Subtlety Rogue: Abilities

Finishing move that causes damage per combo point, increased by Attack Power:
1 point : 224-332 damage
2 points: 394-502 damage
3 points: 564-672 damage
4 points: 734-842 damage
5 points: 904-1012 damage

What to know: Only rank 6 (level 40) is lower than Classic (377–421 at 5 points, was 407–451). Every other rank, including the level-60 one, matches Classic. Flawless Execution (Combat) takes 10 energy off it.

Ranks at level: 1 1 · 2 8 · 3 16 · 4 24 · 5 32 · 6 40 · 7 48 · 8 56 · 9 60

An instant strike that causes 68 damage in addition to your normal weapon damage. Awards 1 combo point.

Ranks at level: 1 1 · 2 6 · 3 14 · 4 22 · 5 30 · 6 38 · 7 46 · 8 54

Backstab the target, causing 150% weapon damage plus 150 to the target. Must be behind the target. Requires a dagger in the main hand. Awards 1 combo point.

What to know: Base damage cut: every rank's flat bonus is a third lower (top rank +150, was +225). Still 150% weapon damage, behind the target, dagger in the main hand. Until the known issue is fixed, stand at the edge of melee range: close up, enemies can parry and block from behind.

Ranks at level: 1 4 · 2 12 · 3 20 · 4 28 · 5 36 · 6 44 · 7 52 · 8 60 · 9 60

Incapacitates the target for up to 45 sec. Only works on Humanoids that are not in combat. Any damage taken will break the effect. Only 1 target may be sapped at a time. Does not break Stealth.

What to know: Changed: no longer breaks Stealth, though it still needs it (the client's stance data and the tooltip: "Requires Stealth"), so you can Sap one mob and still open on a second while staying hidden. Still out-of-combat Humanoids only, 65 energy; it can't trigger weapon procs. PvP only: Sapping a flagged player flags you.

Ranks at level: 1 10 · 2 28 · 3 48

Finishing move that increases melee attack speed by 30%. Lasts longer per combo point:
1 point : 9 seconds
2 points: 12 seconds
3 points: 15 seconds
4 points: 18 seconds
5 points: 21 seconds

What to know: Unchanged: +20% attack speed (30% at rank 2, level 42), 9–21 sec.

Ranks at level: 1 10 · 2 42

Finishing move that exposes the target for 30 sec, reducing Armor per combo point:
1 point : 450 Armor
2 points: 900 Armor
3 points: 1350 Armor
4 points: 1800 Armor
5 points: 2250 Armor

What to know: Stronger: 450 armor per combo point at the top rank, 2,250 at 5 points, the same as a full Sunder Armor (Classic 1,700). A miss no longer costs your combo points. Blizzard announced that Sunder can go on over a stronger Expose Armor; whether the two add together is untested.

Ranks at level: 1 14 · 2 26 · 3 36 · 4 46 · 5 56

Garrote the enemy, causing 552 damage over 18 sec, increased by your Attack Power. Must be stealthed and behind the target. Awards 1 combo point.

What to know: Bleed opener from Stealth. Dirty Deeds removes the need to stand behind the target.

Ranks at level: 1 14 · 2 22 · 3 30 · 4 38 · 5 46 · 6 54

Ambush the target, causing 250% weapon damage plus 290 to the target. Must be stealthed and behind the target. Requires a dagger in the main hand. Awards 1 combo point.

What to know: Unchanged numbers. Cutthroat (Subtlety) lets a Backstab occasionally make the next Ambush usable out of Stealth.

Ranks at level: 1 18 · 2 26 · 3 34 · 4 42 · 5 50 · 6 58

A strike that deals 125% (180% if a Dagger is equipped in your Main Hand) weapon damage and increases your chance to dodge by 15% for 7 sec. Awards 1 combo point.

What to know: 125% weapon damage (180% with a main-hand dagger), +15% dodge for 7 sec, 20-sec cooldown, 40 energy.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 20% chance of poisoning the enemy which instantly inflicts 13 to 17 Nature damage. 60 charges.

What to know: Base damage a third lower than Classic at every rank, with about 50% more charges. Malice and the merged hit and crit let poisons crit. Promised attack-power scaling measured near zero in testing.

Finishing move that causes damage over time, increased by your Attack Power. Lasts longer per combo point:
1 point : 159 damage over 8 secs
2 points: 222 damage over 10 secs
3 points: 295 damage over 12 secs
4 points: 377 damage over 14 secs
5 points: 469 damage over 16 secs

What to know: Base damage cut about 40% at every rank (top rank 469 over 16 sec at 5 points, Classic about 800). Serrated Blades (+30%) and Hemorrhage (+15%) raise it for Subtlety.

Ranks at level: 1 20 · 2 28 · 3 36 · 4 44 · 5 52 · 6 60

Allows the rogue to vanish from sight, entering an improved stealth mode for 10 sec. Also breaks movement impairing effects. More effective than Vanish (Rank 1).

What to know: Drops you into Stealth and breaks snares and roots. Still costs one Flash Powder (client reagent data, build 70205), unless you take the Reagent Economy perk.

Ranks at level: 1 22 · 2 42

Adds 2 Combo Points to your target. You must add to or use those combo points within 20 sec or the combo points are lost.

What to know: Changed: no longer needs Stealth or Preparation, and the 2 points last 20 sec (was 10). Now Subtlety's 16-point talent.

Stuns the target for 4 sec. Must be stealthed. Awards 2 combo points.

What to know: 4-sec stun from Stealth, 2 combo points (3 with Initiative). Dirty Deeds cuts its cost by 20.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 20% chance of poisoning the enemy which instantly inflicts 20 to 26 Nature damage. 85 charges.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy for 24 Nature damage over 12 sec. Stacks up to 5 times on a single target. 90 charges.

What to know: Damage per stack a third lower than Classic (24 at rank 1, was 36), but 90 charges (was 60) at rank 1 and 180 at rank V.

An instant strike that deals 100% weapon damage (145% if a Dagger is equipped) and causes the target to take 15% increased Rupture damage from the Rogue. Lasts 15 sec. Awards 1 Combo Point.

What to know: Changed: no longer a group debuff. 100% weapon damage (145% with a dagger), 1 combo point, and your own Rupture takes 15% more damage for 15 sec.

Finishing move that stuns the target. Lasts longer per combo point:
1 point : 2 seconds
2 points: 3 seconds
3 points: 4 seconds
4 points: 5 seconds
5 points: 6 seconds

What to know: Stun of up to 5 sec from 5 points (6 sec with rank 2 at level 50), 20-sec cooldown. With Improved Kidney Shot the target takes 10% more damage from your attacks and poisons, not the group's.

Ranks at level: 1 30 · 2 50

When activated, this ability immediately finishes the cooldown on your other Rogue abilities.

What to know: Resets your other Rogue cooldowns (Vanish, Evasion, Sprint, Blind and more). Subtlety 21-point talent, beside Hemorrhage.

Blinds the target, causing it to wander disoriented for up to 10 sec. Any damage caused will remove the effect.

What to know: 10-sec disorient from 10 yards, 5-minute cooldown (3½ minutes with Elusiveness); works on most targets, unlike Sap. Dirty Tricks halves its energy.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 20% chance of poisoning the enemy which instantly inflicts 29 to 37 Nature damage. 105 charges.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy for 36 Nature damage over 12 sec. Stacks up to 5 times on a single target. 115 charges.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 20% chance of poisoning the enemy which instantly inflicts 45 to 57 Nature damage. 1800 charges.

What to know: The client tooltip says 1,800 charges, against 105 for rank III and 150 for rank V. That is a client tooltip bug: the text prints the 1,800-second duration where the charge count belongs. Learned at 44, above the beta cap.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy for 56 Nature damage over 12 sec. Stacks up to 5 times on a single target. 135 charges.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 20% chance of poisoning the enemy which instantly inflicts 62 to 80 Nature damage. 150 charges.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy for 72 Nature damage over 12 sec. Stacks up to 5 times on a single target. 160 charges.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy for 92 Nature damage over 12 sec. Stacks up to 5 times on a single target. 180 charges.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 20% chance of poisoning the enemy which instantly inflicts 76 to 100 Nature damage. 175 charges.

Allows opening of locked chests and doors.

What to know: Moved: Lockpicking is now a secondary skill like First Aid (client skill category). The client lists Pick Lock at level 1, but Classic Era's client says level 1 too while its trainers taught it at 16, so the Forever learn level is unconfirmed.

Allows the rogue to sneak around, but reduces your speed by 30%. Lasts until cancelled.

Ranks at level: 1 1 · 2 20 · 3 40 · 4 60

Pick the target's pocket.

Causes 75 damage, stops your attack, and incapacitates the target for 4 sec. The target must be facing you. Any damage taken will break the effect. Awards 1 combo point.

What to know: Tooltip reworded only: 4-sec incapacitate, target must face you, damage breaks it. Improved Gouge moved to Assassination.

Ranks at level: 1 6 · 2 18 · 3 32 · 4 46 · 5 60

The rogue's dodge chance will increase by 50% for 15 sec.

Increases the rogue's movement speed by 70% for 15 sec. Does not break stealth.

Ranks at level: 1 10 · 2 34 · 3 58

A quick kick that injures a single foe for 80 damage. It also interrupts spellcasting and prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 5 sec.

What to know: The Rogue's interrupt: 10-sec cooldown, locks the school for 5 sec. Improved Kick (Combat) adds a 2-sec silence.

Ranks at level: 1 12 · 2 26 · 3 42 · 4 58

Performs a feint, causing no damage but lowering your threat by a large amount, making the enemy less likely to attack you.

What to know: Tooltip unchanged, but the hidden threat drop is about five times larger (datamine). Blizzard's deep dive says the threat reduction was doubled; the two readings are unreconciled.

Ranks at level: 1 16 · 2 28 · 3 40 · 4 52 · 5 60

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy, slowing their movement speed by 50% for 12 sec.

What to know: 50% slow for 12 sec at 30% per hit (70% at rank II). The Forever tooltip lists no charge count. Your only slow.

You can create and mix poisons, with both found and storebought ingredients.

What to know: Moved: its own Poisons skill line at level 20, a spellbook tab. It is a secondary skill like First Aid. Poisons still last 30 minutes per weapon.

Throws a distraction, attracting the attention of all nearby enemies and reducing their Stealth detection as if they were 1 level lower for 10 seconds. Does not break stealth.

What to know: Changed: also lowers the enemies' Stealth detection as if they were a level lower for 10 sec. Improved Distract (Subtlety) widens it and lowers detection further.

Greatly increased chance to detect traps.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 20% chance of poisoning the enemy, increasing their casting time by 40% for 10 sec. 75 charges.

What to know: 40–60% slower casting; 75–150 charges, half again Classic's. Useful on caster packs and in PvP.

Sneak up on the trap in order to disarm it. Don't get too close or the trap will go off.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy, reducing all healing effects used on them by 67 for 15 sec. Stacks up to 5 times on a single target. 90 charges.

What to know: Stronger: each stack reduces healing by more than Classic (67 at rank 1, 165 at rank IV, was 135). Mostly PvP.

Create the reagent for the Blind ability.

What to know: Made with the Poisons skill from level 34. Blind needs it.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 20% chance of poisoning the enemy, increasing their casting time by 50% for 12 sec. 115 charges.

Reduces damage from falling.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy, reducing all healing effects used on them by 92 for 15 sec. Stacks up to 5 times on a single target. 115 charges.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy, reducing all healing effects used on them by 128 for 15 sec. Stacks up to 5 times on a single target. 135 charges.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy, slowing their movement speed by 70% for 12 sec.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 20% chance of poisoning the enemy, increasing their casting time by 60% for 14 sec. 150 charges.

Coats a weapon with poison that lasts for 30 minutes.
Each strike has a 30% chance of poisoning the enemy, reducing all healing effects used on them by 165 for 15 sec. Stacks up to 5 times on a single target. 160 charges.