WoW Forever DB

World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Subtlety Rogue: Leveling

Client build 1.60.1.70425 · updated

Level as Combat with a slow one-hander in the main hand: it is the easiest Rogue solo spec.

How this works

Sinister Strike to build, Slice and Dice and Eviscerate to finish, Riposte when you parry, Blade Flurry once you reach it at 30. You have no self-heal, so eat between pulls, and use Stealth to skip trash between quest objectives. The XP curve is Classic's; levels 20–30 cost 331,800 XP, twice all of 1–20, and dungeon quests still pay about 2.2 times Classic's XP. The spells and ranks in each band come straight from the client's trainer data.

How Subtlety fights is on its rotation page.

Level by level

Your race

other bands: Classic routing on Forever zone levels

1–10Stealth and Sap

Learn the buttons

Sinister Strike, Eviscerate and Stealth from level 1. The client lists Pick Lock at 1 too, but Classic's client did and its trainers taught it at 16, so treat that as unconfirmed. Backstab and Pick Pocket at 4, Gouge at 6, Evasion at 8, and Slice and Dice, Sprint and Sap at 10. Talents start at 10.

Where
Human: Northshire Abbey, then Elwynn Forest (5–10).
Dwarf: Coldridge Valley, then Dun Morogh (4–12).
Night Elf: Shadowglen, then Teldrassil (5–11).
Gnome: Coldridge Valley, then Dun Morogh (4–12).
Skyborne (High Order): Zephras Isle (1–12), the Skyborne start. At level 2, At Home in the Shadows sends you from Rorian the Dayseeker to Akeri Duskblade in Thendal Grove (new; quest data, unconfirmed in game).
Orc: Valley of Trials, then Durotar (5–10).
Undead: Deathknell, then Tirisfal Glades around Brill (5–12).
Troll: Valley of Trials, then Durotar (5–10).
Skyborne (Windshaper): Zephras Isle (1–12), the Skyborne start, with the level-2 Rogue quest At Home in the Shadows (new; unconfirmed in game).
New spells
Eviscerate 1 Sinister Strike 1 Stealth 1 Pick Lock 1 Backstab 4 Pick Pocket 4 Gouge 6 Evasion 8 Slice and Dice 10 Sprint 10 Sap 10
New ranks
Sinister Strike 2 6Eviscerate 2 8
Talents
Improved Sinister Strike 2/2 10–11
Tips
  • Open with Sinister Strike from Stealth until you have Ambush with a dagger at 18; Sap a second Humanoid before you pull, now without leaving Stealth.
  • Stand at the back edge of melee range: until the known issue is fixed, enemies can parry and block you from behind up close.
11–20Poisons at 20

Kick, Rupture and your first poisons

Kick at 12, Expose Armor and Garrote at 14, Feint at 16, Ambush at 18, Rupture and the Poisons skill at 20. The Combat order puts Improved Sinister Strike and Improved Eviscerate first, then Deflection, Precision and Riposte at 20.

Where
Human: Westfall (9–18) or Loch Modan (10–18), then Redridge from about 15. Class chains from Master Mathias Shaw (SI:7, Stormwind).
Dwarf: Loch Modan (10–18), then Westfall or Darkshore. Class chains start in Ironforge.
Night Elf: Darkshore (11–19), then the boat to Wetlands or Westfall. Erion's Behest starts the Night Elf chain.
Gnome: Loch Modan (10–18), then Westfall or Darkshore. Class chains start in Ironforge.
Skyborne (High Order): After Zephras Isle (to 12), the Alliance 10–20 zones: Westfall, Loch Modan or Darkshore.
Orc: The Barrens (10–25). The Shattered Hand at 13, then the Ratchet chain (Plundering the Plunderers, 18).
Undead: Silverpine Forest (10–20), then the Barrens. The Deathstalkers at 13; Fenwick Thatros at 16.
Troll: The Barrens (10–25). The Shattered Hand at 13, then the Ratchet chain (Plundering the Plunderers, 18).
Skyborne (Windshaper): After Zephras Isle (to 12), the Barrens (10–25). Shenthul in Orgrimmar trains Skyborne (Windshaper) (the developer notes list it under Professions, so probably Poisons and Lockpicking).
Dungeons

Alliance: Hall of Thanes 13–18 (new, under Ironforge) · Wailing Caverns · Deadmines

Horde: Ruins of Lordaeron 15–20 (new, in Undercity) · Ragefire Chasm (Horde) · Wailing Caverns · Deadmines

New spells
Kick 12 Expose Armor 14 Garrote 14 Feint 16 Ambush 18 Rupture 20 Crippling Poison 20 Instant Poison 20 Poisons 20
New ranks
Backstab 2 12Sinister Strike 3 14Eviscerate 3 16Gouge 2 18Backstab 3 20Stealth 2 20
Talents
Improved Sinister Strike 2/2 10–11 Improved Eviscerate 3/3 12–14 Precision 2/3 15–16 Deflection 3/3 17–19 Riposte 1/1 20
Tips
  • Learn Poisons at 20 from your class quest and put Instant Poison on both weapons, or Instant in the main hand and Deadly in the off hand once you have Deadly at 30.
  • Riposte at 20 is free damage after every parry; Deflection makes it fire more often.
21–30Beta cap

Blade Flurry, Kidney Shot and the cap

Distract and Vanish at 22, Detect Traps and Mind-numbing Poison at 24, Cheap Shot at 26, Instant Poison II at 28, and Deadly Poison, Kidney Shot and Disarm Trap at 30. Blade Flurry comes with the 21st Combat point at 30. Assassination reaches Mutilate at 30 if you levelled in that tree.

Where
Alliance: Redridge from Lakeshire (20–22) → Wetlands from Menethil (22–24) → Duskwood from Darkshire (24–28) → Ashenvale from Astranaar (28–30). Night Elves can do Stonetalon (20–22) or Ashenvale (20–24) before the boat. Horde: the Barrens from Camp Taurajo (20–22) → Hillsbrad from Tarren Mill (22–24) → Ashenvale from Splintertree (24–27) → Thousand Needles from Freewind (27–30).
Dungeons

Alliance: Shadowfang Keep · Blackfathom Deeps · Stockade (Alliance) · Gnomeregan · Razorfen Kraul · Scarlet Monastery Graveyard · Excavation Site: Wetlands 26–31 (new) · Razorfen Downs (25+) · Uldaman (30+) · City of Dalaran 28–33 (later in the beta)

Horde: Shadowfang Keep · Blackfathom Deeps · Gnomeregan · Razorfen Kraul · Scarlet Monastery Graveyard · Excavation Site: Wetlands 26–31 (new) · Razorfen Downs (25+) · Uldaman (30+) · City of Dalaran 28–33 (later in the beta)

New spells
Distract 22 Vanish 22 Detect Traps 24 Mind-numbing Poison 24 Cheap Shot 26 Instant Poison II 28 Kidney Shot 30 Disarm Trap 30 Deadly Poison 30
New ranks
Garrote 2 22Sinister Strike 4 22Eviscerate 4 24Expose Armor 2 26Ambush 2 26Kick 2 26Rupture 2 28Backstab 4 28Feint 2 28Sap 2 28Garrote 3 30Sinister Strike 5 30
Talents
Precision 3/3 21 Endurance 2/2 22–23 Lightning Reflexes 1/5 24 Flawless Execution 1/1 25 Dual Wield Specialization 4/5 26–29 Blade Flurry 1/1 30
Tips
  • The new Horn of Xelthos chain (from about 20, both factions) sends you into Shadowfang Keep alone and ends with the Rogue-only Pyrewood Signet Ring (+4 Stamina, +4 Agility, +0.4% hit).
  • Respawns are raised in Hillsbrad, Ashenvale, Wetlands, Duskwood and Thousand Needles, so crowded quest mobs come back faster.
  • With the Talented legacy perk you have 26 points at 30: the extra points go into Hack and Slash.
31–40Adrenaline Rush at 40

Thirties: Blind and Hack and Slash

Blind and Blinding Powder at 34, Deadly Poison II at 38, Safe Fall at 40. Talents go into Hack and Slash, Weapon Expertise and Aggression, and Adrenaline Rush with the 31st Combat point at 40.

Where
Arathi Highlands (30–40), Stranglethorn Vale (30–44), Desolace (30–39), Alterac (27–39), then Dustwallow Marsh, Badlands and Swamp of Sorrows (36–45). Riverglades (36–44) is a new contested zone (announced).
Dungeons
Scarlet Monastery wings · City of Dalaran 28–33 · The Drowned City 35–40 (new) · Razorfen Downs · Uldaman
New spells
Wound Poison 32 Blind 34 Blinding Powder 34 Instant Poison III 36 Deadly Poison II 38 Mind-numbing Poison II 38 Safe Fall 40 Wound Poison II 40
New ranks
Eviscerate 5 32Gouge 3 32Ambush 3 34Sprint 2 34Expose Armor 3 36Rupture 3 36Backstab 5 36Garrote 4 38Sinister Strike 6 38Eviscerate 6 40Feint 3 40Stealth 3 40
Talents
Camouflage 5/5 31–35 Master of Deception 3/3 36–38 Hack and Slash 4/5 39–42
Tips
  • Blind is your panic button for a second add: 10 seconds, and it works on more than Humanoids.
41–50Assassination dip

Forties: finish Combat, start Malice

Slice and Dice and Vanish rank 2 at 42, Crippling Poison II at 50. Finish Hack and Slash and Dual Wield Specialization, then put points into Assassination: Malice, Ruthlessness and Improved Slice and Dice.

Where
Tanaris, Feralas, the Hinterlands, Searing Gorge, Swamp of Sorrows and Azshara.
Dungeons
Krol'dok Stronghold 40–45 (new) · Uldaman · Zul'Farrak · Maraudon · Alcaz Prison 48–53 (new)
New spells
Instant Poison IV 44 Deadly Poison III 46 Wound Poison III 48 Crippling Poison II 50
New ranks
Slice and Dice 2 42Ambush 4 42Kick 3 42Vanish 2 42Rupture 4 44Backstab 6 44Expose Armor 4 46Garrote 5 46Sinister Strike 7 46Gouge 4 46Eviscerate 7 48Sap 3 48Ambush 5 50Kidney Shot 2 50
Talents
Hack and Slash 4/5 39–42 Weapon Expertise 2/2 43–44 Aggression 3/3 45–47 Adrenaline Rush 1/1 48 Malice 5/5 49–53
51–60Level 60

Fifties: Lethality and the last ranks

Top ranks of your strikes and poisons arrive between 52 and 60. Relentless Strikes, Lethality and Cold Blood finish the Combat build.

Where
Un'Goro Crater, Felwood, Burning Steppes, Western and Eastern Plaguelands, Winterspring and Silithus.
Dungeons
Sunken Temple · Blackrock Depths · Dire Maul · Blackmaw Hold 55–60 (new) · Lower Blackrock Spire · Scholomance · Stratholme · Shaper's Terrace 58–60 (new)
New spells
Instant Poison V 52 Mind-numbing Poison III 52 Deadly Poison IV 54 Wound Poison IV 56 Deadly Poison V 60 Instant Poison VI 60
New ranks
Rupture 5 52Backstab 7 52Feint 4 52Garrote 6 54Sinister Strike 8 54Eviscerate 8 56Expose Armor 5 56Ambush 6 58Sprint 3 58Kick 4 58Eviscerate 9 60Rupture 6 60Backstab 8 60Backstab 9 60Gouge 5 60Feint 5 60Stealth 4 60
Talents
Malice 5/5 49–53 Improved Slice and Dice 3/3 54–56 Ruthlessness 2/3 57–58 Relentless Strikes 1/1 59 Hack and Slash 5/5 60

Talents above follow the Subtlety leveling order. The 1–60 levelling order for Subtlety. With the Talented legacy perk every step comes up to five levels sooner. Guide's pick, untested Step through it in the talent trees.

Class quests and mounts

  • Level 2, Skyborne (new): At Home in the Shadows, Rorian the Dayseeker to Akeri Duskblade in Thendal Grove, Zephras Isle. From Forever's quest data; not yet confirmed in game. Unconfirmed
  • Level 10: the Classic starter chains are in the Forever quest data unchanged: Seek out SI:7, Snatch and Grab, Simple Subterfugin', Onin's Report, Therzok, Mennet Carkad and others; several reward the Blade of Cunning dagger. Live in beta
  • Levels 13–20, thieving chains: Alliance Kingly Shakedown and Erion's Behest to Redridge Rendezvous and Alther's Mill (20, Certificate of Thievery; XP changed slightly). Horde The Shattered Hand (13) to Plundering the Plunderers (18) in Ratchet; Undead The Deathstalkers (13), Fenwick Thatros (16) and Tools of the Trade (20). Live in beta
  • Level 20, Poisons: Alliance from Master Mathias Shaw: Mathias and the Defias to Klaven's Tower (elite, Westfall), which teaches Poisons and Recipe: Thistle Tea; the Touch of Zanzil quests (Doc Mixilpixil, Stormwind) changed only their XP. Horde from Shenthul (Orgrimmar): Deep Cover to Mission: Possible But Not Probable (elite). Hinott's Assistance (26, Serge Hinott in Tarren Mill) also lists Poisons as its reward in the data. Live in beta
  • Level 20–23, both factions (new): The Horn of Xelthos: a dead drop in Silverpine, the horn from Shadowfang Keep ("You must complete the job alone"), Goblin Lockpicks from Veenix in Stonetalon, and the Pyrewood Signet Ring (rare, +4 Stamina, +4 Agility, +0.4% hit, Rogue only). Quest data only, not confirmed in game. Unconfirmed
  • Levels 22–24, both factions: Horns of Nez'ra (22) and The Manor, Ravenholdt (24), unchanged from Classic. Live in beta
  • No class mount. Rogues buy the normal racial mounts at 40 and 60. Classic

Weapons on the way

  • 10: Blade of Cunning (dagger) from the level-10 class quests. Live in beta
  • Any one-hander works for Combat: Hack and Slash gives swords and axes extra attacks, daggers and fists crit, maces armor penetration. Rogues can now use one-handed axes. Put the slowest weapon in the main hand for Sinister Strike. Live in beta
  • 22, Horde: Plaguefang (one-handed sword, 2.10, poison proc) from The New Plague in Ruins of Lordaeron (new dungeon quest). Unconfirmed
  • 30, Combat: Zealot Blade (bind-on-equip sword, 2.80) in the main hand; Torturing Poker (dagger, 1.70, fire stacks; Scarlet Monastery Graveyard) in the off hand. Unconfirmed
  • 30, Assassination: daggers in both hands. Toxic Revenger (Alliance) or Silent Hunter (Horde, Call to Arms, from 30) in the main hand, Torturing Poker in the off hand. Unconfirmed
  • 31, Horde: Serrated Raptor Claw (dagger, 1.60, +5 Agility, +10 attack power) from Changing Tastes in the new Excavation Site: Wetlands; also the Horde PvP off hand. Unconfirmed
  • Subtlety: open with a dagger for Ambush, then swap to a slow main hand for Sinister Strike until Hemorrhage at 30. A swap costs a global cooldown and resets your swing; several swaps can fit inside one global cooldown, so a swap macro can switch a whole weapon set at once. Unconfirmed

How to level well

  • Combo points stay on a target when you switch. Kick or Gouge an add, then come back and spend your points on the first mob.
  • Sap without losing Stealth. From Stealth, Sap the second Humanoid of a pair, open on the first, kill it, then deal with the second at full energy.
  • Stealth to objectives. Distract pulls a mob's eyes away and now also lowers their Stealth detection; Sprint doesn't break Stealth.
  • Save a bad pull: Evasion first, then Gouge or Blind and bandage, or Vanish. Feint drops five times the threat it did in Classic.
  • Add a sharpening stone to your poisons: Blizzard says poisons can be applied at the same time as Weightstones and Sharpening Stones.
  • XP extras: the Cozy Sleeping Bag (+3% for 2 hours), well-fed food that adds 5% kill XP, and the Well Rested and Talented legacy perks. Blizzard plans to give every tester 16 legacy points.
  • Professions: Skinning and Leatherworking (camp items and your own armor), plus First Aid for bandages since you have no heal.
  • Assassination can level once Mutilate arrives at 30, with daggers in both hands; before that every source levels Combat. Subtlety is the solo and PvP pick, and its capstone is about to change.