Subtlety Rogue PvP Guide (Dragonflight 10.2.5)

Last updated on Jan 15, 2024 at 15:00 by Shadenox 32 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.

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, recently buffed, 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 10.2.5 changes

Subtlely has not undergone any change with Patch 10.2.5.

3.

Noteworthy Patch 10.2 changes

Subtlety has been reworked with Patch 10.2. Down below are the most important changes:

  • Shadow Blades Icon Shadow Blades has been changed. It now causes all attacks to deal 20% additional damage as Shadow, and causes Combo Point generating abilities to give full Combo Points. This change makes Shadow Blades an amazing offensive cooldown that allows to use a 7 Combo Point finisher every second global while keeping targets locked down in stuns.
  • Shadow Techniques Icon Shadow Techniques has been changed. It now stores the Combo Points it generates as a buff on the Rogue rather than instantly generating them. Using a Combo Point generating ability with stored Combo Points will use them up in order to generate more Combo Points, up up to a full Combo Point bar.
  • Goremaw's Bite Icon Goremaw's Bite has been added to the talent tree. The ability deals decent direct damage, generate 3 Combo Points, and makes the next 3 finishing moves free of Energy cost. It is a good addition to Subtlety's burst rotation.
4.

Subtlety Rogue Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths icon Strengths
  • +Powerful burst.
  • +Great mobility.
  • +Great control.
  • +Excellent utility.
Weaknesses icon Weaknesses
  • -Very prone to dying in stuns.
  • -Significant cooldown on defensive abilities.
  • -Often reliant on teammates to stay alive.
  • -Non-existant sustained damage.
5.

Changelog

  • 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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