With so many classes and styles of play i’ve been through, Rogue is still my oldest class (first character i created back in BC when i first started playing), and of all the classes I’ve played, druid, hunter, warrior, paladin, priest, shaman, warlock, mage, this is the one class that always got left behind because it was too much of a trying task to try to complete quests solo.
I see a lot of people talking about how rogues are “OP” and “Cannot suck”, and whatever gibberish, but from what I also can see, this is only even remotely “true” at max level when you’re geared. It’s almost like people have never actually tried leveling a rogue and compared it to other classes in that regard.
Literally every other class i have played, i can just stomp through quests without stopping, one after another, but rogues? even non-special trash enemies (Bigger ones, not tiny ones) feel like i’m fighting an elite, and actual “!” quest mobs are like i’m trying to solo a dungeon boss of my level. I have yet to reach max level with any rogue, in any expansion because of how daunting it is, when other classes are just so easy. Multiple heirloom weapons and armor pieces still isn’t enough, it just doesn’t work. I am level 34 now, and it’s just getting worse. I cannot even fight quest mobs on my own, i have to sit around and wait for some other player to come along so i can tag the quest mob and get credit for it.
So does anyone with experience leveling rogues have any particular advice on this?
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Are you using all of your tool kit. I have a baby rogue (he’s 38 now) and the only issue I have is tackling elites, of course I’m leveling through BfA.
I found the wowhead guide on rogues quite helpful
https://www.wowhead.com/outlaw-rogue-simple-guide
I just leveled 3 Rogues from 10-50 recently. I did WOD on all three and didn’t have too many issues. I will say, if you are used to other classes, it will be a change of pace. I’ve leveled multiple classes to max for several expansions now and it’s pretty noticeable how much easier other classes have it.
It’s been a common trend each expansion where my Rogue has basically had to pop CDs to survive against multiple mobs where as other classes will just roll through them. So, I’ve just got used to CC’ing. Or just following other players through the questing areas. That’s a big one that makes things a lot easier. 
If I have any advice, I’d say level as Subtlety. Soothing Darkness is huge and you should notice a huge jump in your survivability with it and Shadow Dance. Not only that, less downtime since you are healing while sneaking around.
I haven’t had trouble surviving but I really, really hate how SLOW it feels. I am leveling Outlaw so maybe I should try a different spec?
I leveled as sub and it honestly felt fine. Damage was good, lots of self heals between packs, you have to use CDs if you pull too much, so that’s probably not as nice as some stronger aoe classes.
The only other thing I leveled recently was a DH and those just faceroll so I dunno.
I love my outlaw rouge, which is a Blood elf, very fast, and resets easily!, i also made a Vulpera rouge which is way too slow! it must be a race thing! my main has no problem taking down DH’s and DH’s!
yeah I noticed that too, my Vulpera rogue seem sluggish compared to me BE Rogue
Very interesting. I was just thinking the same things after taking a new Sub Rogue from Exile’s Reach all the way to Nazjatar. Very slow and precarious.
In recent days I also leveled an Affliction Warlock to 50 and I am currently at 40-plus on a Shadow Priest. The difference is stunning, certainly in terms of time to level, but most importantly in terms of “feel”. It makes me feel like Blizz has no clue about making classes roughly similar in terms of “power”.
I can only assume the design is to make Rogues a DPS utility class, mostly suited to being components in dungeons and raids. Not even close in PVE content. I have to blow all my saved-up CDs in proper order to have the same “power” available to many other classes’ casual rotation.
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I think a major part of that is because Rogues are bound by energy. Subtlety gets it’s energy stuff at 26 and 27, Assassination has to wait till 37 and Outlaw has to wait till 37 and 43 for it’s second part. The specs are basically(as far as I can tell) designed around these. Thus, not having them makes the specs just straight up feel bad. I made a post on the beta forum that they should give these sooner. But, I doubt they will change it.
Most other classes don’t get stuff like that to their rotation. They mostly just get more abilities to use rather than passives that make their rotations feel better.
Thankfully, leveling only takes like 12-16 hours unless you are going hard with a guide/route. So, it’s not like it’s a major thing, anyways.
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I’ve leveled like 3 rogues and never had these issues. Even though I play assassination, which is DoT, I still do just fine. Against elites I may have to use the heal potion thing or use a defensive cooldown, but that’s about it.
Only issue was getting AoE so late, but that’s been fixed now.
Anyways, energy feels garbage until you get those energy-regen abilities like assassination’s venomous wounds (I think it’s called that?) At that point rogue becomes a billion times more fun and easier to play.
It’s pretty easy, stab everything and collect gear that makes you better at stabbing things. Also don’t for get all good Rouges are thief’s. So steal everything that isn’t bolted down.
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Hey guys, I am pretty new to rogue, got mine up to 30 then lvl boosted to 50, I’m playing subtlety and loving it, do you guys have any advice for a newb and any help specifically for elite would be great! thanks!!!
Leveled this guy as Assassination, there were points where it got a bit sticky, and annoying, but I just pushed through as best I could.
Sub is the best to level in my opinion. The shadowstrike teleport is sooooo good.
When I level as a rogue, I literally just go for quest objectives. Stealth through mobs, sap what you need to, collect the items for the quest and peace out. If you need to kill a boss, sap patrols or anything near them and you are good to go.
Barring outlaw with CDs, rogues arent a class that pull all the mobs in a zone and kill them. You have to be a little strategic about it. I’ve leveled almost everything and I’ve never felt my rogue slower to level - just different.