Assassination Rogue
Melee DPS
Mutilate, poisons and Venom: the dagger rogue that kills with the weapons, not the finishers alone.
Verified 2026-10-01
Build 1.60.1.70124
Icy Veins’ first 11, then Mutilate
SupportedBeta-testedTheoryRemorseless Attacks, Malice, Ruthlessness and Relentless Strikes are the level-20 path Icy Veins prints, because mobs die before Slice and Dice matters. The same order then takes Lethality, the poison talents and Mutilate, and finishes at Venom. No respec.
41 / 10 / 0 (51 points)
Assassination
41 pts
Improved GougeRank 0/3Increases the duration of your Gouge ability by 0.5 sec.
2/2Remorseless AttacksRank 2/2After 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.
5/5MaliceRank 5/5Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks and Poisons by 5%.
3/3RuthlessnessRank 3/3Gives your finishing moves a 60% chance to add a Combo Point to your target.
2/2MurderRank 2/2Increases all damage dealt by 4% against Humanoid and Giant targets.
3/3Improved Slice and DiceRank 3/3Increases the duration of your Slice and Dice ability by 45%.
1/1Relentless StrikesRank 1/1Your finishing moves have a 20% chance per Combo Point to restore 25 Energy.
Improved Expose ArmorRank 0/2Reduces the Energy cost of your Expose Armor ability by 5, and refunds 1 Combo Point when cast with 5 Combo Points.
5/5LethalityRank 5/5Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Sinister Strike, Gouge, Backstab, Mutilate, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities by 20%.Requires Malice
5/5Vile PoisonsRank 5/5Increases the damage dealt by your poisons by 20% and gives your poisons an additional 40% chance to resist dispel effects.
1/1Cold BloodRank 1/1When activated, increases the critical strike chance of your next Sinister Strike, Backstab, Ambush, Eviscerate, or Mutilate by 100%.
5/5Improved PoisonsRank 5/5Increases the chance to apply Poisons to your target by 10%, and gives Poison applications a 50% chance to not consume a charge.
2/2VigorRank 2/2Increases your maximum Energy by 10.
1/1MutilateRank 1/1Instantly attacks with both weapons for 75% weapon damage plus an additional 13 with each weapon. Damage increased by 20% against Poisoned targets. Awards 2 Combo Points.
Improved Kidney ShotRank 0/2Enemies Stunned by your Kidney Shot ability take 5% increased damage from your poisons and attacks.
5/5Seal FateRank 5/5Your critical strikes from abilities that add Combo Points have a 100% chance to add an additional Combo Point.
1/1VenomRank 1/1Finishing move that increases the damage of your Poisons by 30% and your chance to apply Poisons by 10%. Lasts longer per combo point:
1 point : 9 seconds
2 points: 12 seconds
3 points: 15 seconds
4 points: 18 seconds
5 points: 21 secondsRequires Mutilate
Combat
10 ptsImproved EviscerateRank 0/3Increases the damage done by your Eviscerate ability by 7%.
2/2Improved Sinister StrikeRank 2/2Reduces the Energy cost of your Sinister Strike ability by 5.
5/5Lightning ReflexesRank 5/5Increases your Dodge chance by 5%.
Puncturing WoundsRank 0/3Increases 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.
DeflectionRank 0/3Increases your Parry chance by 2%.
3/3PrecisionRank 3/3Improves your chance to hit by 3%.
EnduranceRank 0/2Reduces the cooldown of your Sprint and Evasion abilities by 30%.
RiposteRank 0/1A strike that becomes active after parrying an opponent's attack. This attack deals 150% weapon damage and disarms the target for 6 sec.Requires Deflection
Improved SprintRank 0/2Gives a 50% chance to remove all movement impairing effects when you activate your Sprint ability.
Improved KickRank 0/2Gives your Kick ability a 50% chance to Silence the target for 2 sec.
Flawless ExecutionRank 0/1Reduces the Energy cost of your Eviscerate ability by 10.
Dual Wield SpecializationRank 0/5Increases the damage done by your off-hand weapon by 5%.Requires Precision
Blade FlurryRank 0/1Increases your melee attack speed by 20% and your melee attacks strike an additional nearby opponent. Lasts 15 sec.
Hack and SlashRank 0/5Gives 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.
Weapon ExpertiseRank 0/2Reduces the chance for your attacks to be Dodged or Parried by 1%.Requires Blade Flurry
AggressionRank 0/3Increases the damage of your Sinister Strike, Backstab, and Eviscerate abilities by 2%.
Adrenaline RushRank 0/1Increases your Energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 sec.
Subtlety
0 ptsCamouflageRank 0/5Reduces your speed penalty from your Stealth ability by 3% and reduces its cooldown by 2 sec.
Master of DeceptionRank 0/3Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you while in Stealth mode as if you were 1 level higher.
OpportunityRank 0/2Increases the damage dealt by your Backstab, Garrote, Ambush, and Mutilate abilities by 5%.
SetupRank 0/3Gives you a 33% chance to add a Combo Point to your target after Dodging an attack or fully resisting a spell.
ElusivenessRank 0/2Reduces the cooldown of your Vanish and Blind abilities by 45 sec.
Dirty TricksRank 0/2Reduces the Energy cost of your Sap and Blind abilities by 25%.
Improved AmbushRank 0/3Increases the critical strike chance of your Ambush ability by 15%.
InitiativeRank 0/3Gives you a 33% chance to add an additional combo point to your target when using your Ambush, Garrote, or Cheap Shot ability.
Ghostly StrikeRank 0/1A strike that deals 125% (180% if a Dagger is equipped in your Main Hand) weapon damage and increases your chance to dodge by 15% for 7 sec. Awards 1 combo point.
Improved DistractRank 0/2Increases the radius of your Distract ability by 3 yds, and further reduces the Stealth detection of distracted enemies as though they were an additional 1 level lower.
Heightened SensesRank 0/2Increases your Stealth detection as if you were 1 level higher and reduces your chance to be hit by spells and ranged attacks by 2%.
PremeditationRank 0/1Adds 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 BladesRank 0/3Causes your attacks to ignore 3% of your target's Armor and increases the damage dealt by your Rupture ability by 10%.
Dirty DeedsRank 0/2Reduces 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.
PreparationRank 0/1When activated, this ability immediately finishes the cooldown on your other Rogue abilities.
HemorrhageRank 0/1An instant strike that deals 100% weapon damage (145% if a Dagger is equipped) and causes the target to take 15% increased Rupture damage from the Rogue. Lasts 15 sec. Awards 1 Combo Point.Requires Serrated Blades
QuietusRank 0/5Your Sinister Strike, Ghostly Strike, and Hemorrhage abilities cause 2% more damage against targets below 35% health.Requires Dirty Deeds
CutthroatRank 0/5Your Backstab has a 3% chance to cause your next Ambush within 10 sec to not require Stealth.
Thousand CutsRank 0/1When your Rupture ability deals periodic damage, the Energy cost of your next Hemorrhage or Backstab ability within 10 sec is reduced by 3, stacking up to 5 times.Requires Preparation
Leveling talent order
One point per level from 10 to 60, planned to need no respec.
Levels 10–19
- Level 10·Remorseless Attacks(1/2)
- Level 11·Remorseless Attacks(2/2)
- Level 12·Malice(1/5)
- Level 13·Malice(2/5)
- Level 14·Malice(3/5)
- Level 15·Malice(4/5)
- Level 16·Malice(5/5)
- Level 17·Ruthlessness(1/3)
- Level 18·Ruthlessness(2/3)
- Level 19·Ruthlessness(3/3)
Levels 20–29
- Level 20·Relentless Strikes(1/1)
- Level 21·Murder(1/2)
- Level 22·Murder(2/2)
- Level 23·Lethality(1/5)
- Level 24·Lethality(2/5)
- Level 25·Lethality(3/5)
- Level 26·Lethality(4/5)
- Level 27·Lethality(5/5)
- Level 28·Improved Poisons(1/5)
- Level 29·Improved Poisons(2/5)
Levels 30–39
- Level 30·Improved Poisons(3/5)
- Level 31·Improved Poisons(4/5)
- Level 32·Improved Poisons(5/5)
- Level 33·Vile Poisons(1/5)
- Level 34·Vile Poisons(2/5)
- Level 35·Vile Poisons(3/5)
- Level 36·Vile Poisons(4/5)
- Level 37·Vile Poisons(5/5)
- Level 38·Cold Blood(1/1)
- Level 39·Mutilate(1/1)
Levels 40–49
- Level 40·Seal Fate(1/5)
- Level 41·Seal Fate(2/5)
- Level 42·Seal Fate(3/5)
- Level 43·Seal Fate(4/5)
- Level 44·Seal Fate(5/5)
- Level 45·Vigor(1/2)
- Level 46·Vigor(2/2)
- Level 47·Improved Slice and Dice(1/3)
- Level 48·Improved Slice and Dice(2/3)
- Level 49·Improved Slice and Dice(3/3)
Levels 50–59
- Level 50·Venom(1/1)
- Level 51·Improved Sinister Strike(1/2)
- Level 52·Improved Sinister Strike(2/2)
- Level 53·Lightning Reflexes(1/5)
- Level 54·Lightning Reflexes(2/5)
- Level 55·Lightning Reflexes(3/5)
- Level 56·Precision(1/3)
- Level 57·Precision(2/3)
- Level 58·Precision(3/3)
- Level 59·Lightning Reflexes(4/5)
Level 60
- Level 60·Lightning Reflexes(5/5)
Stat priority
- Agility
- Attack Power
- Stamina
- Hit
- Crit
A faster dagger beats a slow sword you cannot Backstab with. Keep poisons crafted. First Aid is the heal you do not have.
Best race
Alliance
Gnome
Runner-up: Night ElfIcy Veins picks Gnome while Vanish is not trained yet, because Escape Artist breaks roots. Do not believe that page’s 50% Eureka! number. The Sep-28 race guide says 10% cost and 10% damage.
Escape ArtistInstant, 2 min cooldown. Instantly escape the effects of any movement impairing effect and gain immunity to those effects for 3 sec.
Expansive MindMaximum Mana, Rage or Energy increased by 5%, whichever your class uses.
Engineering SpecializationYour gnomish ingenuity reduces the rate of engineering devices failing or backfiring when you use them by 20%.
Eureka!Instant, 2 min cooldown. Your next 3 damaging abilities cost 10% less (Mana, Rage or Energy) and deal 10% more damage. For healers, your next 3 damaging or healing abilities cost 10% less Mana and do 10% more.
Horde
Orc
Runner-up: UndeadBlood Fury ends packs faster, which is what Remorseless Attacks wants: a kill, then a 40% crit on the next builder. Hardiness keeps you on the mob through a stun.
Blood FuryInstant, 2 min cooldown. Increases Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 sec.
HardinessDuration of Stun effects on you reduced by 20%.
Axe SpecializationIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and abilities by 1% while you have an axe or a two-handed axe equipped.
Shatter CurseInstant, 3 min cooldown. Instantly removes and grants immunity to all Curses and Banes, and reduces all Magical damage taken by 15% for 8 sec.
How to play it
- Stealth, Ambush, Sinister Strike or Backstab, Eviscerate. Never sit at full energy. Icy Veins is right that a full bar is wasted regeneration.
- Remorseless Attacks after a kill is a 40% crit on the next builder for 20 seconds. Pull the next mob before it falls off.
- Instant Poison on both weapons as soon as you can make it. Check charges, not just the timer.
- Sprint out of a bad cave. Evasion on elites, not saved for a boss you will not see today.
- Skip Improved Slice and Dice until mobs live. The order does that. It still ends with the talent once bosses exist.
Verdict
Assassination is the poison spec. Mutilate hits with both weapons and hits 20% harder on a poisoned target. Venom, the capstone, adds 30% poison damage and 10% apply chance for up to 21 seconds at five combo points. Vile Poisons is 20% poison damage and 40% less chance they get dispelled. Improved Poisons is 10% more applications and a 50% chance not to spend a charge.
Icy Veins’ level-20 Assassination guide calls it the king of poisons and builds the first 11 points as Remorseless Attacks, Malice, Ruthlessness and Relentless Strikes. That page still says Gnome Eureka! is a massive damage boost. Sep 24 cut Eureka! to 10% cost and 10% damage on the next three abilities. Escape Artist is still the reason a leveling Gnome is fine. It is not a 50% button.
wowforever.co shows Assassination at A on MMOExp and Overgear and at C on the Sep-16 forum list. No level-60 log exists. Human Sword Specialization does not apply to daggers, so it is not the PvE pick.
Play Assassination when the fight is long enough for poisons to tick and you can stay on one target. Play Combat if the weapons you have are swords and the pack is large. The 51-point splits are projections. The opening of the leveling order is the Icy Veins level-20 path.
Strengths
- Venom plus Vile Poisons is the highest poison multiplier in the tree, and Improved Poisons makes the charges last.
- Cold Blood makes the next Mutilate, Backstab or Eviscerate a guaranteed crit. Seal Fate then adds a combo point on crits.
- Murder is 4% damage against Humanoids and Giants. Most dungeon and battleground targets are one of those.
- Improved Kidney Shot makes stunned targets take 10% more damage from you. That is the PvP go.
Weaknesses
- Icy Veins: at low levels Rogue offers damage and Kick, not unique group buffs. Sap and Blind come later.
- Daggers want you behind the target for Backstab. Mutilate does not, which is why it is the button when you cannot get there.
- Poisons have charges. Icy Veins warns you will run out of charges before the duration if you chain mobs and forget to reapply.
- Public rank is A or C depending on the list. Nothing has been tested at 60.
Sources
- World of Warcraft: Forever Assassination Rogue Guide — Icy Veins, 2026-09-17reputable
- WoW Forever Racial Guide — Icy Veins, 2026-09-28reputable
- WoW Forever - PvP Rank System Explained — Icy Veins, 2026-09-19reputable
- New Enchanting Formulas for World of Warcraft Forever — Warcraft Tavern, 2026-09-17reputable
- WoW Forever Patch Notes: every beta update, class by class — ForeverChanges, 2026-09-30fan
- WoW Forever Tier List: Every Public Ranking, Compared — wowforever.co, 2026-10-01fan