Rogue kills fast, controls fights with stuns, and can stealth past trouble. It is gear-dependent, so it feels weak in quest greens and strong once you have weapons. Most leveling rogues skip poisons and then wonder why their damage is low. Use this while leveling.
Swords or daggers
- Combat swords or maces: easiest to level. Steady damage from the front with Sinister Strike, weapons are easy to find, and you do not depend on positioning. Most people level this way.
- Daggers, with Backstab: higher burst, but Backstab needs you behind the target, and it leans harder on a good fast dagger. Stronger in PvP, but harder while questing.
New rogues usually level Combat swords. You can respec to daggers later if you want the backstab playstyle.
Poisons
Use poisons or your kills slow down. You buy the reagents from a poison vendor and apply them to your weapons like a temporary enchant.
- Instant Poison for steady damage on fast kills while leveling, since it hits right away.
- Deadly Poison for longer fights and at higher levels, since it stacks up over time.
Keep them refreshed. They fall off and people forget, and your damage drops when they do.
Stealth and survival
Stealth is not just for skipping mobs. Open from stealth with a Cheap Shot or Ambush and the mob starts the fight stunned. Evasion plus Sprint gets you out of a bad pull, and a well-timed Vanish drops a fight you cannot win.
At 60
Combat swords is the standard raid build, with Sword Specialisation and a fast off-hand. Bring poison reagents, Thistle Tea for energy, and your stealth for skipping trash the raid does not need to fight.