WoW Classic Level 29 Twink Rogue Guide

Rogues are among the most fun classes to play, especially in PvP, where you can sometimes find yourself as the MVP of your team, or battle group.  Rogues, as always, specialize in stealth, surprise attacks and dealing incredible amounts of damage to a single opponent.  In PvP, Rogues make excellent scouts and spies, as they are the absolute masters of stealth.  If you enjoy sneaking up on and assassinating your enemies, or helping your party set up devastating ambushes for your foes, the Rogue is the class for you.

Contents

• Races:  Which Races can play as Rogues and which racial traits benefit Rogues the most?
• Professions:  Which Professions are the best for a Rogue and which are good for Twinking in general?
• Spells and Abilities:  What attacks and abilities are at the Rogue’s disposal at this level and what are the best ways to employ them in PvP?
• Talents:  Which talents builds are the best for a level 29 Rogue and which builds are the most beneficial in PvP?
• Gear:  What is the Best in Slot (BiS) gear for a level 29 Rogue Twink and where can it be acquired?
• Enchantments:  Which enchantments are the best for the gear of a level 29 Rogue engaging in PvP?
• Buffs:  What Scrolls, Potions, Elixirs, Teas and other consumables are the best for Rogues and where can they be found?

Races

The only class in the game that offers more racial choices than the Rogue is the Warrior, because of this, the choice of which race to play can be difficult.  All of the playable races have their appeal and all offer fantastic bonuses with respect to their racial traits.  Some are incredibly useful to a Twink, some not at all.  The following is a list of all of the races available to a Rogue and the racial traits they posses that have an effect on PvP gameplay.

Alliance

Dwarves

Stoneform is the best racial trait offered by Dwarves for any Rogue engaging in PvP.  It allows you to counter the bleed abilities of the Hunter, Rogue and Warrior while also increasing your armor for a short time. Frost Resistance is good for keeping Frost Mages off your back, but not much else.  Another trait with a minor, but definite benefit is Find Treasure, as Twinking by its nature is expensive and every advantage in that regard helps.

Gnomes

Gnomes have Escape Artist, which counters the CC effects of four other classes and Engineering Specialization, which gives a little extra advantage in the form of Engineering gadgets and devices that other races cannot access yet.  Arcane Resistance lowers the damage type used by at least three classes and that is good.

Humans

Perception is handy for being able to spot other sneaky Rogues and less sneaky Druids.  You can see them…but they can’t see you.  The Human Spirit and Sword Specialization offer great passive edges to health regeneration and your chance to hit, which never hurts.

Night Elves

Quickness increases your chance to dodge, which is only ever a good thing.  Nature Resistance offers decent protection from the poisons of other Rogues, the Stings of Hunters and the other nature damage used by Shaman and Druids.  Another racial trait of Night Elves, which might seem useless to any Rogue is Shadowmeld, however, there are two important factors that can make this ability incredibly useful in PvP.  Shadowmeld does not share a cooldown with Stealth, giving you the ability to immediately stealth after downing an enemy, as long as you down move and you can eat and drink while in Shadowmeld as well, allowing you to swiftly regain health in safety after a difficult fight.

Horde

Orcs

With a short cooldown and a massive short term damage increase, Blood Fury is the absolute best racial trait for Rogues that Orcs possess.  Hardiness is the other Orcish Racial trait that means anything to a rogue.  It might not seem like it offers much, but remember – it is a Passive ability, which means it’s always there.  If it procs, it protects you, if it doesn’t, you don’t have to kick yourself for not remembering to use it.

Trolls

The Berserking trait is of particular usefulness, especially when things are looking grim.  Regeneration adds a lot of survivability, articularly if you couple it with a regeneration buff to increase its efficacy.

Undead

Will of the Forsaken is one of the best racial traits for PvP of any kind and of particular use to Rogues, who are often the target of CC effects.  Shadow Resistance is great for countering the damage type used by Priests and Warlocks.  This, coupled with Will of the Forsaken, makes the Undead the absolute bane of those classes in PvP as well.  Cannibalize is basically a free somewhat weak bandage, but most importantly – it can be used while in stealth.

Professions

There are a lot of professions to choose from, which can make deciding which ones to go with hard.  Fortunately, one of the coolest professions is also an absolute necessity for a Twink of any class,  Engineering.  There are a plethora of gadgets, devices and bombs that are extremely useful within Battlegrounds and you won’t want to miss out on them.

While Engineering is a necessity, you’re other Profession is also important.  Which ones you’ll be interested in will largely depend on your class.

What follows is a description of each of the Professions that should be of interest to a level 29 Twink Rogue and why.

Engineering:  For any Twink, at almost any level, Engineering is a must-have.   You’ve got explosives that offer minor CC effects, like the Mithril Frag Bomb (the stun effect of which can work against even level 60 characters).  There’s some utility to be had at this level too, with items like the Parachute Cloak.  There’s also some support items, like the Minor Recombobulator which can unsheep a healer, and the Goblin Jumper Cables, which can rez them if they’re the one that bought it.

It’s important to also not forget about the lower level items.  The Flame Deflector still absorbs 500 fire damage, which is still kind of a lot when you consider that that is about what a Greater Healing Potion restores in health, more on that particular item later on down in the buffs section.  There is also the Discombobulator Ray , which does the opposite of what the Minor Recombobulator does, thus giving the Rogue some more in combat CC effects.

Enchanting:  Enchanting is probably the best choice for players who are not supporting their Twink with another character.  It has few expensive reagents that must be truly gathered, most being products of disenchanting items you are already likely to pick up.  It also offers lucrative selling opportunities with the many materials you will acquire from breaking down all of the Green and Blue items you do not need.  It can also offset the cost of getting your own enchantments some, as higher level enchanters are sometimes on the lookout for lower level materials.

Alchemy:  If you are being supplied herbs and reagents by another character, then Alchemy can be an extremely useful Profession to endeavor upon.  The ability to simply create the many potions and elixirs that offer decided advantages in PvP at this bracket, instead of having to go shop for them, almost pays for itself.  Alchemy can also be a great way to make money, especially if the reagents and materials can be acquired cheaply.

Other Professions

Herbalism, Mining, and Skinning should be avoided entirely, unless you are hoping to compliment your Engineering with Mining and take some pressure off of the character supporting your Twink.  Tailoring and Blacksmithing are useless to a Rogue as well.  Leatherworking is only a viable option in that it allows you to craft your own Pre BiS armor, but none of the BiS gear from the level 29 list is made this way.

Secondary Skills

Cooking:  Cooking has but one benefit to any Twink at any level bracket.  The Well Fed Buff.  The food that offers the highest possible Well Fed bonus at this level is Soothing Turtle Bisque, which gives a +8 bonus.  You can get the recipe to cook these food from Kelsey Yance in Booty Bay.  Some players may wish to go for the Giant Clam Scorcho, as it is acquired through a faction based cooking quest.  This is still viable, but is more complicated to acquire than the Turtle Bisque.  The choice is, of course, yours.

First Aid:  The only thing to worry about here is to get your First Aid maxed as high as it will go, so that you can use the Heavy Runecloth Bandage, which can heal you almost completely full with just one bandage.  To do this, you will need the three books Expert First Aid – Under Wraps, Manual: Heavy Silk Bandage and Manual: Mageweave Bandage.  The only trouble is that, because you still can’t get your Secondary Skills up to 300 yet, you’ll have to find someone to craft the bandages for you.  Alternatively, you could simply purchase them off of the AH.

Fishing:  This skill is not as important at this level bracket, but it’s still a great way to increase your income, especially while you’re bored and waiting around near some water.  Take any opportunity you can to fish, because each time you fish is a chance to catch a rare fish that can earn you some good money.  It’s also not a bad way to get Cooking and Alchemy reagents to increase those skills.

Spells and Abilities

Rogues have quite a few nasty abilities that they can employ in a multitude of different scenarios.  Some abilities only have use in certain situations, but you will find a use for almost all of them at some point, in or out of PvP.  Rogue abilities break down into three groups:  Assassination, Combat/Sword and Subtlety.

Assassination

• Rupture:  This is a cruel finisher that lays down a Damage over Time (DoT) that’s damage is based both on your attack power and the number of combo points you have on a target.
• Expose Armor:  Use this finisher on heavily armored opponents.  The higher your combo points, the more armor Expose Armor will strip away – to a maximum of over 700 Armor.  This is not an ability to forget!
• Cheap Shot:  Another fantastic CC ability of Rogues.  It doesn’t really replace Kick, as it doesn’t prevent spellcasting, but it also doesn’t share a cooldown with it.
• Ambush:  You must be stealthed, behind the target and using a dagger for this to work, but it’s well worth the trouble.  If you play an Assassination Rogue, you are more than likely going to start every combat with this ability.  Bonus:  It awards a combo point!
• Eviscerate:  This is the combo finisher you will likely have used the most with this character so far.  That isn’t going to be changing any time soon.  It releases your combo points and does a bunch of damage.  It’s particularly useful against the lightly armored, like other Rogues, Druids and Clothies.
• Garrote:  This is a great ability to use on a lightly armored target with a lot of hit points, like Tauren Druids and Clothie Dwarves.  It opens combat with a DoT and awards a combo point.
• Slice and Dice:  The increase in speed can be good, but the damage is so low and the buildup necessary so high that it might just be better to avoid it.  Still, a sudden burst in speed can be just the thing to bring a tough enemy quickly.

Combat/Sword

• Backstab:  Named in a somewhat counter intuitive manner, backstab is all about specificity.  You don’t need to be stealthed, you just need to be behind your opponent.  Use this when a tougher ally has an opponent busy for some serious damage.
• Kick:  The bane of enemy spellcasters, Kick does a bit of damage, but also stops an opponent from casting whatever spell they were thinking about casting and makes the think about not casting it for a bit.
• Sinister Strike:  The ability you will be using the most.  Period.  Does some damage and awards a combo point.  Nuff’ said.
• Gouge:  This is a great ability to use when you are outnumbered, or just outmaneuvered.  It cuts at an opponent’s weak spot and incapacitates them for a time.  Make sure you stop attacking, or switch targets swiftly, or your next attack with disrupt your CC.  Oh, and you have to be looking them in the eye for this to work.
• Sprint:  One of the best non combat abilities a Rogue has, keep it on your bar for when things get dicey and it becomes better to run and fight another day.  When coupled with a Swiftness Potion, this ability puts the Rogue in line to be one of the best Flag Carriers (FC) in Capture the Flag (CTP).
• Evasion:  One of the Rogue’s most overlooked abilities.  Use this when you are in the middle of a tough fight and taking too much damage, or when you’ve just used Sprint and you don’t want to get stunned as your bailing on your party.

Subtlety

• Sap:  This is probably the Rogue’s greatest offering of CC, in or out of PvP.  The target can do nothing until it wears off, unless they are attacked, or have some kind of counter to CC.  This is often best used on opponents that themselves like to use CC, like Mages, Priests, Druids and other Rogues.
• Detect Traps:  A great passive ability that you might overlook in PvP, but Detect Traps actually lets you track the traps of enemy Hunters, allowing you to not only avoid them, but track where the Hunter has been.
• Vanish:  This is a fantastic little Nope button for enemy CC.  It puts you into a heightened state of stealth, while breaking out of any movement impairing effects.  Really great for when you’ve just been rooted by a druid.
• Distract:  While largely a PvE ability, Distract can be used to great effect in PvP as well.  You can use it on any fleeing opponent, or on enemy FC to make them pause and give you time to catch up with them.  It forces characters to turn around, so you can use it to set yourself up for an Ambush, or Backstab.  Oh, and it can be used from stealth.  Use your imagination.
• Stealth:  Probably the most important ability that a Rogue possesses, stealth has been discussed throughout this section of the guide for a reason.  It is the main thing that a Rogue brings to any group.  Oh and in case you hadn’t figured it out, this ability essentially makes you invisible.

Talents

Even at this level, Rogues will often find that they have more options for builds than other classes, as they have talents in every tree that compliment ones in others.  Lightning Reflexes, for example, is a talent that any character, let alone any Rogue, would likely welcome.  The builds shown here are only the most straight forward and popular specs.  So while they are good to use and will give you a decisive advantage, you don’t need to feel married to them.

Assassin

Backstabber

As stated, there are a lot of ways to go with a Rogue, most of which involve doing a lot of damage to a single opponent.  If you’d like to try your hand at your own build, to see what the class has to offer for yourself, check out the Rogue Talent Calculator.  You can plan out how you’d like your Rogue to build and make sure you get the bonuses you want without having to constantly spend gold on respecing.

BiS Gear

We come to it now, the most time consuming and arduous aspect of building any Twink – the gear.  You will not find all of these easily and in fact some may come at a very high cost in either time, or literal funds, but every piece of it is worth it.  What’s more is that every piece is necessary should you truly wish to craft the perfect Rogue Twink to dominate in PvP.  Good luck.

• Head
  • What: Pathfinder Hat (of the Monkey, Tiger)
  • Where: Vile Sting, Thousand Needles 1.111%

• Neck
  • What: Sentinel’s Medallion(Alliance)/Scout’s Medallion (Horde)
  • Where: Sold By – Illiyana Moonblaze/Kelm Hargunth (Requires Honored with WSG)

• Shoulders
  • What: Mantle of Thieves / Forest Tracker Epaulets
  • Where: Razorfen Stalker, Razorfen Kraul 0.0816% / Vengeful Ancient, Stonetalon Mountains 0.0045%

• Cloak
  • What: Tigerstrike Mantle
  • Where: Prince Raze, Ashenvale 0.005%

• Chest
  • What: Raptor Hunter Tunic / Cutthroat’s Vest (of the Monkey, Tiger)
  • Where: Raptor Mastery / Vile Sting, Thousand Needles 1.111%

• Bracers
  • What: Emissary Cuffs (of the Monkey, Tiger, Power, Agility)
  • Where: Dark Iron Ambassador, Gnomeregan 33%

• Gloves
  • What: Razzeric’s Racing Grips / Tiger Hunter Gloves
  • Where: Quest – Safety First / Tiger Mastery

• Belt
  • What: Highlander’s Leather Girdle / Defiler’s Leather Girdle
  • Where: Sold By – Samuel Hawke(Alliance)/ Rutherford Twing (Horde) – Arathi Highlands  (Requires Honored with AB factions)

• Legs
  • What: Triprunner Dungarees
  • Where: Quests – Rig Wars (Horde), The Grand Betrayal (Alliance)

• Boots
  • What: Highlander’s Leather Boots / Defiler’s Leather Boots
  • Where: Sold By – Samuel Hawke (Alliance)/ Rutherford Twing (Horde) – Arathi Highlands  (Requires Honored with AB factions)

• Ring One
  • What: Protector’s Band/Legionnaire’s Band
  • Where: Sold By – Illiyana Moonblaze/Kelm Hargunth (Requires Honored with WSG)

• Ring Two
  • What: Tundra Ring (Monkey, Tiger, Power, Agility)
  • Where: Prince Raze, Ashenvale 1.099%

• Trinket One
  • What: Insignia of the Alliance / Insignia of the Horde
  • Where: Sold by:  Officer Areyn (Stormwind) / Sergeant Ba’sha (Orgrimmar)

• Trinket Two
  • What: Defiler’s Talisman(Horde)/ Talisman of Arathor (Alliance)
  • Where: Sold By – Rutherford Twing/Samuel Hawke Arathi Highlands  (Requires Honored with AB)

• Main Hand
  • What: Zealot Blade, Claw of the Shadowmancer  / The Butcher / Torturing Poker
  • Where: Prince Raze / Scarlet Disciple / Interrogator Vishas

• Off-Hand
  • What: Vendetta – or – Sentinel’s Blade /  Scout’s Blade
  • Where: Razorfen Stalker, Razoefen Kraul 0.006% / Sold By – Illiyana Moonblaze/Kelm Hargunth(Requires Honored with WSG)
• Range
  • What: Nightstalker Bow
  • Where: Blind Hunter, Razorfen Kraul 33%

Enchantments

The enchantments for your gear are almost as important as the gear itself.  Make sure to get all of the best enchantments for each gear slot item that can be enchanted.  If your Main is not an enchanter, then acquiring these enchantments will be expensive, so keep that in mind.  Here are all of the best enchantments for a level 29 Twink Rogue.

• Head: Lesser Arcanum of Constitution / Lesser Arcanum of Voracity
• Shoulders: Might of the Scourge
• Cloak: Formula: Enchant Cloak – Lesser Agility
• Chest: Formula: Enchant Chest – Greater Stats
• Bracers: Formula: Enchant Bracer – Superior Stamina
• Gloves: Formula: Enchant Gloves – Superior Agility
• Legs: Lesser Arcanum of Voracity
• Boots: Enchant Boots – Lesser Agility / Enchant Boots – Minor Speed
• Weapons: Formula: Enchant Weapon – Agility
• Off – Hand: Formula: Enchant Weapon – Agility
• Ranged: Standard Scope

Buffs

There are a plethora of buffs to be had at this level and some of them are incredibly useful.  If you’ve taken Alchemy, you’ll be able to acquire most of these, fairly easily.  Otherwise, you can get them through other players who are Alchemists, or simply from the AH. Some of them are often sold by vendors in a limited quantity as well.  Remember that you can only have one Battle and one Guardian Elixir active at a time.

Battle Elixirs

• Elixir of Agility: This is pretty much a must have for Rogues.  Lasts for an hour and increases your agility by quite a bit.
• Elixir of Ogre’s Strength: Not as good for a Rogue as the Elixir of Agility, but if you don’t have one of those and do have one of these, you can still increase your damage.

Guardian Elixirs

• Elixir of Fortitude:  Everyone likes more health.  You should too.
• Mighty Troll’s Blood Potion:  Give your Healer a break with one of these.  If you happen to be a troll, it’ll almost double your Regeneration ability.  So nice.
• Elixir of Greater Defense:  This is another solid choice, as taking less damage is kinda better than being able to take more.

Potions

• Greater Healing Potion:  Healing potions are the bread and butter of any adventurer worth their salt.  You know what this is and you know when to use it.
• Minor Magic Resistance Potion:  While on the lower level end, this potion offers a flat bonus against all types of magic.  There isn’t anything bad to say about that.
• Swiftness Potion:  For just about any Rogue, this is probably the most useful potion to be had, but to a Rogue acting as FC, this is your secret weapon.  Feeling caught up on by enemies, pop this and then use Sprint, to fly across the battlefield at a speed exceeding that of a level 40 mount.
• Jungle Remedy:  You’ll have to farm or buy these, but their fantastic for when you get forgotten by the Healer for a moment.

Scrolls

• Scroll of Agility:  Use if you’d like to do a bit more melee crit damage.
• Scroll of Protection II:  Don’t use with the Elixir of Defense, but if you don’t have one of those, it’s pretty great.
• Scroll of Stamina:  More health and durability is always a good thing.  This might be your best choice of scrolls, in fact, but don’t use with the Fortitude Potion.
• Scroll of Strength:  Not as good as the Agility Scroll, but still pretty good if you don’t have one of those.

Team Buffs

You’re really only going to get any real benefit from about 3 long term class buffs.  Power Word: Fortitude is the good old standby, while  Blessing of Kings is also a great buff if you are Alliance.  The real winner here is Mark of the Wild, because it buffs both Strength and Agility.

Other Consumables

• Soothing Turtle Bisque and Giant Clam Scorcho:  The best well fed buff at this level.  You can cook them yourself, as described above, or simply purchase them from someone who has.
• Rumsey Rum Black Label:  Being a little tipsy is a small price to pay for an extra 15 Stamina.

With that, the last of the tricks, swindles and cons that you need to know to build the best level 29 Rogue Twink you can has been passed on to you.  So beat it!  Take the sneaky training you have been given and use it to bring death to your friends and foes alike!  Have fun!