Cataclysm Classic Assassination Rogue Guide

This page contains all relevant information needed for Assassination Rogue before the release of Cataclysm Classic. Be sure to check back as we get closer to the release date, as this page will be updated with the latest information as it becomes available.

Yes! Assassination is the least gear dependent of the three Rogue specs and deals similar damage all while offering the incredibly important Master Poisoner debuff, increasing Magic damage dealt to the target by 8%. This debuff can be difficult to come by, especially in smaller format content, and Assassination Rogue is a reliable source without having to otherwise sacrifice anything to get it.

Strengths

• Brings Master Poisoner to the raid, especially strong in 10-man raids.
• Extremely high single-target sustained damage.
• Can soak and negate raid mechanics with Cloak of Shadows to make fights easier.
• Brings Tricks of the Trade to the raid.

Weaknesses

• Extremely dependent on Weapons.
• Mediocre AoE damage unless you are fighting 10 or more enemies.
• Struggles with target swapping due to the process of stacking Deadly Poison.

As a member of the Horde you really cannot go wrong with the race you choose. Orc and Troll will provide you the most DPS with Troll being slightly more powerful than Orc, but Goblin is also a great choice thanks to the added mobility with their Rocket Jump ability helping you close the gap. Undead is a strong choice; while lacking a true DPS increase racial, the crowd control removal from Will of the Forsaken can still be situationaly useful.

As Alliance the default choice will be Worgen thanks their Viciousness racial. Critical Strike is an incredible powerful stat for Rogue, and while Human is another great choice, you are likely to find the Expertise you would have benefited from being a Human already existing on gear you will incorporate into your best in slot lists.

1. Engineering — Engineering remains king largely due to Synapse Springs which synergizes incredibly with any kind of damage increase like Vendetta. Grounded Plasma Shield adds another solid defensive cooldown to help you mitigate incoming damage especially against large bursts of Physical damage as Combat Readiness can at times be difficult to use. Nitro Boosts also provides a ton of movement speed which acts almost as a second Sprint should you need it.
2. Blacksmithing — Lets you add an extra socket to both your Gloves and Bracers thanks to Socket Gloves and Socket Bracer. As a Rogue Agility is incredibly valuable compared to most secondary stats and these bonus sockets only become more valuable as the expansion progresses onward and Epic Gems are introduced.

Addons and Macros can greatly improve your quality of life during Cataclysm. Listed below are some of our recommendations on Addons and Macros to help get the most out of your time playing the game.