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Assassination Rogue

Mirrors the current rank-1 Sinister Single parse — every slot is what the best Assassination Rogue actually wears.

Midnight Season 2 · Fatebound · updated 2026-08-05

The short version

Hero tree: Fatebound
Stat priority: Critical Strike > Mastery > Haste > Versatility
Content: Raid

How it plays

Measured on the reference parse below, not a description of the spec — so it changes when the tuning does.

Stat priority

Critical Strike > Mastery > Haste > Versatility

These are not weights pulled from a spreadsheet — they are the live ratings on the reference character this build is taken from, so the order reflects what the best-performing Assassination Rogue is actually stacking right now.

SECONDARIES Critical Strike
Critical Strike43%
Mastery27%
Haste24%
Versatility6%

Source: Charrend — the log. Rank 1 Assassination Rogue on Sinister Single (Dummy Dome), avg ilvl 331. Slots the parse left un-upgraded (offhand) use the field-standard pick instead.

Talent build

Laid out exactly as the in-game talent UI draws it, hero tree Fatebound. Lit nodes and gold lines are the path this build takes; everything dimmed was passed over. Hover any node for what it does.

Rogue · 34 points

ShivAttack with your poisoned blades, dealing Physical damage, dispelling all enrage effects and applying a concentrated form of your $?a3408[Crippling Poison, reducing movement speed by % for .]?a5761[Numbing Poison, reducing casting speed by % for .][]active Non-Lethal poison.$?(a319032&a400783)[ Your Nature and Bleed…
BlindBlinds the target, causing it to wander disoriented for . Damage may interrupt the effect. Limit 1.
Cloak of ShadowsProvides a moment of magic immunity, instantly removing all harmful spell effects. The cloak lingers, causing you to resist harmful spells for .
Toxic StilettoShiv's Energy cost is reduced by , its cooldown is reduced by ${-/1000} sec, and its range is increased by yds.
Fleet FootedMovement speed increased by .
Airborne IrritantBlind has reduced cooldown, reduced duration, and applies to all nearby enemies.
Choice node
Thrill SeekingGrappling Hook has additional charge.
ShadowrunnerWhile Stealth or Shadow Dance is active, you move faster.
Not taken
Master PoisonerIncreases the non-damaging effects of your weapon poisons by .
ElusivenessEvasion also reduces damage taken by , and Feint also reduces non-area-of-effect damage taken by .
Choice node
Tricks of the TradeIncreases the target's damage by %, and redirects all threat you cause to the targeted party or raid member, beginning with your next damaging attack within the next and lasting .
Choice node
Improved Wound PoisonWound Poison can now stack additional times.
Not taken
Nimble FingersEnergy cost of Feint and Crimson Vial reduced by .
Deadened NervesPhysical damage taken reduced by .
Quick FingersIncreases your Agility by .
Improved SprintReduces the cooldown of Sprint by ${/-1000} sec.
Superior MixtureCrippling Poison reduces movement speed by an additional .
Not taken
EvasionIncreases your dodge chance by ${/2}% for . Dodging an attack while Evasion is active will trigger Mastery: Main Gauche.
Iron StomachIncreases the healing you receive from Crimson Vial, healing potions, and healthstones by .
Virulent PoisonsIncreases the damage of your weapon poisons by .
StillshroudShroud of Concealment has reduced cooldown.
Not taken
Graceful GuileFeint has additional :charges;.
FeatherfootSprint increases movement speed by an additional and has ${/1000} sec increased duration.
Atrophic PoisonCoats your weapons with a Non-Lethal Poison that lasts for . Each strike has a % chance of poisoning the enemy, reducing their damage by ${*-1}.1% for .
Choice node
Deadly PrecisionIncreases the critical strike chance of your attacks that generate combo points by .
Sanguine VialWhen you deal the killing blow to a target that yields experience or honor, the cooldown of Crimson Vial is reduced by ${-/1000} sec and your next use heals % of your health instantly.
Not taken
Deep CutsYour finishing moves deal increased damage.
Unbreakable StrideReduces the duration of movement slowing effects .
Not taken
Danger SenseYou have a chance to partially evade any damage dealt to you, reducing the damage it deals by .
Swift SlasherSlice and Dice grants additional attack speed equal to of your Haste.
Tight SpenderEnergy cost of finishing moves reduced by .
Choice node
Leeching PoisonAdds a Leeching effect to your Lethal poisons, granting you ${}.1% Leech.
2/2 LethalityCritical strike chance increased by . Critical strike damage bonus of your attacks that generate combo points increased by .
RecuperatorSlice and Dice heals you for up to of your maximum health per sec.
Not taken
2/2 AlacrityHaste increased by ${/10}.1%.
Soothing DarknessYou are healed for ${*(/)}% of your maximum health over after activating Vanish.
Not taken
2/2 VigorIncreases your maximum Energy by and Energy regeneration by .
Supercharger$?a137035[Shadow Dance]?a137036[Adrenaline Rush][Kingsbane] supercharges combo :points;. Damaging finishing moves consume a supercharged combo point to function as if they spent additional combo :points;.
Not taken
SubterfugeAbilities requiring Stealth can be used for ${/1000} sec after Stealth breaks. Combat benefits requiring Stealth persist for an additional ${/1000} sec after Stealth breaks.
Not taken
Thistle Tea$@spelldesc381623
Choice node
Cold Blooded KillerCritically striking with an attack that generates combo points increases the critical strike chance of your next finishing move by %.
Echoing ReprimandAfter consuming a supercharged combo point, your next $?s200758[Gloomblade]?a137035[Backstab]?a137036[Sinister Strike][Mutilate] also strikes the target with an Echoing Reprimand dealing Physical damage.
Choice node — not taken
Not taken
Deeper StratagemGain additional max combo point. Your finishing moves that consume more than combo points have increased effects, and your finishing moves deal increased damage.
Without a TraceVanish has additional :charges;.
Not taken

Fatebound · 13 points

Hand of FateFlip a Fatebound Coin each time a finishing move consumes or more combo points. Heads increases the damage of your attacks by ${+}%, lasting or until you flip Tails. Tails deals Cosmic damage to your target. For each time the same face is flipped in a row, Heads increases damage by an additional % and Tails increase…
Tempted FateYou have a chance to absorb of any damage taken.
Choice node
Mean StreakFatebound Coins flipped by Dispatch are more likely to match the same face as the last flip.
Death's ArrivalShadowstep may be used a second time within with no cooldown, but its total cooldown is increased by ${/1000} sec.
Choice node
Sometimes LuckyCritical strike chance increased by .
Deal Fate$?a383281[Sinister Strike and Ambush generate]?a137036[Sinister Strike generates][Mutilate, Ambush, and Fan of Knives have a chance to generate] additional combo point $?a383281[when they grant Opportunity]?a137036[when it grants Opportunity][when they trigger Seal Fate].
Fate IntertwinedCaustic Spatter causes an additional of Nature damage dealt to be dealt to affected enemies.
Edge CaseActivating Adrenaline Rush flips a Fatebound Coin and causes it to land on its edge, counting as both Heads and Tails.
Controlled ChaosAfter flipping a Fatebound Coin that ends a streak of or more, flip another that matches the same face.
Delivered DoomEnvenom deals more damage when it consumes or more combo points.
Overflowing PurseDispatch has a chance to flip Fatebound Coins.
Choice node
Rush to the InevitableGain Energy every time you flip a Fatebound Coin. Gain Energy for Coins that land on their edge.
Ravenholdt MintFlipping Heads increases damage by an additional . Damage dealt by flipping Tails is increased by .
Lucky CoinEvery coin flips, keep a lucky coin that bends you towards your fate for . Your Agility is increased by %, the damage and bonuses of Fatebound Coins are increased by %, and coin flips are % more likely to match the same face as the last flip. Coin flips do not count toward finding a lucky coin while you have a lucky…

Assassination · 30 points

Deadly PoisonCoats your weapons with a Lethal Poison that lasts for . Each strike has a % chance to poison the enemy for ${*/} Nature damage over . Subsequent poison applications will instantly deal Nature damage.
Motivated MurdererIncreases your Energy regeneration by .
Improved PoisonsIncreases the application chance of your weapon poisons by .
Path of BloodIncreases maximum Energy by .
Crimson TempestSlash all enemies within yds dealing damage. Deals reduced damage beyond targets. Copy the longest Garrote and Rupture on the enemies you hit onto up to other enemies. Awards combo :points;.
Not taken
Canny StrikesIncreases Critical Strike chance by .
Choice node
Improved GarroteGarrote deals increased damage and has no cooldown when used from Stealth and for after breaking Stealth.
Thrown PrecisionFan of Knives has increased critical strike chance and its critical strikes always apply your weapon poisons.
Not taken
Seal FateCritical strikes with attacks that generate combo points grant an additional combo point per critical strike.
DoombladeMutilate deals an additional Bleed damage over ${+2} sec.
Razor WireGarrote lasts ${/1000} sec longer.
Bloody MessGarrote and Rupture damage increased by .
DeathmarkCarve a deathmark into an enemy, dealing Bleed damage and restoring Energy to you over . Damage dealt to the target by your Garrote, Rupture, and Lethal Poisons is increased by . Each time you apply a Lethal Poison to the target, apply it twice.
Caustic SpatterEnvenom or Kingsbane apply Caustic Spatter for . Limit 1. Caustic Spatter causes % of your Nature damage dealt to splash onto other nearby enemies, reduced beyond targets.
Not taken
Sanguine StratagemGain additional max combo point. Your finishing moves that consume more than combo points have increased effects, and your finishing moves deal increased damage.
Intent to KillShadowstep's cooldown is reduced by when used on a target afflicted by your Garrote.
Choice node — not taken
Not taken
2/2 Fatal ConcoctionIncreases the damage of your weapon poisons by .
Finish the JobAll damage you deal is increased by % while Deathmark is active.
Choice node
2/2 Lethal DoseYour weapon poisons and Nature or Bleed damage over time abilities deal increased damage to targets for each of your lethal poison or damage over time effects on them.
Flying DaggersFan of Knives has its radius increased to ${+} yds, deals more damage, and an additional when striking or more targets.
Choice node — not taken
Not taken
Poison BombEnvenom has a $<chance>% chance per combo point spent to smash a vial of poison at the target's location, creating a pool of acidic death that deals ${*} Nature damage over to all enemies within it.
Not taken
Amplifying PoisonCoats your weapons with a Lethal Poison that lasts for . Each strike has a % chance to poison the enemy, dealing Nature damage and applying Amplifying Poison for . Envenom can consume stacks of Amplifying Poison to deal increased damage. Max stacks.
Venomous WoundsYou regain Energy each time your Garrote or Rupture deal Bleed damage to a target affected by your weapon poisons. Energy gain is reduced for bleeds beyond the first. If an enemy dies while afflicted by your Rupture, you regain energy based on its remaining duration.
Systemic FailureGarrote increases the damage of Ambush and Mutilate on the target by .
Dashing ScoundrelEnvenom's effect also increases the critical strike chance of your weapon poisons by . Your Energy generation is increased by for each lethal poison on your weapons.
KingsbaneRelease a powerful poison from your weapons and inject it into your target, dealing Nature damage instantly and an additional Nature damage over . Each time you apply a Lethal Poison to a target affected by Kingsbane, Kingsbane damage increases by %, up to ${*}%. Awards combo :points;.
2/2 Rapid InjectionEnvenom's effect increases the damage of Envenom by .
Shrouded SuffocationGarrote damage increased by . Garrote generates additional combo points when used from Stealth.
BlindsideAmbush and Mutilate have a chance to make your next Ambush free and usable without Stealth. Chance increased to if the target is under health.
Not taken
2/2 Zoldyck RecipeYour Bleed, weapon poison, and other Nature damage is increased by against targets below health.
Regicide's RewardWhen Kingsbane ends, gain % haste for every stacks of increased Kingsbane damage that you had, decreasing by % every sec.
Not taken
Inspiring StrikeApplying Envenom while Envenom is already active causes it to increase all damage you deal by in addition to increasing your poison application chance.
Choice node
AvulsionRupture damage increased by .
Scent of BloodEach enemy afflicted by your Rupture increases your Agility by , up to a maximum of %.
Not taken
Unstable ToxinEnvenom's damage is increased by , but its duration is reduced by ${/-1000} sec.
Not taken
Dragon-Tempered BladesYou may apply additional Lethal and Non-Lethal Poison to your weapons, but they have less application chance.
Sudden DemiseBleed damage increased by . Targets below health instantly bleed out and take fatal damage when the remaining Bleed damage you would deal to them exceeds of their remaining health.
Not taken
ImplacableNothing will save your target from you. Envenom damage increased by . Envenom restores Energy per combo point spent.
Choice node — not taken
Not taken
Paste into the in-game talent UI to load this build exactly.

Rotation

Spend at five or more combo points. While Darkest Night is up, wait for the cap — the profile refuses to spend a single point early there.

Single target Two or more targets

Keep these up

  • Garrote and Rupture are the spec. Refresh Garrote when it is refreshable, and only re-apply it from stealth or under Improved Garrote if that would not overwrite a stronger copy — the snapshot is worth more than the uptime.
  • Rupture at five or more combo points when it is refreshable and the target will live another twelve seconds.

Generators

  • Mutilate is the builder.
  • Ambush whenever Blindside procs — it is free and it hits harder.
  • Shiv on cooldown with Toxic Stiletto, and at one combo point from cap while Darkest Night is up.

Finishers

  • Envenom, and only Envenom once the bleeds are up. Spend above 70% energy, or whenever the fight is nearly over.

Cooldowns

  • Deathmark with Garrote and Rupture both ticking, Kingsbane within two seconds, and Envenom up. It multiplies what is already on the target, so nothing about it is worth pressing early.
  • Kingsbane with both bleeds up and Deathmark either ticking or more than 52 seconds away.
  • Vanish to re-apply Garrote under Improved Garrote, once the current one has lost its snapshot.
  • Nothing in this spec is worth pressing before the bleeds are on the target. Every cooldown it has multiplies damage that already exists.

Openers

Single target

  1. Garrote from stealth — that copy carries the Improved Garrote snapshot and lasts the whole opener.
  2. Mutilate to five combo points, then Rupture.
  3. Envenom once, so Deathmark lands with the buff already up.
  4. Kingsbane, then Deathmark.
  5. Back to Mutilate and Envenom, holding the bleeds.

How much damage, and where

The same best-in-slot profile below, simulated across four fights on our own SimulationCraft build. A spec's number moves with the fight — and each card opens its full report: DPS timeline, buffs, and a Copy-SimC button to reproduce it in Raidbots. Compare every spec →

Single Target 172,772 1 target · Patchwerk baselinereport ↗ Cleave 178,353 CleaveAdd — boss + an add +3% vs STreport ↗ Cleave Big 198,160 HecticAddCleave — boss + spawning adds +15% vs STreport ↗ Mythic+ 208,876 DungeonSlice — a full key +21% vs STreport ↗

Where the damage comes from

Measured on the reference log — a 300-second single-target parse. Worth comparing against the rotation above: the button you press most is rarely the one doing the most.

AbilityShare
Envenom22%
Kingsbane13.2%
Rupture12.2%
Melee11.8%
Garrote11%
Deadly Poison8%
Mutilate6.8%
Amplifying Poison5.9%
Hand of Fate5.7%
Deathmark0.9%
Zatha'tek, Breath of Corruption0.8%

Source: Sinister Single, 300s.

Best in slot

The finished loadout, built by Pathfinder — the strongest item available for every slot, with the item level to chase and where it drops. 337 average item level across 16 slots, gathered from 3 places.

Gaze of the Coiled Watcher 344 · Myth 9/6 (VC) The Venomous Abyss — Ula'tek ✦ Empowered Hex of Leeching
Sentinel's Vitriolic Chain 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Entombed Sentinels ◆ Powerful Eversong Diamond
Chosen Bloodslayer's Voodoo Guards 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — The Lost Explorers ✦ Silvermoon's Mending
Adherent's Silken Shroud 331 · Spark Crafted +Myth Epic Profession Items — Tailoring
Chosen Bloodslayer's Banded Poncho 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Vashnik the Malignant ✦ Mark of the Worldsoul
Chosen Bloodslayer's Wristguards 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Nek'zali the Soulcoiler
Zatha'tek, Breath of Corruption 344 · Myth 9/6 (VC) The Venomous Abyss — Ula'tek ✦ Acuity of the Ren'dorei
Murder Row Fishhook 331 · Spark Crafted +Myth Epic Profession Items — Blacksmithing ✦ Acuity of the Ren'dorei
Assassination Rogue 337 average item level
Chosen Bloodslayer's Fanged Grips 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Entombed Sentinels ✦ Gloves Enchant (+3 Stamina)
Sash of the Forlorn Vessel 344 · Myth 9/6 (VC) The Venomous Abyss — The Coiled Altar
Chosen Bloodslayer's Reinforced Pants 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Sszorak ✦ Forest Hunter's Armor Kit
Breakwater Boots 334 · Myth 6/6 The Tidebound Grotto — Nymrissa Wavecaller ✦ Lynx's Dexterity
Alluring Bubbleband 334 · Myth 6/6 The Tidebound Grotto — Nymrissa Wavecaller ✦ Silvermoon's Alacrity◆ Flawless Masterful Peridot
Vile Alchemist's Band 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Vashnik the Malignant ✦ Silvermoon's Alacrity◆ Flawless Masterful Peridot
Voracious Heart of Ula'tek 344 · Myth 9/6 (VC) The Venomous Abyss — Ula'tek
Zul'jin's Guillotine Technique 344 · Myth 9/6 (VC) The Venomous Abyss — The Coiled Altar

Where to spend bonus rolls as Assassination Rogue

A Voidcore pays out an item every time — the question is only whether it is one you wanted. For this build, in order:

Roll Nymrissa Wavecaller — 2 of its 2 drops are on your list

Every roll here lands something on the list — this boss cannot miss. In The Tidebound Grotto, it owes you feet and ring 1.

Then Sszorak — 1 of its 3 drops is on your list

33% of every roll here lands something on the list. In The Venomous Abyss, it owes you legs.

Then The Lost Explorers — 1 of its 3 drops is on your list

33% of every roll here lands something on the list. In The Venomous Abyss, it owes you shoulder.

The general principles behind this — knockout protection, why finishing one boss beats spreading rolls, and the crests a roll quietly costs you — are in the bonus roll guide.

Week-by-week route

  1. Pre-season: the campaign, a world tour of Mythic 0s for a 292 loadout, and the weekly Spark quest. No Myth crests exist yet — bank the Spark.
  2. Week 1: farm +10 keys to a full Hero 3/6 (311) loadout and fill the vault. You open the week holding two full Sparks, so craft Adherent's Silken Shroud and Murder Row Fishhook back to back if your Myth crests cover both infusions. Every Hero crest goes into lifting pieces toward 6/6 (321).
  3. Week 2: first Voidcore — roll Nymrissa Wavecaller, where 2 of 2 drops are on this list. Catalyse the set slots for the 4-set. No new Spark this week — the next whole one banks in Week 3.
  4. Weeks 3–6: one Voidcore a week down the order above — finish a boss before starting the next. Keep spending Hero crests; every slot should sit at 321 by about Week 6.
  5. Week 7 onward: two Voidcores a week (the vault and Orin Straylight). Roll Myth-track bases in the set slots, re-catalyse them, and take each to 6/6 for 80 Myth and 20 Hero crests.
  6. Late season: Gaze of the Coiled Watcher, Sash of the Forlorn Vessel, Voracious Heart of Ula'tek, Zul'jin's Guillotine Technique and Zatha'tek, Breath of Corruption come from the last two bosses at Myth 9 (344). Secure the base items early — that is the only place the extra three ranks exist.

The fast variant

Same stat priority, 2 slots moved. Pathfinder builds the list above for raw power and does not care how many bosses that takes; Slate prices the route as well, and takes an equal-strength item from a boss you are already farming over one that sends you somewhere new. It visits 3 places against the strongest list's 3, at the same average item level.

Gaze of the Coiled Watcher 344 · Myth 9/6 (VC) The Venomous Abyss — Ula'tek ✦ Empowered Hex of Leeching
Aqirbane Reliquary 344 · Myth 9/6 (VC) The Venomous Abyss — Ula'tek ◆ Powerful Eversong Diamond
Chosen Bloodslayer's Voodoo Guards 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — The Lost Explorers ✦ Silvermoon's Mending
Adherent's Silken Shroud 331 · Spark Crafted +Myth Epic Profession Items — Tailoring
Chosen Bloodslayer's Banded Poncho 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Vashnik the Malignant ✦ Mark of the Worldsoul
Chosen Bloodslayer's Wristguards 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Nek'zali the Soulcoiler
Zatha'tek, Breath of Corruption 344 · Myth 9/6 (VC) The Venomous Abyss — Ula'tek ✦ Acuity of the Ren'dorei
Murder Row Fishhook 331 · Spark Crafted +Myth Epic Profession Items — Blacksmithing ✦ Acuity of the Ren'dorei
Assassination Rogue 337 average item level
Chosen Bloodslayer's Fanged Grips 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Entombed Sentinels ✦ Gloves Enchant (+3 Stamina)
Sash of the Forlorn Vessel 344 · Myth 9/6 (VC) The Venomous Abyss — The Coiled Altar
Chosen Bloodslayer's Reinforced Pants 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Sszorak ✦ Forest Hunter's Armor Kit
Breakwater Boots 334 · Myth 6/6 The Tidebound Grotto — Nymrissa Wavecaller ✦ Lynx's Dexterity
Alluring Bubbleband 334 · Myth 6/6 The Tidebound Grotto — Nymrissa Wavecaller ✦ Silvermoon's Alacrity◆ Flawless Masterful Peridot
Apex Brute's Claw Ring 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Sszorak ✦ Silvermoon's Alacrity◆ Flawless Masterful Peridot
Voracious Heart of Ula'tek 344 · Myth 9/6 (VC) The Venomous Abyss — Ula'tek
Zul'jin's Guillotine Technique 344 · Myth 9/6 (VC) The Venomous Abyss — The Coiled Altar

Load this into a plan

GearPath can load this build straight into a full season plan — the BiS list, the talents, and the route — then price it against the crests, sparks and vault choices you will actually earn, and tell you when the plan is impossible. Free while in open beta.

Plan your Assassination Rogue →