Assassination Rogue DPS Easy Mode — Midnight Season 1

This build is only viable when in a pure single-target situation, like a high-level Elite or pure ST boss in a raid. For any encounters with add spawns or even a little bit of cleave, we recommend playing the other talent build which allows you to still do very good single-target, while also having strong cleave and AoE output.

Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the best build directly into your game!

For a more in-depth analysis of each of the talent choices and the reasoning behind the aforementioned build as the go-to for ease of use, check out the Talent section below.

This is our recommended build for all situations. While it does slightly less single-target damage than the pure single-target build, it is a great blend of AoE and single-target damage. Unless you are facing a high-HP Elite or a pure single-target fight in a raid, this build will serve you well.

Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the best build directly into your game!

For a more in-depth analysis of each of the talent choices and the reasoning behind the aforementioned build as the go-to for ease of use, check out the Talent section below.

This priority list is a very basic priority list, and some of the finer details to get the most damage out of the spec are missing. By following the link, you will be able to find a more detailed version of this priority list for both single-target and AoE, as well as a deeper explanation of some of the core concepts of Assassination gameplay. If you would like to know more about how to pool Energy properly and what your opener should look like, check out the Rotation section of this guide.

You will want to have Deadly Poison, Amplifying Poison, and your non-lethal poison of choice active at all times.

As for the actual rotation:

• Use Mutilate as your single-target builder, and Envenom as your single-target spender.
• Deathstalker: Ensure to cast Envenom with maximum CP if you have Darkest Night.
• Maintain Rupture and Garrote at all times, spread them with Crimson Tempest in AoE.
• Use Fan of Knives as your AoE builder, but only after you have used Crimson Tempest to spread your Bleeds to all targets.
• Use Kingsbane and Deathmark on cooldown, and apply Vanish-empowered Garrote before using Deathmark.
• Use Thistle Tea to avoid overcapping charges, by using it alongside Kingsbane.

Our new Apex talent Implacable helps smoothen our your energy draughts, by granting additional Energy regen once your Envenom has dropped. Your goal will be to chain Envenoms for as long as possible, and once you run out of Energy, our Apex talent will help you regain Energy much faster. It also offers some other DPS bonuses, which do not have any impact on your rotation.

The Midnight Season 1 Tier Set, Rogue Assassination 12.0 Class Set 2pc and Rogue Assassination 12.0 Class Set 4pc, has no effect on our rotation whatsoever. It simply boosts our damage output, so there is no changes in gameplay once you acquire it.

The Single-Button Assistant system offers an easy introduction into the spec and its many buttons, but it comes at a cost. Due to the increase of the Global Cooldown you will naturally do lower DPS already. The One-Button rotation is also missing out on some of the finer nuances of the rotation in order to make it more accessible for players who have just started their journey into the game, so even when using the Assisted highlight feature, you will be trailing a little behind those who have already mastered the ins and outs of the spec.

That being said, the DPS difference compared to the most complex and detailed rotational gameplay is not as big as you might think. You can expect to do only around ~5-10% less DPS than you would do with perfect rotational gameplay, as long as you correctly use your cooldowns (which the OAB will not). So, if you want to get your bearings before moving on to the Beginner DPS Rotation, using the Assisted Highlight or even the Single-Button Assistant is a great starting point if you have just taken your first steps into World of Warcraft.

Unfortunately it does not currently use Crimson Tempest in AoE, which is a massive loss in DPS unless you press the button yourself to spread your bleed effects. If you want to just the SBA for dungeons, you need to do so, or risk losing more than half your DPS.

Feint is an active spell that reduces all area damage taken. This has a very short cooldown and should be used regularly. The DPS cost is negligible, and it is a defensive that every other class is jealous of.

Cloak of Shadows is your immunity. It removes most Magic, Curse, Disease or Poison debuffs when you press it, which in some cases is not a good thing. It also makes you immune to all magic effects and damage. Most raid encounters tend to apply any associated debuffs anyway, but at least you will simply not take damage.

Evasion increases your dodge to over 100%, making you immune to melee attacks. Rarely useful in raids, but it can save your life in Mythic+ or overworld content.

Cheat Death saves you from dying once, leaving you at low HP with very strong damage mitigation. This has a 6-minute cooldown and makes your already strong defensive kit even stronger.

Vanish is used as a DPS ability in raids but can save your life in World Content and Mythic+. It makes all enemies lose threat on you, and if you are the only surviving player, enemy mobs will reset without you dying. It can also occasionally be used to avoid targeted spell casts if you Vanish before the enemy finishes casting.

This is just some of the key utility of Assassination Rogue. We highly recommend checking out the fully detailed Spell Glossary page below to see everything explained in detail.

• Try to refresh Rupture and Garrote before activating Deathmark, so you do not have to cast these abilities while it is active.
• You can refresh your buffs and debuffs early, as long as it is within the last 30% of their duration. This is called Pandemic and makes maintaining 100% uptime a lot easier.
• Always cast finishers at 5+ Combo Points.
• When available, make sure to use your Darkest Night proc by casting Envenom with 7 Combo Points to refresh Deathstalker's Mark.
• Deathmark doubles the damage of the currently active bleeds. If these are buffed through something like Improved Garrote, you will double the increased effect too.