Combat, the specialization built on raw melee and dual-wielding
In vanilla, Combat is the Rogue’s go-to offensive spec: the one that hits hard with two weapons, without detouring through poison or stealth. Dual Wield Specialization and Blade Flurry make the most of your off-hand weapon and attack speed, Riposte punishes an opponent who attacks you in melee, and Adrenaline Rush doubles your Energy regeneration for 15 seconds to chain abilities without a break. It’s the easiest of the three to play: few windows to respect, a rotation built on steadily building combo points, and a good tolerance for mistakes. In both raid and PvP, it has long been the default choice for a Rogue who wants steady damage without managing tight timing.
What Forever changes in the Combat tree
Of nineteen talents, four are entirely new, eleven have been reworked, and four are gone: the four weapon specializations, Dagger, Mace, Sword, and Fist Weapon, which each only offered a 1% bonus tied to one equipped weapon type. They give way to a single talent, Hack and Slash, which grants a different bonus depending on the weapon in hand: an extra attack with Axe or Sword, a critical hit with Dagger or Fist Weapons, armor penetration with Mace. Flawless Execution cuts the Energy cost of Eviscerate by 15: a single point, but it lightens the finisher you spend the most. The November 2 launch notes add two Energy talents: Composure increases the Energy cost reduction of Poised by 5 / 10, and Flash of Steel increases the Energy generated by Shank by 3 to 15 while cutting its cooldown by 0.4 to 2 seconds.
Interactive talent calculator
Try the three Rogue specializations yourself below: the Combat tree is featured in the first column. Hover over a talent to see its full description, or switch to full screen for more room.
The detail of every talent and spell is in the WoW Forever Spellbook →
Talents: reference build simulated by MythicSim (933 DPS single target, 2-minute fight, dungeon and crafted gear with the best trinket pair, November 2026).
Build adapted by Kami Labs to the November 2 launch notes, until MythicSim updates its simulations.
Gear used by the simulation
The pieces worn by the simulated character to reach the 933 DPS quoted above (dungeon and crafted gear). Without trinkets the simulation gives 899 DPS; the two trinkets, picked by MythicSim, add 3.7%.
HeadShadowcraft Capitem level 62
NeckMark of Fordringitem level 63
ShouldersShadowcraft Spauldersitem level 60
BackCape of the Black Baronitem level 63
ChestDawn Armoritem level 61
WristsShadowcraft Bracersitem level 57
HandsDevilsaur Gauntletsitem level 58
WaistShadowcraft Beltitem level 58
LegsDevilsaur Leggingsitem level 60
FeetShadowcraft Bootsitem level 59
Finger 1Tarnished Elven Ringitem level 61
Finger 2Don Julio's Banditem level 60
Trinket 1Royal Seal of Eldre'Thalasitem level 62
Trinket 2Adaptive Combat Assistantitem level 65
Main handIronfoeitem level 60
Off handFelstrikeritem level 63
RangedSatyr's Bowitem level 58
Gear from the MythicSim simulation (November 9, 2026).
See the full BiS for this spec → BiS is the best gear you can reach, not the gear of the simulation.
Simulation details
What the simulated character does during the 120 s of the fight, where its 899 DPS without trinkets come from (933 DPS quoted above with the trinket pair), which effects it has and in which order it casts.
Damage breakdown
Each line is an ability: the damage per second it adds, its share of the total, how many times it is cast in a fight, the damage of an average cast and, for a lasting effect, the part of the fight where it is active.
| Ability | DPS | Share | Casts | Per cast | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 MeleeCrit 31.8% · Miss 14.6% · Dodge 2.5% · Glancing 40.0% | 228.6 | 24.5% | 87.1 | 315 | - |
 Sinister StrikeCrit 33.8% · Dodge 2.5% | 209.7 | 22.5% | 42.9 | 587 | - |
| Melee (off hand)Crit 32.4% · Miss 14.8% · Dodge 2.5% · Glancing 40.0% | 133.0 | 14.3% | 93.5 | 171 | - |
 EviscerateCrit 33.6% · Dodge 2.5% | 94.3 | 10.1% | 6.4 | 1,783 | - |
 Deadly PoisonCrit 0.0% · Miss 5.5% | 77.1 | 8.3% | - | - | 95.3% |
 Instant PoisonCrit 20.9% · Miss 5.5% | 71.4 | 7.7% | - | - | - |
| Melee (extra attack)Crit 32.0% · Miss 14.6% · Dodge 2.5% · Glancing 40.0% | 66.7 | 7.2% | 22.9 | 350 | - |
 ShankCrit 35.0% | 14.7 | 1.6% | 14.9 | 119 | - |
 Dragonbreath ChiliCrit 21.2% · Miss 5.4% | 14.6 | 1.6% | - | - | - |
 GarroteCrit 0.0% | 10.2 | 1.1% | 1.0 | 1,219 | 15.0% |
 FrostboltCrit 20.0% · Miss 5.6% | 6.3 | 0.7% | - | - | - |
 Goblin Sapper ChargeCrit 21.4% · Miss 0.9% | 6.1 | 0.7% | 1.0 | 726 | - |
Buffs and debuffs
The percentages are coverage times, meaning the share of the fight during which the effect is active: they are not proc chances. “91.0×” is the average number of applications in a fight.
Procs and cooldowns
Slice and Dice95.5%
Venom72.7%
Holy Strength75.7%
Major Frenzy Potion26.8%
Blade Flurry14.4%
Elune's Light12.5%
Felstriker5.8%
Windfury Totem (2)5.4%
Leader of the Pack0.0%
Poised0.0%
Stealth0.0%
Debuffs on the target
Curse of Recklessness100.0%- Deadly Poison95.3%
- Garrote15.0%
Hatched: the debuff is applied, but its armor effect is not (another armor debuff takes over).
Active the whole fight
Battle Shout
Gift of the Wild
Grace of Air
Greater Blessing of Kings
Greater Blessing of Might- Moonkin Aura
Strength of Earth
Trueshot Aura- Windfury Totem
Curse of the Elements
Faerie Fire
Gift of Arthas
Sunder Armor
Rotation
Simulation rotation: Sinister Strike. At each decision the simulator goes through the list from top to bottom and casts the first ability whose condition is met.
Before the fight
- −1 sStealth
Priority
- Garroteif Stealth is active
- Slice and Diceif (combo points are at least 1 and Slice and Dice is not active and the remaining fight time is at least 6 s) or (combo points are at least 5 and the remaining duration of Slice and Dice is below 3 s and the remaining fight time is above 9 s)
- Other cooldowns (Elune's Light, Blade Flurry, Major Frenzy Potion, Thistle Tea, Goblin Sapper Charge)if Slice and Dice is active
- Eviscerateif combo points are at least 5 and (Slice and Dice is active or energy is at least 79 or the remaining fight time is below 6 s)
- Shankif energy is below 80
- Sinister Strikeno condition
Simulation details from MythicSim (November 9, 2026), reproduced with the author’s permission.
Hack and Slash still has to prove its bonus
Hack and Slash replaces four minor weapon bonuses with a single talent whose effect varies depending on the weapon in hand. It still has to be validated in game: the build guide will follow, from the beta’s opening (September 17, 2026) to full launch (November 4, 2026).
Going further
You can also check out our Assassination and Subtlety pages to compare the Rogue’s three trees, along with the full list of WoW Forever builds on the section hub. For melee Rogue gear before Forever, our WotLK Classic Rogue Pre-Raid Gear guide is still available.
0 Commentaires
Aucun commentaire pour le moment. Soyez le premier à commenter !