Rogue Talent Build – How to Build a Combat Rogue

Like most of other classes in WoW, a Rogue talent build usually focused on one of the three talent trees: Assassination, Combat, or Subtlety. In this guide, I am going to focus on Combat Rogue with some points invested in the other two trees as support skills.

Combat

Improved Sinister Strike (2/2): Reduce the Energy Cost for Sinister Strike

Dual Wield Specialization (5/5): Increase the damage from offhand weapon by 50%. With the new Rogue ability to wield axe, you can create an Orc Rogue, equip him with two enchanted axes and enjoy the advantage of his Axe Specialization.

Precision (5/5): Increase weapon and poison hit chance by 5%.

Close Quarters Combat (5/5): Increase critical chance with dagger and fist weapons by 5%. This will increase your Combat Rogue versatility since he can change weapons to adapt with various battle situations.

Lightning Reflexes (3/3): Increase Dodge by 6% and add 10% melee haste. The 10% melee haste will boost your Hack and Slash potential.

Aggression (5/5): Increase the damage of Sinister Strike, Backstab, and Eviscerate by 5%.

Blade Furry (1/1): Increase attack speed by 20% and attack strike and an additional nearby opponent. Last 15 seconds.

Hack and Slash (5/5): Gives 5% chance to get extra attack on a target after hit it with sword or axe. Previously named 'Sword Specialization', this is one of the primary talents in this Rogue talent build. Use the fastest axe you can get to make full use of this talent.

Weapon Expertise (2/2): Increase your expertise by 10.

Blade Twisting (2/2): Increase the damage by Sinister Strike and Backstab by 10%.

Vitality (3/3): Increase Energy Regeneration by 25%.

Adrenaline Rush (1/1): Increase Energy Regeneration by 100% for 15 seconds.

Throwing Specialization (2/2): Increase range of Deadly Throw and gives it 100% chances to interrupt the target for 3 seconds.

Combat Potency (5/5): Gives your successful offhand melee attack 20% to generate 15 Energy.

Surprise Attack (1/1): Your finishing move cannot be dodged. It also increases various finishing moves damages by 10%.

Savage Combat (2/2): Increase total attack power by 4% and increase damage to poisoned enemies.

Prey on the Weak (5/5): Increase critical strike damage by 20% when your target has less health than you.

Killing Spree (1/1): Step through the shadows from enemy to enemy within 10 yards, attacking an enemy every 0.5 seconds with both weapons until 5 assaults are made, and increasing all damage done by 20% for the duration. This talent and Fan of Knives Spell are your AoE skill and can be used to put poison on many targets.

Assassination

Malice (5/5): Increase critical strike chance by 5%.

Ruthlessness (3/3): Gives finishing moves 60% chance to put a combo point at your target.

Blood Spatter (2/2): Increase Rupture and Garrote damage by 30%.

Subtlety

Relentless Strike (5/5): Your finising moves have 20% chance per combo point to restore 25 Energy.

Using this Rogue talent build, you can easily adapt to various situation by swapping weapons; it also complemented by Throwing Specialization talent that will increase the survivability rate of your Combat Rogue. If you are an Orc Rogue, the combination of Axe Specialization, Hack and Slash, and Lightning Reflexes will make you unstoppable.

To get full potential of this build, you will need a certain level of gear such as Axe of the Sen'jin Protector, Last Laugh, or Quick Lionseye and you will need a steady gold income to fund that. Remember that in this build, speed is the most important to burst maximum DPS.