In this article, we explain what the best statistics are for Assassination Rogues (WoW MoP 5.3), how the class benefits from each of them, and what your reforging strategy should be. We also detail what the various caps are and why they should be attained. The statistics priority is important as it influences reforging strategies as well as itemisation choices (gear, enchants, and gems).

Make sure to check our Gear Optimisation Guide, which serves as a support guide for this article.

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

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Dryaan, one of the best Rogues in the world, who raids in Envy. You can watch his stream on Twitch.

1. Basics↑top

The stat priority for an Assassination Rogue is:

1. Agility;
2. Hit Rating (until the 7.5% cap);
3. Expertise Rating (until the 7.5% cap);
4. Mastery Rating;
5. Haste Rating;
6. Critical Strike Rating.

Below item level 500 (approximately), the value of Expertise Rating drop below that of Mastery Rating, Haste Rating, and Critical Strike Rating.

These statistics have been obtained by combining common sense, in-game testing, and simulations using Simulation Craft.

If you are unsure what the optimal reforging strategy is for the above priority, you can Ask Mr. Robot for a personalised optimisation of your character's gear, by filling the form below.

You can also use Shadowcraft, an online tool dedicated to Rogues, where you can optimise your gear, gems, reforging options, enchants, talents, glyphs, and rotation.

2. Getting a Better Understanding↑top

Agility is your primary statistic. You should look for it in all of your upgrades. It provides you with Attack Power, which determines the damage your abilities do, and it increases your critical strike chance.

Hit Rating decreases the chance that your melee attacks and poisons will miss their target (7.5% against a raid boss). Therefore, your goal is to reach the 7.5% hit cap (see section below), which will ensure that your attacks and poisons never miss.

Rogues are dual-wielding, which means that reaching the 7.5% hit cap will only prevent your special melee attacks (yellow attacks) and poisons from missing. Your normal melee attacks (white attacks) will still miss because when dual-wielding, they have a 26.5% chance to miss by default. Even in this case, it is unnecessary to keep stacking Hit Rating after the 7.5% hit cap.

Expertise Rating decreases the chance that your melee attacks will be dodged (7.5% against a raid boss). Therefore, your goal is to reach the 7.5% expertise cap (see section below), which will ensure that your attacks are never dodged. Note that you should always be attacking bosses from behind, which prevents them from parrying your attacks. Therefore, it is usually unnecessary (unless the boss cannot be attacked from behind) to decrease the chance that your attacks will be parried (something that you can do by stacking Expertise Rating after reaching the 7.5% cap).

The reason why Expertise Rating is below all other secondary statistics at lower gear levels is because all dodged or parried attacks are refunded 80% of their cost and because you always get the Envenom buff, even if Envenom does not hit. At higher gear level, everything is amplified and the DPS cost of missing an attack gets much higher, especially when cooldowns and trinket procs are up.

Mastery Rating increases the damage that your poisons deal (through Mastery: Potent Poisons), which is extremely beneficial to Assassination Rogues.

Haste Rating provides you with increased attack speed and Energy regeneration. This statistic is important to properly execute your rotation (keeping Rupture up, while casting as many Envenoms as possible).

Critical Strike Rating increases your chance to critically hit with attacks. As an Assassination Rogue, this statistic also contributes to granting you extra Combo Points through Seal Fate.

2.1. Hit Cap

At level 90, you need 2,550 Hit Rating to reach the melee hit cap.

2.2. Expertise Cap

At level 90, most races require 2,550 Expertise Rating to reach the expertise cap. Some races, in some cases, only need 2,210 Expertise Rating, thanks to passive racial skills:

• Gnomes when dual-wielding Daggers (because of Shortblade Specialization).

3. Changelog↑top

• 20 May 2013: Dryaan's second review of the guide: added explanations regarding stat priority at lower gear levels.