WotLK Classic Subtlety Rogue Spec, Builds, Talents, and Glyphs

Last updated on Jan 18, 2023 at 12:00 by Simonize and Valks 1 comment

On this page, you will find out the best PvE talent choices and builds for your Subtlety Rogue in WotLK Classic, as well as advised glyphs.

1.

Talent Builds for Subtlety Rogue

Subtlety Rogues have 2 builds available to them, depending on the weapons they have available to them.

1.1.

Leveling Builds

If you were looking for a leveling-oriented build, please refer instead to our Rogue leveling guide.

1.2.

Standard Subtlety Talent Build

The 20/0/51 Subtlety build is built to be used with a slow main-hand and fast off-hand weapon and aims to pick up extra Poison damage in the Assassination tree.

1.3.

CQC Talent Build

The alternative build for Subtlety goes into the Combat tree, rather than the Assassination tree, and opts for Close Quarters Combat IconClose Quarters Combat, taking the talent specifically for the weapon type you should use with this build. You should only use this if you are using daggers and fist weapons for your weapons.

2.

Important Talents for Subtlety Rogue

2.1.

Standard Subtlety Build

The traditional Subtlety build features a number of talents that are integral to not only their damage output, but their role in the raid as well.

Hemorrhage IconHemorrhage acts as your main Combo Point builder and gives a unique debuff to the raid, adding additional damage to any Physical attacks made.

Filthy Tricks IconFilthy Tricks allows Subtlety Rogues to maintain a nearly 50% uptime on the damage buff from Tricks of the Trade IconTricks of the Trade.

Vile Poisons IconVile Poisons and Improved Poisons IconImproved Poisons both buff your Poison damage. With Poisons already being so powerful in Wrath Classic, these talents make for more of a good thing.

2.2.

CQC Build

The CQC build is based around the use of the Close Quarters Combat IconClose Quarters Combat talent and fist weapons or daggers.

This build only outperforms the Assassination variant if your best weapons are fist weapons or daggers. If you find a very strong other type of weapon, the other variant will be better.

3.

Glyphs

3.1.

Major Glyphs

For both builds, the glyph choices are fairly straightforward, but the glyph for Tricks of the Trade IconTricks of the Trade is very important. Combined with Filthy Tricks IconFilthy Tricks, it allows you to maintain a nearly 50% uptime on the damage buff of the spell.

3.2.

Minor Glyphs

The Minor glyph choices for both builds are fairly lackluster in their effects and are simply quality of life improvements that we would recommend.

4.

Changelog

  • 18 Jan. 2023: Reviewed for Phase 2 release ahead of Ulduar raid release.
  • 22 Sep. 2022: Page added.
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