In this article, we explain what the best statistics are for Combat 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 Combat 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 a Combat Rogue is:

1. Agility;
2. Hit Rating and Expertise Rating (until 7.5% each);
3. Haste Rating;
4. Mastery Rating;
5. 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).

Haste Rating provides you with increased attack speed and Energy regeneration. Besides the base Energy regeneration, Haste Rating gives you more Energy through Combat Potency. Finally, the more Haste Rating you have, the more attacks you can fit while the Bandit's Guile buffs are active.

Mastery Rating increases the chances that your main-hand attacks will grant you an attack that deals damage equal to 120% of a main-hand attack ( Mastery: Main Gauche). This attack has a chance to trigger Combat Potency, which increases your Energy regeneration.

Critical Strike Rating increases your chance to critically hit with all spells and abilities.

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:

• Dwarves when dual-wielding Maces ( Mace Specialization);
• Gnomes when dual-wielding Swords or when using a Main-Hand Sword and an Off-Hand Dagger (because of Shortblade Specialization);
• Humans when dual-wielding Maces/Swords ( Mace Specialization and Sword Specialization);
• Orcs when dual-wielding Axes/Fist Weapons ( Axe Specialization).

3. Changelog↑top

• 20 May 2013: Dryaan's second review of the guide: added more information for Haste Rating and Mastery Rating.