This is my first vanilla rogue I’ve leveled other than a 19 and 29 twink.
I’ve never leveled as combat swords but from what I’ve read, it is how rogues are supposed to grind to 60.
My question is: are there any other viable leveling specs? (I ask because of ganking viability and utilizing daggers for quick nukes while I farm)
I intend to do as much world pvp as possible along the way as well as pickpocket/farm humanoids for gold along they way when I need a break from quests… so please take that into consideration.
what is the obsession with swords, im daggers on my rogue, does no one else do it from behind? the satisfaction of backstabbing someone is exhilarating. it’s an adrenaline rush, and with gouge you can literally pause combat entirely
The reason Combat Swords is the best spec is the pure efficiency. You don’t need to rely on stealth nor CC to backstab which increases your speed, you prioritize solid white hits which mean you will easily mow throw enemies and can chain pull. Combat is the worst spec for PvP though.
Backstab is a great ability, but requires you to be behind your target. Not exactly the worst in PvP and in dungeons it’s easy, but in solo play you have to rely on Gouge and it takes longer. You can Ambush kill something pretty quickly but that’s slow, and doesn’t have the efficiency of Combat Swords.
Adrenaline Rush is also an insanely strong cooldown and is Combat, so…
This is my leveling spec. It’s just the standard combat spec without lethality or murder (in assassination). I got tired of everyone seeing through my stealth/wanted some reduced CD’s for pick pocket runs.
At 60, I don’t think this will work. But leveling, nobody could tell I am not full combat/assassination…and I can stealth safely.
I have a 27 rogue. I spec for daggers, but I also pack a sword in my backpack and use macros to weapon swap on the fly.
Gives me freedom to ambush and stealthy stab when I want, but also swap out to my sword before, or mid-fight, to deal the extra damage through Sinister Strikes. No global cooldown, so it’s seamless.
Going pure swords would be faster for levelling, but I like the flex of choosing what I want and when.
I bind the macros to Shift+Mousewheel. Up is daggers, Down is sword.
true true. i dont speak for others but simply myself, i like a little ambush a little surprise from behind, when you dont expect it. it makes it even more enjoyable. like oop!
sword rogues are much better for leveling and then you will be switching between daggers and sword specs depending on the raid tier thats out if you care enough. Or go Daggers at 60 if PVP is gonna be the focus.
To answer the op question, no, there is no better way to level a rogue than combat… however, you don’t have to remain in a leveling spec all the way till level 60 either.
The tricks and trade of rogue trickle in as you level… by level 40, you have enough talent points to 31 any spec of your chosing.
At 40, is a decent chance to spend 1g, and respec into your final look over the last 20 levels.
You can single target mobs down pretty quickly in Sub and Combat builds, just need decent timings.
Combat Swords/X is easier, more convinient, and arguably more effecient because theres less f8cking around with timing and positioning. Spam Sinister Strike, hit Riposte when its up and Evis when finishing. Roll face against keyboard, win game.
If your keen on PvPing, try a x/x/31 Sub build because it will teach you a lot about good timings and set up, which is something a lot of Rogues tend to gloss over 1-60 and will be an invaluable skill later that will serve you well.
Ultimately though, as others have said, talents should really be about trying something out and figuring out if it does or doesnt work.
People have “solved” the levelling meta, but ultimately forgotten how they got there, or just straight up dont care. Your going to be better off figuring it out for yourself so you can respond as and when you progress through the game.
Is 40% crit chance on your next sinister strike worth it? Do you need to have a higher stealth level. Aks the questions, plot the course and then just get in there, messy as f(ucking Blizzard and their asinine filters)ck sometimes, until you get there.
Yes, but leveling its a drag back stabbing always setting up position wasting energy its just not a quick way of dispatching mobs.
Then add dungeons, OMG trying to set up ambushes and backstabs while the tank tries to maintain aggro and the mobs are constantly turning and targeting other people, its a drag.
Good luck doing quests and dungeons with any sort of efficiency or good damage numbers. The daggers might be fun but combat swords is the way to level.
