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

1. Agility;
2. Hit Rating (until 7.5%);
3. Expertise Rating (until 7.5%);
4. Haste Rating;
5. Critical Strike Rating;
6. Mastery 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. This statistic helps you maintain your rotation.

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

Mastery Rating increases the damage of your Finishing Moves and increases the amount of extra melee attack speed granted by Slice and Dice, through Mastery: Executioner.

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: Patch 5.3 update: nothing to change.