10.2 Outlaw Rogue Rework Initial Observations - Revamped Abilities & Enhanced Gameplay

Outlaw Rogues have undergone significant changes in the Dragonflight 10.2 PTR. In this guide written by WowCarry, we will explore all the early changes as Blizzard attempts to revamp their talent tree and provide more options for Outlaw Rogue gameplay.

Dragonflight: Guardians of the Dream Update

The upcoming Dragonflight: Guardians of the Dream update brings several changes to the Rogue class, with a focus on updating all four Rogue talent trees. This sweeping pass aims to address concerns such as talent positioning, interconnectedness, and the percentage of DPS talents in the Class tree. Blizzard also took the opportunity to rework and redesign some existing talents and introduce new ones to enhance the Outlaw Rogue experience.

• Class Talent Tree Changes

• Sap is now a baseline ability.
• Shiv damage has been increased by 20%, with a higher energy cost and cooldown.
• New talents include Featherfoot, Superior Mixture, Graceful Guile, and Stillshroud.
• Vigor's location has changed, increasing max Energy and Energy regeneration.
• Deadly Precision is now a 1-point talent.
• Nightstalker's location has changed, granting increased damage while Stealth is active.
• Reverberation now boosts Echoing Reprimand's damage.
• Deadened Nerves reduces physical damage taken.
• Echoing Reprimand now charges more combo points.
• Marked for Death now grants full combo points and increases finishing move damage.
• Elusiveness now provides higher damage reduction with Evasion.
• Airborne Irritant has been moved to the class tree and adjusted.
• Marked for Death has been removed.

Outlaw Rogue Changes

The Outlaw talent tree receives significant improvements to address issues such as rigidity, lack of pathing options, and limited utility talents. Blizzard has made changes to talent positions and connections, and several abilities have become baseline. In addition, new talents have been introduced to expand the gameplay for Outlaw Rogues.

• Outlaw Talent Tree Changes

• Grappling Hook, Blade Flurry, Roll the Bones, and Restless Blades are now baseline abilities.
• Prey on the Weak has moved to the Outlaw tree and has been renamed Sting Like a Bee.
• New talents include Airborne Irritant, Crackshot, and Underhanded Upper Hand.
• Between the Eyes' critical bonus effect now benefits the Rogue instead of debuffing the target.
• Thief's Versatility has been adjusted.
• Deft Maneuvers has been redesigned.
• Swift Slasher now provides additional attack speed based on Haste.
• Ace Up Your Sleeve grants more combo points and has a higher chance to trigger.
• Triple Threat is now a 1-point talent.
• Improved Main Gauche is now a 1-point talent.
• Weaponmaster has been removed.
• Improved Adrenaline Rush no longer grants full combo points but now grants full Energy.
• Ghostly Strike has undergone several adjustments.
• Dreadblades and Killing Spree have been adjusted.
• A new talent, Precision Shot, increases range and reduces damage taken from Pistol Shot.
• Killing Spree has a shorter delay between strikes and affects damage taken.

Setting the Stage

In the upcoming 10.2 patch, Rogues receive a talent tree rework focused on providing a more enjoyable and versatile gameplay experience. One of the major pain points addressed is the lack of utility talents available while maximizing damage output. With the changes, Rogue players now have access to stronger utility talents without sacrificing damage potential. The rework also improves target swapping and provides better pathing options on the talent tree.

• The Class Tree

The changes in the class tree bring increased pathing options and new utility talents. Notable additions include talents like Featherfoot, which enhances Sprint, and Stillshroud, which reduces the cooldown of Shroud of Concealment. These utility talents provide Rogue players with more tools to excel in Mythic+ dungeons. Additionally, talents like Superior Mixture offer potent slows, while Airborne Irritant provides an AoE crowd control effect. These talents greatly bolster Rogue's M+ toolkit.

However, some talents still feel awkwardly positioned, causing certain choices to compete with essential talents. For example, Acrobatic Strikes is in competition with other damage talents, while Gouge competes with the new utility talents Airborne Irritant and its synergy talents. On a similar note, Blackjack is a strong talent for M+ but competes with Tricks of the Trade, which is essential in that content. Some talents like Unbreakable Stride and Rushed Setup also struggle to justify their usage amidst the increased competition. Overall, the class tree offers a variety of utility talents, but some improvements in positioning and choice balancing could enhance the experience further.

• The Spec Tree

The Outlaw talent tree rework has improved pathing options and resolved issues surrounding abilities such as Grappling Hook and Ghostly Strike. With Grappling Hook as a baseline ability and Ghostly Strike off the global cooldown, mobility and rotation fluidity have significantly improved. The rework also brings new synergistic talents like Underhanded Upper Hand, which extends Adrenaline Rush duration with Stealth. Crackshot, another impactful talent, amplifies the damage potential of Between the Eyes. These new talents, along with reworked abilities like Killing Spree and Swift Slasher, provide exciting and robust playstyle options for Outlaw Rogues.

However, some talents still require fine-tuning. Ghostly Strike's increased cooldown and energy cost might make it less appealing, Grand Melee's interaction with Blade Flurry could still lead to suboptimal targeting choices, and talents like Gouge and Blackjack face challenges due to hard-to-justify choice nodes. Additionally, talents such as Sleight of Hand might require reevaluation to ensure viability in different scenarios. Overall, these issues stem from tuning and balancing concerns, but they do not detract from the overall positive changes brought by the rework.

Closing Thoughts

The Rogue rework in the Dragonflight 10.2 PTR has exceeded expectations, addressing previous issues and providing a fresh experience for players. The talent trees offer a wide range of choices, with improved utility options, strong synergy talents, and impactful new additions. While some minor issues remain, the overall feel and gameplay satisfaction has greatly improved. It's an exciting time to be a Rogue, and the rework opens up new possibilities for all three specs. Join the hype train and experience the refreshed Outlaw Rogue! Don't forget to check out our pre-orders for the Amirdrassil raid that will arrive with the new update to get ahead of the curve! We'll see you in the next post!