Why Safe Fall Should Eliminate All Fall Damage for Rogues

Classes Rogue
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Depending on how long you’ve been playing World of Warcraft, you might recall when Subtlety Rogues could jump off the highest cliffs and take no fall damage at all. It was a defining feature that made the class unique and added an element of excitement to playing a Rogue. The original Safe Fall ability reduced fall damage significantly, but it wasn’t until later that we got a taste of what it meant to truly ignore fall damage entirely.

Now, Safe Fall is back in name, but let’s be honest—it’s just not the same as it used to be. Sure, it reduces fall damage, but it doesn’t capture the same fantasy as being able to plummet from any height with zero consequence.

Other classes have their own ways of dealing with fall damage that feel true to their identities:

  • Mages have Slow Fall, allowing them to glide to a strategic position.
  • Priests have Levitate, which also lets them hover and maneuver in the air.
  • Hunters have Updraft from Aspect of the Eagle.
  • Druids have Flap to ease their descent.

But what about Rogues? I’m not arguing for a glide or slow fall. Rogues don’t need to float gracefully through the air—leave that to the casters. What makes sense for Rogues is the ability to drop straight down, vanish into the shadows, and not get splattered at the bottom. It’s gritty, it’s daring, and it fits the Rogue fantasy perfectly.

Imagine leaping off a high ledge to escape danger, disappearing into the shadows mid-fall, and landing silently behind enemy lines without a scratch. It’s a moment that speaks to what being a Rogue is all about: unpredictability, daring maneuvers, and getting the upper hand through unconventional means.

From a gameplay perspective, implementing this wouldn’t be difficult. A simple adjustment to Safe Fall could bring back that fall immunity, making it feel like a truly valuable passive. And it wouldn’t be overpowered compared to what other classes have; it’s not like we’d be gliding across the map. We’d just have a unique way to manage vertical challenges that fits our class fantasy.

Bringing back the ability to ignore fall damage wouldn’t just be a nod to nostalgia; it would be a restoration of a unique Rogue identity that many of us miss. Here’s to hoping we can once again embrace our inner daredevils, leap from any height, and land on our feet like true Rogues.

4 Likes
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Outlaw Rogues can Grappling Hook the ground to eliminate fall damage. Other specs can use a well time Shadow Step to do the same though it’s harder.

There are ton of ways to eliminate fall damage. Rogues don’t need it.

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That’s a good point, but I think there’s still a case for Safe Fall eliminating fall damage entirely. While Grappling Hook is a great tool for Outlaw Rogues, it has its limitations, like range and needing to target specific terrain. Plus, not every fall situation is going to have a great target to hook onto, especially in some of the more open-world areas.

For other specs, Shadowstep can work, but it requires precision timing and a valid target to step to. That makes it less reliable than just having the peace of mind of knowing a fall won’t take you out. With Safe Fall fully negating fall damage, it would give all Rogue specs a consistent, unique way to deal with falls without needing specific conditions. It’s about bringing back that old-school Rogue feel where we can jump from anywhere without worrying about the landing!

3 Likes
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Nah. We don’t need to feel safe from falling great distances. In fact I think less classes need to feel safe. Like for real? Hunter’s have a falling damage negation tool? Take that away in my opinion.

This is just asking for further homogenization of classes.

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Safe Fall needs a buff and Sprinting on water should be allowed.

:surfing_man: :surfing_woman:

6 Likes
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If I’m being chased and need to bail, I always jump off my mount over a bunch of mobs. Shadowstep has a pretty decent range and if you’re quick with it you can use it to completely negate fall damage - plus it doesn’t break stealth, so you get away scot-free~

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Most classes have a way to completely negate fall damage. Just off the top of my head…

Druids have flap if they’re balance
Hunters have Updraft if they’re using the right pet
Pallys can bubble
Mages have slow fall and ice block and blink
Priest shave levitate
Pandas take 1/2 fall damage, which I think is better than our Safe Fall
Feral druids have safe fall just like us
Demon Hunters and Dracthyr and have glide

I know they’re some I’m forgetting but that’s a lot of them. Rogues’ safe fall feels really stupid by comparison. And it wouldn’t be further homogenization, it would actually be the opposite. Rogues would become the only class immune to fall damage without needing an active ability.

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That’s true but if there aren’t any mobs around, or you’re just a little too far away you’re screwed.

I’ll never forget back in Legion jumping off the huge cliff in Highmountain as I was being chased by about 3-4 Horde. This was back when PvP and PvE servers were separated, and PvP was not optional on PvP servers in contested zones the way it is now.

Anyway I was being chased and I knew I was going to die so I ran off the cliff and the Horde guys ran off after me. As we’re falling I went out of combat and restealthed. I landed, with no damage, as I watched them slow fall down to the ground, obviously further away from me because they weren’t falling straight down. They ran around and around looking for me as I sat on a rock in stealth and just watched and laughed.

Stuff like that was really fun. Same with water walking while you’re sprinting. I wish they’d bring both things back.

1 Like
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As a pandaren rogue I get a lot of slack with a fall, since safe fall and bouncy stack. It was pretty important back in the day when people paid more attention to their combat logs. A small drop could give you away, even if you could just restealth.

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Hunters can also just disengage to avoid fall damage
Warriors can Heroic Leap
Of course we all get Parasol Toys now as long as you use them immediately

I did enjoy Safe Fall back when it eliminated all damage. I think that thematically, Rogues would be the ones to have some sort of fall damage mitigation. Maybe next expac. :shrug:

3 Likes
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Just reroll dracthyr. Lol jk.

Imho we don’t need more safe falling. Idk what heights your constantly falling from but what we have suffices plenty for me. And as pervious posters mentioned the grapple and shadow step trick is pretty bad a$$ already.

Or just F it and let your cheat death proc. :laughing:

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Also this post reminds me of this awesome YouTube video lol

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Rogues need more of their tools back right now because the Rogue tool kit is tiny compared to other classes.

:surfing_man: :surfing_woman: