Assassination Rogue PvP Guide — The War Within (11.0.5)
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 TBC Classic content, please refer to our TBC Rogue PvP guide.
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, 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 has made them known to be great at killing healers. An Assassination Rogue left unchecked will quickly close a PvP match!
Noteworthy Patch 11.0.5 changes
Assassination changes
- Twist the Knife now enables Envenom's beneficial effect to overlap up to 2 times. It works with both the poison application chance bonus and talents such as Rapid Injection, meaning it is a buff to Envenom's damage if you are able to use it multiple times in a row.
Rogue changes
- New Talent: Supercharger – Shiv supercharges [1/2] Combo Points. Damaging finishing moves consume a supercharged combo point to function as if they spent 2 additional combo points.
- New Talent: Forced Induction – Increase the bonus granted when a damaging finishing move consumes a supercharged Combo Point by 1.
- Echoing Reprimand has been redesigned – After consuming a supercharged Combo Point, your next Mutilate strikes with an Echoing Reprimand dealing Physical damage.
- Subterfuge now also grants duration to combat bonuses that require Stealth and also have a duration that persists after breaking Stealth ( Improved Garrote, Master Assassin, Indiscriminate Carnage).
- Cut to the Chase now grants Slice and Dice duration, instead of requiring an existing Slice and Dice to extend.
- Feint no longer triggers a global cooldown when activated. Consequently the talent Elusiveness becomes a much more attractive option when Cheat Death is not required.
Assassination Rogue Strengths and Weaknesses
- Excellent sustained damage.
- Decent burst.
- Great control.
- Excellent utility.
- Very prone to dying in stuns.
- Significant cooldown on defensive abilities.
- Often reliant on teammates to stay alive.
- Predictable burst damage.
Changelog
- 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.
Other PvP Guides
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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