Assassination Rogue PvP Guide — The War Within (11.2) - World of Warcraft

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Assassination Rogue in a PvP environment. The guide will cover everything from talent choices, PvP talents, gameplay and rotation, and useful racial bonuses. It is most applicable to Arena content, but most talents and racial bonuses will work in Rated Battlegrounds and skirmishes.

If you were looking for MoP Classic content, please refer to our MoP Classic Rogue PvP guide.

PvP Assassination Rogue Guides

Rogue Leveling Guide

Assassination Rogue PvE Guide

Introduction Talents Gear & Stats Battleground Blitz Compositions Playstyle & Rotations Macros Races

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE

Assassination Rogues in the Current Meta

Assassination Rogues have consistent sustained damage thanks to their Bleeds and Poisons and are very good at cleaving down several enemies with their damage over time effects. Their healing reduction effect, Wound Poison Icon Wound Poison, can be applied to multiple enemies, making it difficult for enemy healers to heal their entire team. Their access to a silence effect with Garrote Icon Garrote has made them known to be great at killing healers. An Assassination Rogue left unchecked will quickly close a PvP match!

Noteworthy Patch 11.2 changes

Assassination Changes

All damage increased by 8%.
Crimson Tempest damage reduced by 9%.
Envenom damage increased by 4%.
Garrote damage increased by 13%.
Rupture damage increased by 8%.
Mutilate damage increased by 11%.
Melee auto-attack damage increased by 8%.

Assassination Rogue Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

Excellent sustained damage.
Decent burst.
Great control.
Excellent utility.

Weaknesses

Very prone to dying in stuns.
Significant cooldown on defensive abilities.
Often reliant on teammates to stay alive.
Predictable burst damage.
Below average mobility compared to other melee specializations.

Changelog

04 Aug. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.
04 Aug. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.2.
15 Jun. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
15 Jun. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.7.
21 Apr. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
21 Apr. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
24 Feb. 2025 (races): Updated for The War Within Season 2.
24 Feb. 2025 (macros): Updated for The War Within Season 2.
24 Feb. 2025 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Season 2.
24 Feb. 2025 (comps): Updated for The War Within Season 2.
24 Feb. 2025 (blitz): Updated for The War Within Season 2.
24 Feb. 2025 (gear): Updated for The War Within Season 2.
24 Feb. 2025 (talents): Updated for The War Within Season 2.
24 Feb. 2025 (this page): Updated for The War Within Season 2.
24 Feb. 2025 (this page): Updated for The War Within Season 2.
15 Dec. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
15 Dec. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
21 Oct. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
21 Oct. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
21 Oct. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
21 Oct. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
21 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
21 Oct. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
21 Oct. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
09 Sep. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (gear): Updated Embellishments.
09 Sep. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
21 Aug. 2024 (races): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
21 Aug. 2024 (macros): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
21 Aug. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
21 Aug. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
21 Aug. 2024 (blitz): Page added for The War Within Season 1.
21 Aug. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
21 Aug. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
26 Jul. 2024 (this page): Fixed an error.
26 Jul. 2024 (this page): Fixed an error.
23 Jul. 2024 (races): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
23 Jul. 2024 (macros): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
23 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
23 Jul. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
23 Jul. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
23 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Prepatch.
07 May 2024 (races): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (macros): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (comps): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (gear): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (talents): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
22 Apr. 2024 (races): Updqted for Dragonflight Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (macros): Updqted for Dragonflight Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (playstyle): Updqted for Dragonflight Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (comps): Updqted for Dragonflight Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (gear): Updqted for Dragonflight Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (talents): Updqted for Dragonflight Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Updqted for Dragonflight Season 4.
22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Updqted for Dragonflight Season 4.
18 Mar. 2024 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
18 Mar. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.6.
15 Jan. 2024 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.5.
06 Nov. 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
06 Nov. 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
06 Nov. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
06 Nov. 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
06 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
06 Nov. 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2.
04 Sep. 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
04 Sep. 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
04 Sep. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
04 Sep. 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
04 Sep. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
04 Sep. 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7.
04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.7
04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.7
10 Jul. 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
10 Jul. 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
10 Jul. 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
10 Jul. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
10 Jul. 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5.
30 Apr. 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
30 Apr. 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
30 Apr. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
30 Apr. 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
30 Apr. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
30 Apr. 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
30 Apr. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
30 Apr. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
21 Mar. 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7.
21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.7.
25 Jan. 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.5.
25 Jan. 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.5.
25 Jan. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.5.
25 Jan. 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.5.
25 Jan. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.5.
25 Jan. 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.5.
25 Jan. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.5.
25 Jan. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.0.5.
12 Dec. 2022 (talents): Updated with the Hemotoxin nerf.
11 Dec. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
22 Nov. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
28 Jul. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
28 Jul. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
28 Jul. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
28 Jul. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
28 Jul. 2022 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
28 Jul. 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
28 Jul. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
28 Jul. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
01 Jul. 2022 (talents): Updated Tier 7 Talents.
01 Jul. 2022 (this page): Added small changes.
01 Jul. 2022 (this page): Added small changes.
31 May 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
10 Apr. 2022 (gear): Updated BiS gear list.
05 Apr. 2022 (playstyle): Updated he burst rotation for Patch 9.2.
21 Feb. 2022 (races): Already up to date with Patch 9.2.
21 Feb. 2022 (macros): Already up to date with Patch 9.2.
21 Feb. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 9.2.
21 Feb. 2022 (comps): Already up to date with Patch 9.2.
21 Feb. 2022 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.2.
21 Feb. 2022 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.2.
21 Feb. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.2.
21 Feb. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.2.
04 Jan. 2022 (gear): Updated Enchants.
10 Nov. 2021 (races): Already up to date with Patch 9.1.5.
10 Nov. 2021 (macros): Already up to date with Patch 9.1.5.
10 Nov. 2021 (playstyle): Already up to date with Patch 9.1.5.
10 Nov. 2021 (comps): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
10 Nov. 2021 (gear): Already up to date with Patch 9.1.5.
10 Nov. 2021 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
10 Nov. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
10 Nov. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
30 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated the Shackle trinket due to a recent hotfix.
21 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Updated the Poison of choice.
21 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated Tier 1 Talents.
21 Jul. 2021 (this page): Added small changes.
21 Jul. 2021 (this page): Added small changes.
14 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated the trinket section.
14 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated Honor Talents.
03 Jul. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
03 Jul. 2021 (macros): Added Dismantle Focus macro.
03 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Updated the rotation slightly for Patch 9.1.
03 Jul. 2021 (comps): Updated for Patch 9.1.
03 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.1.
03 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.1.
03 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
03 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
28 Apr. 2021 (playstyle): Added Serrated Bone Spike to the rotation.
06 Apr. 2021 (races): Rewritten by Shadenox and further updated for Patch 9.0.5.
06 Apr. 2021 (macros): Rewritten by Shadenox and further updated for Patch 9.0.5.
06 Apr. 2021 (playstyle): Rewritten by Shadenox and further updated for Patch 9.0.5.
06 Apr. 2021 (comps): Rewritten by Shadenox and further updated for Patch 9.0.5.
06 Apr. 2021 (gear): Rewritten by Shadenox and further updated for Patch 9.0.5.
06 Apr. 2021 (talents): Rewritten by Shadenox and further updated for Patch 9.0.5.
06 Apr. 2021 (this page): Rewritten by Shadenox and further updated for Patch 9.0.5.
06 Apr. 2021 (this page): Rewritten by Shadenox and further updated for Patch 9.0.5.
12 Mar. 2021 (races): No Updates needed for Patch 9.0.5.
12 Mar. 2021 (macros): No Updates needed for Patch 9.0.5.
12 Mar. 2021 (comps): No Updates needed for Patch 9.0.5.
12 Mar. 2021 (gear): Updated Gearing section.
- Updated Best Trinkets.
10 Mar. 2021 (talents): Updated Tier 6 Regular Talents.
10 Mar. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.0.5.
10 Mar. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.0.5.
08 Mar. 2021 (playstyle): No Updates needed for Patch 9.0.5.
17 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Opening and Burst damage rotations.
05 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Rotations to include Covenant Ability.
29 Nov. 2020 (playstyle): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
29 Nov. 2020 (gear): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
- Removed outdated gear.
- Added gems section.
29 Nov. 2020 (this page): Removed old Azerite mentions and updated gear page.
29 Nov. 2020 (this page): Removed old Azerite mentions and updated gear page.
27 Nov. 2020 (this page): Added Covenant page.
27 Nov. 2020 (this page): Added Covenant page.
14 Oct. 2020 (races): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.

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PvP Assassination Rogue Guides

Rogue Leveling Guide

Assassination Rogue PvE Guide

Introduction Talents Gear & Stats Battleground Blitz Compositions Playstyle & Rotations Macros Races

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Assassination Rogue Battleground Blitz

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Assassination Rogue Builds and Talents

Assassination Rogue Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities

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Assassination Rogue Gear and Best in Slot

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This guide has been written by Shadenox, an experienced Gladiator player who has achieved over 3,000 rating on Rogue. You can find him on his YouTube channel, where he creates guides and other informational content regarding Arenas.

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Assassination Rogue PvP Guide — The War Within (11.2)