DPS Rotation & Cooldowns

This rotation offers a general priority list for Assassination Rogue abilities, along with key cooldowns at the bottom. It's based on a standard build and is here to help while we work on a smarter, build-aware system. If you are very new to the game or this class, we added info on the new assisted rotation features at the bottom of this guide. Updated for the latest patch in World of Warcraft: The War Within (11.1.7).

Single Target

Start in Stealth and open with Ambush if using Deathstalker.

• GarroteView detailsMaintain uptime, cast from Stealth when possible.
• RuptureView detailsMaintain with 5+ Combo Points.
• DeathmarkView detailsUse on cooldown.
• KingsbaneView detailsUse on cooldown, sync with buffs.
• ShivView detailsUse after Deathmark and extend debuff.
• EnvenomView detailsUse with 5+ Combo Points, 7 CP if Darkest Night is active.
• AmbushView detailsUse to generate Combo Points when available.
• MutilateView detailsUse to generate Combo Points.
• Thistle TeaView detailsUse alongside Shiv.

Maintain Garrote and Rupture uptime. Use Deathmark and Kingsbane on cooldown, syncing with buffs. Spend Combo Points on Envenom and generate them with Ambush or Mutilate.

AoE

Start in Stealth and open with Ambush if using Deathstalker.

• GarroteView detailsMaintain on multiple targets, cast from Stealth when possible.
• RuptureView detailsMaintain at least five with 5+ Combo Points.
• Crimson TempestView detailsMaintain uptime.
• Caustic SpatterView detailsMaintain by using Mutilate every 10 seconds.
• DeathmarkView detailsUse on cooldown.
• KingsbaneView detailsUse on cooldown, sync with buffs.
• ShivView detailsUse after Deathmark and extend debuff.
• EnvenomView detailsUse with 5+ Combo Points, 7 CP if Darkest Night is active.
• AmbushView detailsUse to generate Combo Points when available.
• Fan Of KnivesView detailsUse to generate Combo Points on 2+ targets (3+ with Blindside).
• Thistle TeaView detailsUse alongside Shiv.

Maintain Garrote, Rupture, and Crimson Tempest on multiple targets. Use Deathmark and Kingsbane on cooldown, syncing with buffs. Generate Combo Points with Fan Of Knives or Ambush, and spend them on Envenom.

Cooldowns

• DeathmarkView detailsUse on cooldown for burst damage.
• KingsbaneView detailsUse on cooldown, sync with buffs.
• ShivView detailsUse after Deathmark and extend debuff.
• VanishView detailsUse to refresh Garrote or apply Deathstalkers Mark.
• Thistle TeaView detailsUse alongside Shiv.
• Cold BloodView detailsUse alongside Kingsbane.

Use Deathmark and Kingsbane on cooldown, syncing with buffs. Utilize Shiv strategically to extend debuffs and Vanish for Garrote or Deathstalkers Mark. Pair Thistle Tea with Shiv and Cold Blood with Kingsbane.

New to Class? Try Assisted Rotation

Patch 11.1.7 introduced new features that make it eaiser to pick and play new characters. These new settings can be enabled from settings » gameplay enhancements:

• Single-Button Assistant
• Assisted Highlight
• Cooldown Manager

If you are new to World of Warcraft or a certain class, enabling Assisted Highlight and Cooldown Manager can help you learn which abilities to prioritize and use.

While the Single-Button Assistant can be a much easier and more accessible way to play the game, it does come with a slight performance hit due to a small GCD penalty, as you will have to wait 25% longer in between spells and abilities.

To see which specs are best with the Single-Button Assistant feature, you can check out our DPS Rankings which uses SimC to sim every class using this feature.