Project Lore: World of Warcraft Videos and Guides

1-10

The Rogue is a relatively painless class to level, considering that a Rogue is designed to kill mobs quickly. However, the best way to level any character or do anything for that matter is focus and commitment to the task at hand. The level ranges given are just a rough idea of what you can expect to be doing at any particular time. In most cases the mentioned zones will have a plethora of quests to finish for a lot of xp and rewards.

For horde or alliance Rogues this will consist of beginner area quests, though at this point a Rogue can kill mobs so easily that any gaps between quests will easily be filled by a little bit of monster killing. Gear has no particular significance at this level so you should feel free to equip whatever you can find, and perhaps save up enough cash to train in swords.

Level 1

You'll start out with two attacks. Sinister Strike is the basic rogue attack. It causes weapon damage plus a flat bonus, with no side-effects or disadvantages. It has no cooldown, and doesn't take large amounts of energy to cast. Sinister strike is an instant strike, and as such benefits greatly from weapons with a high base damage. Eviscerate is the most common, most reliable finisher. Finishing moves requires the rogue to have saved up a number of combo points. When activated, the finishing move uses all available combo points, and more points makes the ability more effective. Eviscerate deals direct damage, no secondary effects. Damage from eviscerate is affected by armor; against heavy-armored foes, you'll get more damage out of rupture.

Level 4

Backstab is one of the reasons that rogues like daggers. Backstab causes 150% weapon damage plus a flat amount, and grants one combo point. It isn't quite as damaging as ambush, but it also doesn't require stealth. If you have a party member to tank a monster, then you can let fly backstab after backstab until it dies. Even by yourself, you can gouge or stun a monster, slide around behind it, and backstab. Backstab has a large energy requirement, and generates a lot of threat from monsters. Backstab is an instant strike, and as such benefits greatly from weapons with a high base damage.

Pick Pocket allows the rogue to get some extra loot from an enemy NPC. If the skill is resisted, the monster immediately detects the rogue and aggros. Failure rates depend on relative levels, but the base failure rate seems to be around 5%. Typically humanoid types will have pockets and beasts won't, but there are numerous exceptions. If a rogue attempts to pickpocket a monster who doesn't have pockets, the moster does not aggro. The items received from picking pockets are not subject to group looting rules, and loot picked up with this ability are extras, in addition to the monster's normal loot when it is killed. It is considered polite to kill every monster whose pockets you pick, unless you are in an instance; that way, the monsters will respawn and the next rogue through the area can pick their pockets as well.

Level 6

Gouge this skill grants a combo point, causes a trivial amount of damage, and incapacitates the target for a short time. It requires that the rogue be in front of his target, and is on a 10 second cooldown. It is most useful for cancelling spellcasting, or to set the target up for a backstab. Note that with the full number of points in the Improved Gouge talent, you have a net gain in energy when you use this skill.

Level 8

Evasion improves the rogue's dodge on a 5 minute cooldown. This ability buys you a few more seconds to kill your target or get away - be certain to make that time count.

Level 10

Sprint increases the rogue's run speed dramatically for 15 seconds. It also doesn't break stealth when used, so it can help the rogue into or out of trouble. Sap causes your target to become incapacitated for a long period of time. Sap can only be used on humanoids, and cannot be used on a target which is in combat. It is useful in instances, to separate monsters so the player's group can fight them in smaller groups.

Slice and Dice is a finising move that grants the rogue a temporary boost to his melee attack speed. This significantly increases his auto- attack damage, and gives commensuratly more chances for poisons to hit. This finisher has the benefit of continuing after your target is killed. When a target is nearly dead, you can use slice and dice, kill it, and then move on to another enemy still benefiting from those combo points.

11-20

The horde has an early instance option called Rage Fire Chasm, located in Orgrimmar itself, in the cleft of shadow. This instance isn't until roughly level 15-17 for most classes, but there are still many quests to be had in Durotar or Mulgore and particularly the Barrens or Silverpine will have quests of interest, as well as easily grindable monsters.

For the alliance you are without an instance for a little while longer, but there are many quests in Loch Modan and particularly good quest chains in Westfall that will help you with your experience grinding.

Level 12

Kick is the rogue's main anti-caster ability. It cancels spells which are mid-cast, and prevents the caster from casting any spells from that school for a few seconds.

Level 14

Expose Armor is a finishing move that reduces the target's armor for 30 seconds, with more combo points increasing the amount reduced. This skill is most useful against elite foes, when working in a group. This skill does not stack with the warrior's Sunder Armor skill. Any level of expose armor typically prevents a warrior from using sunder armor at all on that target. This is very bad since sunder armor is a warrior's main tool for holding aggro.

Garrote afflicts the target with a bleeding effect, an 18 second DoT. The damage caused is not reduced by armor. The damage over time from this attack is about 25% higher than Ambush. It will prevent Gouge/Backstab because the DoT cancels Gouge. This should be noted when soloing, since it can potentially break your combat routines.

Level 16

Feint reduces the rogue's threat level on his current target. It won't make a monster lose interest and go home, but it can make him decide to go bother a different party member. Rogues can build up threat faster than almost any other class, so the ability to reduce threat levels is critical, helping your tank to maintain the monster's focus.

Level 18

Ambush is another reason rogues like daggers - it is a hard-hitting high-damage attack, dealing 275% weapon damage plus a flat bonus. It requires that the rogue have a dagger in his main hand, and that the rogue be behind his target and stealthed. The damage from this skill is affected by armor, so Ambush is best used against low-armor targets, typically casters.

Level 20

Rupture is a finishing move that causes bleeding damage, similar to garrote. The length depends on the number of combo points, but the damage per second which the skill inflicts is constant. One or two point ruptures can be more effective than full 5 point ruptures; by the time a two point rupture expires, the rogue typically has more combo points to renew the effect.

Instant Poison has a chance to add nature damage to each hit with the weapon it is applied to. It has no side-effects or drawbacks.

Crippling Poison afflicts the target with a reduction in movement speed. It has no side-effects or drawbacks. It is a favorite poison for instances and PvP fighting, where the ability to prevent escape is key.

Poisons Quest

When you reach level 20, you will be asked by your trainer in the capital city of your faction (Orgrimmar or Stormwind) to complete a chain of quests in order to be able to coat your weapons with poison - this skill is essential for any rogue and this quest should be completed by any aspiring rogue. Poisons are temporary weapon enchantments created via production, similar to First aid or Cooking. They have a chance on each hit to produce a special effect.

Alliance

Start: Master Mathias Shaw, leader of the SI:7 in Stormwind.

You will be asked to go to Westfall and meet up with Agent Kearnen - she will be in front of the tower southeast of Westfall, where some tough -looking monsters are about.

Your task is simple, pickpocket the Malformed Defias near the tower for the key, and then climb up, while stealthed, to the very top of the tower. Once there, sap Klaven and open his chest, taking the Journal, then go back to your quest giver. This will complete your Quest and let you learn Poisons! Alas, you will be poisoned yourself and lead to a follow-up.

You will be told to go seek out Doc Mixipixil in the Cellar of the Barracks. Use /lay in front of him so he examines you, then he will demand that you give him:

• Simple Wild Flowers
• Leaded Vial
• Bronze Tube
• Spool of Light Chartreuse
• Silk Thread

These will let you obtain the cure. Alternatively, you may ask for a higher level character to cure you and skip this step, but you will miss out on some experience.

Horde

Start: Zelanis in Orgrimmar's Cleft of Shadow

After teaching you the salute you must do, you will be sent to the Venture Co. Tower north of the sludge fen and use your Flare Gun twice, then use your Shattered Hand Salute twice on the agent in there.

Now you'll have some killing to do. Mutated Drones seem high level, but 1 ambush attack will kill them instantly. If needed, vanish and ambush the other one to complete this step. Patrollers - Use rupture here to off them quickly, it will take down lots of health. Lookouts - Use eviscerate (even 1 combo point) to turn them into more manageable slimes. Gallywix - Use ambush to bring him down 50% then take him out as soon as possible, take his key and take the mixture.

You will have the Poison on you and be told to go to Tarren Mill upon reporting to your Rogue Trainer, here, you will be cleansed and you will learn the Poisons Skill!

21-30

At this point many horde and alliance will start leveling in the same places, doing the same instances etc. Obviously, this can be somewhat dangerous. But you're a Rogue! That's what it's all about. Initially, alliance will want to do the Deadmines instance in Westfall, as a major quest chain ends there and decent initial upgrades can be found. Both factions may take an interest in each other's home zone instances (Wailing Caverns, Dead Mines) though it may not be possible to obtain more than 1 or 2 quests for the opposite instance. As you reach 23-25, both the alliance and horde will have Blackfathom depths open to them, which is actually a very entertaining instance with many useful drops for most classes.

Level 22

Distract allows you to designate a circular area at some distance. Any enemies within that circle will pivot to face the center of the circle, and remain facing that way for 10 seconds. Distract does not break stealth, and does not prevent the monsters from aggroing. Distract does not work on creatures in combat. When used against a player, it spins them around if they are auto-running, but the player can immediately change his facing. Distract can also be resisted. You can also use distract to break up a group of patrolling monsters. Aim the Distract so that it affects half of the patrol. That half will remain stationary while the other half continues patrolling. Engage the stationary half in combat before distract wears off or else they will run to join the rest of the patrol.

Vanish causes you to enter an improved stealth mode for 10 sec. Also breaks movement impairing effects. If you're PvPing, try to save this 5 minute timer for when it counts most, such as when a Mage uses Frost Nova on you.

Level 24

Mind-Numbing poison afflicts the target with a reduction in casting speed. It has no side-effects or drawbacks.

Quest: The Manor, Ravenholdt

This quest begins with an "Elegant Letter" drop.

The Path starts at 75, 23 in the Hillsbrad Foothills. It's a little brown dirt path that zigzags into the mountain. Head up the mountain and follow the dirt road. Once you're at the top you'll see level 50 Neutral Guards and behind them you see the tunnel. No need to stealth past the Guards, for they won't attack you at all. Enter the tunnel. Upon entering the tunnel you should see the chest! Hovering above the chest you should see a blue rectangle. Head towards the chest, but DO NOT OPEN IT! Once your close enough the quest update should have activated. Keep going through the tunnel and you end at the Manor. Head to the building and talk with Fahrad

Level 26

Cheap shot is arguably the most versatile opener. It stuns the target for 4 seconds, and grants two combo points (three with talents) instead of one. Unlike ambush and garrote, the rogue need not be behind his target. Cheap shot is useful more often than not; it is a poor choice only against enemies which are immune to stun, or which can easily escape stun, such as mages which can Blink out of a stun.

Level 30

Disarm Trap is of limited use due to the lack of traps in the game at present. Some good uses of Disarm Trap: Wooden Boxes in Stratholme, Mines in Blood Furnace, Hunter Traps in PvP, Land mines in Alterac Valley

Kidney Shot stuns the target for a number of seconds equal to the number of combo points used. Useful with Cheap Shot and Gouge to keep a target stun locked.

Deadly Poison's damage is less than an equivalent level of instant poison, but it actually deals damage more quickly than instant poison thanks to its higher application rate. Deadly poison stacks up to 5 times, making it harder to remove with some spells.

31-57

Level 32

Wound Poison reduces the effectiveness of healing spells which affect the target, causing them to heal lesser amounts. It stacks up to 5 times, making it harder to remove with some spells.

Probably the most enjoyable level range in the game, this one is all about Scarlet Monastery. There's a little something for everyone in scarlet monastery, and with 4 instances of varying levels most classes could pretty much level this whole range inside of it.

Level 34

Blind has a long range, and can thus be used as a long distance kick to disrupt spell from being cast. Blind is also very useful in PvP; either blind or gouge the opponent, and use the break to bandage yourself. This ability has a cooldown of 3 minutes.

Level 52

A Simple Request

Speak with Lord Jorach Ravenholdt in Ravenholdt Manor.

The path starts at 75, 23

The quest giver is at 83, 18

Save your Syndicate Emblems (get through pick pocketing) and turn them in there for credits.

Sealed Azure Bag

Retrieve the Sealed Azure Bag from the Timbermaw Shaman in Azshara. Then take the bag to Archmage Xylem, also found in Azshara.

Pickpocket some Timbermaw Shamans in Azshara. Go to 28,50 where you will find a high elf. He will teleport you. Once teleported, run through the road up to a tower, once inside deliver complete the quest.

*note: If you find that you cannot pickpocket the Timbermaw, temporarily flag your self as "at war" with them. You can pick pocket them, and as long as you don't kill them and you won't lose rep with them. Just remember to turn "at war" off when you're done.

Encoded Fragments

Bring 10 Encoded Fragments to Archmage Xylem in Azshara. To get to the Archmage Xylem there is only one way, find this guy with a blue question mark over his head. his name is Sanath Lim-yo (coords- 28,50) click him and press complete quest and he'll transport u straight to the top of the mountain, go up the ramp and to the tower, the archmage is in there. The quest used to be to collect the fragments from oozes in Azshara, but it now appears that they can be collected from ANY beast in Azshara.

The Azure Key (dungeon)

Return the Azure Key to Lord Jorach Ravenholdt.

Sunken Temple:

From the entrance to instance take a left and head up stairs. You will come to a large room with a hole in the middle. On the opposite side of that room (south) you will find Morphaz and Hazzaz flying around in the room before you reach Eranikus.

58-70

Level 58

Time for Outlands! You'll be able to find plenty of great gear upgrades along with many fun quests. Hellfire Peninsula is generally pretty crowded, so be aware.

Level 62

Envenom ignores armor so in some cases will be more powerful than eviscerate.

Anesthetic Poison is slightly less powerful than Instant Poison but generates no additional threat.

Level 66

Cloak of Shadows is extremely useful. Casters hate when you use it, and it removes poisons, diseases, curses, and magical effects. It does not work on physical debuffs like rend or hamstring.

Level 70

Shiv is helpful if you want to make sure your target is poisoned with your off hand poison. It also cannot be dodged, so if you find another rogue has popped evasion, this is a great move to use.