Combat Rogue leveling guide
Combat is the most common way to level a Rogue in Classic Era. It fights face to face with two weapons, builds combo points with Sinister Strike and spends them on Slice and Dice and Eviscerate. Evasion and Sprint get a Rogue out of most trouble.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Steady damage without mana: energy refills on its own, so there is little downtime.
- Blade Flurry hits a second enemy, and Adrenaline Rush at level 40 doubles energy for a short time.
- Stealth lets you skip enemies and pick your fights.
- Groups of three or more enemies are dangerous: there is no area damage and no healing.
Talents by level
Level 10 to 30
- Improved Sinister Strike 2/2 and three points in Lightning Reflexes.
- Precision 5/5 for Hit, then Deflection 5/5.
- Endurance 2/2 for Sprint and Evasion more often, and three points in Dual Wield Specialization.
Level 31 to 40
- The rest of Dual Wield Specialization, Blade Flurry and Sword Specialization 5/5.
- One point in Aggression, then Adrenaline Rush at level 40.
Level 41 to 60
- Aggression 3/3, Weapon Expertise 2/2 and one more point in Lightning Reflexes, for 36 points in Combat.
- In Assassination: Improved Eviscerate 3/3, Malice 5/5, Ruthlessness 3/3, Improved Slice and Dice 3/3 and Relentless Strikes.
Rotation
One enemy
- Stealth up to the enemy and open with Cheap Shot, or with Sinister Strike before level 26.
- Slice and Dice with one or two combo points, then Sinister Strike to build and Eviscerate with five.
- Apply poisons from level 20: Instant Poison on both weapons.
Two enemies
- Blade Flurry and Slice and Dice, then fight as usual: every hit also lands on the second enemy.
- Gouge or Kidney Shot one enemy to take less damage.
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 Strength and Hit: two weapons miss often without Hit. Crit comes after.
- A slow sword in the main hand for Sinister Strike and a fast weapon in the off hand. Humans get extra skill with swords.
- Enchants: Crusader on both weapons 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.