One Rogue's Journey

Enchants on your gear are like the cheese on your burger. That little extra something that adds to the awesome…unless you’re lactose intolerant.  Then they’re more like the lack of cheese on your burger, the thing left off to keep you from getting sick. Wait…that doesn’t make any sense. Forget the cheese.  Enchants are like the bacon on your burger.  What?  You’re a vegetarian? Then why are you eating a burger? Wait, now I’ve confused myself.

Let’s start over.

Enchants are like the hot fudge on your ice cream sundae. That little something extra that…hold on, that’s gonna cause an issue with the whole lactose thing again, isn’t? Dammit self, be better at metaphors! Actually, I guess they’re similes since I’m using “like”. Dammit self just be better at English! It’s the only language you speak you should be at least passable at it.

Let’s try this one more time.

Enchants are good.

Now we’re talking!  Nice work you smooth talker you.

Enchants are not just good, they’re important. If you’re 80 and looking to run some heroics, or maybe hop into some of this nice raiding content everyone seems so keen on, you’re going to have to magic up that gear a little bit. But which enchants do you choose? Have no fear, Uncle Zaltu is here to help you out with that very question. Side Note: Don’t ever call me Uncle Zaltu.

So let’s take a look at enchants for a PvE rogue, from top to bottom:

Head

It’s time to make friends with the Knights of the Ebon Blade because they have the Arcanum of Torment, your best option for your fancy new hat and they won’t give it up until you’re Revered.

While you’re working toward that, Arcanum of Ferocity from Cenarion Expedition Revered will do in a pinch.

Shoulders

I hope you like grinding rep because, unless you are a Scribe, your shoulder enchant comes from everyone’s favorite faction, the Sons of Hodir. At Honored you can grab the Lesser Inscription of the Axe but the real prize is at Exalted – the cleverly named Greater Inscription of the Axe.

If you happen to have chosen Inscription as one of your professions, then rejoice, for you can apply Master’s Inscription of the Axe (anyone else see a pattern? Nah, I guess I’m just imagining things) to your shoulders.

Cloak

If you’re a tailor, then you’ll be using Swordguard Embroidery and you’ll be damn happy for it.

The rest of us have a few options. Greater Speed can be pretty enticing but falls short of the other choices. For PvP you can’t go wrong with Shadow Armor (bonus points for having a cool name) but for the raiding rogue your best bet is Major Agility or, if you’re in a financial crunch, it’s cheaper alternative – Superior Agility.

Chest

Your options are pretty limited in the chest department. Powerful Stats is the best choice but is rather pricey so unless you have a best in slot chest or are swimming in Abyss Crystals, I’d go with the slightly less powerful (hehe, see what I did there?), Super Stats.

Wrists

Leatherworkers, slap on Fur Lining – Attack Power and call it a day (I really like these profession only enchants).

Everyone else, your best choice is Greater Assault but Expertise is a nice boost and a solid choice if you’re lacking in that particular stat.

Gloves

Once again Expertise and Precision are solid choices if you find yourself lacking in those stats. Crusher and Major Agility currently battle it out for the top spot. On my current spreadsheet Crusher comes out ahead just barely (about 0.05%) but I still prefer Agility for the other benefits it brings (namely scaling with Kings).

Ring – Enchater’s Only

Assault is your enchant of choice for both rings.

Weapons

This one is simple, Berserking is the king of rogue weapon enchants at the moment but if you’re strapped for cash the old Burning Crusade standby, Mongoose, still works pretty well.

Belt

Find yourself a friendly blacksmith and get yourself an Eternal Belt Buckle ASAP.

Legs

Find yourself a friendly leatherworker and get him/her to make you a nice Icescale Leg Armor.

Feet

Greater Assault and Superior Agility are both excellent choices for your shiny pair of boots but if you want to get the most bang for your buck, look no further than Icewalker.

Each enchant represents only a small fraction of stats overall but remember, even the smallest increase adds up in the long run. Keeping yourself in the latest and greatest enchants can be expensive but trust me, it’s more than worth it.

Don’t forget, you can read this post and tons of other great melee goodness on BigHitBox.com!