Shadow Step Rogue Endgame Build Guide for Diablo 4 (Season 5)

Build Introduction

The Shadow Step Rogue is a specialized build focused on dropping Stun Grenades to explode enemy hordes. The rapid casting of Shadow Step enables this build to have the highest mobility within the Rogue class, perfect for speed-farming Helltides, Nightmare Dungeons, and The Pit!

This late endgame guide assumes your character is Level 100 and fulfills the Build Requirements. Follow the Rogue Leveling Guide until you are ready to switch to the Shadow Step Grenade Rogue.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

Extremely high mobility for speed-farming
High burst damage in an Area-of-Effect
Multiple crowd controls to render entire groups of enemies helpless

Weaknesses

Boss damage dependent on Stagger
Strict build requirements
Complex mechanics

Check the build tier lists to see how this build compares to others.

Build Requirements

The Shadow Step Grenade Rogue is an advanced endgame build requiring a high amount of Cooldown Reduction to be applied to Shadow Step. With Disciplined Shadow Step reducing the Cooldown by 3 seconds, the Shadow Step Cooldown needs to be lowered to at least 3.5 seconds for rapid casting. Obtain the following list of items before attempting the build.

High tiers of Opportunist’s Aspect and Aspect of Surprise are necessary to increase the base damage of Stun Grenades.
Aspect of Uncanny Treachery is required to enter Stealth constantly.
Boots with a Mobility Cooldown Reduction temper.
Two Rings with Shadow Step Cooldown Reduction tempers.
An Amulet with a Cooldown Reduction affix, along with Shadow Step Cooldown Reduction and Mobility Cooldown Reduction tempers.
A Helm with a Cooldown Reduction affix. Harlequin Crest is preferred for a higher Cooldown Reduction value.
Masterworking bonuses on Cooldown Reduction stats are required.

Skill Tree Points and Skill Bar

The Skill Tree above shows the full allocation of 58 Skill Points for the Shadow Step Rogue build. Make sure you obtain the 10 Skill Points available from Renown.

Blade Shift is not equipped on the Skill Bar. 2 Skill Points are allocated into the Basic Skill cluster only as a prerequisite to proceed in the Skill Tree.

Rogue Specialization

Inner Sight is the preferred Rogue Specialization for the Shadow Step Rogue for an occasional +25% Critical Strike Chance bonus. The benefit provided by this specialization is minor, but the others do not offer anything more valuable for this build.

Paragon

Paragon unlocks after reaching Level 50, and the progression system offers a considerable boost to character power. The images below provide a visual of each Paragon Board setup for the Shadow Step Rogue.

Important Notes:

Make sure you select the correct Legendary Boards and rotate them into the correct orientation.
Attach Legendary Boards in the correct order, as bonus requirements of Rare Nodes increase with their placement order.
Additional bonus requirements on Rare Glyphs may not be obtainable until they gain increased radius range at Level 15.

1. Starting Board (Control)

Socket Control in the starting board for a 1.2x damage multiplier against Frozen or Stunned Enemies, activated by Lucky Hit Chance tempers or Disciplined Shadow Step. The bonus also applies to Staggered Bosses.

2. No Witnesses (Chip)

Attach the No Witnesses board without any rotations. Socket Chip for increased Physical damage to Stun Grenades. Prioritize leveling Chip to 15 to increase the radius, as it is needed to gain the additional bonus. Obtain the Legendary Node for a damage bonus to Stun Grenades after casting Death Trap. Path to the Board Attachment Gate on the left side to continue.

3. Exploit Weakness

Attach the Exploit Weakness board without any rotations. Immediately obtain the Legendary Node for a 1.25x damage multiplier. The Glyph Socket on this board is not utilized.

4. Cheap Shot (Explosive)

Path back to the Board Attachment Gate at the top of the No Witnesses board, and then rotate the Cheap Shot board twice before attachment. Immediately obtain the Legendary Node for a 1.25x damage multiplier. Socket Explosive for a consistent source of damage reduction. Path to the Board Attachment Gate on the left side to continue.

5. Deadly Ambush (Fluidity)

Rotate the Deadly Ambush board 1 time before attachment. Socket Fluidity for a 1.10x damage multiplier and to boost the nearby Magic Nodes, providing Damage Reduction. Obtain the Legendary Node for a 1.23x multiplier.

6. Leyrana’s Instinct (Pride)

Path back to the Board Attachment Gate on the right side of the Cheap Shot board, and then attach the Leyrana’s Instinct board without any rotations. The Legendary Node on this board is not utilized.

7. Tricks of the Trade (Ambush)

Rotate the Tricks of the Trade board 3 times before attachment. Socket Ambush to increase damage dealt to enemies affected by Caltrops or Death Trap. The Legendary Node on this board is not utilized.

Paragon Board images courtesy of d4builds.gg. Click this link for the Paragon planner.

Gear, Gems, Elixirs, and Stats

The following sections cover the important systems that are essential to improving the power of your character in the endgame of Diablo 4.

Legendary Aspects

Listed below are all the best-in-slot Aspects for the Shadow Step Rogue build. Salvage Legendary Items with higher Aspect values to unlock them in the Codex of Power, and then imprint them onto Legendary Items with the preferred affixes.

Gear Slot	Name	Effect
Ranged Weapon (+100% bonus effect)	Opportunist’s Aspect	When you enter or break Stealth, you drop a cluster of exploding Stun Grenades around you that deal [X] Physical damage and Stun enemies for 1 second. Your Grenade Skills deal [25 – 40%] more damage.
Amulet (+50 bonus effect)	Aspect of Surprise	When you Evade or Shadow Step, you leave behind a cluster of exploding Stun Grenades that deal [X] total Physical damage and Stun enemies for 1 second. Your Grenade Skills deal [25 – 40%] more damage.
Dual-Wielded Weapons or Rings	Trickster’s Aspect	Caltrops also throw a cluster of exploding Stun Grenades that deal [X] total Physical damage and Stun enemies for 1 second. Your Grenade Skills deal [25 – 40%] more damage.
Dual-Wielded Weapons or Rings	Aspect of Artful Initiative	When you spend 100 Energy you release a cluster of exploding Stun Grenades that deal [X] total Physical damage and Stun enemies for 1 second. Your Grenade Skills deal [25 – 45%] increased damage.
Dual-Wielded Weapons or Rings	Coldclip Aspect	Your Basic Skills are always Cold Imbued. You deal x [5 – 20%] increased damage to enemies who are Chilled or Frozen.
Dual-Wielded Weapons or Rings	Aspect of Retribution	Distant enemies have a 10% chance to be Stunned for 2 seconds when they hit you. You deal x [15 – 30%] increased damage to Stunned and Knocked Down enemies.
Gloves (replaced by Fists of Fate)	Aspect of Concussive Strikes	Lucky Hit: Damaging an enemy has up to a 20% chance to Daze them for 2 seconds. You deal x [5 – 20%] increased damage to Dazed enemies.
Helm (replaced by Harlequin Crest)	Aspect of Quickening Fog	You automatically drop a Smoke Grenade at the end of Dash. Smoke Grenades reduce Dash’s cooldown by [0.5 – 0.65] seconds for each enemy hit, up to [1.50 – 1.95] seconds.
Chest (replaced by Shroud of Khanduras)	Umbrous Aspect	Lucky Hit: Critical Strikes have up to a [45 – 60%] chance to grant a free Dark Shroud shadow.
Pants	Aspect of Uncanny Treachery	Dealing damage to a Dazed enemy with an Agility Skill grants Stealth for 4 seconds. When Stealth breaks, you gain [10 – 15%] Dodge Chance for 2 seconds.
Boots	Frostbitten Aspect	Enemies hit by your Grenade Skills have a chance equal to your Critical Strike Chance to be Frozen for 2 seconds. You deal x [10 – 25%] increased Critical Strike Damage against Frozen or Stunned enemies.

Gems

Listed below are the best Gems to socket into gear for each item type.

Weapon Gems	Armor Gems	Jewelry Gems
Royal Diamond for increased Ultimate Damage to scale No Witnesses.	Royal Ruby for increased Maximum Life.	Any Resistance Gems needed or Royal Skull for Armor (up to the 9,230 Armor cap).

Elixirs

Visit the Alchemist in any main town to craft helpful Elixirs that increase stats and experience gain for 30 minutes. Make sure to forage plants and pick up the necessary crafting materials during your adventures; they randomly spawn around the world. Elixirs can also drop randomly from enemies and chests during many activities in Diablo 4. Listed below are the best Elixirs to consume for the Shadow Step Rogue, ranked by importance.

Elixir of Precision provides the highest damage output increase, if not already capped at 100% Critical Strike Chance.
Elixir of Advantage increases damage output, if not already capped at 100% Attack Speed bonus from gear and Paragon.
Elixir of Fortitude is the best general-purpose option for survivability.

Return to the Alchemist again when you reach Level 20, 30, 45, 60, 70, 80, and 90, to upgrade your potion. The extra healing is essential to survival.

Stat Priority and Tempering Affixes

Listed below are the affixes to prioritize on gear for Shadow Step Rogues. Each line of affixes are listed in order of importance. Affixes on the same line are considered to be equally important, but their benefits may vary depending on how much is stacked or other character stats. Attempt to obtain all affixes in each line before moving to the next line. Bolded affixes are the most important targets for Masterworking upgrades.

Swords are preferred over Daggers for a higher weapon damage applied on Stun Grenades. The Ranged Weapon type does not matter, as they are never utilized for any Skills in this build.

The priority order of Resistances is Lightning > Poison > Fire > Cold > Shadow. Maximum Resistance is 70% by default for each element and can be increased to 85% by various sources.

Armor is only needed until capped at 9,230.

Check the Tempering Guide for more details on Blacksmith upgrading.

Slot	Gear Affixes	Tempering Affixes
Weapons	1. Maximum Life, Dexterity, Vulnerable Damage	Trap Augments (Weapon): Caltrops Duration or Caltrops Size Specialist Evolution (Offensive): Stun Grenade Size (up to 100% cap, otherwise temper Damage per Dark Shroud from Subterfuge Expertise)
Helm	1. Cooldown Reduction 2. Any uncapped Resistances or Armor 3. Maximum Life, Dexterity	Worldly Fortune (Utility): Lucky Hit Chance to Immobilize Worldly Endurance (Defensive): Total Armor or Maximum Life
Chest	1. Ranks to Dark Shroud 2. Any uncapped Resistances or Armor 3. Maximum Life, Dexterity	Worldly Fortune (Utility): Lucky Hit Chance to Slow Rogue Cloaking (Defensive): Ranks to Agile
Gloves	1. Critical Strike Chance, Attack Speed 2. Any uncapped Resistances or Armor 3. Maximum Life	Subterfuge Expertise (Offensive): Damage per Dark Shroud Daze Control (Utility): Lucky Hit Chance to Daze
Pants	1. Any uncapped Resistances or Armor 2. Maximum Life, Dexterity	Worldly Fortune (Utility): Lucky Hit Chance to Freeze Rogue Cloaking (Defensive): Ranks to Agile
Boots	Implicit Stat: Maximum Evade Charges 1. Movement Speed 2. Any uncapped Resistances or Armor 3. Maximum Life, Dexterity	Natural Motion (Mobility): Mobility Cooldown Reduction Worldly Fortune (Utility): Lucky Hit Chance to Stun
Amulet	1. Ranks to Frigid Finesse, Unstable Elixirs, and Malice 2. Cooldown Reduction 3. Critical Strike Chance, Attack Speed	Agility Efficiency (Resource): Shadow Step Cooldown Reduction Natural Motion (Mobility): Mobility Cooldown Reduction
Rings	1. Lucky Hit Chance to Make Enemies Vulnerable (required on 1 Ring) 2. Critical Strike Chance, Attack Speed 3. Maximum Life, Dexterity	Agility Efficiency (Resource): Shadow Step Cooldown Reduction Subterfuge Expertise (Offensive): Damage per Dark Shroud

Unique and Mythic Items

Listed below are the recommended and optional Unique Items for the Shadow Step Rogue build. Each item description includes the most important affix to target for Masterworking upgrades.

Harlequin Crest (highly recommended) is a Mythic Unique Item that provides a boosted Cooldown Reduction affix, which is important for reducing the Cooldown of Shadow Step.
- Masterworking Priority: Cooldown Reduction
Fists of Fate (highly recommended) provides up to a 50% overall damage increase in the unique effect. The Lucky Hit Chance to Apply a Random Crowd Control Effect affix is useful to quickly Stagger Bosses.
- Masterworking Priority: Critical Strike Chance or Attack Speed
Shroud of Khanduras (highly recommended) groups enemies up for optimal clearing with Stun Grenades.
- Masterworking Priority: Ranks to Dark Shroud
Tyrael’s Might (optional) is the best defensive option for a Chest Armor, although this Mythic Unique Item can be difficult to obtain. The divine barrage does not contribute a significant portion of the total damage in this build.
- Masterworking Priority: Damage Reduction

Advanced Information

Additional details are provided in the following sections for a more in-depth explanation of the Shadow Step Rogue. Read this advanced information after understanding the basic overview of the build in the previous sections.

Build Mechanics

The Shadow Step Grenade Rogue is a specialized build that requires a high amount of Cooldown Reduction applied to Shadow Step to function. Shadow Step is rapidly cast by lowering the base Cooldown to at least 3.5 seconds, while Disciplined Shadow Step further reduces the Cooldown by 3 seconds.

This build focuses on dealing the most damage possible with Stun Grenades, utilizing a cleaver interaction of repeatedly entering Stealth with Aspect of Uncanny Treachery to drop Grenades from Opportunist’s Aspect. Additional Stun Grenades from Aspect of Surprise deal supplemental damage in this build.

Aspect of Artful Initiative, and Trickster’s Aspect are utilized mainly for the increased Stun Grenade damage.

Additional Ranks of Shadow Step are not needed, as Stun Grenades are the main source of damage.

The damage bonus from Frigid Finesse is activated through a Lucky Hit Chance to Freeze temper and is always applied against Staggered Bosses.

Vulnerable status is applied to individual enemies by Enhanced Shadow Step. A Lucky Hit Chance to Make Enemies Vulnerable affix on a Ring works against multiple enemies through Smoke Grenade and Caltrops.

Crowd Controls and Boss Stagger

A variety of different Crowd Controls are applied to enemies through the following sources:

Fists of Fate
Daze from Smoke Grenade
Daze from Enhanced Shadow Step
Stun from Disciplined Shadow Step
Slow from Dash
Slow from Caltrops
Freeze from Frostbitten Aspect
Daze from Aspect of Concussive Strikes (optional)
Lucky Hit Chance to Freeze/Stun/Immobilize/Slow/Daze tempers

Crowd-Controlled enemies take additional damage through multipliers from the following sources:

1.30x or more from Frigid Finesse
1.30x from Aspect of Retribution
1.25x from Cheap Shot
1.20x from Coldclip Aspect
1.20x from Frostbitten Aspect
1.20x from Aspect of Concussive Strikes (optional)
1.20x from Control

These damage bonuses can be applied to normal and elite enemies immediately, but they do not apply to bosses unless they are Staggered. Repeated Crowd Controls from the same source in a short duration apply less Stagger to bosses, so separate sources of Crowd Controls are utilized within the build. Stagger Bosses to deal maximum damage!

Damage Rotation

Use the following rotation to optimize damage output.

Activate Dark Shroud to prepare for battles.
(Optional) Cast Smoke Grenade at any Elite enemies.
Jump to enemies with Shadow Step.
(Optional) Use a Potion for increased damage from Unstable Elixirs.
Evade to pull enemies with Shroud of Khanduras.
Spam Shadow Step to drop Stun Grenades.

Boss Stagger Damage Combo

Use the following combo to Stagger and kill Bosses.

Activate Dark Shroud to prepare for the Boss fight.
Spam Shadow Step until the Stagger bar is nearly full.
Cast Caltrops on the Boss.
Use Dash to gain 10% increased Critical Strike Chance from Enhanced Dash.
Cast Death Trap to activate the damage buff from No Witnesses.
Cast Smoke Grenade to Stagger the Boss and increase damage through Enhanced Smoke Grenade.
Use a Potion for increased damage from Unstable Elixirs.
Spam Shadow Step to drop Stun Grenades.
Enhanced Smoke Grenade can be reapplied after 5 seconds if Cooldown allows.

Obol Gambling

Obol gambling is a great way to potentially find item upgrades or items missing from your build. Use Obols on your target equipment for a chance to receive Greater Affixes. Check out the tool from Icy Veins for gambling Obols in the link below.

Obol Gambling Optimization Tool

Season 5: Infernal Hordes

The following list details the changes in the Season 5 Update (Patch 1.5.0) that may pertain to Shadow Step Rogues. Check the Changelog for all the other guide updates.

Dash
- Damage increased by 25% (0.32 to 0.4).
- Additional functionality: Dash Slows enemies hit by 30% for 3 seconds.
Enhanced Dash
- Previous – Enemies damaged by Dash take 15% increased Critical Strike Damage from you for 5 seconds.
- Now – Casting Dash increases your Critical Strike Chance by 10% for 5 seconds.
Disciplined Dash
- Previous – Dash Slows enemies it hits by 30% for 3 seconds. Any enemy already Slowed will be Dazed for 2 seconds instead.
- Now – At the end of Dash, Knock Down surrounding enemies for 2 seconds and deal 350% of its damage to them.
Methodical Dash
- Previous – Dealing damage to Crowd Controlled enemies with Dash reduces its Charge Cooldown by 0.5 seconds, up to 4 seconds per cast.
- Now – Dash has 1 additional Charge and its Charge Cooldown is reduced by 2 seconds.
Enhanced Shadow Step
- Previous – Damaging an enemy with Shadow Step increases your Critical Strike Chance against them by 8% for 3 seconds.
- Now – Damaging an enemy with Shadow Step Dazes and applies Vulnerable to them for 3 seconds.
Methodical Shadow Step
- Previous – Enemies damaged by Shadow Step are Stunned for 2 seconds.
- Now – After Shadow Stepping, you gain 20% Damage Reduction for 3 seconds.
Disciplined Shadow Step
- Previous – Shadow Step’s Cooldown is reduced by 3 seconds when it damages an enemy you have not hit with Shadow Step in the last 4 seconds.
- Now – Damaging an enemy with Shadow Step Stuns them for 2 seconds and reduces its Cooldown by 3 seconds.
Dark Shroud
- You can now only lose 1 Dark Shroud shadow every 1.5 seconds.
Enhanced Dark Shroud
- Previous – Dark Shroud’s shadows have a 14% chance to not be Consumed.
- Now – Each active Dark Shroud shadow grants you 5% increased Movement Speed and also has a 15% chance to not be Consumed.
Subverting Dark Shroud
- Previous – Each active shadow from Dark Shroud grants you 4% increased Movement Speed.
- Now – You Heal for 10% of your Maximum Life when a Dark Shroud shadow is removed.
Countering Dark Shroud
- You only need 1 active shadow to get the bonus Critical Strike Chance instead of 2.
- Critical Strike Chance increased from 8% to 10%.
Smoke Grenade
- Additional functionality: Smoke Grenade now deals 45% Physical damage, has a 25% Lucky Hit Chance, and its Skill Ranks now give increased damage and Cooldown Reduction.
Enhanced Smoke Grenade
- Previous – Enemies affected by Smoke Grenade take 25% increased damage from you.
- Now – Enemies hit by Smoke Grenade take 25% increased damage from you for 5 seconds.
Subverting Smoke Grenade
- Previous – Lucky Hit: Dealing direct damage to enemies affected by Smoke Grenade has up to a 25% chance to reduce its Cooldown by 1 second, or by 3 seconds instead if the enemy is Vulnerable.
- Now – Hitting an Elite or Boss with Smoke Grenade reduces its Cooldown by 5 seconds.
Subverting Smoke Grenade
- Previous – If an enemy is Vulnerable, Slowed, or Chilled then Smoke Grenade will Daze them for 20% longer.
- Now – Smoke Grenade now deals Poison damage and applies another 45% Poisoning damage over 5 seconds.
Exploit Weakness
- Previous – Whenever you deal damage to a Vulnerable enemy, they take 1%[x] increased damage from you for 6 seconds, up to 25%[x].
- Now – Lucky Hit: Hitting a Vulnerable enemy has up to a 60% chance to increase your damage by 1%[x] for 25 seconds, up to 25%[x]. At 25 stacks the bonus remains for 6 seconds then expires.
Cheap Shot
- Previous – You deal 5% increased damage for each Nearby enemy that is Crowd Controlled, up to 25%.
- Now – You deal 5% increased damage for each Nearby enemy that is Crowd Controlled, up to 25%. A Nearby Staggered Boss provides the maximum bonus.

Changelog

September 2nd, 2024: Guide created for Season 5 (Patch 1.5.0).