Assassination Rogue DPS Easy Mode — The War Within (11.0.5)

This build is optimal for pure single-target situations.

Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the best build directly into your game!

For a more in-depth analysis of each of the talent choices and the reasoning behind the aforementioned build as the go-to for ease of use, check out the Talent section below.

This is our recommended build for AoE and Mythic+ scenarios. This works well for AoE fights in raids, as well as most Mythic+.

Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the best build directly into your game!

For a more in-depth analysis of each of the talent choices and the reasoning behind the aforementioned build as the go-to for ease of use, check out the Talent section below.

This priority list is a very basic priority list, and some of the finer details to get the most damage out of the spec are missing. By following the link, you will be able to find a more detailed version of this priority list for both single-target and AoE, as well as a deeper explanation of some of the core concepts of Assassination gameplay. If you would like to know more about how to pool Energy properly and what your opener should look like, check out the Rotation section of this guide.

Always make sure to have Deadly Poison, Amplifying Poison and your choice of non-lethal Poisons applied for maximum DPS.

• Open from Stealth with Ambush if you are playing Deathstalker.
• Use Mutilate as your single-target builder, and Envenom as your single-target spender. Use Ambush instead of Mutilate when available.
• Use Fan of Knives as your AoE builder, and maintain Crimson Tempest as your AoE spender (if talented into it). Use Mutilate or Ambush once every 10 seconds on AoE if talented into Caustic Spatter.
• Maintain Rupture and Garrote at all times.
• Use Shiv, Vanish, Kingsbane, Deathmark, and Cold Blood (if talented into Fatebound) on cooldown.
• Use Thistle Tea to avoid overcapping charges. Do not overcap Energy when using Thistle Tea. Try to use it while Shiv is active.
• Try to sync as many of your cooldowns as possible so they all benefit from each other.

Feint is an active spell that reduces all area damage taken. This has a very short cooldown and should be used regularly. The DPS cost is negligible, and it is a defensive that every other class is jealous of.

Cloak of Shadows is your immunity. It removes most Magic, Curse, Disease or Poison debuffs when you press it, which in some cases is not a good thing. It also makes you immune to all magic effects and damage. Most raid encounters tend to apply any associated debuffs anyway, but at least you will simply not take damage.

Evasion increases your dodge to over 100%, making you immune to melee attacks. Rarely useful in raids, but it can save your life in Mythic+ or overworld content.

Cheat Death saves you from dying once, leaving you at low HP with very strong damage mitigation. This has a 6-minute cooldown and makes your already strong defensive kit even stronger.

Vanish is used as a DPS ability in raids but can save your life in World Content and Mythic+. It makes all enemies lose threat on you, and if you are the only surviving player, enemy mobs will reset without you dying. It can also occasionally be used to avoid targeted spell casts if you Vanish before the enemy finishes casting.

This is just some of the key utility of Assassination Rogue. We highly recommend checking out the fully detailed Spell Glossary page below to see everything explained in detail.

• Refresh Rupture and Garrote before activating Deathmark and Shiv, so you do not have to cast these abilities while it is active.
• Always cast finishers at 5+ Combo Points.
• Hold onto both Shiv charges for your Kingsbane, do not use them at any other point.
• Try to cast Envenom with 5+ Combo Points at least twice during each Shiv.
• Deathmark duplicates the currently active bleeds. If these are buffed through something like Improved Garrote, the duplicated bleeds will also benefit from these effects.