Assassination Rogue PvE Guide - Cataclysm Classic

Cataclysm Classic Assassination Rogue Rotation

Assassination Rogues are all about proper Combo Points and Energy management. They have a handful talents that increase their Energy or Energy Regeneration such as
Relentless Strikes
,
Overkill
,
Venomous Wounds
, and
Murderous Intent
for targets below 35% HP. They also have talents that generate additional Combo Points with
Ruthlessness
and
Seal Fate
. Your goal is to not cap on Energy, and not waste Combo Points, so you need to pay close attention during high Energy Regeneration windows, and when your
Mutilate
and
Backstab
critically strike.

Opener

1. Use
   Tricks of the Trade
   pre-pull.
2. If you can start close to the boss, pre-pot
   Potion of the Tol'vir
   , go into
   Stealth
   , and open with
   Garrote
   .
3. If you can't get close to the boss, start in
   Stealth
   , use
   Sprint
   , pre-pot
   Potion of the Tol'vir
   (breaks
   Stealth
   ), and open with
   Mutilate
   .
4. Use
   Slice and Dice
   .
5. Use
   Mutilate
   .
6. Use
   Rupture
   .
7. Use
   Mutilate
   .
8. Use
   Envenom
   .
9. Use
   Vendetta
   .
10. Proceed with singlet target rotation.

Single Target

1. Use
   Instant Poison
   on Main-hand,
   Deadly Poison
   on Off-hand and Thrown weapon.
2. Maintain
   Slice and Dice
   .
   Envenom
   will take care of this with
   Cut to the Chase
   .
3. Maintain
   Rupture
   at 1+ Combo Points because of
   Venomous Wounds
   .
4. Use
   Vendetta
   .
5. Use
   Vanish
   to proc
   Overkill
   .
6. Use
   Tricks of the Trade
   .
7. Use
   Cold Blood
   with
   Envenom
   at 5 Combo Points and won't cap your Energy.
8. Use
   Envenom
   at 4+ Combo Points. Pool Energy ("90) before casting so you can fit in as many
   Mutilate
   or
   Backstab
   casts during the buff it provides. Below 35% HP, use
   Envenom
   at 5 Combo Points instead.
9. Use
   Garrote
   while in
   Stealth
   because of
   Venomous Wounds
   .
10. Use
    Mutilate
    to generate Combo Points on enemies at or above 35% HP.
11. Use
    Backstab
    to generate Combo Points on enemies below 35% HP. You can switch to
    Mutilate
    if you find yourself capping on Energy.

AoE

For large pulls:

1. Use
   Fan of Knives
   .

Otherwise

2. Perform single target rotation.

Cataclysm Classic Assassination Rogue Talents

Standard Build

Cataclysm Classic Assassination Rogue Glyphs

Prime:
Mutilate
,
Rupture
,
Backstab
Optional: If you can't
Backstab
, replace
Backstab
with
Vendetta
Major:
Tricks of the Trade
,
Fan of Knives
,
Feint
Minor:
Safe Fall
,
Blurred Speed
,
Poisons

Cataclysm Classic Assassination Rogue Best Consumables

Flasks and Elixirs

Best:
• Flask of the Winds

Food

Best:
• Seafood Magnifique Feast
  ,
• Skewered Eel
  ,
• Fortune Cookie

Alternatives:
• Broiled Dragon Feast
  ,
• Tender Baked Turtle

Potions

Best:
• Potion of the Tol'vir

Cataclysm Classic Assassination Rogue Best Races

Alliance

1. Worgen:
   Viciousness
   and
   Darkflight
2. Gnome:
   Shortblade Specialization

Horde

1. Troll:
   Berserking
2. Goblin:
   Time is Money
   ,
   Rocket Barrage
   , and
   Rocket Jump
3. Orc:
   Blood Fury
4. Blood Elf:
   Arcane Torrent

Cataclysm Classic Assassination Rogue Best Professions

1. Engineering:
   Synapse Springs
   .
2. Tailoring:
   Swordguard Embroidery
   .
3. Blacksmithing:
   Socket Bracer
   and
   Socket Gloves
   . Becomes 2nd best in T13.
4. The rest of the Crafting Professions provide nearly identical benefits.