Overview

Subtlety Rogue is a burst-focused melee DPS spec built entirely around Shadow Dance — a 6-second window that enables Stealth-only abilities and defines the spec's entire damage profile. The rotation outside Shadow Dance is minimal by design: build combo points, manage energy, and set up for the next burst window. Inside Shadow Dance, the spec hits extremely hard. Outside it, output drops significantly. Subtlety rewards understanding exactly when your burst windows land and aligning major cooldowns to coincide with them.

The core rhythm is a 90-second cycle: Shadow Blades triggers every 90 seconds, doubles combo point generation, and aligns with a second Shadow Dance cast and Secret Technique for maximum burst. Everything else in the rotation exists to bridge the gap between those windows cleanly.

Unique utility: Tricks of the Trade (threat redirect), Shroud of Concealment (group stealth), Blind (disorient), Kidney Shot (stun), Shiv (slow + apply utility poison), Cloak of Shadows (magic immunity), Shadowstep (blink), Evasion (dodge), Crimson Vial (self-heal).

Hero Talent Paths

Path	Identity	Notes
Trickster	Coup de Grace as a frequent finishing move; cooldown damage amplification	Recommended for all content — superior performance across single-target, cleave, and AoE
Deathstalker	Deathstalker's Mark for sustained single-target; mark management between targets	Underperforms relative to Trickster in current Season 1 tuning

Strengths

• Strong burst damage concentrated inside 90-second cooldown windows
• Good single-target output during Shadow Dance phases
• Strong priority damage in AoE — Coup de Grace finishers hit all targets
• Fast-paced, cooldown-driven playstyle with relatively simple baseline rotation
• Excellent utility toolkit: strong personal defensives, group stealth, powerful CC

Weaknesses

• Weak damage outside cooldown windows — sustained output between Shadow Dance phases is low
• Energy-starved outside active phases; rotation feels sluggish without Shadow Techniques stacks
• Subject to frequent tuning changes — talent interactions can shift quickly
• Some active talent bug interactions require workarounds

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Stat Priority

Priority	Stat	Notes
1	Agility	Always follow item level
2	Mastery	Increases finishing move damage; scales directly with Secret Technique
3	Haste	~18–20% target threshold — adds globals inside Shadow Dance windows; also reduces Secret Technique cooldown
4	Critical Strike	Doubles attack damage; approximately equal value to Haste after the breakpoint
5	Versatility	Flat damage/reduction; lowest priority secondary

Aim for 18–20% Haste as a soft breakpoint — this fits additional globals inside Shadow Dance windows. Beyond that threshold, Mastery and Critical Strike tend to pull ahead. Sim your character on Raidbots for character-specific weights.

Diminishing Returns Thresholds

Stat	DR Threshold
Critical Strike	1,380 rating
Haste	1,320 rating
Mastery	1,380 rating
Versatility	1,620 rating

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Talent Builds

Trickster is recommended for all content. It outperforms Deathstalker in single-target, cleave, and AoE in Season 1. Coup de Grace functions as a frequent finishing move that hits multiple targets, giving Trickster strong AoE burst as well as single-target damage.

Trickster — Raid

Single-target focused with adjustable options for adds. Swap Weaponmaster for Potent Powder when add phases are expected. Consider The First Dance for very short kill timers.

Trickster — Mythic+

Modified for AoE with Potent Powder prioritized. Adds The First Dance during pack downtime. Optionally include Shiv if enrage dispels are needed in specific dungeons.

Trickster — Delves

Focuses on The First Dance for extended burst phases and Airborne Irritant for crowd control in solo content.

Deathstalker — (Alternative)

Sustained single-target through Deathstalker's Mark. Mark transfers between targets are restricted once active, making target-switching more punishing than Trickster. Not competitive in current tuning.

Import strings: Wowhead renders talent import strings dynamically — they aren't available via static fetch. Visit wowhead.com/guide/classes/rogue/subtlety/talent-builds-pve-dps to copy current in-game strings directly.

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Rotation & Cooldowns

Core Abilities Reference

Ability	Role	Notes
Shadow Dance	Primary burst enabler	6-sec Stealth window; enables Shadowstrike and other Stealth abilities; use when Secret Technique is ready
Secret Technique	Primary finishing move	Burst finisher split into three attacks; use immediately inside Shadow Dance; static cooldown reduced by Haste
Shadow Blades	Primary DPS cooldown	90-second cooldown; doubles combo point generation; echoes 20% of damage as shadow; align with Shadow Dance
Shadowstrike	Stealth builder	Primary combo point generator inside Shadow Dance; replaces Backstab in Stealth
Backstab	Normal builder	Primary combo point generator outside Shadow Dance
Eviscerate	Primary finisher	Spend at 6–7 combo points outside Shadow Dance; secondary finisher inside it
Shuriken Storm	AoE builder	Replaces Shadowstrike/Backstab at 2+ targets
Black Powder	AoE finisher	Replaces Eviscerate at 2+ targets (except Coup de Grace procs)
Coup de Grace (Trickster)	AoE proc finisher	On proc, replaces Black Powder as priority AoE finisher; hits multiple targets
Vanish	Stealth reset + combo gen	Use on cooldown with low combo points; re-enables Stealth abilities
Shadow Techniques	Passive resource gen	Generates significant combo points and energy during active phases; primary sustain mechanic

Combo point rules: Build to 6–7 combo points. Never spend below 6 except to avoid capping. Inside Shadow Dance, prioritize Secret Technique finisher first, then Eviscerate. Maximize the number of ability casts inside each Shadow Dance window.

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Opener

Step	Action
Pre-pull	Enter Stealth
Pre-pull	Optional: Shadow Dance to consume Supercharger charges
1	Shadowstrike (from Stealth)
2	Shadow Blades (if available)
3	Shadow Dance (with 6+ CP and Secret Technique ready)
4	Secret Technique (immediately inside Shadow Dance)
5	Eviscerate (6+ CP)
6	Shadowstrike (builders inside Dance)
→	Resume priority rotation

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Single-Target Priority — Trickster

Inside Shadow Dance:

1. Secret Technique (6+ combo points — use immediately)
2. Eviscerate (6+ combo points)
3. Shadowstrike (builder)

Outside Shadow Dance:

1. Shadow Dance (when Secret Technique is ready and you have 6+ CP)
2. Shadow Blades (if Shadow Dance is available — use together)
3. Eviscerate (6+ combo points)
4. Vanish (on cooldown with low combo points)
5. Backstab (builder)

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AoE Priority — Trickster (2+ Targets)

Inside Shadow Dance:

1. Secret Technique (6+ combo points)
2. Eviscerate (Coup de Grace proc only)
3. Black Powder (6+ combo points)
4. Shuriken Storm (builder)

Outside Shadow Dance:

1. Black Powder (6+ combo points)
2. Shuriken Storm (builder)

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Cooldown Reference

Cooldown	Notes
Shadow Dance	The centrepiece of the entire spec. Use when Secret Technique is available and you have 6–7 combo points. The goal is to fit Secret Technique plus as many Eviscerate/Shadow Strike casts as possible inside the 6-second window. Never cast Shadow Dance during an active global cooldown — you lose time from the window.
Shadow Blades	90-second cooldown that doubles combo point generation. Align every Shadow Blades with a Shadow Dance cast — this is your primary burst window. During Shadow Blades, combo points accumulate fast enough to chain finishers much more rapidly than normal.
Secret Technique	The hardest-hitting finishing move in the kit. Use exclusively inside Shadow Dance. It has a static cooldown that's reduced by Haste — with sufficient Haste, you can fit two Secret Technique casts in a single Shadow Blades + Shadow Dance window.
Vanish	Re-enters Stealth and enables a Shadowstrike cast. Use on cooldown when at low combo points to generate resources between Shadow Dance windows. Do not hold it for burst — it is a rotation tool, not an emergency button.

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Enchants & Gems

Enchants

Slot	Enchant
Main Hand	Enchant Weapon — Acuity of the Ren'dorei
Off-Hand	Enchant Weapon — Arcane Mastery
Helm	Enchant Helm — Empowered Rune of Avoidance
Shoulders	Enchant Shoulders — Amirdrassil's Grace
Chest	Enchant Chest — Mark of the Worldsoul
Legs	Forest Hunter's Armor Kit
Boots	Enchant Boots — Lynx's Dexterity
Ring	Enchant Ring — Eyes of the Eagle

Gems

Socket	Gem
Prismatic socket	Indecipherable Eversong Diamond
All other sockets	Flawless Quick Amethyst (Haste + Mastery primary); Flawless Deadly Peridot or Flawless Masterful Garnet as alts

Gem choices depend on individual stat configuration. Sim your character to confirm which combination is optimal.

Consumables

Type	Item	Notes
Flask	Flask of the Magisters	Flask of the Shattered Sun as alt — sim to confirm
Combat Potion	Light's Potential	Draught of Rampant Abandon (superior but requires active positioning for silence mechanic)
Health Potion	Silvermoon Health Potion
Weapon Buff	Thalassian Phoenix Oil	Apply to both main hand and off-hand
Augment Rune	Void-Touched Augment Rune
Food	Royal Roast	Silvermoon Parade for group feast

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Best in Slot Gear

Season 1 BiS. The Masquerade of the Grim Jest tier set is the priority acquisition target.

Slot	Item	Source
Head	Masquerade of the Grim Jest	Tier Set
Neck	Eternal Voidsong Chain	Crown of the Cosmos (raid)
Chest	Fantastic Finery of the Grim Jest	Tier Set
Main Hand	Hungering Victory	Raid
Off-Hand	Farstrider's Mercy	Crafting

Trinket tiers — S: Light Company Guidon (aligns perfectly with the 90-second Shadow Blades cycle), Gaze of the Alnseer | A: Algeth'ar Puzzle Box, Heart of Wind

Crafted priority (early season): Main-hand weapon with Darkmoon Sigil: Hunt embellishment → belt slot with Arcanoweave Lining for the second embellishment.

Upgrade priority: Main-hand weapon first → strong trinkets → special-effect items → lowest item level slots in high-stat budget slots.

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Tips & Common Mistakes

• Shadow Dance is the entire spec — every decision in the rotation exists to set up the next Shadow Dance window correctly. If you enter Shadow Dance without combo points built or without Secret Technique ready, the burst window is wasted. Build to 6–7 combo points before pressing Shadow Dance, and confirm Secret Technique is off cooldown.
• Never cast Shadow Dance mid-GCD — Shadow Dance lasts 6 seconds. Each GCD wasted from the window is an ability that doesn't fire. Confirm your current GCD has resolved before activating Shadow Dance.
• Shadow Blades + Shadow Dance together — every Shadow Blades window should have a Shadow Dance inside it. The doubled combo point generation enables chaining finishers rapidly, and Secret Technique inside that window is when Subtlety hits peak damage. Separating these two is a significant loss.
• Light Company Guidon is the BiS trinket for a reason — it aligns on a 90-second cooldown, matching Shadow Blades exactly. The trinket's effect will be active for every major burst window over the course of a fight. This sync is not a coincidence; build your cooldown sequence around it.
• Vanish is a rotation tool, not a save — Vanish re-enables Stealth abilities and generates combo points. Using it as a pure defensive means it's sitting unused through every resource-starved moment between Shadow Dance windows. Put it on a rotation timer and press it when combo points are low.
• Haste ~18–20% matters more than it looks — this breakpoint adds additional globals inside Shadow Dance. Falling short means fitting fewer casts into the window; exceeding it opens the possibility of fitting a second Secret Technique during Shadow Blades windows at high gear levels.