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Subtlety Rogue PvP Guide — The War Within (11.1.5)

Last updated on Apr 21, 2025 at 19:35 by Shadenox 34 comments
General Information

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Subtlety 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.

PvP Subtlety Rogue Guides
Introduction Talents Gear & Stats Battleground Blitz Compositions Playstyle & Rotations Macros Races
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE
1.

Subtlety Rogues in the Current Meta

Subtlety Rogues have one of the best control toolkits in the game, with Blind Icon Blind and Kidney Shot Icon Kidney Shot, but most importantly, with Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance, enabling them to access Sap Icon Sap and Cheap Shot Icon Cheap Shot at will. They also have the well-known Smoke Bomb Icon Smoke Bomb on a shorter cooldown than the other Rogue specializations, as well as the unique ability Shadowy Duel Icon Shadowy Duel, making them true crowd control lords amongst the melee specializations. They also have strong on-demand burst damage, allowing them to score kills when the entire enemy team is in CC.

2.

Noteworthy Patch 11.0.5 changes

3.

Subtlety Changes

  • Rupture Icon Rupture damage increased by 6%.
  • Shadowy Duel Icon Shadowy Duel has been removed.
4.

Rogue Changes

  • Veil of Midnight Icon Veil of Midnight has been removed.
  • Preemptive Maneuver Icon Preemptive Maneuver has been added and will be a solid defensive pick.
5.

Subtlety Rogue Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths icon Strengths
  • +Excellent control.
  • +Powerful burst.
  • +Great mobility.
  • +Excellent utility.
Weaknesses icon Weaknesses
  • -Very prone to dying in stuns.
  • -Significant cooldown on defensive abilities.
  • -Often reliant on teammates to stay alive.
  • -Weak sustained damage.
6.

Changelog

  • 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.
  • 30 Oct. 2024 (playstyle): Updated rotation.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 (comps): Updated 3v3 comps.
  • 01 Jul. 2022 (this page): Updated page structure.
  • 01 Jul. 2022 (this page): Updated page structure.
  • 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.
  • 24 Feb. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 9.2.
  • 24 Feb. 2022 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.2.
  • 23 Feb. 2022 (races): Already up to date with Patch 9.2.
  • 23 Feb. 2022 (macros): Already up to date with Patch 9.2.
  • 23 Feb. 2022 (comps): Updated for Patch 9.2.
  • 23 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 Tier 2 Talent.
  • 10 Nov. 2021 (this page): Already up to date with Patch 9.1.5.
  • 10 Nov. 2021 (this page): Already up to date with Patch 9.1.5.
  • 06 Oct. 2021 (talents): Updated Tier 3 Talent.
  • 30 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated the Shackle trinket due to a recent hotfix.
  • 21 Jul. 2021 (gear): Added the new PvP trinket.
  • 21 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated Tier 3 Talent.
  • 04 Jul. 2021 (races): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 04 Jul. 2021 (macros): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 04 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 04 Jul. 2021 (comps): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 04 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 04 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 04 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 04 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 28 Mar. 2021 (races): Rewritten by Shadenox and updated for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 28 Mar. 2021 (macros): Rewritten by Shadenox and updated for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 28 Mar. 2021 (playstyle): Rewritten by Shadenox and updated for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 28 Mar. 2021 (comps): Rewritten by Shadenox and updated for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 28 Mar. 2021 (gear): Rewritten by Shadenox and updated for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 28 Mar. 2021 (talents): Rewritten by Shadenox and updated for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 28 Mar. 2021 (this page): Rewritten by Shadenox and further updated for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 28 Mar. 2021 (this page): Rewritten by Shadenox and further updated for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 18 Mar. 2021 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear and Trinkets sections.
  • 18 Mar. 2021 (talents): No Updates Made for Patch 9.0.5
  • 18 Mar. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 18 Mar. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 17 Dec. 2020 (gear): Updated Stat Priority description.
  • 05 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Rotations to include Covenant Ability.
  • 05 Dec. 2020 (talents): Updated Talent Table.
    • Updated Tier 6 Regular Talent.
  • 02 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Burst Damage rotation.
  • 01 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Opening and Burst rotations.
  • 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.
  • 10 Nov. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Opening Rotation.
  • 27 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated Talent Table.
    • Updated Tier 2 Regular Talent.
  • 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.
  • 18 Mar. 2020 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
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