In this section of the guide, we will go over each stat that a Combat Rogue requires and explain how they function along with any possible stat caps that you will have to consider. Combat Rogues have a similar stat priority to other Agility-based DPS specs, with one stat being exceptionally strong.
Stat Priority
- Agility
- Hit Rating
- Expertise Rating
- Haste Rating
- Mastery
- Critical Strike Chance
Agility is a primary stat, being the most important stat for a Combat Rogue, as it increases Attack Power!
Hit Rating is the most important secondary stat after your primary stat, Agility, as you will require it to land hits on your target. You will need 8% Hit Chance for Melee Attacks and 17% for your Poisons. You will gain 6% free Hit Chance from the Precision talent. Each 120.25 Hit Rating grants a 1% Hit Chance.
Expertise Rating allows you to prevent your target from dodging or parrying your attacks. You will need 26 Expertise to reach the Soft Cap upon which your target can’t dodge your attacks. and 56 Expertise to reach the Hard Cap upon which your attacks won’t be parried. You will only want to reach the Soft Cap. Each 30.0272 Expertise Rating will grant 1 Expertise.
Haste Rating is the most potent secondary stat after Hit Rating and Expertise Rating as it not only increases the speed at which you attack but also increases your Energy Regeneration!
Mastery increases the chance of proccing your Main Gauche effect! This stat is considered second to the Haste Rating in terms of importance.
Finally, Critical Strike Chance is the weakest stat for Combat Rogues. It increases the chance to deal critical strikes, however, you don’t rely on critical strikes for your damage output, making it underwhelming.
Reforging
Reforging is introduced in Cataclysm as an additional way to adjust your equipment’s secondary stats. Through reforging, you can acquire a plethora of different stats in exchange for a portion of your current gear’s secondary stats. However, you may not replace any of the main stats on a piece of equipment such as Agility or Stamina.
The main stats that Combat Rogues will reforge any non-beneficial stats into are Hit Rating, Haste Rating, and Mastery Rating. Once Combat Rogues reach their Hit Rating caps, the main stat that they will prioritize is Haste Rating due to the Energy Regeneration component, followed by Mastery. If a piece of gear has both Hit Rating and Haste Rating yet the Hit Chance cap has already been hit, Hit Rating will be reforged into Mastery, and vice-versa with gear that has Hit Rating and Mastery Rating.
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