One Rogue's Journey

l’m a rogue through and through also, it’s my only 80 so far, and this site is actually pretty informative and pretty funny, l especially like the conversations with yourself, blah blah what ev… but l was just wondering if, for pvp, the 5 points in combat for the off hand to do 50% more damage works with mutilate or not… cuz obv then it would be good cuz of the extra damage with your main dps move… l’m currently specced 41/5/25, but l was questioning taking out the 5 points in combat and going 5 deeper into sub to get the 10% attack power increase… so l guess my question is: which is better for mut rogues in pvp, the 50% weapon off hand damage increase, or the 10% attack power increase in subtlety?

TL;DR version of the question: “Should I be taking 5 points in Dual Wield Specialization for PvP?”

Yes! Yes, absolutely! 100% without a doubt you want to take this talent. There is no other talents you could spend those 5 points on that will give you a larger benefit than the 50% extra off-hand damage, particularly if you’re mutilate. PvP or PvE, off-hand attacks are a large portion of our damage. You want this talent.

What do you think about the Resilience change? I mean I think this is the biggest problem for Rogues in 3.2. We have low survivability anyway and with this you will need to survive even longer to be able to kill your opponent(s). Yes you can get Res gear too, but then you do less damage and I don’t think it will even out the problem.

Ah, the Resilience change. For those of you that don’t know, Resilience current decreases from periodic sources (DOTs) and decreases the chance that you will be critically hit. The change that is currently on the table for 3.2 will make Resilience reduce all damage taken.

What do I think about this?

I’m a fan, for the most part.

Yes, it reduces our ability to burn through some of those clothies and that makes me a bit sad (oh how I love blowing up some casters) but it also has the added advantage of making us just a little less squishy ourselves.

Let’s be honest, this change is a knee-jerk reaction to burst in Arenas. Arena matches can be over in the span of a single global cooldown and that’s just too fast. This change is not the silver bullet that is going to fix this problem but it will probably help a little.

It also has one added benefit for rogues. It gets us out of our PvE gear. Now now, put down the pitchforks. We all know that rogues traditionally wear less PvP gear in Arenas than any other classes (namely because it didn’t help our squishyness enough so we needed the extra damage provided by PvE gear). The end result of this was that rogues who were able to raid had a bit of an edge.

I’m rambling off in a number of different directions here so let’s sum it up. I feel the change is a good thing as a whole, it may help stretch that 1 global and you die to 2 globals and you die. Is it the best solution? Probably not. Is it just going to make the healing is way overpowered issue bigger? Yeah, maybe.

I just hope they are attacking this thing on two fronts, the burst damage and the burst healing.

Vacation this week. Zaltu out.

So those fantastic little data-mining goblins have provided for our greedy little eyes. What’s that? Pics or it did not happen? OK, here you:

T9 5-man
T9 10-man
T9 25-man

No, my friends, your eyes do not deceive you. You will, in fact, be able to get T9 from the 5-man dungeon. So does this mean that the new 5-man is going to on par in difficultly with Ulduar? Will you need Ulduar level gear to be successful? I sure hope so, I’d hate to see Blizzard just giving away T9 to anyone who can finish a Heroic. I’m going to have some faith that the 5-man will be sufficiently difficult but I am still not really a fan of this choice.

Edit: There is no confirmation that T9 is dropping from the 5-man. These are just three different sets of T9. Sorry, I jumped the gun on that one. More information when I know for sure.

So how about those set bonuses?

Absolute first impression: they feel backwards. 2 should be 4 and 4 should be 2. That aside, let’s talk about them individually.

The 4-piece. This is not a terrible bonus. I’ll state again, this is a not a bad bonus. However, it is a bit…underwhelming. Not only is it boring but it is significantly weaker than the ability for Rupture to crit (the T8 4-piece). A lot of the 4-piece bonuses are currently increases X-ability’s critical strike chance by 5% so I’m going to cross my fingers and hope this is a place holder.

The 2-piece. This bonus sounds like it could be absolutely amazing. This all rests on what the proc rate is and what the internal cooldown is. If the proc rate is too low and/or the internal cooldown too high this could be next to useless and you’ll continue to see rogue’s with our critting rupture until Icecrown and a hopefully better T10. On the other hand, if the proc rate is too high and/or the internal cooldown too low this could be an amazingly overpowered ability (particularly for a 2-piece bonus).

Well, it’s still too early to tell but the T9 2-piece seems pretty sexy while the 4-piece gets a strong “meh” from me. In fact, a strong “meh” is the general attitude I’m feeling about this patch overall. I don’t know why, it’s just not clicking with me yet.

How about you? Excited for 3.2?

So the Midsummer Fire Festival started yesterday.

Terrible. I am so full of hate and loathing right now I just want to punch something attractive. I shall restrain myself for the moment though.

For the best, you wouldn’t want to punch yourself so early in the morning.

Exactly.

Well, we got everything done in one day so the holiday wasn’t so bad.

Are you kidding me? It was HORRIBLE. All that running around, it took HOURS. It was like the damn lunar festival all over again.

There was some fun PvP action.

That’s true. Remember when AFM chased down that Druid and blinked from his mount and frost nova-ed?

Oh yeah, that was good stuff.

Remember when you killed that flagged level 5 with Throw?

That was you. And it was really uncalled for.

Is it lonely up there on your high horse?

He was level 5!

He was flagged and it was hilarious! It’s not like I camped him or anything, I just continued along with my business.

Fair enough…at least you didn’t tea-bag him.

Yeah, he was too far away.

OK, so the PvP aspect was fun but it still took way too long by the time I was done I couldn’t stand to look at the game anymore. At least there are no more holidays until September.

Can I still kill level 5s with throw?

No!

You’re no fun. What happened to you man? You used to be cool.

That’s a damn lie and you know it.

Meh

Alright, I’m shutting you down.

Fine, I was done talking to you anyways.

Fine!

FINE!

FINE!..er…um..fine.

So, what’s everyone’s opinion of the Fire Festival?

Here we go again. The PTR for patch 3.2 should be coming up at anytime now and everyone’s favorite floating skull, Zarhym, has posted a list of the initial changes planed for this epic event. Won’t you join me while I highlight and discuss some of the changes that will affect us my, stabby brethren and sistern? It will be ever so much fun, I promise. Oh yeah, also, remember that these are the initial notes and are always subject to complete change and/or removal.

This is a nice buff to Orc rogues. You still smell bad though.

What? Why? I mean, I guess it’s nice to have another weapon choice but I just don’t see the reasoning behind this. Don’t get me wrong though, if there are some decent Axe drops, you can be damn sure I’ll be using them, especially because of:

Ok, so they wanted to add another weapon to combine with Sword Spec like they did with Close Quarters combat for Fists/Daggers and Axes were really the only choice. Looks like Axe/Sword will be the new Fist/Dagger? I’d bet money on that.

I’m thinking Blizz wants to see more Shadow Dance rogue’s in the Arenas. The lower cooldown definitely gives the ability less of a kill them this first time or you’re outta luck sense about it. I like the idea of Shadow Dance and a deep subtly rogue but I think more changes need to be made to the tree as a whole before we see the end of Mut/Prep domination

So, overall? I’m pretty meh about things as far as rogues are concerned. There just aren’t a whole lot of changes but that’s ok and to be honest, expected. Rogues as a whole are in a really good place right now. We’re topping damage meters and we’re dominating in the arena. Life is good, I guess I should just suck it up and enjoy my new Axe.

I spent most of the weekend grinding out honor to pick up a few pieces of gear that I now have access to since my 3s team manage to reach 1550 rating. It was a good time.

Don’t lie.

What? Who’s lying?

You’re lying. Grinding honor is not fun. You hate battlegrounds with a passion.

That’s not true.

You really think you’re gonna be able to run that BS by me? Trust me, kiddo, I know you. You hate battlegrounds.

Alright, you got me. I hate battlegrounds. I hate them with the fiery passion of a million burning suns.

That’s it, let it all out.

That make me want to kick or perhaps eat a baby depending on the battleground (AV and WG respectively).

Good…good…give in to your hate…

Yeah…stupid battlegr….wait a minute…what are you trying to do to me? Stop right there, I’m on to you!

Who, me?

No, the other really good looking guy that’s trying to turn this into an angry rant about battlegrounds without any useful purpose.

Monday posts usually have a useful purpose?

Well, no, but they aren’t angry, vile filled rants either.

Maybe they should be.

No, no they shouldn’t. Now you go make me a sammich before I go back to the therapist and get some of those pills that make you go away.

…

That’s right. Anyways, like a said, I ground out a bunch of honor through a combination of Stone Keeper Shards, Wintergrasp Marks and repeated For Great Honor… turn ins. Easiest way to do it really.

This week my guild is really going to kill Yoggy…really…maybe…probably…

What’s everyone else up to?

I just duel specced for assassination and read your article about rotation for mutilate and have a question.
Why would you use envenom instead of eviscerate to refresh slice and dice?
What is the difference?
Thanks

This is a very simple question and that’s part of why I choose it to answer directly in a post. It is relatively easy to say that Mutilate rogues use Envenom, while Combat rogues use Eviscerate. Sometimes I feel like the why of things are glossed over a bit too much. So why do mutilate rogues use Envenom?

Well, the quickest answer is that Envenom ignores armor and thus will do more damage than Eviscerate.

Simple huh? Well, until next time…hey wait…what are you doing…I’m done here…let go of me…I don’t wanna explain anymore…ow…ow…STOP HITTING ME. FINE!

OK, OK, so if that’s the case than why don’t you use Envenom as combat?

Well, first off most Combat builds do not take Vile Poisons so there Envenom will do less damage.

Secondly, Combat builds lack the Improved Poisons and Master Poisoner talents. These talents add an additional 55% chance to apply deadly poison! What this means is that a Mutilate rogue will be able to reapply a 5 stack of deadly poison in no time flat. The time it takes for a Combat rogue to reapply the same stack is significantly higher and thus actually turns into a lose of DPS (particularly when you take into account the T7 2-piece bonus).

And those reasons, are why you use Envenom as a Mutilate rogue. Pretty snazzy huh? Snazzy is a good word, people should use it more often.

Got a question you just must have answered? Leave a comment or drop me a line.

Happy happy Monday.

Happy Monday? What are you talking about, we hate Monday.

I’m just saying hello to the readers.

Why do you have to patronize them? They know it’s Monday and they know that there is no way you consider Monday to be any kind of “happy” day. Be honest with them kiddo and let them know that you agree with the cat.

Well someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

I blame you for that.

Hmm…interesting thought, but anyways, I was just trying to be friendly.

And that, my handsome friend, is why you fail at the Arena.

I don’t fail at the arena.

Don’t you? What’s your rating?

Right around 1450 in both 2s and 3s.

Fail.

That’s not fail, this is my first time even stepping foot into the Arena. Your standards are too high.

Maybe your standards are too low.

Wait…I’m confused…

I’m not surprised.

Shut up you. Aren’t we the same person? Why would we have different standards?

I don’t know. You tell me, Mr. Split Personality. All I know is that you need to step it up.

How’s that?

You need to setup your Afflicted3 mod better so that you can make more use out of it.

You need to protect your priest better.

You need to be quicker when fighting other rogues and make sure you’re the one who gets the dismantle off first.

You need to stop tunnel-visioning and chasing people around pillars and over altars and line of sighting your healer.

That’s all really valid advice. I guess you’re not just a pretty face.

Thank you. You also need to kill resto druids better.

Yeah, no kidding.

Now make me a sandwich.

No.

———-

As you can probably tell, I’ve been feeling a little sillier than usual lately.

What’s everyone up to this week?

I get a fair amount of emails on a daily basis. I enjoy it, really, even though often times I’m asked the same question over and over again. Fair enough I suppose, I can’t expect for people to read through the older posts, can I? I don’t know, probably, but either way since I’m such a nice guy (and handsome) I decided to compile a list of the most Frequently Asked Question questions I receive. Enjoy!

Is it better to gem with agi or attack power?

The quick and simple answer is to consult a spreadsheet. That wasn’t the answer you wanted though was it? So yeah, more often than not, AP gems provide an ever-so-slight advantage over AGI. The difference is so slight, however, that it is generally up to personal preference. I, personally, always gem for AGI.

It should be noted that once you have the T8 4-piece bonus, AGI will always come out on top.

What is the best talent build and glyphs for Assassination?

51/13/7

Often, depending on your gear, you can switch some points around in Master Poisoner for Turn the Tables. You’ll have to check a spreadsheet to be exact on this and it’s generally not worth worrying too much about.

What is the best talent build and glyphs of Combat?

15/51/5

Obviously, you can change Close Quarters Combat out for your weapon of choice. A good thing to note is that if you are using fists/dagger, you can replace that one point in Endurance with one point in Throwing Specialization. I’m a fan of this, as it helps on a couple of fights in Ulduar.

What poisons should I be using?

For Combat: Wound on the Main Hand and Deadly on the Off Hand.

For Mutilate: Instant on the Main Hand and Deadly on the Off Hand.

Why are you so awesome?

Just born that way I guess.

Will you have my babies?

Yes.

You’re damn sexy.

Not a question, but you are correct.

It’s Monday, the 1st of June, about 9am.  Do you know where your guild is? If they are lucky at all than they are sleeping in a nice warm bed, far from the harsh, bear-filled, outside world.

My weekend was good, I had a nice conversation with myself regarding the state of rogues in 3.2 and beyond:

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So, self, patch 3.1 brought a lot of really nice changes to the rogue class. We now have 2 viable PvE specs, we’re tearing it up in the arena, life is good. What awesome things do you think are in store for us in 3.2? Oh, and by the way, I love what you’ve done with your hair.

Thanks, self, those are some pretty spiffy threads you’re wearing. What’s in store for us in 3.2 and beyond change-wise? Nothing.

Nothing?

Nothing. You said it yourself, we’re in a really strong position right now. Any changes that could occur would have to be major changes and I believe the crab man already said that they wouldn’t be doing anything near on the scope of 3.1.

So you think we’re pretty much set until the next expansion?

Yeah, in the way we play, at least. They’ll be a tweak here and a tweak there (like the overkill change), mostly for PvP balance but I don’t expect any major shake ups.

Hmm, you make a valid point.  So other than the new raid, what should us brethern and sistern of the shadows be looking forward too?

Well, in my expert opinion, we can look forward to running the new 5-man over and over and over again looking for that best in slot trinket to drop that never will, a la Shard of Contempt. Hopefully, this 5-man won’t be as annoying as Magister’s Terrace though.

Annoying? I didn’t really have a problem with MT.

Of course you didn’t, you got your shard on your second run through and never went in there again. Jerk.

Hey! That was unnecessary.

Well you are a jerk. Jerk.

Sigh…you’re lucky you’re too handsome to stay mad at.

That’s generally what I rely on.

Alright, I’m shutting this conversation down.

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So, maybe I had a bit of a weird weekend.

My guild is gonna kill Yogg-Saron this week, yes sir, we are. What is everyone else up to?