The Unwritten Rules of Playing a Rogue Explained

Rogues have a dicey reputation at the best of times, and in World of Warcraft, they’re an iconic exemplar of mischief and cunning. No fantasy roleplaying game would be complete without these sneaky charlatans, and when it comes to PvP, their capacity for sabotage knows no bounds. The rogue is not an easy class to master, but the rewards are unparalleled.

Stealth is the name of the game for rogues, as this ability turns them invisible until they enter combat. This naturally makes them formidable opponents, as players simply don’t see them coming. It also has its benefits when tricking NPCs and making a quick escape, but stealth isn’t the only perk to being a rogue in World of Warcraft.

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Playing Dirty is An Art for WoW’s Rogues

No player enjoys being jumped by a rogue, yet it’s an inevitably in all PvP content. The unexpected stuns and quick succession of poison-laced attacks often means that a rogue can erase a player’s health in a matter of seconds, without leaving any room for retaliation. This is especially handy when there’s a healer who needs to be taken out swiftly and silently before their friends can notice.

The only real way to best a skilled rogue is to catch them unprepared and out in the open, or to counter their stunning abilities. Even then, their bleeds and poisons can linger on, resulting in a delayed demise. For this reason, players who guard battleground objectives have to remain on their toes, for there could be an invisible threat lurking behind every corner. Hunters and demon hunters are the only classes in World of Warcraft that can see through stealth, although in a limited capacity. Most other players can only listen closely for the telltale “whoosh” of a rogue going into stealth.

WoW’s True King of Pranks

Few rogues can resist the opportunity to engage in a bit of trolling. It’s common practice for these sneaks to whack unsuspecting players with a number of annoying spells. Sap is an ability that knocks a player’s character unconscious for several seconds and doesn’t break stealth when cast. There’s no cooldown on the spell, so many a WoW rogue has giggled away the hours by repeatedly sapping some poor, defenseless player.

Don’t Get Distracted

Letting all that power go to one’s head can also lead to some more destructive shenanigans, like using a spell called Distract. Normally, this ability is meant to stop patrolling NPCs from getting too close, but it can be turned towards darker practices. If an enemy player is running too close to a cliff’s edge, they should hope a rogue isn’t watching. Tossing a Distract spell can turn the player against their will and make them run right off the edge to their deaths, much to their confusion.

Griefing and Ganking

Aiming below the belt is part and parcel for a rogue to succeed, but sometimes they take it to new extremes. Over the years, World of Warcraft’s rogues have unfortunately earned the reputation of bullying low-level players of the opposite factions. With no way to defend themselves, lots of leveling players have fallen prey to a pair of daggers in the back.

Ninjas or Pirates?

There are loads of neverending debates surrounding World of Warcraft, and one enduring rivalry is the one between ninjas and pirates. While most rogues may find themselves on the ninja side of the argument, favoring their stealth and shurikens, many prefer swashbuckling to sneaking. The Outlaw rogue specialization embodies the spirit of piracy, using swords instead of daggers and brandishing pistols, anchors, and other nautical motifs. Assassination and Subtlety rogues are more ninja-like, but regardless of which specialization a rogue chooses, they’ll cause plenty of mischief. Whether decked in the attire of a pirate captain or a ninja warrior, enemies won’t see them coming until it’s too late.

World of Warcraft: Dragonflight

Released

November 28, 2022