Subtlety Rogue DPS Mythic+ Tips — The War Within (11.1.0)

Last updated on Mar 20, 2025 at 21:57 by Eleem 70 comments
General Information

In this guide, you will find tips and advice to tackle Mythic+ dungeons with your Subtlety Rogue in World of Warcraft — The War Within (11.1.0).

1.

Subtlety Rogue in Mythic+ in The War Within Season 2

The playstyle of Subtlety in Mythic+ revolves around huge burst windows with damage multipliers, such as Symbols of Death Icon Symbols of Death, Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance, Flagellation Icon Flagellation and Shadow Blades Icon Shadow Blades. You're also using Shuriken Storm Icon Shuriken Storm to generate more Combo Points than you normally would in a single-target scenario, which leads to more cooldown reduction on your Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance through Deepening Shadows Icon Deepening Shadows.

If you are unfamiliar with Mythic+ and its associated general mechanics, you can read more about it on our The War Within Mythic+ page below.

To learn more about the Mythic+ Meta, check out our Mythic+ Tier List below.

2.

Best Mythic+ Talents for Subtlety Rogue in The War Within

Subtlety in Mythic+ offers fairly low sustained AoE damage. To compensate for that it does have very strong cooldowns cooldowns that can be used on bosses or high-priority targets that need to be taken out quickly or have much higher health pools than the surrounding enemies. Subtlety also has the ability to utilize its easy Combo Point generation to slam big health targets every other global thanks to Shuriken Storm Icon Shuriken Storm generating Combo Points based on targets hit. Unlike Assassination, Subtlety does not rely on critical strikes to generate combo points which provides a steady stream of Combo Point generation. You can play this as either Hero Talent spec, depending on your preference, but Trickster reigns supreme damage-wise in Mythic+.

For a more general overview of Talents for Subtlety Rogue, please visit our dedicated Talents page.

3.

Best Mythic+ Talent Builds for Subtlety Rogue

Trickster
Mythic+ / AoE
Deathstalker
Mythic+ / AoE
3.

Best Trickster Mythic+ Talents for Subtlety Rogue in The War Within

This is the Trickster build for Subtlety, that offers immense burst, both on AoE and on Single-Target.

2.1.

Flexible Talents

There isn't a whole lot of flexibility in your talent choices, but these are the choices you can make:

  • You can opt out of any of the talents that are not required to path through in order to pick up Stillshroud Icon Stillshroud for any keys where Shroud is used. Wiping and not being able to return to the boss or trash pack you wiped on is usually a depleted key, but with a reduced cooldown Shroud might be back up again to keep going.
  • You can swap Airborne Irritant Icon Airborne Irritant for Gouge Icon Gouge if there is a desperate need for additional stops on a low cooldown, but it's usually not worth it because an AoE stop will almost always be better outside of niche situations.

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

3.

Best Deathstalker Mythic+ Talents for Subtlety Rogue in The War Within

This is the Deathstalker build for Subtlety, that offers less burst but stronger sustained damage, as well as very high priority damage.

Make sure to keep track of your Darkest Night Icon Darkest Night buff so you do not have to cast Shadow Strike Icon Shadow Strike on every pack to benefit from your Deathstalker's Mark Icon Deathstalker's Mark.

2.1.

Flexible Talents

There isn't a whole lot of flexibility in your talent choices, but these are the choices you can make:

  • You can opt out of any of the talents that are not required to path through in order to pick up Stillshroud Icon Stillshroud for any keys where Shroud is used. Wiping and not being able to return to the boss or trash pack you wiped on is usually a depleted key, but with a reduced cooldown Shroud might be back up again to keep going.
  • You can swap Airborne Irritant Icon Airborne Irritant for Gouge Icon Gouge if there is a desperate need for additional stops on a low cooldown, but it's usually not worth it because an AoE stop will almost always be better outside of niche situations.

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

3.

Mythic+ Utility for Subtlety Rogue in The War Within Season 2

This section talks mostly about the uses of different spells. For in-depth explanations of all Rogue Abilities and Talents, including these, check out our Spells page.

4.

Utility of Subtlety Rogue in The War Within

Interrupts, Stuns and Stops Other Utility
3.1.

Interrupts, Stuns and Stops

Kick Icon Kick is your, well, "kick". You will interrupt your targeted enemy, or, when using a Focus-Macro, the target you set up as your focus.

  • /stopcasting
  • /stopcasting
  • /cast [@focus,exists,nodead] [] Kick

This macro will kick your focus target if you have one, and your target if you have no focus target. We recommend keeping both the macro and a regular kick cast on your bars, as you may have multiple targets to interrupt, and the macro always prioritizes the focus target.

To quickly set a focus target in hectic scenarios, we also recommend a Focus Mouseover macro, or setting the "Focus Target" hotkey in the game's keybinding settings.

  • /focus [@mouseover]

Make sure that your UI shows your Focus Target's casts clearly, so that you are always able to kick it on cooldown, or in coordination with the rest of your group.

4.

Stunning and "Stops"

Sap Icon Sap and Blind Icon Blind can be useful to hard-crowd control multiple mobs in a single trash pack. You can also use it right before the tank is pulling, as Blackjack Icon Blackjack applies a damage reduction debuff to the target when Sap breaks.

With Airborne Irritant Icon Airborne Irritant talented, Blind Icon Blind turns into a powerful AoE disrupt that also drastically reduces tank damage taken if Blackjack Icon Blackjack is selected.

Gouge Icon Gouge (if talented) can be used to disrupt enemies from casting otherwise uninterruptible spells. This requires you to stand in front of the enemy, but can be used in many situations to keep enemies from using some of their most lethal abilities. Many of these abilities go on cooldown once used, so disrupting them with Gouge, Kidney Shot Icon Kidney Shot, or Blind Icon Blind will keep these mobs from re-casting these abilities for a while.

Vanish Icon Vanish can be also used to Cheap Shot Icon Cheap Shot an enemy that can only be stopped, not interrupted.

3.2.

Other Utility

Shroud of Concealment Icon Shroud of Concealment projects AoE Stealth Icon Stealth around you. It is important to note, however, that in the current expansion, there is a much greater number of enemies who can detect through Stealth or Invisibility, whom you will need to be on the lookout for. Subtlety also has the talent

Subtlety Rogues also have the talent Shrouded in Darkness Icon Shrouded in Darkness, this allows you to use shroud as a massive speed boost to your team even when you are not trying to sneak past mobs. This is especially powerful in indoor dungeons with long sections of running where you cannot mount.

Distract Icon Distract helps set up Shroud-skips and keeps patrolling trash packs in place for 10 seconds. Make sure to force enemies to look away from you, to allow you to stealth past them.

Feint Icon Feint, Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows, Evasion Icon Evasion, Crimson Vial Icon Crimson Vial and Cheat Death Icon Cheat Death form a very powerful set of defensive cooldowns and are one of the biggest reasons for Rogue's strength in Mythic+.

Tricks of the Trade Icon Tricks of the Trade is not exceptionally great normally. However, any kind of support that helps your tank keep aggro on all enemies is encouraged. Sadly it is a choice-node with Blackjack Icon Blackjack.

Shiv Icon Shiv can be used to dispel Enrage effects.

Numbing Poison Icon Numbing Poison and Atrophic Poison Icon Atrophic Poison are both useful in Mythic+, but with the heavier emphasis on trash mobs, Numbing Poison Icon Numbing Poison is likely to win out on Fortified, with Atrophic gaining more value on Tyrannical weeks. Communicate with your tank and healer which ones are preferable.

4.

Dungeon Tips and Tricks for Subtlety Rogue in The War Within

This section is focused on Rogue-specific tips and tricks to help in specific dungeons' bosses and trash. If you want general guides for each of our Dungeons or Mythic+ in general, check out our dedicated page below.

5.

Dungeon Tips for Subtlety Rogue in The War Within

Cinderbrew Meadery Darkflame Cleft Priory of the Sacred Flame The Rookery Operation: Floodgate Theater of Pain Operation Mechagon The MOTHERLODE!!
5.1.

Brew Master Aldryr

  • Keep Feint Icon Feint up as much as possible during Happy Hour Icon Happy Hour.
  • Keep Sprint Icon Sprint so you'll have it ready for Happy Hour Icon Happy Hour to serve the beers as fast as possible.
  • Cast Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows when you get Hot Honey Icon Hot Honey to remove it.
  • Hot Honey Icon Hot Honey does not get reduced by Feint Icon Feint unless you've talented into Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness.
5.2.

I'pa

  • Crippling Poison Icon Crippling Poison is really good on this boss if you do not have other slows in your group.
  • Ideally you just hit the boss and let Nimble Flurry Icon Nimble Flurry cleave onto the Brew Drop adds, but if they're too far away you might need to run to them to kill them.
5.3.

Benk Buzzbee

  • Fluttering Wing Icon Fluttering Wing does not get reduced by Feint Icon Feint unless you've talented into Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness.
5.4.

Goldie Baronbottom

  • Feint Icon Feint does not get reduced by Let It Hail! Icon Let It Hail! unless you've talented into Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness.
  • Cast Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows when you get 2 stacks of Burning Ricochet Icon Burning Ricochet to remove it.
5.5.

Trash

5.6.

Ol' Waxbeard

  • Make sure to save your non Flagellation Icon Flagellation dances to burst down the mine cart spawned by Underhanded Track-tics Icon Underhanded Track-tics.
  • When you get fixated by the Menial Laborer you can use Evasion Icon Evasion to dodge their attacks.
  • You can use Evasion Icon Evasion to dodge the Reckless Charge Icon Reckless Charge if he targets you. Try to aim it into a wall so it doesn't charge too far away from the group.
5.7.

Blazikon

  • Cast Feint Icon Feint before Dousing Breath Icon Dousing Breath, especially if you are at low health.
  • Cast Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows if you get a couple of stacks of Enkindling Inferno Icon Enkindling Inferno from not lighting enough candles.
  • Enkindling Inferno Icon Enkindling Inferno gets reduced by Feint Icon Feint without needing to select Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness.
5.8.

The Candle King

  • Try to have your group stacked so you don't need to run too far away to clear the Eerie Molds Icon Eerie Molds.
  • Do not use one of your non Flagellation Icon Flagellation dances right before Darkflame Pickaxe Icon Darkflame Pickaxe as you might be targeted and need to run out.
5.9.

The Darkness

  • Whenever you get targeted by Shadowblast Icon Shadowblast run out of the candlelight and use Sprint Icon Sprint to run and pickup a candle far away.
  • If you get targeted by Shadowblast Icon Shadowblast in the middle of your Flagellation Icon Flagellation burst you can use Vanish Icon Vanish to cancel the cast.
5.10.

Trash

  • The Throw Rock Icon Throw Rocks from Lowly Moleherd can be dodged by Evasion Icon Evasion, but they also wont even throw the rocks if you are in melee range of them.
  • If you get targeted by Torchsnarls One-Hand Headlock Icon One-Hand Headlock you can run out a bit and Shadowstep Icon Shadowstep somebody else once he starts charging to dodge the entire combo.
  • Torchsnarl also does a lot of damage with his Massive Stomp Icon Massive Stomp cast, so its worth casting Feint Icon Feint before it.
5.11.

Captain Dailcry

  • No specific tips.
5.12.

Baron Braunpyke

  • Sacrificial Flame Icon Sacrificial Flame gets reduced by Feint Icon Feint without needing to select Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness.
  • Sacrificial Flame Icon Sacrificial Flame does not get removed by Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows but you will take no damage while cloak lasts.
5.13.

Prioress Murrpray

  • You can use Evasion Icon Evasion to dodge the attacks from Arathi Neophytes during the last phase.
5.14.

Trash

  • You can use Evasion Icon Evasion to dodge the jumps from Sergeant Shaynemail and the War Lynxs.
  • The Lightspawn mobs do a channel called Purification Icon Purification, when this is cast on you you can use either Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows or Vanish Icon Vanish to cancel it.
  • Reflective Shield Icon Reflective Shield from High Priest Aemya can be dangerous if you have your Flagellation Icon Flagellation up so be prepared to use a Algari Healing Potion Icon Algari Healing Potion or Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows if the damage to yourself gets dangerous.
5.15.

Kyrioss

  • No specific tips.
5.16.

Stormguard Gorren

  • No specific tips. This fight is just very difficult to have good uptime on as melee.
5.17.

Voidstone Monstrosity

  • This boss takes more damage after his shield breaks through Storm's Vengeance Icon Storm's Vengeance, so its usually wise to save your Flagellation Icon Flagellation burst for that.
5.18.

Trash

  • You can use Vanish Icon Vanish on the Stormrook Energized Barrage Icon Energized Barrage cast.
5.19.

Big M.O.M.M.A.

  • On this boss most groups should have enough add damage so that you can simply cleave off the boss. If the boss gets Kill-o-Block Barrier Icon Kill-o-Block Barrier be sure to swap to the adds to phase the boss.
  • Once the adds die the boss will cast Jumpstart Icon Jumpstart and take double damage. This is where you want to use your Flagellation Icon Flagellation burst.
5.20.

Keeza Quickfuse

  • Be sure to position yourself so that if you get targeted with Barreling Charge Icon Barreling Charge you are in line with a bomb. You can dodge this once he locks onto your location.
5.21.

Swampface

  • Cast Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows or Feint Icon Feint whenever the boss casts Awaken the Swamp Icon Awaken the Swamp.
  • The passive damage on the fight from Razorchoke Vines Icon Razorchoke Vines does not get reduced by Feint Icon Feint without Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness talented.
5.22.

Geezle Gigazap

  • Cast Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows when you get Gigazap Icon Gigazap.
  • Gigazap Icon Gigazap gets reduced by Feint Icon Feint without needing to select Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness.
5.23.

Trash

  • You can use Evasion Icon Evasion to dodge the Nailgun Icon Nailgun from the Venture Co. Architects.
  • Cast Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows whenever Darkfuse Bloodwarper casts his Warp Blood Icon Warp Blood to immune the debuff.
  • The Backwash Icon Backwash debuffs from Bubbles does not get reduced by Feint Icon Feint without Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness talented. They can however be made immune with Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows.
5.24.

An Affront of Challengers

  • Cast Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows whenever you get the circles from Searing Death Icon Searing Death.
5.25.

Gorechop

  • You can use Evasion Icon Evasion to dodge the Leaping Thrash Icon Leaping Thrash from the adds.
  • Leaping Thrash Icon Leaping Thrash gets reduced by Feint Icon Feint without needing to select Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness.
5.26.

Xav the Unfallen

  • Using your Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dance down in the PVP arena is usually a waste of time and its better to just let the other person kill you as fast as possible.
  • Save your Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dances to kill the Oppressive Banner Icon Oppressive Banners as fast as possible.
5.27.

Kul'tharok

  • Save your Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dances for when the adds spawn from Draw Soul Icon Draw Soul.
5.28.

Mordretha, the Endless Empress

  • Save your Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dances for when the adds spawn from Manifest Death Icon Manifest Death.
  • Cast Feint Icon Feint before Manifest Death Icon Manifest Death.
5.29.

Trash

  • All the mini-bosses before Xav the Unfallen that have a cast called Whirlwind Icon Whirlwind can be dodged with Evasion Icon Evasion. Beware that it does not work on the boss himself.
  • Shrouded in Darkness Icon Shrouded in Darkness has pretty decent value in-between packs in this dungeon to help reduce downtime.
  • Having Shiv Icon Shiv specced for the Raging Bloodhorns Raging Tantrum Icon Raging Tantrum is good.
5.30.

The Platinum Pummeler and Gnomercy 4.U.

  • No specific tips.
5.31.

K.U.-J.0.

  • No specific tips.
5.32.

Head Machinist Sparkflux

  • No specific tips.
5.33.

King Mechagon

  • You can Vanish Icon Vanish while targeted by Mega-Zap Icon Mega-Zap and it will be cancelled.
  • Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows will immune the Mega-Zap Icon Mega-Zap.
  • Mega-Zap Icon Mega-Zap gets reduced by Feint Icon Feint without needing to select Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness.
5.34.

Trash

  • The Bomb Tonk are immune to your AoE Blind Icon Blind.
  • Arcing Zap Icon Arcing Zap does not get reduced by Feint Icon Feint without Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness talented.
  • During the gauntlet before the 3rd boss you can use Distract Icon Distract to make the robots stand still for 10 seconds.
5.35.

Coin-Operated Crowd Pummeler

  • Hold your Flagellation Icon Flagellation burst for when the footballs have been kicked into him as he takes increased damage.
  • Cast Feint Icon Feint before Static Pulse Icon Static Pulse.
5.36.

Azerokk

  • You should save your small Shadow Dance Icon Shadow Dances for the empowered add.
5.37.

Rixxa Fluxflame

  • No specific tips.
5.38.

Mogul Razdunk

  • No specific tips.
5.39.

Trash

  • You can use Vanish Icon Vanish on the Venture Co. Mastermind Mind Lash Icon Mind Lash cast.
  • You can use Shiv Icon Shiv on Taskmaster Askari to remove his Overtime! Icon Overtime! buff.
  • It can be really helpful to use a Kidney Shot Icon Kidney Shot on the Crawler Mines so they don't run into people.
  • Charged Shot Icon Charged Shot does not get reduced by Feint Icon Feint without Elusiveness Icon Elusiveness talented.
6.

Affix Tips, Tricks and Management for Subtlety Rogue in The War Within Season 2

This section has Rogue-specific tips for dealing with the various affixes of Mythic+. If you want general guides for each of our Dungeons or Mythic+ in general, check out our dedicated page below.

Season 1 of The War Within only has four significant Affixes that offer any kind of counterplay, called Xal'ataths Bargains, and they rotate every week, with only one of them being active at a time. Many of the other affixes like Fortified or Tyrannical simply add a passive effect to the keystone, with four exceptions that are seasonally themed after Xal'atah:

  • Xal'atath's Bargain: Ascendant Icon Xal'atath's Bargain: Ascendant: Three waves of orbs will spawn that need to be interrupted or disrupted. Blind Icon Blind works great here as an AoE interrupt thanks to Airborne Irritant Icon Airborne Irritant. However if you target the orbs themselves Airborne Irritant Icon Airborne Irritant will unfortunately not make Blind Icon Blind cleave so you have to target a regular mob with it.
  • Xal'atath's Bargain: Voidbound Icon Xal'atath's Bargain: Voidbound: A Void Emissary add will spawn that needs to be focus-targeted and interrupted.
  • Xal'atath's Bargain: Pulsar Icon Xal'atath's Bargain: Pulsar: Orbs will spawn around the members of your group and you need to soak the orbs.
  • Xal'atath's Bargain: Devour Icon Xal'atath's Bargain: Devour: All party members will be affected by a healing absorb. You can remove this with Cloak of Shadows Icon Cloak of Shadows or racials like Stoneform Icon Stoneform. You can use Crimson Vial Icon Crimson Vial if these are unavailable to you, to help get rid of the debuff faster. Healthpots or Healthstones also work well if your healer is out of resources.

Each of the affixes provides a different set of beneficial effects once it is dealt with, and while they are very powerful, they are not something you play around in a specific way. The most important part is to not let any of them buff the enemy trash or bosses.

7.

Changelog

  • 24 Feb. 2025: Updated for Patch 11.1
  • 15 Dec. 2024: Updated for Patch 11.0.7.
  • 09 Sep. 2024: Updated for The War Within Season 1.
  • 07 May 2024: Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 22 Apr. 2024: Reviewed for Season 4
  • 20 Mar. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
  • 15 Jan. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 06 Nov. 2023: Reviewed for patch 10.2.
  • 04 Sep. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
  • 10 Jul. 2023: Page updated for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 11 May 2023: Changed recommended talent to Flagellation over Dark Brew.
  • 01 May 2023: Page reviewed and updated for Patch 10.1.
  • 20 Mar. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 24 Jan. 2023: Updated talents and reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2022: Updated talent recommendations.
  • 28 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight launch.
  • 25 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
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