Subtlety Rogue DPS Mythic+ Tips in Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.0.1

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 8.0.1 Changes for Subtlety Rogue
  • 3. Subtlety Rogue Strengths
  • 4. Subtlety Rogue Weaknesses
  • 5. Subtlety Rogue Viability in the Current Patch
  • 6. Contents
  • 7. Changelog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. Foreword
  • 2. The Basics for Subtlety Rogue
  • 3. Talent Choice for Subtlety Rogue
  • 4. Stat Choice for Subtlety Rogue
    • 4.1. Single-Target Stat Priority
    • 4.2. Multi-Target Stat Priority
  • 5. Basic Rotation for Subtlety Rogue
  • 6. Best Azerite Traits for Subtlety Rogue
  • 7. Changelog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Subtlety Rogue Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resources for Subtlety Rogue
  • 3. Basic Abilities for Subtlety Rogue
    • 3.1. Standard Abilities
    • 3.2. Stealth Exclusive Abilities
  • 4. Important Procs
  • 5. DPS Cooldowns for Subtlety Rogue
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices for Subtlety Rogue
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheets for Subtlety Rogue
    • 2.1. Sustain Damage Single-Target (Raiding)
    • 2.2. Burst Damage Single-Target (Raiding)
    • 2.3. Multi-Target (Dungeons)
    • 2.4. General Use
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents for Subtlety Rogue
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents for Subtlety Rogue
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents for Subtlety Rogue
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents for Subtlety Rogue
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents for Subtlety Rogue
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents for Subtlety Rogue
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents for Subtlety Rogue
  • 10. PvP Talents (War Mode)
    • 10.1. Subtlety Rogue War Mode Talents
      • 10.1.1. General PvP Talents
      • 10.1.2. Recommended Subtlety Rogue PvP Talents
  • 11. Changelog
• +Azerite Traits and Armor
  • 1. Choosing Azerite Gear as a Subtlety Rogue
  • 2. Choosing Azerite Traits as a Subtlety Rogue
    • 2.1. Outer Ring
    • 2.2. Middle Ring
    • 2.3. Inner Ring
  • 3. Azerite Trait Rotation Changes and Details for Subtlety Rogue
  • 4. Relative Strength of Azerite Traits for Subtlety Rogue
    • 4.1. DPS Azerite Trait Ranking for Subtlety Rogue
    • 4.2. Single-Target Outer Ring
    • 4.3. Single-Target Middle Ring
  • 5. Find Azerite Armor By Trait/Power
  • 6. Changelog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Ability Priority List for Subtlety Rogue
    • 1.1. Single Target
    • 1.2. Multiple Targets (2+)
  • 2. Opener Sequence for Subtlety Rogue
  • 3. Important Notes for Subtlety Rogue
    • 3.1. Combo Points and Energy
      • 3.1.1. Pooling
    • 3.2. Shadow Dance
      • 3.2.1. Shadow Dance Rotation on Single-Target
      • 3.2.2. Shadow Dance Rotation on Multi-Target (4+)
    • 3.3. Vanish
    • 3.4. Defensive Utility
    • 3.5. Pandemic
  • 4. Core Concepts for Subtlety Rogue
    • 4.1. Resource Management
    • 4.2. Cooldown Usage
      • 4.2.1. Personal Initiative
  • 5. Changelog
• ×Mythic+ Tips
  • 1. Subtlety Rogue in Mythic+
  • 2. Subtlety Rogue Mythic+ Rotation
    • 2.1. Opener Sequence on 4+ Targets
    • 2.2. Opener Sequence on Packs with a Priority Target
    • 2.3. Opener Sequence on Packs with an Infested Mob
    • 2.4. Subtlety Rogue Utility
  • 3. Mythic+ Talents for Subtlety Rogues
  • 4. Mythic+ Affixes
    • 4.1. Tier One Affixes
    • 4.2. Tier Two Affixes
    • 4.3. Tier Three Affixes
    • 4.4. Seasonal Affix
  • 5. Mythic+ Azerite Traits
  • 6. Changelog
• +Common and Worst Mistakes
  • 1. Overcapping Resources
  • 2. Not Pooling Energy
  • 3. Not Getting The Maximum Amount of Shadowstrikes Inside A Shadow Dance
  • 4. Not Using Cooldowns Together
  • 5. Mismanaging Nightblade
  • 6. Not Fully Utilizing Shuriken Combo
  • 7. Not Knowing How To Sim Yourself
  • 8. Analyzing Your Mistakes as a Subtlety Rogue
  • 9. Changelog
• +Frequently Asked Questions
  • 1. Battle for Azeroth Frequently Asked Questions
    • 1.1. Should I Use Fast or Slow Off-Hand Weapons?
    • 1.2. Why Does Haste Have Such High Value in Simulationcraft?
    • 1.3. Does Our Stat Priority Change on Multi-Target?
    • 1.4. What Azerite Traits Should I Aim To Get?
    • 1.5. What Piece is Better, X or Y?
    • 1.6. How Much of X Stat Should I Have?
  • 2. Changelog
• +Boss by Boss Strategies
  • 1. Disclaimer
  • 2. Subtlety Rogue in Uldir
    • 2.1. Talent Cheatsheet
  • 3. Taloc
    • 3.1. Suggested Talents for Subtlety Rogue on Taloc
    • 3.2. Subtlety Rogue Playstyle on Taloc
      • 3.2.1. Mechanics to be Aware of
      • 3.2.2. DPS Cooldown Usage and Important Targets
  • 4. M.O.T.H.E.R.
    • 4.1. Suggested Talents for Subtlety Rogue on M.O.T.H.E.R.
    • 4.2. Subtlety Rogue Playstyle on M.O.T.H.E.R.
      • 4.2.1. Mechanics to be Aware of
      • 4.2.2. DPS Cooldown Usage and Important Targets
  • 5. Fetid Devourer
    • 5.1. Suggested Talents for Subtlety Rogue on Fetid Devourer
    • 5.2. Subtlety Rogue Playstyle on Fetid Devourer
      • 5.2.1. Mechanics to be Aware of
      • 5.2.2. DPS Cooldown Usage and Important Targets
  • 6. Zek'voz, Herald of N'Zoth
    • 6.1. Suggested Talents for Subtlety Rogue on Zek'voz, Herald of N'Zoth
    • 6.2. Subtlety Rogue Playstyle on Zek'voz, Herald of N'Zoth
      • 6.2.1. Mechanics to be Aware of
      • 6.2.2. DPS Cooldown Usage and Important Targets
  • 7. Vectis
    • 7.1. Suggested Talents for Subtlety Rogue on Vectis
    • 7.2. Subtlety Rogue Playstyle on Vectis
      • 7.2.1. Mechanics to be Aware of
      • 7.2.2. DPS Cooldown Usage and Important Targets
  • 8. Zul, Reborn
    • 8.1. Suggested Talents for Subtlety Rogue on Zul, Reborn
    • 8.2. Subtlety Rogue Playstyle on Zul, Reborn
      • 8.2.1. Mechanics to be Aware of
      • 8.2.2. DPS Cooldown Usage and Important Targets
  • 9. Mythrax the Unraveler
    • 9.1. Suggested Talents for Subtlety Rogue on Mythrax the Unraveler
    • 9.2. Subtlety Rogue Playstyle on Mythrax the Unraveler
      • 9.2.1. Mechanics to be Aware of
      • 9.2.2. DPS Cooldown Usage
  • 10. G'huun
    • 10.1. Suggested Talents for Subtlety Rogue on G'huun
    • 10.2. Subtlety Rogue Playstyle on G'huun
      • 10.2.1. Mechanics to be Aware of
      • 10.2.2. DPS Cooldown Usage and Important Targets
  • 11. Changelog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. The Basics of Stats for Subtlety Rogue
    • 1.1. Single-Target Stat Priority
    • 1.2. Multi-Target Stat Priority
  • 2. Important Notes About Stat Priorities
  • 3. Subtlety Rogue: Getting a Better Understanding
  • 4. Changelog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems for Subtlety Rogue
  • 2. Enchants for Subtlety Rogue
  • 3. Consumables for Subtlety Rogue
  • 4. Changelog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. AddOns for Subtlety Rogue
    • 1.1. ElvUI
    • 1.2. Weak Auras
    • 1.3. Boss Mods
      • 1.3.1. BigWigs Bossmods
      • 1.3.2. Deadly Boss Mods
    • 1.4. Name Plates
      • 1.4.1. KUI Nameplates
      • 1.4.2. TidyPlates
    • 1.5. Damage Meters
      • 1.5.1. Skada
      • 1.5.2. Details
    • 1.6. Extra AddOns
      • 1.6.1. Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 1.6.2. Death Note
      • 1.6.3. Doom CooldownPulse
      • 1.6.4. Angry Assignments
  • 2. Macros for Subtlety Rogue
    • 2.1. Spammable Dance to Shadowstrike
    • 2.2. Startattack Macros
    • 2.3. Tricks of the Trade
• +Gear and Best in Slot
  • 1. Best in Slot Items for Subtlety Rogue from Uldir
  • 2. Azerite Gear for Subtlety Rogue
  • 3. Trinkets
    • 3.1. Single-Target
    • 3.2. Single-Target with Add Waves
  • 4. Gearing Up for Raiding
    • 4.1. Heroic Dungeons
    • 4.2. World Quests
    • 4.3. Professions
    • 4.4. Reputation
    • 4.5. Dungeon Trinkets
    • 4.6. World Quest Trinkets
    • 4.7. Raid and World Boss Trinkets
  • 5. Pre-Raid Azerite Gear
    • 5.1. Azerite Helms
    • 5.2. Azerite Shoulders
    • 5.3. Azerite Chests
  • 6. Changelog
• +Simulations
  • 1. Disclaimer Page
  • 2. Subtlety Rogue Outer Ring Azerite Trait Single-Target Simulation
  • 3. Subtlety Rogue Outer Ring Stacked Azerite Trait Single-Target Simulation
  • 4. Subtlety Rogue Middle Ring Azerite Trait Single-Target Simulation
  • 5. Subtlety Rogue Outer Ring Azerite Trait 3+ Target Simulation
  • 6. Subtlety Rogue Middle Ring Azerite Trait 3+ Target Simulation
  • 7. Subtlety Rogue Racial Bonus Simulation
  • 8. Changelog

General Information

On this page, you will various tips and pieces of advice for clearing high Mythic+ content with your Subtlety Rogue.

The other pages of our Subtlety Rogue guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

About Our Author

This guide has been written by Ashine, European Champion of the second Mythic Dungeon Invitational and a member of two top 60 guilds, Wiping as Intended and Group Therapy. He is regarded as one of the top Subtlety Rogues in the world and contributes a fair bit to the spec's theorycrafting. You can watch him play on Twitch.

1. Subtlety Rogue in Mythic+

This page will have dungeon-specific tricks shortly after Mythic+ is released. Remember to check back later on!

The playstyle of Subtlety in Mythic+ stays almost the same in Battle for Azeroth. It revolves around burst windows with Secret Technique and damage multipliers, such as Symbols of Death and Dark Shadow. In Battle for Azeroth, Subtlety does more AoE damage than before because of Secret Technique, but less priority damage than in Legion.

2. Subtlety Rogue Mythic+ Rotation

For the most part, Subtlety Rogue's rotation is the same as referred in the Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities page, but the opener sequence changes a little bit in different scenarios.

Note that the openers assume you have 4+ targets; fewer than that and you will have to cast extra Shuriken Storm's to generate enough Combo Points for your finishers. Do not cast finishers with less than 4 (preferably 5-6) Combo Points apart from your initial Nightblade in the opener.

2.1. Opener Sequence on 4+ Targets

1. Cast Shuriken Storm.
2. Cast Shadow Dance and Symbols of Death.
3. Cast Secret Technique.
4. Cast Shuriken Storm.
5. Cast Eviscerate.
6. Cast Shuriken Storm.
7. Cast Eviscerate.
8. Cast Shuriken Storm and Nightblade and apply the Nightblade debuff to all targets that will live for the whole duration of the debuff.

If the targets are not stacked enough for Secret Technique to hit everything, you should apply some Nightblade's while waiting until all targets are in range.

2.2. Opener Sequence on Packs with a Priority Target

1. Cast Shadowstrike.
2. Cast Nightblade.
3. Cast Shuriken Storm.
4. Cast Shadow Dance and Symbols of Death.
5. Cast Secret Technique.
6. Cast Shuriken Storm.
7. Cast Eviscerate.
8. Cast Shuriken Storm.
9. Cast Eviscerate.
10. Cast Shuriken Storm and Eviscerate on the priority target until it is killed.

Maintain Find Weakness on the priority target if talented and remember to not cap on Shadow Dance charges.

2.3. Opener Sequence on Packs with an Infested Mob

1. Cast Shadowstrike.
2. Cast Nightblade.
3. Cast Shuriken Storm.
4. Cast Shadow Dance and Symbols of Death.
5. Cast Eviscerate.
6. Cast Shuriken Storm.
7. Cast Eviscerate.
8. Cast Shuriken Storm.
9. Cast Eviscerate.
10. Cast Shuriken Storm and Eviscerate on the Infested mob until it is killed.

There is no point in casting Secret Technique on an Infested mob if you have multiple targets due to the aura that Infested mobs have, which heals all nearby mobs near him. This is because Shuriken Combo does not increase the damage of Secret Technique, which causes it to deal less single-target damage than Eviscerate.

Maintain Find Weakness on the priority target if talented and remember to not cap on Shadow Dance charges.

2.4. Subtlety Rogue Utility

• Shroud of Concealment provides Stealth to every nearby party member. This spell is often used to skip difficult or inefficient packs that you would otherwise have to deal with.
• Cloak of Shadows, Feint, and Cheat Death are a big part of what makes Rogue's good in Mythic+; their defensive abilities are the strongest in the game.
• Kidney Shot has gained more value in Battle for Azeroth with the reduced duration on all AoE stuns. It is one of the longest stuns in the game thus making it exceptionally useful when dealing with difficult mobs.

3. Mythic+ Talents for Subtlety Rogues

Below are the suggested talents for Mythic+. These talents are recommended for all groups and keys at the current time.

Level	Choices
15	✘ Weaponmaster	✔ Find Weakness	✘ Gloomblade
30	✘ Nightstalker	✘ Subterfuge	✔ Shadow Focus
45	✘ Vigor	✔ Deeper Stratagem	✘ Marked for Death
60	✘ Soothing Darkness	✔ Cheat Death	✘ Elusiveness
75	✘ Shot in the Dark	✔ Night Terrors	✔ Prey on the Weak
90	✔ Dark Shadow	✘ Alacrity	✘ Enveloping Shadows
100	✘ Master of Shadows	✔ Secret Technique	✘ Shuriken Tornado

4. Mythic+ Affixes

The way Mythic+ affixes are tiered in Battle for Azeroth has changed quite a bit since their launch in Legion.

There are now three weekly affixes and one seasonal affix. The first affix is available instantly at level two and three, the second affix starts at level four, the third affix is enabled at level seven, and finally the seasonal affix is at level ten.

4.1. Tier One Affixes

• Fortified increases the Health pool of all non-boss enemies by 20% and damage dealt by 30%.
• Tyrannical increases the Health pool of boss enemies by 40% and their damage dealt by 15%.

Fortified and Tyrannical are the two affixes every player will see. These affixes shift the focus of dungeons from boss to trash depending on the week. Subtlety Rogues will excel during both Tyrannical and Fortified weeks due to having strong single-target and competitive AoE with Secret Technique.

4.2. Tier Two Affixes

• Raging increases the damage dealt by enemies below 30% HP by 100% until they die.
• Teeming adds additional trash mobs to certain packs throughout each dungeon.
• Bolstering buffs remaining enemies Health pools and damage dealt by 20% when an enemy dies nearby. To counter this affix, DPS all mobs down evenly and focus your casts into high Health mobs if there are any. As a Subtlety Rogue, managing Bolstering will often be your main task, due to how strong Subtlety is at equalizing Health pools of mobs, mainly due to high priority damage.
• Sanguine places a pool of blood on the ground when a mob is slain. This pool will heal remaining enemies who stay inside the zone and also damage players.
• Bursting forces enemy mobs to detonate when slain, afflicting the group with a stacking debuff that causes players to suffer 10% of their max Health in damage every four seconds. Cloak of Shadows removes and prevents any Bursting stacks, so remember to use it when your group is about to reach high stacks. When handling the Bursting affix, ask how many stacks your healer can handle and try to not mindlessly DPS and exceed your healers stack limit.

4.3. Tier Three Affixes

• Volcanic spawns volcanic plumes underneath and around players when in combat with any enemy. When damaged by Volcanic, players suffer 50% of their maximum Health pool in damage. The more enemies you are in combat with, the more Volcanic that will spawn.
• Grievous afflicts players with a stacking DoT when they fall below 90%. Use Crimson Vial to help out your healer when outside of combat.
• Quaking will periodically attempt to interrupt casters by creating a damaging zone around each player. About 3 seconds after the zone forms, it will deal 20% maximum Health in damage to each player caught in the zone. Feint works on this damage, so do not hesitate to use it.
• Explosive will occasionally spawn Explosive Orbs that need to be targeted and burned down within a short period of time or they will deal significant damage to the party. Explosive Orbs are not cleaveable and the amount of orbs that spawn scales with the amount of enemies pulled. Subtlety is effective at dealing with the orbs, however it causes you to lose quite a bit of damage due to Eviscerate overkilling the orbs by a fair amount.
• Necrotic debuffs the target of enemy melee swings with stacking healing reduction and minor DoT.
• Skittish reduces the amount of threat generated by tanks throughout the dungeon. Use Tricks of the Trade on your tank everytime you are engaging a new mob pack or boss to help them with threat.

4.4. Seasonal Affix

Infested is the seasonal affix for the launch of Battle for Azeroth. Enemies afflicted with the Infested debuff will be scattered throughout each dungeon once you reach key level ten. These mobs will heal enemies around them and, when slain, will spawn two Spawn of G'huun that will attempt to infest remaining enemies.

There are several ways to handle Infested mobs depending on pack size, which mob is infested, and group composition. The first way to handle an Infested enemy is to burn down the infested target and the subsequently spawning Spawn of G'huun, while either crowd controlling or ignoring the other mobs in the pack. This way is usually the fastest way when you have a Subtlety Rogue in the group, due to their massive priority damage. The second way is to crowd control the Infested mob and burn down all the other enemies.

5. Mythic+ Azerite Traits

To learn how different Azerite traits perform on single-target and multi-target situations, refer to the Simulations page.

6. Changelog

• 31 Aug. 2018: Added mention of Find Weakness on Priority Targets and changed formatting.
• 27 Aug. 2018: Added openers for different scenarios in Mythic+.
• 13 Aug. 2018: Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
• 11 Aug. 2018: Page added.

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