Subtlety Rogue DPS Artifact Talents/Traits and Relics (Legion 7.2.5)

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.2.5 Changes
  • 3. Patch 7.2 Changes
  • 4. Strengths
  • 5. Weaknesses
  • 6. Viability in the Current Patch
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Talent Choice
  • 3. Stat Choice
  • 4. Basic Rotation
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resources
  • 3. Basic Abilities
    • 3.1. Standard Abilities
    • 3.2. Stealth Exclusive Abilities
  • 4. Important Procs
  • 5. DPS Cooldowns
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheets
    • 2.1. Raid Encounters
    • 2.2. For General Use
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 10. ChangeLog
• ×Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression — First 35 Points
    • 1.1. Early Point Investment
    • 1.2. Second Golden Trait
    • 1.3. Third Golden Trait
      • 1.3.1. Single Target/Raid Oriented Build
      • 1.3.2. AoE/Dungeon Oriented Build
    • 1.4. Final Point Investment
  • 2. Patch 7.2: 35+ Trait Path
  • 3. Relic Choice
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Ability Priority List
    • 1.1. Single Target
      • 1.1.1. Correctly Using Death from Above with Dark Shadow
    • 1.2. Multiple Targets (2+)
  • 2. Important Notes
    • 2.1. Combo Points and Energy
      • 2.1.1. Pooling
    • 2.2. Shadow Dance
      • 2.2.1. During Shadow Blades
    • 2.3. Vanish
    • 2.4. Defensive Utility
    • 2.5. Pandemic
  • 3. Core Concepts
    • 3.1. Resource Management
    • 3.2. Cooldown Usage
      • 3.2.1. Personal Initiative
  • 4. Opening Sequence
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
    • 1.1. Stat Weights
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems
  • 2. Enchants
  • 3. Consumables
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. AddOns
    • 1.1. ElvUI
    • 1.2. Weak Auras
    • 1.3. Boss Mods
      • 1.3.1. BigWigs Bossmods
      • 1.3.2. Deadly Boss Mods
    • 1.4. Name Plates
      • 1.4.1. KUI Nameplates
      • 1.4.2. TidyPlates
    • 1.5. Damage Meters
      • 1.5.1. Skada
      • 1.5.2. Details
    • 1.6. Extra AddOns
      • 1.6.1. Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 1.6.2. Death Note
      • 1.6.3. Doom CooldownPulse
      • 1.6.4. Angry Assignments
  • 2. Macros
    • 2.1. Startattack Macros
    • 2.2. Tricks of the Trade
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Tier 20 Set Bonuses
  • 2. Best in Slot List
  • 3. Evaluating Upgrades Using Stat Weights
  • 4. Racial Bonuses
  • 5. Legendaries
    • 5.1. Mantle of the Master Assassin
  • 6. Loot Competition
  • 7. ChangeLog

General Information

This page shows you how to level up the Artifact and how to choose the right Relics for your Subtlety Rogues. It is updated for World of Warcraft Legion 7.2.5.

The other pages of our Subtlety Rogue guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

About Our Author and Reviewer

This guide has been written by Furty, who has an illustrious history in the World of Warcraft raiding scene and race for World First. He has been a member of guilds such as Serenity, Midwinter, and many more, and is currently raiding in Future. He plays most classes at the highest level. You can follow him on Twitter and watch him play on Twitch.

This guide has been reviewed and approved by impý, a Subtlety Rogue who raids in The Unnamed, a top German guild.

1. Artifact Progression — First 35 Points

There is a choice to be made at some point, depending on whether you are mostly raiding or doing dungeons. If you are mostly raiding, then take Demon's Kiss and Precision Strike first, before taking Soul Shadows and Shadow Nova. If you are mostly doing dungeons, then take Soul Shadows and Shadow Nova first, before taking Demon's Kiss and Precision Strike.

1.1. Early Point Investment

From the starting point, Shadow Fangs, take the upper path and grab the Eviscerate critical chance in Gutripper. Catlike Reflexes is not very useful but it should be your next point as it lies on the most efficient path. Grab Ghost Armor for even more Dodge chance (yay! ...not) before acquiring Energetic Stabbing, the strongest trait on the entire tree. Snag your first Golden Trait, Finality.

1.2. Second Golden Trait

Go right from Ghost Armor into Flickering Shadows, which can be quite useful in the right situations. Head up into The Quiet Knife for some filler damage and pick up Akaari's Soul, which gives a noticeable boost to your single target.

1.3. Third Golden Trait

There are two paths you can take from here.

1.3.1. Single Target/Raid Oriented Build

Start at the bottom of the tree and grab Demon's Kiss for the Nightblade damage. Move up into Precision Strike. Hop up to the top of the tree and talent into Soul Shadows. Finally, invest into your final Golden Trait, Shadow Nova.

1.3.2. AoE/Dungeon Oriented Build

Start at the top of the tree and grab Soul Shadows before acquiring your final Golden Trait, Shadow Nova. Head down to the bottom of the tree and grab Demon's Kiss and Precision Strike.

1.4. Final Point Investment

Grab Fortune's Bite for additional Combo Point generation. Second Shuriken should be acquired next for the additional damage while cleaving and dealing AoE damage. Put your final point into Embrace of Darkness.

2. Patch 7.2: 35+ Trait Path

Patch 7.2 has replaced the 35-54 Paragon system with several additional new traits becoming available upon acquisition of the 35th point. All of the previous Relic traits will also unlock a 4th rank, along with a new Paragon system becoming available after all traits have been filled (via Concordance of the Legionfall) which all additional Artifact Power will be spent on.

Detailed below is our suggested maxing order after 35 traits:

1. Shadows of the Uncrowned
2. Weak Point
3. Shadow's Whisper
4. Feeding Frenzy
5. Fourth rank of Soul Shadows if you are using Denial of the Half-Giants
6. Fourth rank of Gutripper
7. Fourth rank of Energetic Stabbing
8. Fourth rank of Precision Strike
9. Fourth rank of Demon's Kiss
10. Fourth rank of Soul Shadows
11. Fourth rank of The Quiet Knife
12. Fourth rank of Fortune's Bite
13. Fourth rank of Catlike Reflexes
14. Fourth rank of Ghost Armor
15. Concordance of the Legionfall

3. Relic Choice

1. Soul Shadows (with Denial of the Half-Giants)
2. Gutripper
3. Energetic Stabbing
4. Weak Point
5. Precision Strike
6. The Quiet Knife
7. Soul Shadows
8. Demon's Kiss
9. Fortune's Bite

As Relics affect the item level of your weapons, it is recommended you always take the highest item level options if there is a great disparity as it will increase your weapon damage.

4. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 28 Jun. 2017: Updated relic priority and 35+ path.
• 14 Jun. 2017: Minor update to 35+ pathing and updated relic priority.
• 03 Apr. 2017: Swapped Soul Shadows and Fortune's Bite in the priority order for 7.2.
• 27 Mar. 2017: Added a path for the new 7.2 traits.
• 09 Jan. 2017: Checked and confirmed for Patch 7.1.5.
• 08 Dec. 2016: Updated paths to include a split for single target vs. dungeon oriented & updated Relic priority.
• 29 Aug. 2016: Added.