Stealth Rogue in WotLK – Everything you need to know

If there is one ability that clearly sets the rogue apart from all the other classes, it is the ability to turn invisible. To slip into the shadows and attack enemies out of nowhere. But how does this work exactly? Is stealth the same for all rogues or does it depend on certain factors? When can the rogue’s enemies detect him and how must an invisible rogue behave to avoid detection? We answer basic questions about the most important characteristic of the rogue. This will guarantee that your next surprise attack won’t be a shot in the dark.

Stealthy, invisible or vanish?

Even though we occasionally talk about the invisible rogue in the following, it is important to note that stealth and vanish are two different things. With stealth, the enemy can detect the rogue, depending on the level of play and the distance to the rogue. With vanish, which only the mage has as an active ability, the enemy can be detected unless you are a) also in the sphere of invisibility or b) can detect invisible enemies thanks to a buff. Stealth, then, is like good camouflage, while vanish is an entirely different mode.

Vanish, on the other hand, is not a state, but an action that puts the rogue into stealth, with a very brief increase in stealth. This is the reason why rogues can disappear right under your nose.

 

 

And this is how stealth works

You think of stealth as well as stealth detection as five points per level of play. A level 75 player has a stealth level of 375, a level 80 player has a stealth level of 400. Talents like Master of Deception increase the player’s stealth by five stealth points per talent point. Thus, a level 80 rogue with three talent points in Master of Deception has 415 stealth points, or as stealthy as a level 83 player without talents. It is assumed that five stealth points correspond to a distance of three to five meters in the game. So if a rogue gains five stealth points, they can get three to five meters closer to the enemy without being detected.

You can only use stealth outside of combat, unless you force it with the Vanish ability. The latter, however, has a cooldown. By the way, using Stealth has that as well, but it’s only ten seconds and can be reduced to four seconds by using the talent Camouflage. The cooldown of Vanish, on the other hand, is a full three minutes and can be reduced to two by using Vanish.

Stealth is not a linear affair.

By this I mean that visibility in stealth does not decrease or increase linearly depending on game level and distance from the enemy. It is more like this: game level and distance to the opponent determine whether he can see you in stealth. At a certain point, he can’t and then you are effectively invisible to him. If you then decrease the distance to the opponent, there is a certain point at which you become visible to him. Also, the opponent will briefly hear a sound similar to when you slip into stealth.

Stealth also reduces movement speed. With patch 3.3, the different ranks with different restrictions on movement speed have been dropped.

Since then, the reduction has been 30 percent. Talents can reduce the restriction.

There are effects and actions that remove the stealth. These include logging in, returning from an instance or battleground, and of course damage-over-time effects such as poisons, curses, or other magical effects. Uncloaking through the Hunter’s Flare also brings the rogue out of stealth, as does all forms of area damage. Just remember the following: If the stealthy rogue suffers damage, it cancels the stealth. An exception to this has only recently been fall damage. This – no matter how high – still lets the rogue remain undetected.

Things that do not remove stealth include applying poisons, using specific abilities such as Distract, Premeditation, Garrote, Ambush, Sap, Pick Pocket, Disarm Trap, as well as performing emotes. Eating cancels stealth, but applying stealth while eating works without interrupting eating.

How enemies try to track down your Stealth Rogue

The hunter has a fairly easy time exposing you at medium range with his Flare and the Track Hidden ability. Other classes resort to different means in this regard. Any type of area spell can expose you as soon as you are hit. But even area spells that do no damage, such as the Priest’s Psychic Scream or the Warrior’s Demoralizing Shout, can bring you out of stealth.

Generally, the enemy will try to expose you by running around wildly, because that’s how they hope you’ll cross paths. They’ll believe you’re near them based on the typical sound. In PvP, this often means a game of patience that you should win. If possible, stay at a distance and always behind the player, if that is possible.

Stealth Runs and Stealth Equipment

For a while, it was common for PvP rogues to get special equipment with bonuses to stealth or have all equipment enchanted to increase stealth. This allowed you to hide even better in combat against other players, sneak closer, and thus gain a decisive advantage. However, quite a while ago Blizzard lowered the effectiveness of these enchantments and items, so this game element no longer receives attention. In addition, arena battles are more determined by the correct use of abilities, speed, tactics, damage and healing potential, and not by the first strike.
Also out of fashion are so-called stealth runs, which are special raids with rogues and druids (who can also be stealthy in cat form) to pick off lucrative loot from bosses. This is no longer worthwhile because the current instances are nowhere near as extensive as they were in Classic times. Visiting a heroic instance via dungeon browser nowadays hardly takes more than 25 minutes and additionally rewards the player with emblems and WotLK Gold.

Special tips for Stealth Rogue in WotLK

All these facts are only useful if you take them serious during combat. However, this can only be done with a fair amount of game practice. What do you need to keep in mind when dealing with stealth? Many talents affect the state of stealth. One of them is the talent overkill, which increases energy regeneration by 30 percent for 20 seconds after ending stealth.

What this means for you as a Stealth Rogue?

It’s simple: in the raid or instance, always go into stealth between the trashmob groups and before the boss fight to enjoy the bonus of energy regeneration after the first attack. Especially important when you eliminate large groups with the dagger fan, you can use this ability noticeably more often during the 20 seconds. Some rogues even use Vanish in the middle of a boss fight and immediately attack again to briefly get the bonus.

For Subtlety Rogues, stealth is especially important. It’s not enough that movement speed restrictions can be lowered and stealth increased. Many abilities that explicitly require stealth (Garrote, Cheap Shot, Ambush) can be specifically boosted by talents. And thanks to Master of Subtlety and Premeditation, the rogue has a powerful damage bonus on his side shortly after exiting stealth. Take advantage of this in PvP play by becoming stealthy again at every opportunity, actively and passively getting the damage bonuses.

Example

Sometimes there is the situation where two enemies are blocking a passage. If you were to simply march through both of them, you would quickly be exposed. Solve such situations as follows. Use Distract, and do it in such a way that both opponents look to the left (or to the right, as needed). Then walk directly behind the left opponent, as if you were walking along his back. There is no way the opponent will spot you, and even though the right opponent is now looking right in your direction, he won’t spot you because two rigid opponents are actually always at a sufficient distance from each other.

Familiarize yourself with your level of stealth by testing the distance to NPC opponents of the same level. Almost always, the enemy’s attention will be announced by a noise or by the fact that he is turning towards you. He will not attack you yet! If you stand still and do not move, the opponent will turn away again. If you do not increase the distance and move again, he will notice your presence again. Only when the distance to the opponent is even smaller, he will attack. None of this applies if you are standing directly behind the opponent. You are always safe at a 180-degree angle behind the enemy.