Rogue
The rogue strikes from stealth, builds combo points and spends them on finishing moves. Poisons, stuns and vanishes make it the master of picking its fights.
- Roles
- Melee damage
- Armor
- Leather
- Resource
- Energy and combo points
What changes for the rogue in WoW Forever?
The rogue in WoW Forever can Sap without breaking Stealth, equip one-handed axes and apply an Expose Armor that equals five Sunder Armor. Assassination gets Mutilate at 21 points and Venom at 31, Subtlety gets Thousand Cuts at 31, and Combat merges its weapon specializations into Hack and Slash, where axes act like swords and maces ignore armor.
- Sap no longer breaks Stealth, which Blizzard frames as a crowd control role for groups; on the beta, using it flags you for PvP (September 24 notes).
- One-handed axes can now be equipped by rogues.
- Expose Armor now equals 5 Sunder Armor and no longer blocks Sunder Armor.
- Poisons have more charges and stack with weapon stones.
- Mutilate (Assassination, 21 points): 60 Energy, needs two daggers, gives 2 combo points.
- Venom (Assassination, 31 points): a 25 Energy finisher that adds 30% poison damage and 10% poison application chance.
- Hack and Slash (Combat) merges the weapon specializations: axes act like swords with extra attacks, maces ignore armor instead of stunning.
- Aggression (Combat) now also affects Backstab, so a Combat build with daggers is supported.
- Subtlety: Cutthroat lets you Ambush without Stealth, and Thousand Cuts is the new 31-point talent.
Talent calculatorEvery Rogue ability by level, compared with ClassicAll the talent changesUpdated on October 16, 2026
Strengths
- Stealth: choose when to fight
- Strong burst of damage
- Lockpicking and poisons
Playable races on WoW Forever
On WoW Forever, the rogue class is open to 9 races: Human, Dwarf, Night Elf, Gnome and High Order Skyborne for the Alliance, and Orc, Undead, Troll and Windshaper Skyborne for the Horde. New compared to Classic: High Order Skyborne and Windshaper Skyborne.
From the game tables of the Forever beta (build 1.60.1).
Guides
Guides for every class
- WoW Forever talents: trees, dual spec and what changed for every class
- WoW Forever leveling guide: the 1-60 route, zone by zone, for Alliance, Horde and Skyborne
- WoW Forever dungeons: the nine new dungeons, their levels, bosses and entrances
Classic fundamentals. Forever may change some details: this page will be updated at launch.
Questions about the Rogue in WoW Forever
Can rogues use axes in WoW Forever?
Yes. Rogues can equip one-handed axes, and the Combat talent Hack and Slash makes axes act like swords.
Does Sap break Stealth in WoW Forever?
No. Sap no longer breaks Stealth. On the beta, using it flags you for PvP.
Can a Combat rogue use daggers in WoW Forever?
Yes. The Combat talent Aggression now also affects Backstab, so Blizzard supports a Combat build with daggers.