The Honor Codex

Class PvP guides for WoW Forever

Pick your class below. Learn how it wins, the buttons that matter, and how to beat every class you meet.

Each guide: talents, key buttons, your opener, every matchup, and your job in each battleground.

Rogue

Chooses every fight it takes.

Rogues open from stealth and chain stuns until the target dies. New in Forever: Shank, a cheap off-hand strike that gives you Energy back, and Poised, which makes your first ability cheaper when you start at full Energy. Rogues can also use one-handed axes now. A Rogue forced into a fair fight is in trouble.

PvP roles
Melee damageAmbush
Newcomer friendlyHard to learn
PvP gearOne set for all specs.

Rogue basics

What powers you

Rogues use Energy. It refills at 10 points a second, so you never wait long. Most attacks put combo points on your target, and finishing moves like Eviscerate and Kidney Shot spend them: more points, stronger finisher.

Cloth and leather armor. Wear leather. You dual wield one-hand weapons, and Rogues can now use one-handed axes too. Ambush and Mutilate need a dagger. For range you have bows, crossbows, guns and thrown weapons.

Stealth

Stealth hides you but slows you (50% at rank 1, 30% at rank 4). Sap, Cheap Shot, Garrote and Ambush only work from Stealth. Sap does not break it, so you can Sap one enemy and open on another.

Combo points

Builders like Sinister Strike, Backstab and Gouge add 1 combo point. Cheap Shot adds 2. Finishers spend up to 5. Kidney Shot stuns 1 sec per point at rank 1, and 1 sec longer at rank 2.

Poisons

From level 20 you make poisons and coat your weapons for 30 min. Crippling Poison slows, Mind-numbing Poison slows casting, Wound Poison cuts healing, and Instant and Deadly Poison add damage. Each needs reagents and a vial.

Shank and Poised

New in Forever. Shank costs 5 Energy, cannot miss, and gives 15 Energy back (25 at rank 2) from your off-hand. Poised makes your first ability cost 10 less when you start out of combat at full Energy.

Abilities you unlock, by level

  1. 8Evasion
    50% more dodge for 15 sec. Your main defense against melee.
  2. 10Sap
    Takes one enemy out of the fight before it starts. Does not break Stealth.
  3. 12Kick
    Interrupts a cast and locks that school for 5 sec.
  4. 20Crippling Poison
    Slows targets by 50% so they cannot run or kite you.
  5. 22Vanish
    Back into Stealth and free of slows. Your escape button.
  6. 24Shank
    Cheap off-hand hit that refills Energy for your next stun.
  7. 26Cheap Shot
    4 sec stun from Stealth and 2 combo points. Your main opener.
  8. 30Kidney Shot
    Finishing-move stun that chains after Cheap Shot.
  9. 30Preparation
    (talent) Resets Vanish, Blind, Evasion and Sprint for a second round.
  10. 34Blind
    Up to 10 sec disorient. Stops a healer or buys time to bandage.

PvP while you level

10-19

You have Sap, Gouge, Evasion, Sprint and Kick at 12. No Cheap Shot, Vanish or poisons yet. Open from Stealth with Garrote (14) or Ambush (18, needs a dagger), both from behind. Only Warsong Gulch is open: pick off players who wander alone and Gouge or Kick their heals.

20-29

Poisons arrive at 20, so put Crippling Poison on a weapon. Vanish at 22, Shank at 24 and Cheap Shot at 26 make you a real opener. Row 3 talents open at 20, including Riposte and Premeditation. Arathi Basin opens at 20: scout and hit lightly guarded bases.

30-39

Kidney Shot at 30 completes your stun chain: Cheap Shot, build points, Kidney Shot. Deadly Poison at 30, Wound Poison at 32 and Blind at 34 (make Blinding Powder from Fadeleaf). Row 5 talents at 30 give Preparation, Blade Flurry or Hemorrhage. Darkspear Islands opens at 30: ambush the enemy flag runner.

40-49

Stealth rank 3 at 40 lets you move faster while hidden. Row 7 talents at 40 give Mutilate, Adrenaline Rush or Death Mark. Vanish rank 2 at 42 and Shank rank 2 at 44, which gives 25 Energy.

50-59

Kidney Shot rank 2 at 50 adds 1 sec at every combo point. Crippling Poison II at 50 slows by 70%. Alterac Valley opens at 51: hunt casters behind the front line, not the main fight.

60

Your kit is complete and Stealth only slows you 30%. Open at full Energy, Kick heals, and keep Blind and Vanish for when the fight turns. Pick a build that matches how you play: Combat for battlegrounds, Subtlety for duels and world PvP.

Set up your bars

Keys 1-6Your control kit, same as the key list above: Cheap Shot, Kidney Shot, Gouge, Blind, Vanish, Kick.
Keys 7-0 and Q/EDamage: Sinister Strike or Backstab, Shank, Eviscerate and Slice and Dice.
Stealth barYour action bar changes when you enter Stealth. Put Sap, Cheap Shot, Ambush, Garrote, Distract and Sprint there, on the keys your fingers rest on.
Shift keysEvasion, Sprint, Feint and bandages. Keep poisons, Blinding Powder and Flash Powder on a side bar and reapply poisons before every battleground.
ControllerIn Gamepad mode the slot decides the button, since binds are fixed. Put Kick and Cheap Shot on the trigger layer you reach fastest. The bumpers swap enemy targets, which helps when you Sap one and open on another.

New Rogue questions

Why can't I use Cheap Shot?

It needs Stealth, and you learn it at 26. Before that, open with Garrote or Ambush from behind.

Which poisons should I use?

Crippling Poison on one weapon so targets cannot run. On the other, Instant or Deadly for damage, Wound to cut healing on a healer, or Mind-numbing against casters.

When should I use Vanish?

To escape or reset a fight you are losing. It also breaks slows and roots. Do not waste it as an opener.

What reagents do I need?

Blind needs Blinding Powder, which you make from Fadeleaf. Vanish needs Flash Powder. Poisons need their own reagents and vials.

What is Poised?

A new passive. If you are out of combat at full Energy, your next ability costs 10 less. Always open at full Energy.

Talents and PvP builds

New to talents?

  • You get your first talent point at level 10 and one more each level. That is 51 points at level 60.
  • Every class has three trees. Each row opens once you spend 5 points per row above it in that tree.
  • A line between two talents means the lower one needs the upper one maxed first.
  • Changed your mind? Your class trainer resets your talents for a fee.
  • Pick a PvP build below. Lit icons show where its points go. Hover or tap any talent to read what it does.

Combat Brawler

Hard to shake, hard to kill, great at stopping casters.

17Assassination34Combat0Subtlety

You fight in the open with swords or maces and keep pressure on with Blade Flurry and Adrenaline Rush. Improved Kick silences healers, and short Sprint and Evasion cooldowns keep you alive in big fights.

Best for: Battlegrounds

Level 60: the full build, all 51 points.

Assassination17 pts
Combat34 pts
Subtlety0 pts

Gold = fully rankedGreen = some ranksGlow = key talentBlue dot = new in Forever

Full leveling order, level 10 to 60
  1. Levels 10–11Efficient Strikes 2/2 Combat
  2. Levels 12–16Lightning Reflexes 5/5 Combat
  3. Levels 17–18Improved Sprint 2/2 Combat
  4. Levels 19–21Deflection 3/3 Combat
  5. Levels 22–23Endurance 2/2 Combat
  6. Level 24Riposte 1/1 Combat
  7. Levels 25–26Improved Kick 2/2 Combat
  8. Levels 27–29Precision 3/3 Combat
  9. Level 30Blade Flurry 1/1 Combat
  10. Levels 31–33Aggression 3/3 Combat
  11. Levels 34–35Weapon Expertise 2/2 Combat
  12. Levels 36–40Hack and Slash 5/5 Combat
  13. Level 41Adrenaline Rush 1/1 Combat
  14. Levels 42–43Dual Wield Specialization 2/2 Combat
  15. Levels 44–46Improved Gouge 3/3 Assassination
  16. Levels 47–51Malice 5/5 Assassination
  17. Levels 52–54Ruthlessness 3/3 Assassination
  18. Levels 55–56Vigor 2/2 Assassination
  19. Levels 57–58Lethality 2/2 Assassination
  20. Level 59Vile Poisons 1/5 Assassination
  21. Level 60Cold Blood 1/1 Assassination

Key talents in this build

Improved Kick
Every Kick now silences for 2 sec, so a healer cannot just recast.
Endurance
Forever version cuts Sprint and Evasion cooldowns by 60%, so you have them almost every fight.
Improved Sprint
Sprint clears slows and roots, which you meet all the time in battlegrounds.
Riposte
After a parry it now disarms the target for 6 sec, a big win against warriors.
Adrenaline Rush
Doubles your energy for a short, heavy burst of stuns and damage.
Blade Flurry
Hits a second target, good on flag carriers with guards and in crowds.
Improved Gouge
A longer Gouge buys time to bandage or reset the fight.

Strengths

  • Strong in long, messy fights
  • Shuts down healers with silences
  • Fast Sprint and Evasion

Weaknesses

  • Weaker opener from stealth
  • No Preparation, so only one Vanish

Open this build in the talent calculator

Your action bar

Put these on keys you can reach without looking. Buttons marked Talent only exist if your build takes that talent.

Cheap Shot
4 sec stun from stealth. Gives 2 combo points.
Kidney Shot
Finishing-move stun. More combo points, longer stun.
Gouge
Short incapacitate. Any damage breaks it.
Blind
Up to 10 sec disorient. Needs Blinding Powder.
Vanish
Back into stealth, breaks snares.
Kick
Interrupts a spell and locks that school for 5 sec.

The opener, in order

  1. Sap a guard or healer first. Sap does not break your Stealth.
  2. Cheap Shot your target at full Energy.
  3. Use Shank to refill Energy, build combo points, then Kidney Shot.
  4. Kick the first heal.
  5. If it turns, Gouge or Blind and reset, or Vanish.

Know your enemy

How a Rogue usually fares one on one. Pick the class you are fighting.

RogueRogue
Even

Whoever opens first wins. Keep Blind for theirs.

  1. FirstStay in stealth and find them first. Open with Cheap Shot, or Sap them first if you spot them and need time.
  2. ThenTrade stuns with care and use Evasion when they burst. Gouge gives you time to refill Energy for your next Kidney Shot.
  3. Watch forTheir Cheap Shot and Kidney Shot. Keep Blind ready for the moment their stun ends.
  4. If it goes wrongBlind them and bandage, or Vanish. If your build has Preparation, you get a second Vanish and Blind.
Their buttons to watch
  • Cheap Shot
  • Kidney Shot
  • Gouge
  • Blind
Your answers
  • Cheap Shot: 4 sec stun from stealth. Gives 2 combo points.
  • Kidney Shot: Finishing-move stun. More combo points, longer stun.
  • Gouge: Short incapacitate. Any damage breaks it.
  • Blind: Up to 10 sec disorient. Needs Blinding Powder.

Your job in each battleground

Warsong Gulch

Levels 10–60 · 10 vs 10

Sap and kill enemy healers. Stop the flag carrier.

Arathi Basin

Levels 20–60 · 15 vs 15

Scout and take lightly guarded bases.

Alterac Valley

Levels 51–60 · 40 vs 40

Hunt casters behind the front line.

Gear

Your PvP gear path

One set for all specs. Honor and Marks buy the gear; your rank unlocks the upgrades.

  1. Blue PvP setLevel 55. Buy each piece with Honor plus Marks from battlegrounds. No rank needed.
  2. PvP trinketRank 2. Removes slows and loss-of-control effects, 5 min cooldown. Get it first: it wins more fights than any armor.
  3. Faction cloakRank 3.
  4. Epic upgradesTurn a blue piece in with an Emboldened Seal. Wrist and waist at Rank 8, feet 9, hands 10, legs and shoulders 12, chest and head 13.
  5. Rank 14 weaponGrand Marshal or High Warlord. Earliest in week 10 of a season.

Don’t sit on Honor: you can hold 25,000 at most, and anything past that is lost. Beta prices and ranks may change.

Stats to look for

Stamina, Attack Power and crit, as the set is built. One guide lists Agility > Crit > Attack Power > Stamina.1216

Forever has no Resilience. Developers said they are not adding it. Stamina gives 10 health per point, like Classic. Hit and crit are one stat each now, for spells and attacks alike. Hit cap against players of your level: 5% melee and ranged, 4% spells, 24% dual wield (beta client). A beta bug halved crit damage in PvP. Blizzard called it a bug and fixed it in the Oct 8 notes. Most damage and healing over time can crit now. Expertise is new. It lowers the target's dodge and parry chance. Every PvP set piece is Stamina-heavy. The sets are the clearest guide to what each spec should stack.

Honor and Marks, in plain words

  • Rare pieces need level 55 and no rank. You pay Honor plus Marks of Honor.
  • Each slot needs Marks from one battleground: WSG for hands, legs, wrists; AB for shoulders, chest, waist, cloaks; AV for head and two-handers; Darkspear for feet, necklace, one-handers, ranged, shields, off-hands.
  • A win gives 3 Marks, a loss 1. You can carry up to 30 of each.
  • Full rare set of 8 pieces (6 set + wrist + waist): 59,200 Honor plus Marks (35 WSG, 35 AB, 15 AV, 10 Darkspear).
  • Epic seals for 8 pieces: 14,000 Honor plus the head seal (price unknown).
  • Honor cap is 25,000, so you will visit the vendor several times.
  • Vendors: Champions' Hall in Stormwind (Captain Dirgehammer armor, Captain O'Neal weapons, Master Sergeant Biggins accessories) and Hall of Legends in Orgrimmar (Lady Palanseer, Sergeant Thunderhorn, Brave Stonehide).
13467891011121314

Your PvP sets

Lieutenant Commander's Vestments (Alliance) / Champion's Vestments (Horde)All specs (melee)Rare (blue), item level 60, needs level 55
  • 2 pieces: +40 Attack Power.
  • 4 pieces: Reduces the cooldown of your Gouge ability by 1 sec.
  • 6 pieces: +20 Stamina.
6 pieces · 6 pieces together: 48,700 Honor + 75 Marks of Honor
  • Head: Premier Leather Veil (Alliance) / Premier Shadowhide Headguard (Horde). +25 Sta, +14 AP, +1% crit, +0.5% dodge. 9,000 Honor + 15 AV Marks.
  • Shoulders: Premier Leather Spaulders (Alliance) / Premier Shadowhide Mantle (Horde). +19 Sta, +24 AP, +0.5% crit. 6,350 Honor + 10 AB Marks.
  • Chest: Premier Leather Armor (Alliance) / Premier Shadowhide Hauberk (Horde). +26 Sta, +16 AP, +1% crit. 9,350 Honor + 15 AB Marks.
  • Hands: Premier Leather Gauntlets (Alliance) / Premier Shadowhide Vices (Horde). +19 Sta, +24 AP, +0.5% crit. 7,500 Honor + 10 WSG Marks.
  • Legs: Premier Leather Legguards (Alliance) / Premier Shadowhide Leggings (Horde). +15 Agi, +26 Sta, +0.5% dodge. 9,000 Honor + 15 WSG Marks.
  • Feet: Premier Leather Boots (Alliance) / Premier Shadowhide Walkers (Horde). +14 Agi, +19 Sta, +30 bonus armor. 7,500 Honor + 10 Darkspear Marks.
12
Field Marshal's Vestments (Alliance) / Warlord's Vestments (Horde)All specs (melee)Epic, item level 65, needs level 60
  • 2 pieces: +20 Stamina.
  • 3 pieces: Reduces the cooldown of your Gouge ability by 1 sec.
  • 6 pieces: +40 Attack Power.
6 pieces · Seals for 6 pieces: 11,300 Honor + the head seal (price not known yet)
  • Head: Premier Field Marshal's Leather Mask (Alliance) / Premier Warlord's Shadowhide Helm (Horde). +37 Sta, +16 AP, +1% crit, +1% dodge. Seal at rank 13, earliest week 9.
  • Shoulders: Premier Marshal's Leather Epaulets (Alliance) / Premier General's Shadowhide Spaulders (Horde). +26 Sta, +28 AP, +1% crit. Seal at rank 12, earliest week 8, 2,250 Honor.
  • Chest: Premier Field Marshal's Leather Chestpiece (Alliance) / Premier Warlord's Shadowhide Breastplate (Horde). +37 Sta, +32 AP, +1% crit. Seal at rank 13, earliest week 9, 2,650 Honor.
  • Hands: Premier Lieutenant Commander's Leather Handgrips (Alliance) / Premier Champion's Shadowhide Mitts (Horde). +26 Sta, +28 AP, +1% crit. Seal at rank 10, earliest week 7, 2,250 Honor.
  • Legs: Premier Marshal's Leather Leggings (Alliance) / Premier General's Shadowhide Legguards (Horde). +17 Agi, +37 Sta, +1% dodge. Seal at rank 12, earliest week 8, 2,650 Honor.
  • Feet: Premier Knight-Champion's Leather Footguards (Alliance) / Premier Centurion's Shadowhide Treads (Horde). +20 Agi, +26 Sta, +40 bonus armor. Seal at rank 9, earliest week 6, 1,500 Honor.
12

Items worth chasing

Greater Insignia of the Alliance / Greater Insignia of the HordeRank 2, 5,250 Honor

PvP trinket. Removes all movement impairing and loss of control effects. 5 min cooldown. Same trinket for every class.1513

Premier Sergeant's CapeRank 3, 4,500 Honor + 10 AB Marks

+16 Sta, +67 bonus armor. Every class can wear it.1

Premier Sergeant's CloakRank 3, 4,500 Honor + 10 AB Marks

+8 to Str, Agi, Sta, Int and Spi. Every class can wear it.1

Premier Master Sergeant's Insignia (Alliance) / Premier Senior Sergeant's Insignia (Horde)Rank 4, 7,500 Honor + 10 Darkspear Marks

Necklace, +16 Sta, +7 Spi.1

Premier Grand Marshal's Dirk (Alliance) / Premier High Warlord's Razor (Horde)Rank 14, 12,000 Honor + 10 Darkspear Marks

Dagger. +2 Sta, +24 AP, +1% crit. Rank 14 dagger.12

Premier Grand Marshal's Swiftblade (Alliance) / Premier High Warlord's Quickblade (Horde)Rank 14, 12,000 Honor + 10 Darkspear Marks

One-hand sword, 1.8 speed. +2 Sta, +24 AP, +1% crit. Fast one-hand sword (1.8 speed). Longsword is the slow 2.9 version.12

Premier Grand Marshal's Right Hand Blade (Alliance) / Premier High Warlord's Right Claw (Horde)Rank 14, 12,000 Honor + 10 Darkspear Marks

Main hand fist weapon. +2 Sta, +24 AP, +1% crit. Fist weapons come as a main hand and off hand pair (Left Hand Blade / Left Claw).12

Sentinel's Leather Pants (Alliance) / Outrider's Leather Pants (Horde)Exalted with Silverwing Sentinels or Warsong Outriders, level 60 version

Level 60 legs from Warsong Gulch. Stats not checked in Forever.4

Highlander's Leather Shoulders (Alliance) / Defiler's Leather Shoulders (Horde)Exalted with The League of Arathor or The Defilers, level 60

Level 60 shoulders from Arathi Basin. Stats not checked in Forever.4

The LobotomizerExalted with Stormpike Guard or Frostwolf Clan, level 55

AV dagger. Stats not checked in Forever.4

Darkspear Raider's Reaper (Horde) / Rebels' Rugged Reaper (Alliance)Revered with Darkspear Raiders or Theramore Expeditionary Force

Darkspear Islands weapon, comes in versions up to level 60. Stats not checked.5

Stormpike Soldier's Pendant and Cloak (Alliance) / Frostwolf Legionnaire's Pendant and Cloak (Horde)Honored with Stormpike Guard or Frostwolf Clan, level 55

Physical-fighter neck and back from AV. Stats not checked in Forever.4

Premier Knight-Captain's Leather Cinch (Alliance) / Premier Legionnaire's Shadowhide Girdle (Horde)Honor vendor, Epic waist. Seal at rank 8, earliest week 5, 1,500 Honor

+10 Str, +17 Agi, +26 Sta. Not part of the set bonus.12

Premier Leather Belt (Alliance) / Premier Shadowhide Girdle (Horde)Honor vendor, Rare waist. 6,000 Honor + 10 AB Marks

+7 Str, +12 Agi, +19 Sta. Not part of the set bonus.12

Premier Knight-Captain's Leather Armsplints (Alliance) / Premier Legionnaire's Shadowhide Armsplints (Horde)Honor vendor, Epic wrists. Seal at rank 8, earliest week 5, 1,200 Honor

+13 Agi, +21 Sta. Not part of the set bonus.12

Premier Leather Bracers (Alliance) / Premier Shadowhide Armguards (Horde)Honor vendor, Rare wrists. 4,500 Honor + 10 WSG Marks

+9 Agi, +15 Sta. Not part of the set bonus.12

Gear tips

  • The set cuts Gouge cooldown by 1 sec (4 rare or 3 epic pieces).
  • Many rogue set pieces give crit and some give dodge.
  • Wowhead lists only 4 pieces in the rogue set (no head or shoulders), but the tooltips still show a 6-piece bonus. Check in game.

Enchants

  • All Classic Era enchants remain, so Crusader is still the melee weapon pick. Spell Power and Healing Power for casters and healers.
  • New 2H weapon: Strength (+25 Str), Mighty Spell Power (+55), Mighty Healing Power (+100 healing).
  • New 1H weapon: Recovery (heal 5% max health on parry or dodge), Revelation (next spell +100% crit, diminishing), Insight (Spirit proc).
  • New chest: Absorption (25% chance to absorb 50 damage per hit).
  • New necklace enchants: +5 Str, +5 Agi, spell power, healing power, +5 defense.
  • New bracer and cloak options include Superior Agility (+9), Superior Intellect (+9) and cloak Agility (+5).

Consumables

  • Rank 5 reward: Combat Potions (contents not detailed by Blizzard).
  • BG quartermasters sell Superior and Major Healing and Mana Draughts, bandages and rations from Friendly or Honored.
  • Minor, Lesser and plain Healing Potions moved to First Aid.
  • Alchemists get Mixology: their own elixirs and flasks last twice as long and are stronger.
  • Draught of Predatory Senses is now a potion on the shared combat potion cooldown.

Professions

  • Engineering is the most common PvP pick. Bombs and gadgets give burst and control.
  • SAF-T and EZ-Thro explosives can be used by non-engineers, so you can buy them.
  • Mining at 300 is reported to give +5% max health. Good for PvP, check on live.
  • Gnome racial no longer gives +15 Engineering. It makes devices more reliable.
  • Alchemy's Mixology helps if your battleground allows your elixirs.

Not published yet: Price of the Emboldened Head Seal (rank 13) is not published. All set stats and prices are beta data. Check the vendor on live realms. No tested PvP stat priority at level 60 yet. The beta stopped at level 30. Stats of the battleground reputation rewards in Forever are not checked here. Whether the rogue head and shoulders count toward the set bonus.

Racials and mistakes

Racials

Alliance: Human, Dwarf, Night Elf, Gnome or High Order Skyborne. Human Will to Survive now removes stuns. Gnome Escape Artist frees you from slows and roots. Dwarf Stoneform clears poisons and bleeds. Horde: Orc, Undead, Troll or Windshaper Skyborne. Undead Will of the Forsaken breaks Fear. Orc Hardiness cuts stun time by 20%.

Common mistakes

  • Opening on a full-health target while their healer watches.
  • Using Vanish as an opener.
  • Chasing kills across the map.

Veteran tip

Open at full Energy. Poised makes your first ability cheaper.

How ranks work

Battlegrounds and weekly PvP quests give Rank Points. Everyone needs the same points, and nothing takes them away.

Fourteen ranks

From Private or Scout up to Grand Marshal or High Warlord. Rank 2 gives the PvP trinket; Rank 14 gives the epic weapons.

Weekly cap

The highest rank you can reach rises each week. Rank 14 opens in week 10 of a season at the earliest.

Read the full rank guide