PvP Subtlety Rogue Rotations & Cooldowns

Ambush is an ability that, in order to work, requires both that you be in Stealth and that you’re positioned behind the target. This ability deals direct high physical damage to your target. Ambush requires you to equip daggers — as this is one of our most powerful abilities, especially considering how you can use it multiple times in the right conditions, we will focus on using daggers for this guide.

Backstab is an ability that can only be used while behind a target and while having a dagger equipped in your main hand. As with Ambush, this ability deals high direct physical damage. Backstab will be one of your core spells to use on the target once you manage to crowd control it properly, make sure to not forget about it! Backstab can actually be considered your highest hitting ability besides Ambush, marking it as your “filler” ability

Eviscerate is a finishing move that requires combo points in order to be used. It deals high direct physical damage that scales with the number of combo points on the target. This ability deals higher damage the more Armor Penetration you acquire. When thinking about Eviscerate, we should mention that it can certainly be your “core” finishing move, as long as you acquire enough armor penetration. This ability should be used instead of other finishing moves especially if you plan to Blind your target afterward. This is because Blind is interrupted by any damage sustained by the target, rendering it useless if used in conjunction with a DoT ability.

Hemorrhage is an ability that deals direct damage to your target while also placing a debuff on the target with 10 stacks. This debuff increases the physical damage of your attacks or your abilities on that target by 75. Unlike many other key Rogue abilities, Hemorrhage does not require you to be positioned behind your target. However, one should never make the mistake of considering  Hemorrhage your main spell; this spell should only be used for its enhancing effects, as Backstab is a lot more powerful.

Rupture is a finishing move that requires combo points in order to be executed, growing increasingly more powerful after each combo point is added into the mix. Rupture provides a powerful bleed effect on the target that is able to critically strike, making this ability especially lethal. However, this ability should be used only if you intend to quickly kill your target and not crowd control it afterward with Blind or Gouge.

Shadowstep is one of the key abilities offered by the Subtlety specialization, allowing you to phase through the shadows, leaping behind your target. This is one of your most powerful abilities as it provides a direct gap closer to your targets, while also providing you with a buff that enhances the damage of your next ability by 20%. Note that this ability can be used in stealth without breaking the effect of stealth. Keep in mind that this is your only gap-closer, so don’t waste it! At the same time, do not underestimate how powerful a combination of Shadowstep and Ambush can be.

Cheap Shot is an opener-style of ability that can be used only in stealth, and stuns the target for 4 seconds. Cheap Shot can be one of the most powerful opener spells in the game, allowing you to effectuate strong crowd control.

Kidney Shot is a finishing move that can be used in order to stun your target, the duration of this ability is directly correlated to the number of combo points you have on your target. You will want to use this spell as early as possible in order to stun lock your target. You will always want to use this ability with 5 combo points!

Garrote is an opener ability that requires you to be in stealth; it inflicts bleed on your target for 18 seconds, and also silences the target for 3 seconds. This ability is great against casters or healers as it puts massive pressure on them right at the start of the fight. However, it will stop you from using Blind or Gouge for as long as it is active due to how both abilities are interrupted by any damage received by the target.

Gouge is an ability that deals direct damage while also incapacitating the target for 5 seconds. Beware that any damage will cancel the CC effect! Luckily for us, when we use Gouge we will stop attacking our target automatically (so we do not have to worry about breaking it with basic attacks) however, any dot on the target will instantly break the effect. Gouge is a perfect ability if you are looking to re-stealth.

Shadow Dance is the most powerful ability in your arsenal, allowing you to use your abilities as if you were in stealth without actually being in stealth. This ability is extremely strong and should always be used when you find yourself at full energy. With this ability, you can manage to stun your target with a Cheap Shot and perform approximately 3 Ambushes on the target. It is worth noting that this ability forces you to change your action bar, initially forcing you to use this ability in order to set up your action bar.

Premeditation is an ability that you can use while in Stealth in order to automatically add two combo points to your target. This ability can be used in a large variety of ways: you can use it together with Slice and Dice before engaging your target without breaking the effect of Stealth. You can also use it in order to keep your combo points for a fast Eviscerate or Kidney Shot after your initial opener.

Slice and Dice is a finishing move that increases your melee attack speed by up to 40%, with the duration depending on how many combo points you spend on the ability. You should aim to maintain this ability on yourself, as the increase in attack speed can be quite powerful when combined with the right poisons. 

Deadly Throw is a finishing move that can be used in order to damage your target from afar. This ability is best used when Shadowstep is on cooldown and your target manages to create distance while still having some combo points left on them.

Shiv is an ability that allows you to quickly stack your poison on a target. You can use this ability in order to guarantee that the poison on your off-hand weapon afflicts the target. This can be used in a multitude of ways, ranging from faster stacking of deadly poison to simply guaranteeing that you apply crippling poison on your target.

Fan of Knives is an ability that can be used to damage multiple opponents at the same time, however, you should take into consideration that this ability is extremely ineffective against a player’s pet. You can use this ability to deal damage to multiple stacked enemies in a battleground if you choose to engage directly into the fold instead of picking off lone targets in the backline.