Rogue talents

Rogue talent changes from Classic to Forever

Classic Era gave the Rogue 51 talents. Forever keeps 43 of them (8 word for word, 26 with a rewritten tooltip, 6 with the same sentence and different numbers and 3 differing only in capitalisation or punctuation) and renames 3, changes the rank count of 10, adds 11 new talents and leaves 8 out of the trees. Combat moved most: 4 new, 11 changed, 4 gone and 4 left exactly as in Classic. Each line below was read from the two clients and compared rank for rank; nothing is taken from patch notes.

• Assassination 3 new · 12 changed · 2 same · 1 gone
• Combat 4 new · 11 changed · 4 same · 4 gone
• Subtlety 4 new · 12 changed · 2 same · 3 gone

New Rogue talents in Forever (11)

• 

  Blood Splatter Assassination 10 points 1 rank

  Increases the duration of your Rupture ability by 6 sec and your Garrote ability by 9 sec.

• 

  Venom Assassination 20 points 1 rank

  Causes your Shank ability to increase your Poison damage by 30% and your chance to apply Poisons by 20% for 6 sec.

• 

  Mutilate Assassination 30 points 1 rank

  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.

• 

  Puncturing Wounds Combat 5 points 3 ranks

  Increases the critical strike chance of your Backstab by 10% and your Mutilate by 5%, and gives Backstab a 15% chance to add an additional Combo Point.

• 

  Composure Combat 10 points 2 ranks

  Increases the Energy cost reduction of your Poised ability by 5.

• 

  Flawless Execution Combat 15 points 1 rank

  Reduces the Energy cost of your Eviscerate ability by 15.

• 

  Flash of Steel Combat 25 points 5 ranks

  Increases the Energy generated by your Shank ability by 3 and reduces its cooldown by 0.4 sec.

• 

  Dirty Tricks Subtlety 5 points 2 ranks

  Reduces the Energy cost of your Sap and Blind abilities by 25%.

• 

  Quick Getaway Subtlety 15 points 2 ranks

  Increases the maximum number of targets you may have Sapped by 1, and increases your movement speed by 15% for 3 sec after Sapping a target.

• 

  Boot Knife Subtlety 25 points 5 ranks

  Grants your Shank ability a 20% chance to add 2 Combo Points to the target.

• 

  Death Mark Subtlety 30 points 1 rank

  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: 1 point : 12% stored, (165 + 4% of Attack Power) × (1 + critical strike chance) damage cap 2 points: 24% stored, (267 + 8% of Attack Power) × (1 + critical strike chance) damage cap 3 points: 36% stored, (369 + 12% of Attack Power) × (1 + critical strike chance) damage cap 4 points: 48% stored, (471 + 16% of Attack Power) × (1 + critical strike chance) damage cap 5 points: 60% stored, (573 + 20% of Attack Power) × (1 + critical strike chance) damage cap

Changed Rogue talents (35)

Carried over from Classic with a different tooltip, name or rank count. Open a line to read the Classic Era text and the Forever text it was measured against.

• Improved Gouge Assassination tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases the effect duration of your Gouge ability by 0.5 sec.

  ForeverIncreases the duration of your Gouge ability by 0.5 sec.

  Classic rank 3Increases the effect duration of your Gouge ability by 1.5 sec.

  Forever rank 3Increases the duration of your Gouge ability by 1.5 sec.

• Remorseless Attacks Assassination tooltip rewritten

  ClassicAfter killing an opponent that yields experience or honor, gives you a 20% increased critical strike chance on your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, or Ghostly Strike. Lasts 20 sec.

  ForeverAfter killing a non-trivial enemy, gives you a 20% increased critical strike chance on your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Mutilate, or Ghostly Strike. Lasts 20 sec.

  Classic rank 2After killing an opponent that yields experience or honor, gives you a 40% increased critical strike chance on your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, or Ghostly Strike. Lasts 20 sec.

  Forever rank 2After 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 Assassination tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases your critical strike chance by 1%.

  ForeverIncreases your critical strike chance with all attacks and Poisons by 1%.

  Classic rank 5Increases your critical strike chance by 5%.

  Forever rank 5Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks and Poisons by 5%.

• Ruthlessness Assassination differs only in capitalisation or punctuation

  ClassicGives your finishing moves a 20% chance to add a combo point to your target.

  ForeverGives your finishing moves a 20% chance to add a Combo Point to your target.

  Classic rank 3Gives your finishing moves a 60% chance to add a combo point to your target.

  Forever rank 3Gives your finishing moves a 60% chance to add a Combo Point to your target.

• Improved Expose Armor Assassination tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases the armor reduced by your Expose Armor ability by 25%.

  ForeverReduces the Energy cost of your Expose Armor ability by 5, and refunds 1 Combo Point when cast with 5 Combo Points.

  Classic rank 2Increases the armor reduced by your Expose Armor ability by 50%.

  Forever rank 2Reduces the Energy cost of your Expose Armor ability by 10, and refunds 2 Combo Points when cast with 5 Combo Points.

• Vigor Assassination 1 → 2 ranks · numbers changed (10 → 5)

  ClassicIncreases your maximum Energy by 10.

  ForeverIncreases your maximum Energy by 5.

• Lethality Assassination 5 → 2 ranks · tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 6%.

  ForeverIncreases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Mutilate, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 10%.

  Classic rank 2Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 12%.

  Forever rank 2Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Mutilate, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 20%.

• Cold Blood Assassination tooltip rewritten

  ClassicWhen activated, increases the critical strike chance of your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, or Eviscerate by 100%.

  ForeverWhen activated, increases the critical strike chance of your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Eviscerate, or Mutilate by 100%.

• Improved Poisons Assassination tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases the chance to apply poisons to your target by 2%.

  ForeverIncreases the chance to apply Poisons to your target by 2%, and gives Poison applications a 10% chance to not consume a charge.

  Classic rank 5Increases the chance to apply poisons to your target by 10%.

  Forever rank 5Increases the chance to apply Poisons to your target by 10%, and gives Poison applications a 50% chance to not consume a charge.

• Relentless Strikes Assassination 1 → 5 ranks · numbers changed (20% → 4%)

  ClassicYour finishing moves have a 20% chance per combo point to restore 25 energy.

  ForeverYour finishing moves have a 4% chance per Combo Point to restore 25 Energy.

• Improved Kidney Shot Assassination 3 → 2 ranks · tooltip rewritten

  ClassicWhile affected by your Kidney Shot ability, the target receives an additional 3% damage from all sources.

  ForeverEnemies Stunned by your Kidney Shot ability take 5% increased damage from your poisons and attacks.

  Classic rank 2While affected by your Kidney Shot ability, the target receives an additional 6% damage from all sources.

  Forever rank 2Enemies Stunned by your Kidney Shot ability take 10% increased damage from your poisons and attacks.

• Seal Fate Assassination 5 → 3 ranks · numbers changed (20% → 33%)

  ClassicYour critical strikes from abilities that add combo points have a 20% chance to add an additional combo point.

  ForeverYour critical strikes from abilities that add Combo Points have a 33% chance to add an additional Combo Point.

  Classic rank 3Your critical strikes from abilities that add combo points have a 60% chance to add an additional combo point.

  Forever rank 3Your critical strikes from abilities that add Combo Points have a 100% chance to add an additional Combo Point.

• Coup de Grace Combat renamed from Improved Eviscerate · tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases the damage done by your Eviscerate ability by 5%.

  ForeverIncreases the damage done by your Eviscerate ability by 7%, and the damage and storage rate of your Death Mark ability by 7%.

  Classic rank 3Increases the damage done by your Eviscerate ability by 15%.

  Forever rank 3Increases the damage done by your Eviscerate ability by 20%, and the damage and storage rate of your Death Mark ability by 20%.

• Efficient Strikes Combat renamed from Improved Sinister Strike · tooltip rewritten

  ClassicReduces the Energy cost of your Sinister Strike ability by 3.

  ForeverReduces the Energy cost of your Sinister Strike and Hemorrhage abilities by 3.

  Classic rank 2Reduces the Energy cost of your Sinister Strike ability by 5.

  Forever rank 2Reduces the Energy cost of your Sinister Strike and Hemorrhage abilities by 5.

• Deflection Combat 5 → 3 ranks · numbers changed (1% → 2%)

  ClassicIncreases your Parry chance by 1%.

  ForeverIncreases your Parry chance by 2%.

  Classic rank 3Increases your Parry chance by 3%.

  Forever rank 3Increases your Parry chance by 6%.

• Precision Combat 5 → 3 ranks · tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases your chance to hit with melee weapons by 1%.

  ForeverImproves your chance to hit by 1%.

  Classic rank 3Increases your chance to hit with melee weapons by 3%.

  Forever rank 3Improves your chance to hit by 3%.

• Endurance Combat tooltip rewritten

  ClassicReduces the cooldown of your Sprint and Evasion abilities by 45 sec.

  ForeverReduces the cooldown of your Sprint and Evasion abilities by 30%.

  Classic rank 2Reduces the cooldown of your Sprint and Evasion abilities by 1.5 min.

  Forever rank 2Reduces the cooldown of your Sprint and Evasion abilities by 60%.

• Improved Kick Combat differs only in capitalisation or punctuation

  ClassicGives your Kick ability a 50% chance to silence the target for 2 sec.

  ForeverGives your Kick ability a 50% chance to Silence the target for 2 sec.

  Classic rank 2Gives your Kick ability a 100% chance to silence the target for 2 sec.

  Forever rank 2Gives your Kick ability a 100% chance to Silence the target for 2 sec.

• Weapon Expertise Combat tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases your skill with Sword, Fist and Dagger weapons by 3.

  ForeverReduces the chance for your attacks to be Dodged or Parried by 1%.

  Classic rank 2Increases your skill with Sword, Fist and Dagger weapons by 5.

  Forever rank 2Reduces the chance for your attacks to be Dodged or Parried by 2%.

• Aggression Combat numbers changed (2% → 5%)

  ClassicIncreases the damage of your Sinister Strike and Eviscerate abilities by 2%.

  ForeverIncreases the damage of your Sinister Strike and Eviscerate abilities by 5%.

  Classic rank 3Increases the damage of your Sinister Strike and Eviscerate abilities by 6%.

  Forever rank 3Increases the damage of your Sinister Strike and Eviscerate abilities by 15%.

• Dual Wield Specialization Combat 5 → 2 ranks · tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases the damage done by your offhand weapon by 10%.

  ForeverIncreases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 25%.

  Classic rank 2Increases the damage done by your offhand weapon by 20%.

  Forever rank 2Increases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 50%.

• Blade Flurry Combat tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases your attack speed by 20%. In addition, attacks strike an additional nearby opponent. Lasts 15 sec.

  ForeverIncreases your melee attack speed by 20% and your melee attacks strike an additional nearby opponent. Lasts 15 sec.

• Hack and Slash Combat renamed from Sword Specialization · tooltip rewritten

  ClassicGives you a 1% chance to get an extra attack on the same target after dealing damage with your Sword.

  ForeverGives your melee weapon attacks a benefit depending on the weapon. Axe/Sword: Your successful melee attacks have a 1% chance to trigger an extra attack on the target. Dagger/Fist: Increases your critical strike chance by 1%. Mace: Your attacks ignore 3% of your target's armor.

  Classic rank 5Gives you a 5% chance to get an extra attack on the same target after dealing damage with your Sword.

  Forever rank 5Gives your melee weapon attacks a benefit depending on the weapon. Axe/Sword: Your successful melee attacks have a 5% chance to trigger an extra attack on the target. Dagger/Fist: Increases your critical strike chance by 5%. Mace: Your attacks ignore 15% of your target's armor.

• Setup Subtlety differs only in capitalisation or punctuation

  ClassicGives you a 15% chance to add a combo point to your target after dodging their attack or fully resisting one of their spells.

  ForeverGives you a 15% chance to add a Combo Point to your target after Dodging their attack or fully resisting one of their spells.

  Classic rank 3Gives you a 45% chance to add a combo point to your target after dodging their attack or fully resisting one of their spells.

  Forever rank 3Gives 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 Subtlety 5 → 3 ranks · tooltip rewritten

  ClassicReduces the chance enemies have to detect you while in Stealth mode.

  ForeverReduces the chance enemies have to detect you while in Stealth mode as if you were 1 level higher.

  Classic rank 3Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you while in Stealth mode. More effective than Master of Deception (Rank 2).

  Forever rank 3Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you while in Stealth mode as if you were 3 levels higher.

• Opportunity Subtlety tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases the damage dealt when striking from behind with your Backstab, Garrote, or Ambush abilities by 4%.

  ForeverIncreases the damage dealt by your Backstab, Garrote, Ambush, and Mutilate abilities by 4%.

  Classic rank 5Increases the damage dealt when striking from behind with your Backstab, Garrote, or Ambush abilities by 20%.

  Forever rank 5Increases the damage dealt by your Backstab, Garrote, Ambush, and Mutilate abilities by 20%.

• Dirty Deeds Subtlety tooltip rewritten

  ClassicReduces the Energy cost of your Cheap Shot and Garrote abilities by 10.

  ForeverReduces the Energy cost of your Cheap Shot and Garrote abilities by 10, and your Garrote ability no longer requires you to be behind your target.

  Classic rank 2Reduces the Energy cost of your Cheap Shot and Garrote abilities by 20.

  Forever rank 2Reduces 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 Subtlety 5 → 3 ranks · tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases your speed while stealthed by 3% and reduces the cooldown of your Stealth ability by 1 sec.

  ForeverReduces your speed penalty from your Stealth ability by 5% and reduces its cooldown by 2 sec.

  Classic rank 3Increases your speed while stealthed by 9% and reduces the cooldown of your Stealth ability by 3 sec.

  Forever rank 3Reduces your speed penalty from your Stealth ability by 15% and reduces its cooldown by 6 sec.

• Initiative Subtlety numbers changed (25% → 33%)

  ClassicGives you a 25% chance to add an additional combo point to your target when using your Ambush, Garrote, or Cheap Shot ability.

  ForeverGives you a 33% chance to add an additional combo point to your target when using your Ambush, Garrote, or Cheap Shot ability.

  Classic rank 3Gives you a 75% chance to add an additional combo point to your target when using your Ambush, Garrote, or Cheap Shot ability.

  Forever rank 3Gives you a 100% chance to add an additional combo point to your target when using your Ambush, Garrote, or Cheap Shot ability.

• Premeditation Subtlety tooltip rewritten

  ClassicWhen used, adds 2 combo points to your target. You must add to or use those combo points within 10 sec or the combo points are lost.

  ForeverAdds 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 Subtlety tooltip rewritten

  ClassicCauses your attacks to ignore 100 of your target's Armor and increases the damage dealt by your Rupture ability by 10%. The amount of Armor reduced increases with your level.

  ForeverCauses your attacks to ignore 3% of your target's Armor and increases the damage dealt by your Rupture ability by 10%.

  Classic rank 3Causes your attacks to ignore 300 of your target's Armor and increases the damage dealt by your Rupture ability by 30%. The amount of Armor reduced increases with your level.

  Forever rank 3Causes your attacks to ignore 9% of your target's Armor and increases the damage dealt by your Rupture ability by 30%.

• Elusiveness Subtlety tooltip rewritten

  ClassicReduces the cooldown of your Vanish and Blind abilities by 45 sec.

  ForeverReduces the cooldown of your Vanish and Blind abilities by 45 sec.

  Classic rank 2Reduces the cooldown of your Vanish and Blind abilities by 1.5 min.

  Forever rank 2Reduces the cooldown of your Vanish and Blind abilities by 90 sec.

• Ghostly Strike Subtlety tooltip rewritten

  ClassicA strike that deals 125% weapon damage and increases your chance to dodge by 15% for 7 sec. Awards 1 combo point.

  ForeverA 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 point.

• Heightened Senses Subtlety tooltip rewritten

  ClassicIncreases your Stealth detection and reduces the chance you are hit by spells and ranged attacks by 2%.

  ForeverIncreases your Stealth detection as if you were 1 level higher and reduces your chance to be hit by spells and ranged attacks by 2%.

  Classic rank 2Increases your Stealth detection and reduces the chance you are hit by spells and ranged attacks by 4%. More effective than Heightened Senses (Rank 1).

  Forever rank 2Increases your Stealth detection as if you were 3 levels higher and reduces your chance to be hit by spells and ranged attacks by 4%.

• Hemorrhage Subtlety tooltip rewritten

  ClassicAn instant strike that damages the opponent and causes the target to hemorrhage, increasing any Physical damage dealt to the target by up to 3. Lasts 30 charges or 15 sec. Awards 1 combo point.

  ForeverAn 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 Point.

Classic Rogue talents not in the Forever trees (8)

• Murder Assassination in Classic 2 ranks

  Increases all damage caused against Humanoid, Giant, Beast and Dragonkin targets by 1%.

• Dagger Specialization Combat in Classic 5 ranks

  Increases your chance to get a critical strike with Daggers by 1%.

• Fist Weapon Specialization Combat in Classic 5 ranks

  Increases your chance to get a critical strike with Fist Weapons by 1%.

• Improved Backstab Combat in Classic 3 ranks

  Increases the critical strike chance of your Backstab ability by 10%.

• Mace Specialization Combat in Classic 5 ranks

  Increases your skill with Maces by 1, and gives you a 1% chance to stun your target for 3 sec with a mace.

• Deadliness Subtlety in Classic 5 ranks

  Increases your Attack Power by 2%.

• Improved Sap Subtlety in Classic 3 ranks

  Gives you a 30% chance to return to stealth mode after using your Sap ability.

• Sleight of Hand Subtlety in Classic 2 ranks

  Reduces the chance you are critically hit by melee and ranged attacks by 1% and increases the threat reduction of your Feint ability by 10%.

Questions about Rogue talent changes

How many Rogue talents changed from Classic in WoW Forever?

Of the 51 Rogue talents in Classic Era, 8 read exactly the same in Forever, 35 have a different tooltip, name or rank count, and 8 are not in the Forever trees. Forever adds 11 new Rogue talents, for 54 in all.

What are the new Rogue talents in WoW Forever?

11 Rogue talents have no counterpart in Classic Era: Blood Splatter, Venom, Mutilate, Puncturing Wounds, Composure, Flawless Execution, Flash of Steel, Dirty Tricks, Quick Getaway, Boot Knife and Death Mark.

Which Classic Rogue talents are not in WoW Forever?

8 Classic Era Rogue talents are not in the Forever trees: Murder, Dagger Specialization, Fist Weapon Specialization, Improved Backstab, Mace Specialization, Deadliness, Improved Sap and Sleight of Hand.

Which Rogue tree changed the most in WoW Forever?

Combat: 4 new talents, 11 changed and 4 gone from the tree, against 4 left exactly as in Classic.

Which Rogue talents were renamed in WoW Forever?

3 Rogue talents keep their Classic spell under a new name: Coup de Grace (was Improved Eviscerate), Efficient Strikes (was Improved Sinister Strike) and Hack and Slash (was Sword Specialization).

Measured from Forever client build 1.60.1.70755, with the server's hotfixes as the WoW: Forever client's hotfix cache held them on 4 November 2026, against Classic Era 1.15.9.69722. 3 of the changed talents carry a new name; the Classic name is in the line. Every class side by side →