Quick answer: The Rogue has 54 talents: Assassination (17), Combat (19) and Subtlety (18). Points start at level 10, each row needs 5 more points in its tree, and respecs happen at a class trainer.
How Rogue talents work in WoW Forever
The talent system in World of Warcraft: Forever opens at level 10. You earn one point per level, so a level 60 Rogue has 51 points to spend. Each of the three trees has seven rows, and a row stays locked until you have put enough points into that same tree.
| Row | Points needed in that tree |
|---|---|
| Row 1 | Open from the first point |
| Row 2 | 5 |
| Row 3 | 10 |
| Row 4 | 15 |
| Row 5 | 20 |
| Row 6 | 25 |
| Row 7 | 30 |
Gold medal talents cost one point each and become available after spending 11, 16, 21, and 31 points in a tree. The medals at 11, 21, and 31 points use the familiar layout; WoW Forever adds a new medal at 16 points.
- To change your talents, including Legacy talents, visit a class trainer in one of the major cities.
- A single trainer visit resets both your regular talents and your Legacy talents.
- Dual Specialization unlocks at level 40, which lets you keep two Rogue talent setups.
Assassination talents
Assassination is the Rogue’s dagger-focused tree, with 17 talents built around finishers that also enhance the Rogue. At 10 points, the first gold medal is Blood Splatter, found in row 3; it extends Rupture by 6 sec and Garrote by 9 sec, keeping your bleeds active longer. Cold Blood is the row 4 talent at 15 points. Activating it gives your next attack (Mutilate, Ambush, Eviscerate, Backstab, or Sinister Strike) a 100% increase to its chance to critically strike.
At 20 points, Venom earns the row 5 medal. For 6 sec after using Shank, it boosts Poison damage by 30% and the chance to apply Poisons by 20%. Spending your 31st point in row 7 unlocks Mutilate. It immediately strikes with both weapons, dealing 90% weapon damage plus an extra 39.6 per weapon. Against Poisoned targets, its damage increases by 20%, and it awards 2 Combo Points.
| Talent | Ranks | Unlocks at | Effect at max rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improved Gouge | 3 | Row 1 (0 points) | Increases the duration of your Gouge ability by 1.5 sec. |
| Remorseless Attacks | 2 | Row 1 (0 points) | After killing a non-trivial enemy, gives you a 40% increased critical strike chance on your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Mutilate, or Ghostly Strike. Lasts 20 sec. |
| Malice | 5 | Row 1 (0 points) | Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks and Poisons by 5%. |
| Ruthlessness | 3 | Row 2 (5 points) | Gives your finishing moves a 60% chance to add a Combo Point to your target. |
| Improved Expose Armor | 2 | Row 2 (5 points) | Reduces the Energy cost of your Expose Armor ability by 10, and refunds 2 Combo Points when cast with 5 Combo Points. |
| Improved Slice and Dice | 3 | Row 2 (5 points) | Increases the duration of your Slice and Dice ability by 45%. |
| Vigor | 2 | Row 3 (10 points) | Increases your maximum Energy by 10. |
| Blood Splatter | 1 | Row 3 (10 points) | Increases the duration of your Rupture ability by 6 sec and your Garrote ability by 9 sec. |
| Lethality Requires Malice | 2 | Row 3 (10 points) | Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Mutilate, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 20%. |
| Vile Poisons | 5 | Row 4 (15 points) | Increases the damage dealt by your poisons by 20% and gives your poisons an additional 40% chance to resist dispel effects. |
| Cold Blood | 1 | Row 4 (15 points) | When activated, increases the critical strike chance of your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Eviscerate, or Mutilate by 100%. |
| Improved Poisons | 5 | Row 4 (15 points) | Increases the chance to apply Poisons to your target by 10%, and gives Poison applications a 50% chance to not consume a charge. |
| Relentless Strikes | 5 | Row 5 (20 points) | Your finishing moves have a 20% chance per Combo Point to restore 25 Energy. |
| Venom | 1 | Row 5 (20 points) | Causes your Shank ability to increase your Poison damage by 30% and your chance to apply Poisons by 20% for 6 sec. |
| Improved Kidney Shot | 2 | Row 5 (20 points) | Enemies Stunned by your Kidney Shot ability take 10% increased damage from your poisons and attacks. |
| Seal Fate | 3 | Row 6 (25 points) | Your critical strikes from abilities that add Combo Points have a 100% chance to add an additional Combo Point. |
| Mutilate Requires Venom | 1 | Row 7 (30 points) | Instantly attacks with both weapons for 90% weapon damage plus an additional 39.6 with each weapon. Damage increased by 20% against Poisoned targets. Awards 2 Combo Points. |
Combat talents
Combat works with every weapon type and emphasizes hard-hitting direct damage with some cleave. Its 19 talents make it the largest tree. Riposte is the row 3 medal at 10 points. After you parry an attack, you can use it to deal 150% weapon damage and disarm the target. Flawless Execution fills row 4 at 15 points, reducing Eviscerate’s Energy cost by 15.
At 20 points, Combat’s row 5 medal unlocks Blade Flurry, the tree’s cleave talent. It grants 20% more melee attack speed for 15 sec, and each melee attack also hits one nearby opponent. Spend your 31st point on row 7’s Adrenaline Rush. For 15 sec, your Energy regenerates at double its normal rate, a 100% increase.
| Talent | Ranks | Unlocks at | Effect at max rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coup de Grace | 3 | Row 1 (0 points) | Increases the damage done by your Eviscerate ability by 20%, and the damage and storage rate of your Death Mark ability by 20%. |
| Efficient Strikes | 2 | Row 1 (0 points) | Reduces the Energy cost of your Sinister Strike and Hemorrhage abilities by 5. |
| Lightning Reflexes | 5 | Row 1 (0 points) | Increases your Dodge chance by 5%. |
| Puncturing Wounds | 3 | Row 2 (5 points) | Increases the critical strike chance of your Backstab by 30% and your Mutilate by 15%, and gives Backstab a 45% chance to add an additional Combo Point. |
| Deflection | 3 | Row 2 (5 points) | Increases your Parry chance by 6%. |
| Precision | 3 | Row 2 (5 points) | Improves your chance to hit by 3%. |
| Improved Sprint | 2 | Row 2 (5 points) | Gives a 100% chance to remove all movement impairing effects when you activate your Sprint ability. |
| Endurance | 2 | Row 3 (10 points) | Reduces the cooldown of your Sprint and Evasion abilities by 60%. |
| Riposte Requires Deflection | 1 | Row 3 (10 points) | A strike that becomes active after parrying an opponent's attack. This attack deals 150% weapon damage and disarms the target. |
| Composure | 2 | Row 3 (10 points) | Increases the Energy cost reduction of your Poised ability by 10. |
| Improved Kick | 2 | Row 4 (15 points) | Gives your Kick ability a 100% chance to Silence the target for 2 sec. |
| Flawless Execution | 1 | Row 4 (15 points) | Reduces the Energy cost of your Eviscerate ability by 15. |
| Weapon Expertise Requires Precision | 2 | Row 4 (15 points) | Reduces the chance for your attacks to be Dodged or Parried by 2%. |
| Aggression | 3 | Row 4 (15 points) | Increases the damage of your Sinister Strike and Eviscerate abilities by 15%. |
| Dual Wield Specialization | 2 | Row 5 (20 points) | Increases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 50%. |
| Blade Flurry | 1 | Row 5 (20 points) | Increases your melee attack speed by 20% and your melee attacks strike an additional nearby opponent. Lasts 15 sec. |
| Hack and Slash | 5 | Row 5 (20 points) | Gives your melee weapon attacks a benefit depending on the weapon. |CFFFFFFFFAxe/Sword:|R Your successful melee attacks have a 5% chance to trigger an extra attack on the target. |CFFFFFFFFDagger/Fist:|R Increases your critical strike chance by 5%. |CFFFFFFFFMace:|R Your attacks ignore 15% of your target's armor. |
| Flash of Steel | 5 | Row 6 (25 points) | Increases the Energy generated by your Shank ability by 15 and reduces its cooldown by 2 sec. |
| Adrenaline Rush Requires Blade Flurry | 1 | Row 7 (30 points) | Increases your Energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 sec. |
Subtlety talents
Subtlety also supports every weapon type. It leans on combat tricks and Bleeds, and it has 18 talents. Premeditation is the row 3 medal at 10 points. It puts 2 Combo Points on your target, and you lose them unless you add to them or spend them within 20 sec. Ghostly Strike takes row 4 at 15 points. It deals 125% weapon damage, or 180% with a Dagger in your Main Hand, and raises your dodge chance by 15% for 7 sec. For those same 7 sec, your next Ambush or Garrote can be used outside Stealth. It awards 1 combo point.
Row 5 offers two one-point talents at 20 points. Preparation immediately resets the cooldowns of your other Rogue abilities. Hemorrhage strikes instantly for 100% weapon damage, or 145% with a Dagger. For 15 sec, the target takes 15% more Rupture and Garrote damage from you, and the strike awards 1 Combo Point. The row 7 talent for your 31st point is Death Mark. This finishing move marks the target and banks a portion of the damage from your attacks, with the amount determined by Combo Points. Garrote and Rupture damage count toward the bank at twice the rate. Once 6 sec have passed, all banked damage hits at once, subject to a cap that increases with Attack Power and Critical Strike chance.
| Talent | Ranks | Unlocks at | Effect at max rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | 3 | Row 1 (0 points) | Gives you a 45% chance to add a Combo Point to your target after Dodging their attack or fully resisting one of their spells. |
| Master of Deception | 3 | Row 1 (0 points) | Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you while in Stealth mode as if you were 3 levels higher. |
| Opportunity | 5 | Row 1 (0 points) | Increases the damage dealt by your Backstab, Garrote, Ambush, and Mutilate abilities by 20%. |
| Dirty Deeds | 2 | Row 2 (5 points) | Reduces the Energy cost of your Cheap Shot and Garrote abilities by 20, and your Garrote ability no longer requires you to be behind your target. |
| Camouflage | 3 | Row 2 (5 points) | Reduces your speed penalty from your Stealth ability by 15% and reduces its cooldown by 6 sec. |
| Improved Ambush | 3 | Row 2 (5 points) | Increases the critical strike chance of your Ambush ability by 45%. |
| Dirty Tricks | 2 | Row 2 (5 points) | Reduces the Energy cost of your Sap and Blind abilities by 50%. |
| Initiative | 3 | Row 3 (10 points) | Gives you a 100% chance to add an additional combo point to your target when using your Ambush, Garrote, or Cheap Shot ability. |
| Premeditation | 1 | Row 3 (10 points) | Adds 2 Combo Points to your target. You must add to or use those combo points within 20 sec or the combo points are lost. |
| Serrated Blades | 3 | Row 3 (10 points) | Causes your attacks to ignore 9% of your target's Armor and increases the damage dealt by your Rupture ability by 30%. |
| Elusiveness | 2 | Row 4 (15 points) | Reduces the cooldown of your Vanish and Blind abilities by 90 sec. |
| Ghostly Strike | 1 | Row 4 (15 points) | A strike that deals 125% (180% if a Dagger is equipped in your Main Hand) weapon damage, increases your chance to dodge by 15% for 7 sec, and causes your next Ambush or Garrote cast within 7 sec to not require Stealth. Awards 1 combo points. |
| Quick Getaway Requires Dirty Tricks | 2 | Row 4 (15 points) | Increases the maximum number of targets you may have Sapped by 1, and increases your movement speed by 30% for 3 sec after Sapping a target. |
| Heightened Senses | 2 | Row 5 (20 points) | Increases your Stealth detection as if you were 3 levels higher and reduces your chance to be hit by spells and ranged attacks by 4%. |
| Preparation | 1 | Row 5 (20 points) | When activated, this ability immediately finishes the cooldown on your other Rogue abilities. |
| Hemorrhage Requires Serrated Blades | 1 | Row 5 (20 points) | An instant strike that deals 100% weapon damage (145% if a Dagger is equipped) and causes the target to take 15% increased Rupture and Garrote damage from the Rogue. Lasts 15 sec. Awards 1 Combo Points. |
| Boot Knife | 5 | Row 6 (25 points) | Grants your Shank ability a 100% chance to add 2 Combo Points to the target. |
| Death Mark Requires Preparation | 1 | Row 7 (30 points) | Finishing move that marks the target, storing a portion of the damage dealt by your attacks per Combo Point. Garrote and Rupture damage is stored at twice the rate. After 6 sec, the stored damage is dealt, up to a maximum increased by Attack Power and Critical Strike chance. |
The Rogue’s role in WoW Forever
No matter which tree you choose, the Rogue remains the Stealth class. Pickpocket, Distract, Sap and Garrote are all usable from Stealth. Poisons are unique to Rogues, and now work alongside temporary weapon enchantments. Each tree favors different weapons and tactics, but all three offer a party or raid Stealth and control abilities, plus the game’s highest potential for single-target melee damage.
Rogue talents removed in WoW Forever
Some older Rogue talents are no longer in the trees. Dagger Specialization, Mace Specialization, Sword Specialization and Fist Weapon Specialization have been folded into a single new talent, Hack and Slash. Sleight of Hand and Deadliness have been removed outright.
