requires 30 points in Combat Talents
Increases your Energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 sec.
Combat talent, tier 7, level 40+

Subtlety 2

0/5
CamouflageRank 0/5
Subtlety talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Moved from tier 2 to tier 1. At 5/5 it cuts the Stealth speed penalty by 15% and Stealth's cooldown by 6 seconds. Both Subtlety builds take it.
0/3
Master of DeceptionRank 0/3
Subtlety talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed
2/2
OpportunityRank 2/2
Subtlety talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Cut to 2 ranks of 5% (Classic 5 ranks of 4%); now covers Mutilate.
0/3
SetupRank 0/3
Requires 5 points in Subtlety Talents
Subtlety talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Moved down to the 5-point row and raised to 100% at 3/3. It only adds points when your current target is the enemy you dodged.
0/2
ElusivenessRank 0/2
Requires 5 points in Subtlety Talents
Subtlety talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed The client lists this as changed. At 2/2 it takes 90 seconds off the cooldowns of Vanish and Blind. Subtlety 60 takes both ranks.
0/2
Dirty TricksRank 0/2
Requires 5 points in Subtlety Talents
Subtlety talent, tier 2, level 15+
New New: Sap and Blind cost up to 50% less energy.
0/3
Improved AmbushRank 0/3
Requires 5 points in Subtlety Talents
Subtlety talent, tier 2, level 15+
Moved Moved from tier 3 to tier 2. At 3/3 it adds 45% crit chance to Ambush. Both Subtlety builds take all three ranks.
0/3
InitiativeRank 0/3
Requires 10 points in Subtlety Talents
Subtlety talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Now also covers Cheap Shot: at 3/3 it is a 100% chance of an extra combo point from Ambush, Garrote or Cheap Shot. Both Subtlety builds take all three ranks.
0/1
Ghostly StrikeRank 0/1
40 EnergyMelee range
Instant20 sec cooldown
Requires 10 points in Subtlety Talents
Requires Melee Weapon
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.
Subtlety talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed The client lists this as changed. It hits for 125% weapon damage (180% with a main-hand dagger), gives +15% dodge for 7 seconds and awards 1 combo point. Subtlety 30 takes it.
0/2
Improved DistractRank 0/2
Requires 10 points in Subtlety Talents
Subtlety talent, tier 3, level 20+
New New: a wider Distract that also lowers Stealth detection further.
0/2
Heightened SensesRank 0/2
Requires 15 points in Subtlety Talents
Subtlety talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Moved from tier 5 to tier 4. At 2/2 you detect Stealth as if 3 levels higher and have 4% less chance to be hit by spells and ranged attacks; Sub 60 takes 1 of 2 ranks.
0/1
PremeditationRank 0/1
20 yd range
Instant2 min cooldown
Requires 15 points in Subtlety Talents
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.
Subtlety talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed No longer a capstone: moved from tier 7 to tier 4, needs neither Preparation nor Stealth, and adds 2 combo points that last 20 seconds. That makes it usable at 15 points, and both Subtlety builds take it.
0/3
Serrated BladesRank 0/3
Requires 15 points in Subtlety Talents
Subtlety talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed The client lists this as changed. At 3/3 your attacks ignore 9% of the target's armour and Rupture deals 30% more. Both Subtlety builds take all three ranks.
0/2
Dirty DeedsRank 0/2
Requires 20 points in Subtlety Talents
Subtlety talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed Garrote no longer needs you behind the target.
0/1
PreparationRank 0/1
Instant10 min cooldown
Requires 20 points in Subtlety Talents
When activated, this ability immediately finishes the cooldown on your other Rogue abilities.
Subtlety talent, tier 5, level 30+
0/1
HemorrhageRank 0/1
35 EnergyMelee range
Instant
Requires 20 points in Subtlety Talents
Requires 3 points in Serrated Blades
Requires Melee Weapon
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.
Subtlety talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed Subtlety has two one-point talents on its 20-point row (Hemorrhage and Preparation); the other trees have one.
0/5
QuietusRank 0/5
Requires 25 points in Subtlety Talents
Requires 2 points in Dirty Deeds
Subtlety talent, tier 6, level 35+
New New: Sinister Strike, Ghostly Strike and Hemorrhage do up to 10% more below 35% health.
0/5
CutthroatRank 0/5
Requires 25 points in Subtlety Talents
Subtlety talent, tier 6, level 35+
New New: a Backstab can make your next Ambush usable out of Stealth (15% at 5/5).
0/1
Thousand CutsRank 0/1
Requires 30 points in Subtlety Talents
Requires 1 point in Preparation
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.
Subtlety talent, tier 7, level 40+
New To be replaced. Blizzard announced that Death Mark (mark a target; damage you deal builds up on it for 6 sec, then bursts) will take this slot. The 70205 client still has Thousand Cuts.

Assassination builds and leveling order

Assassination leveling order 28/21/2 Guide's pick, untested (in client data or one guide only)

Assassination: Malice 5, Ruthlessness 3, Improved Slice and Dice 3, Relentless Strikes 1, Lethality 5, Vile Poisons 5, Cold Blood 1, Improved Poisons 1, Mutilate 1, Seal Fate 3

Combat: Improved Eviscerate 3, Improved Sinister Strike 2, Puncturing Wounds 3, Deflection 3, Precision 3, Endurance 2, Riposte 1, Flawless Execution 1, Dual Wield Specialization 2, Blade Flurry 1

Subtlety: Opportunity 2

The 1–60 levelling order for Assassination. With the Talented legacy perk every step comes up to five levels sooner.

Assassination, level 30 21/0/0 Tested in beta (in a beta build, with its date)

Assassination: Remorseless Attacks 2, Malice 5, Ruthlessness 3, Relentless Strikes 1, Lethality 4, Cold Blood 1, Improved Poisons 4, Mutilate 1

Straight to Mutilate with Cold Blood and Improved Poisons. Alternatively, take Lethality 5 and Vile Poisons 4 instead of Cold Blood and Improved Poisons, or Improved Slice and Dice 3, Vile Poisons 3 and a fifth Lethality instead of Remorseless Attacks, Cold Blood and Improved Poisons. Daggers in both hands. Order: the Assassination levelling order, keeping this build's talents; Remorseless Attacks and Improved Poisons, which that order skips, go in where the tree allows.

Assassination, level 60 (projected) 33/16/2 Guide's pick, untested (in client data or one guide only)

Assassination: Malice 5, Ruthlessness 3, Improved Slice and Dice 3, Relentless Strikes 1, Lethality 5, Vile Poisons 5, Cold Blood 1, Improved Poisons 3, Mutilate 1, Seal Fate 5, Venom 1

Combat: Improved Eviscerate 3, Lightning Reflexes 2, Puncturing Wounds 3, Precision 3, Endurance 2, Improved Sprint 2, Flawless Execution 1

Subtlety: Opportunity 2

The "Standard" 33/16/2 with Venom and Seal Fate. A deeper variant (38/11/2) takes Improved Poisons 5 and Vigor. Beta theorycraft. Order: the Assassination levelling order, keeping this build's talents; Improved Poisons, Seal Fate, Venom, Lightning Reflexes and Improved Sprint, which that order skips, go in where the tree allows.

How the trees work

Tier 1: 0 points in the tree, level 10
Tier 2: 5 points in the tree, level 15
Tier 3: 10 points in the tree, level 20
Tier 4: 15 points in the tree, level 25
Tier 5: 20 points in the tree, level 30
Tier 6: 25 points in the tree, level 35
Tier 7: 30 points in the tree, level 40