Re: Hathôr's 5.4 F2P Comprehensive Rogue PVP Guide
I believe Subtlety to be the superior spec for a rogue.
I agree with this. Im a Subtlety lover myself. At engdame, many don't play this because it's hard to truly master. That's why many go Assa, spammin Muti = Ez way. Ofc, at 20 things are a bit different tho, Sub doesnt have the value it has at 90. Basically you rely on big openers since your dmg outside the auto-buffs-from-sub is really low compared to.. let's say Assa or even Combat, yes.
However I believe that Combat spec is as good as Assassination spec, maybe even better, and I will list some reasons why I feel this way.
This is debatable and it comes to personal preferences most of the time since i don't have the precise numbers. Tested Combat few weeks ago just to be sure that what im thinking it's correct. Thus, on various testings on Target Dummys from Theramore, Assa>Combat. Indeed, Envenom received a huge nerf but Mutilate hits hard. With proper gear it's insane for constant pressure on oppenents, even Ambush is way better that the Ambush from Combat since you benefit the bonus dmg of using daggers. On the other hand, Spamming SS doesnt output the same DMG as Spamming Muti. Basically it's 55 energy vs 50 energy. Now, we know that on Combat spec you regain energy faster but, this is useful in the long term? Eviscerate on the other hand, hits like a truck with good gear and 5 CP on Combat. But again, you have always the time to build 5CP on your target? At 20 i don't think so. Like i said, it's all about burst and i don't see Combat being on par with Sub/Assa when comes to burst.
Tested Combat with Axe of the Enforcer since i cba farming BoA's just for testing purpose only. But even if that Axe, Combat was <Ass, Sub.
Also, besides that, playing combat is like you're an warrior with stealth and tbh i don't like that that's why, i might be a bit subjective since, like i've said it already, if it was up to me, i'd remove Combat spec from the game, it's not Rogueish at all, not at 20, not at 90.
Yeah, Combat is nice for PVE, i'm playing this at 90 when dungs.. etc. Why? Because it's easiest spec for me PVE-wise and i Cba being an elitist jerk about PVE as i was back in TBC.
Blade Flurry can be a handy AoE to have, yes it does barely any damage other than to the main person you are attacking, but it can be used effectively to stop multiple enemy capping your flag in Arathi Basin if you are not stealthed or are in combat. With Blade Flurry its nearly mandatory to have Combat as your second spec when doing high end guild raiding. In LFR it doesn't matter though, since nobody cares if you do decent damage or anything at all. It does huge damage in PVE just not PVP.
Yes, it is. But, what about energy starving? Since you lack Adrenaline Rush.
A lot of people have told me to use daggers instead of maces. They say with daggers your attacks are faster than maces. I'm not taking into account differences between poison procs per minute, I haven't bothered to work out those differences. But I will say that the speed of a weapon, has no effect whatsoever on how fast you can attack. It was the case that daggers were much faster than maces, but for a long time now there is no difference in speed of weapons, Blizzard removed this stat a while back. I know you guide doesn't say this, but I'm just tired of people trying to tell me I'm wrong with regard to using maces.
For Combat is mandatory to play Maces/Swords/Axes, those that say to play Combat with daggers, are misinformed or clueless. Also, weapon speed does matter, check this topic, we've talked about it.
PS: Im still waiting for someone to convince me with numbers that Combat is viable spec.