Assassination Rogue leveling guide

Assassination builds around finishing moves. Ruthlessness and Seal Fate add combo points, Relentless Strikes refunds energy, and Cold Blood turns an Eviscerate into a guaranteed critical strike. The spec levels a little slower than Combat before level 40, but kills single enemies with large bursts.

Strengths and weaknesses

• Cold Blood with a five-point Eviscerate ends most fights in one blow.
• Seal Fate and Relentless Strikes keep combo points and energy flowing.
• Stronger poisons help against enemies that flee or cast.
• No Blade Flurry, so two enemies at once are harder than for Combat.

Talents by level

Level 10 to 30

• Malice 5/5 for Crit, Remorseless Attacks 2/2 and Improved Eviscerate 3/3.
• Ruthlessness 3/3 and Murder 2/2.
• Relentless Strikes, then Lethality 5/5 for bigger critical strikes.

Level 31 to 40

• Improved Poisons 5/5 and Cold Blood.
• Three points in Seal Fate, then Vigor at level 40 for more energy.

Level 41 to 60

• The rest of Seal Fate and Improved Slice and Dice 3/3, for 36 points in Assassination.
• In Combat: Improved Sinister Strike 2/2, Lightning Reflexes 3/5, Precision 5/5, Improved Backstab 3/3 and Endurance 2/2.

Rotation

One enemy

• Stealth up to the enemy and open with Cheap Shot, or with Sinister Strike before level 26.
• Slice and Dice with a low number of combo points, Sinister Strike to build, and Eviscerate with five.
• Save Cold Blood for the Eviscerate that should end the fight.

Two enemies

• Kidney Shot or Gouge the second enemy and kill the first quickly.
• Crippling Poison in the off hand stops an enemy that tries to flee.

Staying alive

• Evasion when several enemies hit you, and Sprint to run away.
• Kick casters, and Blind from level 34 for an enemy that joins the fight.
• Vanish as a last resort, and bandages between fights.

Leveling route

Level	Alliance	Horde
1-12	Elwynn Forest, Dun Morogh, Teldrassil	Durotar, Mulgore, Tirisfal Glades
12-20	Westfall, Loch Modan, Darkshore	The Barrens, Silverpine Forest
20-30	Redridge Mountains, Duskwood, Wetlands	The Barrens, Hillsbrad Foothills, Thousand Needles
30-40	Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Desolace	Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Desolace
40-50	Tanaris, Feralas, The Hinterlands	Tanaris, Feralas, The Hinterlands
50-60	Un’Goro Crater, Felwood, Western Plaguelands, Winterspring	Un’Goro Crater, Felwood, Western Plaguelands, Winterspring

Dungeons worth the detour: Scarlet Monastery from level 30 to 40, Zul’Farrak around 45 and Blackrock Depths from 52.

Stats, weapons and tradeskills

• Agility first, then Crit for Seal Fate, and Hit so finishing moves land.
• A slow weapon in the main hand for Sinister Strike and a fast weapon in the off hand.
• Enchants: Crusader on the main hand once gold allows it, Agility on the gloves and Strength on the bracers.
• Tradeskills: Skinning with Leatherworking for leather armor, or Mining with Engineering for bombs that stun. First Aid saves time between fights.