Outlaw Rogue DPS Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities — Dragonflight 10.2.6

Last updated on Mar 21, 2024 at 08:13 by Seliathan 95 comments
General Information

On this page, you will learn how to optimize the rotation of your Outlaw Rogue in both single-target and multiple-target situations. We also have advanced sections about cooldowns, procs, etc. in order to minmax your DPS. All our content is updated for World of Warcraft — Dragonflight 10.2.6.

If you were looking for WotLK Classic content, please refer to our WotLK Classic Combat Rogue rotation.

1.

Outlaw Rogue Rotation

Welcome to our Rotation page for Outlaw Rogues. Here you will find out more about your rotational priorities in both single-target and multi-target situations, which you will apply in both Raiding and Mythic+ scenarios.

1.1.

Easy Mode

If you are just starting, you might want to get more comfortable with your Outlaw Rogue by using a more simplified yet still effective build and rotation. You can find out more about it in our Easy Mode section.

1.2.

Mythic+ Rotation

For information about Mythic+ as an Outlaw Rogue and the rotation you need to use in this game mode, please refer to our Mythic+ page.

1.3.

PvP

The content on this page is purely PvE-related. If you are looking for PvP Rotation Tips, please visit our PvP page below.

2.

Rotation Quick Guide

This is a quick guide on how to play Outlaw Rogue. You can find more details on how to use each individual ability further below.

  • Use Blade Flurry Icon Blade Flurry before the pull. Refresh it, if it drops off.
  • Use Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush and Slice and Dice Icon Slice and Dice before the pull.
  • Use Sinister Strike Icon Sinister Strike as your main builder. Use Ambush Icon Ambush when it is available to cast, and Pistol Shot Icon Pistol Shot when you have an Opportunity Icon Opportunity proc, at either 0-1 CP, or when you are in Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance or Subterfuge Icon Subterfuge.
  • Use Dispatch Icon Dispatch as your main finisher.
  • Use Between the Eyes Icon Between the Eyes on cooldown, if it is available. During Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance, Vanish Icon Vanish or Subterfuge Icon Subterfuge, only use BtE.
  • Use Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones on cooldown, if you only have 1 buff, or only 2 buffs AND Loaded Dice Icon Loaded Dice is active.
  • Use Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush, Ghostly Strike Icon Ghostly Strike, and Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance on cooldown.
  • Use Shadow Dance and Vanish at maximum Combo Points, and with Between the Eyes ready.
  • Maintain Slice and Dice Icon Slice and Dice at all times.
  • Use Blade Rush Icon Blade Rush when you are out of Energy.

You will want to use finishing moves at 6+ Combo Points or higher, or 5+ if you are in Subterfuge or Shadow Dance. Try to hold your Fan the Hammer Icon Fan the Hammer procs for your Shadow Dance windows. Do not use Between the Eyes Icon Between the Eyes unless the cooldown on your Vanish is 45 seconds, and your Shadow Dance is over 15 seconds.

3.

Single-Target Ability Priority List for Outlaw Rogue

This is the general priority list on how to use your abilities. This is NOT a list that should be followed step by step, it simply serves as a good idea on which things to prioritize in your moment-to-moment gameplay, as you will often be faced with multiple choices on which buttons to press. The priority list simply highlights which buttons are more important than others. You can find a sample opener sequence further below on this page.

  1. Use Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones on cooldown unless you have any of the desired buffs (see dedicated Roll the Bones section for details).
  2. Maintain Blade Flurry Icon Blade Flurry. Underhanded Upper Hand Icon Underhanded Upper Hand will maintain this for you for large parts of the fight.
  3. Maintain Slice and Dice Icon Slice and Dice. Underhanded Upper Hand Icon Underhanded Upper Hand will maintain this for you for large parts of the fight.
  4. Use Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush on cooldown, at low Combo Points.
  5. Cast Between the Eyes Icon Between the Eyes on cooldown. Do not use it if the cooldown of Vanish Icon Vanish is below 45 seconds, or Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance is below 15 seconds. This is due to Crackshot Icon Crackshot, to ensure BtE will be ready to cast.
  6. Cast Blade Rush Icon Blade Rush on cooldown. In order to not overcap, you should use it when you are below 70 Energy.
  7. Cast Ghostly Strike Icon Ghostly Strike on cooldown as if it was a regular builder.
  8. Cast Dispatch Icon Dispatch as your main finisher.
  9. Cast Vanish Icon Vanish or Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance at max Combo Points, followed up by Between the Eyes Icon Between the Eyes.
  10. During Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance and Subterfuge Icon Subterfuge, use Ambush Icon Ambush if you do not have Opportunity procs, or are at 2 CP after finishing.
  11. During Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance and Subterfuge Icon Subterfuge, use Pistol Shot Icon Pistol Shot if you do have Opportunity procs, have Broadside Icon Broadside, and are at 0 or 1 CP after finishing.
  12. Use Ambush Icon Ambush instead of Sinister Strike Icon Sinister Strike whenever it is available to cast from any of the procs or cooldowns.
  13. Cast Pistol Shot Icon Pistol Shot if you have an Opportunity Icon Opportunity proc.
  14. Cast Sinister Strike Icon Sinister Strike to generate Combo Points.
4.

Multi-Target Ability Priority List for Outlaw Rogue

  1. Use Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones on cooldown unless you have any of the desired buffs (see dedicated Roll the Bones section for details).
  2. Maintain Blade Flurry Icon Blade Flurry. Underhanded Upper Hand Icon Underhanded Upper Hand will maintain this for you for large parts of the fight.
  3. Maintain Slice and Dice Icon Slice and Dice. Underhanded Upper Hand Icon Underhanded Upper Hand will maintain this for you for large parts of the fight.
  4. Use Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush on cooldown, at low Combo Points.
  5. Cast Between the Eyes Icon Between the Eyes on cooldown. Do not use it if the cooldown of Vanish Icon Vanish is below 45 seconds, or Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance is below 15 seconds. This is due to Crackshot Icon Crackshot, to ensure BtE will be ready to cast.
  6. Cast Blade Rush Icon Blade Rush on cooldown. In order to not overcap, you should use it when you are below 70 Energy.
  7. Cast Ghostly Strike Icon Ghostly Strike on cooldown as if it was a regular builder.
  8. Use Blade Flurry Icon Blade Flurry on cooldown if there are more than 5 targets and you have talented Deft Maneuvers Icon Deft Maneuvers.
  9. Cast Dispatch Icon Dispatch as your main finisher.
  10. Cast Vanish Icon Vanish or Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance at max Combo Points, followed up by Between the Eyes Icon Between the Eyes.
  11. During Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance and Subterfuge Icon Subterfuge, use Ambush Icon Ambush if you do not have Opportunity procs, or are at 2 CP after finishing.
  12. During Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance and Subterfuge Icon Subterfuge, use Pistol Shot Icon Pistol Shot if you do have Opportunity procs, have Broadside Icon Broadside, and are at 0 or 1 CP after finishing.
  13. Use Ambush Icon Ambush instead of Sinister Strike Icon Sinister Strike whenever it is available to cast from any of the procs or cooldowns.
  14. Cast Pistol Shot Icon Pistol Shot if you have an Opportunity Icon Opportunity proc.
  15. Cast Sinister Strike Icon Sinister Strike to generate Combo Points.
4.1.

Amirrassil, the Dream's Hope Tier Set (T31)

Rogue Outlaw 10.2 Class Set 2pc Icon Rogue Outlaw 10.2 Class Set 2pc has no bearing on your rotational gameplay.

Rogue Outlaw 10.2 Class Set 4pc Icon Rogue Outlaw 10.2 Class Set 4pc changes your Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones usage slightly. You will want to cast Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones prior to the pull before Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush, to immediately get a guaranteed 3-buff (1 from the 4piece bonus, 1 from RtB, and 1 from Loaded Dice Icon Loaded Dice).

5.

Opener Sequence for Outlaw Rogue

Like mentioned above, you will want to change your opener slightly, depending on whether you already have the new 4pc bonus.

This is your prestealth opener:

  1. Cast Blade Flurry Icon Blade Flurry 4 seconds before the pull.
  2. Cast Stealth.
  3. Cast Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones 3 seconds before the pull, if you have the new set bonus already.
  4. Cast Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush 2 seconds before the pull.
  5. If you do not have the new set bonus yet, switch RtB and AR.
  6. Cast Slice and Dice Icon Slice and Dice 1 seconds before the pull.

This is your actual in-combat opener.

  1. Use Ghostly Strike Icon Ghostly Strike from Stealth.
  2. Cast Ambush Icon Ambush.
  3. Build up to cast Between the Eyes Icon Between the Eyes with 5+ CP.
  4. Repeat until Subterfuge drops.
  5. Build CP with Sinister Strike Icon Sinister Strike, Ambush Icon Ambush or Pistol Shot Icon Pistol Shot as per the priority rules.
  6. Use Vanish.
  7. Build up to cast Between the Eyes Icon Between the Eyes with 5+ CP.
  8. Repeat until Subterfuge drops.
  9. Build CP with Sinister Strike Icon Sinister Strike, Ambush Icon Ambush or Pistol Shot Icon Pistol Shot as per the priority rules.
  10. Use Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance.
  11. Build up to cast Between the Eyes Icon Between the Eyes with 5+ CP.
  12. Repeat until Subterfuge drops.
  13. Once you have expanded your Stealth cooldowns, follow the regular priority rules.

You will want to ensure that Between the Eyes Icon Between the Eyes is off cooldown whenever you get your Vanish Icon Vanish or Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance back up again. Do not use BtE if Vanish still has ~45 seconds CD left, or ~15 seconds for Shadow Dance.

6.

Important Notes for Outlaw Rogue

6.1.

How to Roll the Bones

The basic rule to satisfy regarding Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones is to reroll your buffs if you have only one buff without Loaded Dice Icon Loaded Dice, or if you only have 2 buffs while Loaded Dice Icon Loaded Dice is active.

You will also want to reroll RtB if you are about to use Vanish Icon Vanish or Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance and your buffs would run out during their duration.

Do not let your RtB drop off entirely, as you will lose out on the benefits of the Rogue Outlaw 10.2 Class Set 4pc Icon Rogue Outlaw 10.2 Class Set 4pc

6.1.1.

Roll the Bones Academic Information

Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones is a cooldown that grants one or more random buffs. The duration of the Roll the Bones (and the buffs it gives you) is affected by Pandemic (meaning you can safely refresh when Roll the Bones has less than 30% of its duration remaining). There are 6 different buffs you can potentially receive, and it is possible to receive multiple buffs from a single cast, although the chance to receive extra buffs is lessened per extra buff. The buffs are as follows:

  • True Bearing Icon True Bearing causes finishing moves to reduce the remaining cooldown of some of your abilities (including Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush) by 0.5 second per Combo Point;
  • Ruthless Precision Icon Ruthless Precision increases your Critical Strike chance by 15% and the Critical Strike chance of Between the Eyes Icon Between the Eyes by 60%;
  • Skull and Crossbones Icon Skull and Crossbones boosts Sinister Strike Icon Sinister Strike's chance to strike an additional time by 25%;
  • Grand Melee Icon Grand Melee now causes your Blade Flurry to deal 10% additional damage to nearby enemies, and 5% more damage for all your skills.
  • Broadside Icon Broadside causes your Combo Point-generating abilities to generate 1 additional Combo Point and increases their damage by 15%;
  • Buried Treasure Icon Buried Treasure increases your Energy regeneration by 5 per second.

The chance of receiving multiple buffs is as follows:

  • 1 Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones buff: 100.0% chance;
  • 2 Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones buffs: 20% chance;
  • 5 Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones buffs: 1% chance.

Order of buff value for an extended encounter (raid boss):

  1. True Bearing Icon True Bearing.
  2. Skull and Crossbones Icon Skull and Crossbones;
  3. Broadside Icon Broadside;
  4. Ruthless Precision Icon Ruthless Precision;
  5. Buried Treasure Icon Buried Treasure;
  6. Grand Melee Icon Grand Melee.
6.2.

Combo Points and Energy

As a Rogue, most of your abilities need Energy to be used. Your Energy bar has a capacity of 100 Energy (200 with Vigor Icon Vigor chosen as a talent, and 250 during Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush) and refills at a base rate of 10 Energy per second. Your Energy regeneration is increased by:

  • Melee haste (Haste + Haste-enhancing buffs);
  • the Combat Potency Icon Combat Potency passive, which increases your Energy regen by 25%;
  • your Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush cooldown, which temporarily increases your Energy regeneration by 60%;
  • Vigor Icon Vigor, if talented.

The faster you regenerate Energy, the more finishers you can cast, which (via True Bearing Icon True Bearing and Restless Blades Icon Restless Blades) will result in higher Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush uptimes.

Letting your Energy reach its maximum is something you want to avoid. You should always try to spend your Energy by (literally) spamming your buttons. Unlike Subtlety and Assassination Rogues, Outlaw Rogues generally do not benefit from Energy pooling. There are many situations when you will generate more Energy than you can spend (Haste trinket procs, Bloodlust Icon Bloodlust / Heroism Icon Heroism / Time Warp Icon Time Warp, etc.) and you should spam your buttons even harder than usual during such times.

Combo Point generation is increased by a variety of factors, such as:

  • Opportunity Icon Opportunity procs when talented into Quick Draw Icon Quick Draw;
  • Improved Ambush Icon Improved Ambush or Fan the Hammer Icon Fan the Hammer, if talented.
  • Sinister Strike Icon Sinister Strike striking twice;
  • Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones buffs such as Broadside Icon Broadside;
  • your Ruthlessness Icon Ruthlessness passive ability, which grants your finishers a 20% chance per Combo Point consumed to grant a Combo Point;
  • Energy regeneration, allowing you to cast more generators.

You should never waste Combo Points. Never cast a Combo Point-generating ability when you are at maximum Combo Points. Be aware of situations where you are guaranteed to generate 2 Combo Points with your generators, for example, during Broadside Icon Broadside or when using Pistol Shot Icon Pistol Shot with an Opportunity proc when talented into Quick Draw Icon Quick Draw.

6.3.

Adrenaline Rush

Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush increases your Energy regeneration by 60%, maximum Energy by 50 and your attack speed by 20% for 20 seconds. It should be used on cooldown. Do not hesitate to stack it with Bloodlust Icon Bloodlust, Heroism Icon Heroism, or Time Warp Icon Time Warp as you will still benefit from the increased attack speed, though you will likely Energy cap (this is not a problem). Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush has a 3-minute cooldown, but this can be reduced by the True Bearing Icon True Bearing buff and Restless Blades Icon Restless Blades.

6.4.

Outlaw Cooldown Reduction

Restless Blades Icon Restless Blades reduces the cooldowns of the following abilities by 1 second per Combo Point consumed by a finisher (True Bearing Icon True Bearing adds an additional 0.5 seconds):

  • Adrenaline Rush Icon Adrenaline Rush
  • Between the Eyes Icon Between the Eyes
  • Blade Flurry Icon Blade Flurry
  • Blade Rush Icon Blade Rush
  • Ghostly Strike Icon Ghostly Strike
  • Grappling Hook Icon Grappling Hook
  • Keep It Rolling Icon Keep It Rolling
  • Killing Spree Icon Killing Spree
  • Roll the Bones Icon Roll the Bones
  • Sprint Icon Sprint
  • Vanish Icon Vanish
6.5.

Blade Flurry

It is worth reiterating that the source of Blade Flurry Icon Blade Flurry cleave is you, not the target. Therefore, you can stand with one mob in front and another one behind you, and your Blade Flurry Icon Blade Flurry will still hit behind you, even if the mobs are further than 8y apart, as you are the source of the cleave.

6.6.

Defensive Utility

All Rogues come ready-made with a dizzying phalanx of defensive cooldowns, which make them the best candidate for soaking required mechanics and dealing with heavy incoming damage.

  • Feint Icon Feint reduces AoE damage taken by 40% for 6 seconds for only 35 Energy. When talented into Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness, it also reduces all other damage by 20% and grants Evasion Icon Evasion a 10% damage mitigation. This is one of the most overpowered abilities in the game and a huge asset in fights with heavy raid damage.
  • Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows provides magic immunity for a second, followed by 4 seconds where all spells will miss. This spell is mostly used for clearing debuffs that might otherwise force you out of melee range. Cloak of Shadows is also a fantastic tool for soaking abilities that do not pierce immunities.
  • Cheat Death Icon Cheat Death is a talent that allows you to escape lethal damage once every 6 minutes. The damage cannot exceed more than twice your maximum health. Cheat Death is great for soaking mechanics that pierce immunities and damage reductions, as it guarantees your survival. It is also great for encounters with bursty damage that might take you by surprise, as you get a get-out-of-jail-free card once every 6 minutes.
  • Crimson Vial Icon Crimson Vial provides a respectable amount of healing on a very short cooldown. Use this often in boss encounters.
  • Evasion Icon Evasion provides a 100% increased chance to dodge enemy attacks as long as you are facing them. This can sometimes be used to avoid physical spells as well.
7.

Poisons

Your Lethal Poison should always be Instant Poison Icon Instant Poison.

You have two choices for your non-lethal poison, Crippling Poison Icon Crippling Poison and Numbing Poison Icon Numbing Poison or Atrophic Poison Icon Atrophic Poison. For raiding, you will generally use Atrophic Poison unless your raid wants you to slow a specific group of targets. For Mythic+, you will want to use the poison that best suits your tank or groups needs. Crippling Poison allows your tank to more easily kite enemies, whereas Numbing Poison slows their attack speed instead. Atrophic Poison reduces damage to the group, not just the tank, albeit at significantly lower values.

8.

Extended Outlaw Rotation

The fully inclusive rotation is a lot more extensive than the one listed above but gives only marginal gains at best; as such, it is included here (in raw simc format), but it does not need to be memorized.


9.

Changelog

  • 21 Mar. 2024: Page has been reviewed for Patch 10.2.6, no changes were necessary.
  • 15 Jan. 2024: Page has been reviewed and updated for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 06 Nov. 2023: Page updated for the Patch 10.2 Rogue rework.
  • 04 Sep. 2023: Page was reviewed for Patch 10.1.7 and no changes were necessary.
  • 16 Jul. 2023: Updated RtB priorities.
  • 10 Jul. 2023: Added BF conditional while GM is active.
  • 01 May 2023: No rotational changes are required for Patch 10.1. Added Rotation Quick Guide.
  • 20 Mar. 2023: Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 24 Jan. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 18 Jan. 2023: Updated rotational priorities for HO build and RtB priority.
  • 11 Dec. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 28 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight launch.
  • 25 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
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