Levelling first rogue

[paradopx]

I leveled a toon to 18 on Vengeance just because I wanted to see what route id take. I went daggers like I did on my rogue back in the day which is the play style I prefer. It is definitely more specific in finding weapons, where as combat seems to be able to use 3/4 instead of 1/4, or however many there are. I am torn between trying combat for leveling / pvp or sticking to my daggers, i rarely ever switched from daggers all vanilla on my rogue. I almost want to see the blams of the combat and non-dagger non-positional derp. I even remember combat being much better at fighting warriors, which will be tied for 1st if not the most played class; most likely pvp included.

[Drain]

So you're using Sinister Strike with a crap dagger instead of with a bigger weapon where it'd do more damage? Ok.

Combat is good at fighting Warriors if you take the Riposte. They aren't as scary when the big 2h is taken away. It works on mobs as well, although even if they have no weapon, you're still dealing good damage for almost no energy, and it will proc almost constantly with +5% parry.

[LeChat]

Here is the template i use for leveling.

Not so much damage-oriented but questing and PVE-friendly since it allows you to increase your survivability.

Meant to play with swords.

Details:

Level 11- 2/2 Remorseless Attacks-allows you to chain mob easily
Level 13-2/2 Improved SS
Level 16-3/5 Lightning Reflexes-increased survivability
Level 21 5/5 Improved Deflection-increased survivability+unlocks Riposte
Level 22 1/1 Riposte-increadibly useful for soloing named/some quests, increased survivability and damages
Level 24 2/2 Endurance-absolute key talent here, major survivability increase due to the ability to now almost spam evasion allowing easy questing and named/rare soloing, the reduced CD of sprint is also a blessing...allows you to quest faster.

From this just continue in the combat tree...

The two major talents i don't see people bothering to unlock often are Riposte and Endurance: these talents are just increadibly useful for leveling, i just can't imagine leveling without.

http://www.wowprovider.com/Old.aspx?tal ... d50150231r

[paradopx]

So you're using Sinister Strike with a crap dagger instead of with a bigger weapon where it'd do more damage? Ok.

Combat is good at fighting Warriors if you take the Riposte. They aren't as scary when the big 2h is taken away. It works on mobs as well, although even if they have no weapon, you're still dealing good damage for almost no energy, and it will proc almost constantly with +5% parry.

With my dagger spec I just ambush, gouge, and backstabed, the mobs barely moved. Once you get remorseless attacks combined with improved ambush you can basically 2 shot things your level taking 1 initial hit. The problem becomes that only 1/4 the weapons are usable to you as a main hand. Most of the quest items and even some dungeon ones are main hand only, I typically used a slower offhand for decent melee hits in between gouges typically a sword / mace(so those dungeon dropped blues or green level equivalent quest ones didn't go wasted). So I am just thinking of rolling combat for early leveling because there are just more options with swords maces and the illusive fist weapons (although I am not sure of the weapon speed of fists). But it's hard to give up 2 shoting things and moving quicker while invisible the respec is expensive early on =(. I just know once I spend stuff into combat I'm going to see the sweetest daggers in my inventory lol

[Trolle]

Do what you like best, I for one am of the dagger-school, always been and always will be. My name even means skilled with daggers hehe

[Undertanker]

For leveling, main hand dagger is the way to go. Since you will not see crit gear til mara ring.

Lvl 20: http://www.wowprovider.com/Old.aspx?tal ... 02n302c4zf

Lvl 30: http://www.wowprovider.com/Old.aspx?tal ... 02305m015p

Lvl 40: http://www.wowprovider.com/Old.aspx?tal ... 2m3502c13j

Lvl 50: http://www.wowprovider.com/Old.aspx?tal ... m35020013j

Lvl 60 http://www.wowprovider.com/Old.aspx?tal ... 502001303h

This finishes with best farming spec and least gear dependent by a large amount.(reck face in low lvl world pvp too) Imp sap is added to allow this to be great for 5 mans while you gear. I personally take imp sap much earlier as it helps a lot in questing, but my guide has more damage earlier because for people, damage is more appealing. Once you are done gearing 5 mans, swap to your cookie cutter combat raid build.

On Vanilla retail I leveled combat because I thought I wouldn't be able to backstab at all like Bishop said. Man was I wrong. Just leveled my rogue on another server to get my leveling/questing path down, learned the value of energy watch add-on.

Open ambush, slice n dice right after. Then use ghostly strike, in this order, they will expire at the same time, gouge, - bandage if needed, back stab. Wait till right before your energy tick when you have 35+ energy and Kidney shot, backstab. It should be dead. If not slice n dice again, wait til 55 energy, gouge, right before it wares off, back stab evisicrate.

There are a few mobs that have very low armor in Vanilla and they share the same camps. (I'm not saying were to avoid my farm areas from flooding) With this spec you can 2 shot them with ambush, kidney then back stab. Keep relentless going so you have over a 97% plus crit chance with ambush, regardless of gear.

Tip, casters while casting a spell, if you circle around them while they cast you can get a backstab off. Course make sure you will have energy for kick or.\ kidney shot after.

To make this spec best you need CC watch and energy watch add-on. Timing is everything with your energy ticks. You will learn how much energy is needed to save before you can gouge and watch your energy ticks.

Same with your opener, I ambush at 100 energy right before the next tick, so ambush.is.60 but as soon as i hit it, I got 20 back, so I open with 60.energy left. Wait one more energy tick and gouge, (before you have ghostly) backstab right before cc ends, kidney shot with 45 or more energy right before next tick. This will allow enough time to get back stab before kidney runs out. This takes patients because you are not attacking all the time and ALWAYS energy watching, but is fun, effective and your cool downs are available every 3rd fight.

DPS tip, carry some sharpening stones from a blacksmith. The + Damage on a damager is huge as your abilities are doing 250% - 325% weapon damage.

[Trolle]

Lvl 20: http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1..._4_802n302c4zf

Lvl 30: http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1...02n302305m015p

Lvl 40: http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1...23052m3502c13j

Lvl 50: http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1...3052m35020013j

Lvl 60 http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1...d2i4502001303h

Links are broken

[Undertanker]

Lvl 20: http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1..._4_802n302c4zf

Lvl 30: http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1...02n302305m015p

Lvl 40: http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1...23052m3502c13j

Lvl 50: http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1...3052m35020013j

Lvl 60 http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1...d2i4502001303h

Links are broken

Thank you. Fixed.

[paradopx]

For leveling, main hand dagger is the way to go. Since you will not see crit gear til mara ring.

Lvl 20: http://www.wowprovider.com/Old.aspx?tal ... 02n302c4zf

Lvl 30: http://www.wowprovider.com/Old.aspx?tal ... 02305m015p

Lvl 40: http://www.wowprovider.com/Old.aspx?tal ... 2m3502c13j

Lvl 50: http://www.wowprovider.com/Old.aspx?tal ... m35020013j

Lvl 60 http://www.wowprovider.com/Old.aspx?tal ... 502001303h

This finishes with best farming spec and least gear dependent by a large amount.(reck face in low lvl world pvp too) Imp sap is added to allow this to be great for 5 mans while you gear. I personally take imp sap much earlier as it helps a lot in questing, but my guide has more damage earlier because for people, damage is more appealing. Once you are done gearing 5 mans, swap to your cookie cutter combat raid build.

On Vanilla retail I leveled combat because I thought I wouldn't be able to backstab at all like Bishop said. Man was I wrong. Just leveled my rogue on another server to get my leveling/questing path down, learned the value of energy watch add-on.

Open ambush, slice n dice right after. Then use ghostly strike, in this order, they will expire at the same time, gouge, - bandage if needed, back stab. Wait till right before your energy tick when you have 35+ energy and Kidney shot, backstab. It should be dead. If not slice n dice again, wait til 55 energy, gouge, right before it wares off, back stab evisicrate.

There are a few mobs that have very low armor in Vanilla and they share the same camps. (I'm not saying were to avoid my farm areas from flooding) With this spec you can 2 shot them with ambush, kidney then back stab. Keep relentless going so you have over a 97% plus crit chance with ambush, regardless of gear.

Tip, casters while casting a spell, if you circle around them while they cast you can get a backstab off. Course make sure you will have energy for kick or.\ kidney shot after.

To make this spec best you need CC watch and energy watch add-on. Timing is everything with your energy ticks. You will learn how much energy is needed to save before you can gouge and watch your energy ticks.

Same with your opener, I ambush at 100 energy right before the next tick, so ambush.is.60 but as soon as i hit it, I got 20 back, so I open with 60.energy left. Wait one more energy tick and gouge, (before you have ghostly) backstab right before cc ends, kidney shot with 45 or more energy right before next tick. This will allow enough time to get back stab before kidney runs out. This takes patients because you are not attacking all the time and ALWAYS energy watching, but is fun, effective and your cool downs are available every 3rd fight.

DPS tip, carry some sharpening stones from a blacksmith. The + Damage on a damager is huge as your abilities are doing 250% - 325% weapon damage.

I usually get the improved ambush first over backstab but the backstab is probably much better for dungeons / multiple mobs while questing. Going to definitely look into that. Great write up and options, thanks! This is also why I like daggers, sharpening stones + agi potions + ambush / backstab crit is redonk. Hard to spam sinisters when the energy watch spec is so much more involving.

[Trolle]

Lvl 20: http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1..._4_802n302c4zf

Lvl 30: http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1...02n302305m015p

Lvl 40: http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1...23052m3502c13j

Lvl 50: http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1...3052m35020013j

Lvl 60 http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1...d2i4502001303h

Links are broken

Thank you. Fixed.

What about going this route?
http://www.wowprovider.com/Old.aspx?tal ... 55i5c5013j
or
http://www.wowprovider.com/?talent=1121 ... j5005013i0

My reasoning: Ruthlessness and Relentless Strikes would only provide something if you don't finish your target after your combo.

My combo would be: Ambush, Ghostly Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Eviscerate.

Alternative would be: Ambush, Ghostly Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Cheap Shot, Backstab

After that the mob should in most cases be dead?