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Subtlety Rogue

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

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

The short version

Hero tree: Deathstalker
Stat priority: Mastery > Critical Strike > 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

Mastery > Critical Strike > 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 Subtlety Rogue is actually stacking right now.

SECONDARIES Mastery
Mastery38%
Haste35%
Critical Strike20%
Versatility7%

Source: Messerknecht — the log. Rank 1 Subtlety Rogue on Sinister Single (Dummy Dome), avg ilvl 336.

Talent build

Laid out exactly as the in-game talent UI draws it, hero tree Deathstalker. 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.
Not taken
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 .
GougeGouges the eyes of an enemy target, incapacitating for . Damage may interrupt the effect. Must be in front of your target. Awards combo :points;.
Choice node — not taken
Not taken
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 .
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.
Improved AmbushShadowstrike damage increased 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.
2/2 AlacrityHaste increased by ${/10}.1%.
Soothing DarknessYou are healed for ${*(/)}% of your maximum health over after activating Vanish.
Not taken
VigorIncreases your maximum Energy by and Energy regeneration by .
Not taken
2/2 Supercharger$?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;.
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 — not taken
Not taken
Cold Blooded KillerCritically striking with an attack that generates combo points increases the critical strike chance of your next finishing move by %.
Forced InductionIncrease the bonus granted when a damaging finishing move consumes a supercharged combo point by .
Choice node
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

Deathstalker · 13 points

Deathstalker's MarkGarrote applies stacks of Deathstalker's Mark to your target, unless Deathstalker's Mark is already active. You learn Mark for Death. When you spend or more combo points on attacks against a Marked target you consume an application of Deathstalker's Mark, dealing Plague damage. $@spellicon1293340 that ability $@spel…
Clear the WitnessesFan of Knives damage increased by .
Hunt Them DownAuto-attacks against Marked targets deal an additional Plague damage.
Singular FocusDamage dealt to targets other than your Marked target deals Plague damage to your Marked target.
Precise KillerCritical strike damage bonus increased by .
Unshakeable DriveWhen you consume an application of Deathstalker's Mark, the damage of your next $?c1[Ambush or Mutilate]?s200758[Gloomblade][Backstab] is increased by %.
Corrupt the BloodRupture damage increased by .
Lingering DarknessAfter Deathmark expires, gain % increased Nature damage for .
Choice node
Quietus CelerisDeathstalker's Mark has a ${/*100}% chance to immediately consume a stack when applied.
Ethereal CloakCloak of Shadows duration increased by ${/1000} sec.
Choice node
Follow the BloodFan of Knives and Crimson Tempest deal additional damage while or more enemies are afflicted with Rupture.
Choice node
ShadewalkerEach time you consume a stack of Deathstalker's Mark, reduce the cooldown of Shadowstep by ${/-1000} sec.
Choice node
Mass CasualtyDeathstalker's Mark deals of its normal damage to all other enemies within 8 yds that are afflicted by Rupture.
Darkest NightWhen you consume the final Deathstalker's Mark from a target or your target dies, gain Energy and Darkest Night, causing your next Envenom cast with 5 or more combo points to critically strike, deal % additional damage, and apply stacks of Deathstalker's Mark to the target if no other Deathstalker's Mark is active. …

Subtlety · 34 points

Find WeaknessYour Stealth abilities allow you to see the flaws in enemies' defenses, causing your attacks to ignore armor for .
Improved BackstabGloomblade has increased critical strike chance. While behind your target, Backstab critical strikes grant Find Weakness for sec.
Shadow BladesDraws upon surrounding shadows to empower your weapons, causing your attacks to deal additional damage as Shadow and causing your combo point generating abilities to generate double combo points for .
Improved Shuriken StormShuriken Storm has increased critical strike chance. Shuriken Storm critical strikes grant Find Weakness for sec.
PremeditationAfter entering Stealth, your next combo point generating ability generates full combo points.
Quick DecisionsShadowstep's cooldown is reduced by , and its maximum range is increased by .
Choice node — not taken
Not taken
Silent StormGaining Stealth, Vanish, or Shadow Dance causes your next Shuriken Storm to have % increased chance to critically strike.
Shrouded in DarknessShroud of Concealment increases the movement speed of allies by and leaving its area no longer cancels the effect.
Not taken
Exhilarating ExecutionYour finishing moves heal you for of damage done. At full health gain shielding instead, absorbing up to of your maximum health.
Choice node
Fade to NothingMovement speed increased by % and damage taken reduced by % for after gaining Stealth, Vanish, or Shadow Dance.
Choice node
Night TerrorsShuriken Storm reduces enemies' movement speed by % for .
Choice node — not taken
Not taken
Master of ShadowsGain ${*/+} Energy over when you enter Stealth or activate Shadow Dance.
GloombladePunctures your target with your shadow-infused blade for Shadow damage, bypassing armor. Critical strikes apply Find Weakness for sec. Awards combo :points;.
Not taken
Shadow FocusAbilities deal % more damage while Stealth or Shadow Dance is active.
Improved Secret TechniqueSecret Technique damage increased by .
Not taken
Relentless StrikesYour finishing moves generate Energy per combo point spent.
WeaponmasterGloomblade and Shadowstrike have a chance to create a Shadow Clone that repeats the attack for of normal damage as Shadow.
Not taken
Warning SignsShadow Dance increases attack speed by %.
Choice node
Double DanceShadow Dance has additional charge.
Shadowed FinishersEviscerate and Black Powder deal an additional damage as Shadow while Find Weakness is active.
Secret StratagemGain additional max combo point. Your finishing moves that consume more than combo points have increased effects, and your finishing moves deal increased damage.
Shuriken TornadoShuriken Storm has a chance to create a Shadow Clone that repeats the attack for of normal damage as Shadow.
Not taken
Umbral EdgeShadow Clones deal increased damage. Cheap Shot creates a Shadow Clone to Shadowstrike the target for of normal damage as Shadow. Kidney Shot creates a Shadow Clone to Eviscerate the target for of normal damage as Shadow.
Deepening ShadowsShadow Dance duration is increased by % of your Haste stat. Current bonus duration: ${/1000}.2 sec
Goremaw's BiteLash out at your target and additional nearby enemies, inflicting Shadow damage and causing them to Bleed for damage over . % of all damage from Finishing Moves is repeated as Shadow, split evenly among affected enemies.
VeiltouchedYour abilities deal increased magic damage.
Replicating ShadowsShadow Clones deal increased damage and your effects that have a chance to create them have additional chance to occur.
Improved Find WeaknessFind Weakness causes your attacks to ignore an additional armor.
Perforated VeinsGloomblade, Shuriken Storm, and Shadowstrike have % increased damage while Find Weakness is active.
Not taken
Lingering ShadowAfter Shadow Dance ends, Gloomblade and Shuriken Storm deal an additional damage as Shadow, fading by ${/}.1% per sec.
Deeper DaggersShadow damage increased by %.
Potent PowderBlack Powder deals increased damage equal to of your Mastery when it spends or more combo points.
Not taken
2/2 Death PerceptionFind Weakness increases the damage of finishing moves by . Shadow Dance increases the damage of finishing moves by . Shadow Blades increases the damage of finishing moves by .
2/2 Dark ShadowShadow Dance increases all ability damage by , and Shadowstrike and Shuriken Storm damage by an additional .
1/2 FinalityEviscerate and Black Powder have increased critical strike damage bonus.
The RottenAfter activating Shadow Dance, your next $@switch<>[attack][ attacks] that $@switch<>[generates][generate] combo points $@switch<>[deals][deal] % increased damage.
Not taken
ShadowcraftWhile Shadow Dance is active, your Shadow Techniques triggers more frequently and generates additional combo :points;.
Danse MacabreWhile Shadow Dance is active, each different attack that generates or spends combo points lashes out at the target, dealing Shadow damage.
The First DanceRemaining out of combat for increases the duration of your next Shadow Dance by ${/1000} sec.
Not taken
Dark BrewYour weapon poisons have increased application chance and now deal damage as Shadow instead of Nature. Shadow damage increased by .
Not taken
4/4 Ancient ArtsDamaging attacks that expend Shadow Techniques to generate combo points have a chance per stack expended to create a Shadow Clone that repeats the attack for of normal damage as Shadow.
Choice node
Paste into the in-game talent UI to load this build exactly.

Rotation

Spend at maximum combo points — 7 with Deeper Stratagem and Secret Stratagem. The one exception is Eviscerate under Darkest Night, which goes one combo point early.

Single target Three or more targets

Generators

  • In a stealth window — Shadow Dance, Vanish or opening from stealth — use Shadowstrike. It is the reason the window exists.
  • Outside one, use Gloomblade, or Backstab if you did not take it.
  • Use Goremaw's Bite whenever you are three or more combo points from capped. It is a builder that happens to have a cooldown, not a cooldown to save.

Finishers

  • Eviscerate the moment Darkest Night is up. This is the supercharged one and it does not wait for anything.
  • Secret Technique inside Shadow Dance.
  • Coup de Grace when Secret Technique is more than three seconds away, or whenever you are in Shadow Dance.
  • Eviscerate for everything else.

Cooldowns

  • Enter Shadow Dance at two or fewer combo points with Slice and Dice up. This is the Deathstalker rule and it is backwards from every other build — you build inside the window and finish with Secret Technique, rather than arriving full. On Trickster you enter at six or more instead.
  • Hold Shadow Dance until Secret Technique is ready, and until 30 or more energy. A window without the finisher in it is most of the damage missing.
  • Shadow Blades goes inside Shadow Dance, with Secret Technique ready and a second Dance charge nearly up. You want two Dances per Shadow Blades.
  • Vanish outside Shadow Dance, at two or fewer combo points and 50 or more energy — then Shadowstrike straight out of it.
  • Take Coup de Grace whenever it comes up, in either rotation. It is never worth holding.
  • The whole spec is "get two Shadow Dance windows onto every Shadow Blades". Between Shadow Blades, spend Dance charges freely — but once Shadow Blades is inside ten seconds of coming back, stop, so you have two banked when it does.

Openers

Single target

  1. Open from stealth with Shadowstrike.
  2. Trinket, then Shadow Dance and Shadow Blades together.
  3. Secret Technique as soon as the window is up.
  4. Shadowstrike and Eviscerate until the Dance ends.
  5. Hold the second Shadow Dance for the last eight seconds of Shadow Blades — that window is about fitting damage inside Shadow Blades, not about lining up Secret Technique.

Three or more targets

  1. Open from stealth with Shuriken Storm.
  2. Trinket, then Shadow Dance and Shadow Blades together.
  3. Secret Technique, then Shuriken Storm into Black Powder.
  4. Alternate Shuriken Storm and Black Powder for the rest of the window.

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 204,298 1 target · Patchwerk baselinereport ↗ Cleave 229,558 CleaveAdd — boss + an add +12% vs STreport ↗ Cleave Big 367,492 HecticAddCleave — boss + spawning adds +80% vs STreport ↗ Mythic+ 234,905 DungeonSlice — a full key +15% 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
Eviscerate36.7%
Lingering Shadow12.3%
Shadow Blades6.5%
Shadowstrike5.9%
Secret Technique5.9%
Goremaw's Bite5%
Deathstalker's Mark4.9%
Melee4.1%
Lashe Macabre4.1%
Guillotine3.8%
Backstab3.4%
Hunt Them Down1.6%

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
Farstrider's Mercy 331 · Spark Crafted +Myth Epic Profession Items — Blacksmithing ✦ Acuity of the Ren'dorei
Subtlety 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 Deadly Peridot
Apex Brute's Claw Ring 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Sszorak ✦ Silvermoon's Alacrity◆ Flawless Deadly 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 Subtlety 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 Ula'tek — 3 of its 5 drops are on your list

60% of every roll here lands something on the list. In The Venomous Abyss, it owes you head, trinket 1 and main hand.

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 Farstrider's Mercy 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, 3 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
Subtlety 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
Bespittled Slitherslippers 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — The Twin Fangs ✦ Lynx's Dexterity
Alluring Bubbleband 334 · Myth 6/6 The Tidebound Grotto — Nymrissa Wavecaller ✦ Silvermoon's Alacrity◆ Flawless Deadly Peridot
Apex Brute's Claw Ring 334 · Myth 6/6 The Venomous Abyss — Sszorak ✦ Silvermoon's Alacrity◆ Flawless Deadly 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 Subtlety Rogue →