Zuggy 2 – Rogue Arena Video

Zuggy 2 – Return of the Troll…

This is my 2nd arena video and features myself in all 3 arena brackets. The footage showcases clips from my rogue / priest 2v2 team, rogue / mage / priest 3v3 team, and rogue / hunter / elemental shaman / druid / priest 5v5 team.

All clips were filmed at or above 2300 rating during season 3.

2 talent specs were used in this video, 16/45/0 combat and 20/0/41 shadowstep. (Note: combat is only used for the very first rogue / priest match)

Download Zuggy 2

Rogue Arena Addons / User Interfaces Used

• AG Unit Frames
• SCT
• Proximo
• Quartz
• Bongos2
• OmniCC
• NECB (2s / 3s only)

Other U.I. notes, because several people asked this question about my last video. The large bar which shows cast bars towards the middle of my screen is a focus casting bar. You can see the focus frame to the left of my screen.

I use it to watch for incoming crowd controls / heals so I can adjust before they land.

Music

• Queen – Another One Bites the Dust (intro only)
• Nightwish – Dark Chest of Wonders
• Muse – Assassin
• Trivium – Ascendancy
• The Arcade Fire – Rebellion
• Motely Crue – Kick Start My Heart

Looking for my first arena video? Check it out now! Zuggy 1 – Rogue / Priest 2v2

Rogue / Rogue 2v2 Arena Strategy

Double rogue is perhaps the most exciting and exacting 2v2 matrix you can choose to play as a rogue. While many players see the matrix as an insta-gib team, true veteran players understand the perfection required in order to attain victory. While the learning curve for this matrix is quite steep, mastering it will reward players with an exhilarating experience unlike any other in the 2v2 bracket.

Rogue Arena Talent Specs
Generally speaking you are going to be want to be shadowstep spec. A traditional 20/0/41 allows you to have maximum mobility, survivability, and solid burst on command when required. Ideally you’ll want one rogue to have improved expose armor. This will allow you to really put the pressure on priests and other low armor classes that you can bomb on.

I’d suggest dropping 2 points out of vile poisons to get the 2 points in expose armor, though lethality may also be an option if you’re not a fan of crit based RNG.

While I rarely will deviate from the tried and true shadowstep build, I believe with practice an old school AR / prep build may also be beneficial. Now, I want to preface this with a warning…this type of build is not for everyone. It never really fit my play style, and it still does not today.

That said, if you’re comfortable operating without cheat death and the quite different play style required to master the spec, I believe you could pull it off. For AR / prep I’d go with a standard 0/31/30 or a 0/33/28 (with stun resist / fear talent).

Check out rogue arena talent specs for additional information on choosing your talent build.

Rogue Arena Strategies
Coming Soon!

Rogue Arena Macros
Rogue Macro Guide
Rogue Focus Macros

Rogue Arena Enchants / Gems
Rogue Arena Enchants Guide
Rogue Arena Gem Guide

Rogue Poison Strategies
Coming Soon!

Combat vs. Shadowstep Arena Spec

This post is in response to a question I received from a fellow rogue. It’s posted here in the event other rogues encounter similar questions.

Rogue Arena Questions…
I started with shadowstep and for the longest time loved it. After playing arenas for a few weeks as combat when I go back to shadowstep it feels like its much harder to kill geared players. Currently, my gear is all season 2/3 and my weapons are maces.

What am I missing?

Perhaps im missing something, but with a geared paladin or shaman spamming heals in shadowstep spec most of my energy is used kicking or kidney shotting to stop him from healing. Thus reducing in barely enough energy to hemo. If I focus on the healers partner, even with cyclone (from my partner) the shadowstep build seems hard to override the healing ability of the healer.

My partner (druid) and I can win most of these games but it always ends in one of the other team running out of mana. With combat spec, we can time a 3 cyclone cycle from the druid with my adrenaline rush when my target is 50-60 percent and its almost guarenteed to kill him.

Except for 5s, I am having a hard time seeing how anyone can feel a shadowstep build is superior, even though its 4 times more popular than combat maces.

Even when I am shadowstep, its not hard to stay on target enough to justify the points in the talent tree. The extra stats are great +attack pwer and agility but I still do way less damage, so to what benefit?

Rogue Arena Strategy Answers..

It’s hard to judge without really watching a match all the way through. Generally speaking I would guess it just comes down to managing your energy consumption a bit better.

One of the big strengths of combat spec is the raw damage output, while shs doesn’t have quite as good of output it’s still solid. But you absolutely must keep your slice and dice up, without it you’re really going to have difficult time taking out healers.

In my experience when fighting healers virtually 100% of my energy goes to stopping heals, because I know if I can get ahead briefly I can immediately send the healer into a panic mode situation.

So I basically open up, get a slice and dice going with my initial CPs then just play the position game making certain to always stop the healer.

Here’s the interrupt sequence I use.
1) kick
2) KS
3) gouge
4) vanish / CS
5/ blind

preferably I’d rather not get to 4 and 5, but If it means stopping a heal in a clutch situation it’s something I have to do.

Additionally you might enlist the help of your druid here to help stop heals. You can very easily just cyclone one target, go through all your rogue CC…kick, into, ks, into gouge…then you switch targets, pressure the other guy with just good auto attacks, get another slice and dice going.

Meanwhile your druid is putting a 3 cyclone combo on your previous target. Once DRs are up on the cyclones you can switch back to your previous targets, now you’ve got a SND cooking, hopefully full energy and all your CDs.

I would say with virtually any rogue spec keeping a constant slice and dice up is an absolute must. There just is no better use of energy or combo points.

Even though you don’t have imp. snd and not as much +hit, it’s still an insane amount of damage. Consider the fact that your rupture does…well just using round numbers let’s say 2000 damage over it’s duration.

If you get just 4-5 extra attacks you’ve probably already exceeded the damage of your rupture. Toss a trinket + mongoose proc on that…you’ve got some serious white damage coming out.

About the only time I think rupture is the better finisher is vs. a defensive stance warrior / feral spec’d bear druid / protection paladin.

Similarly the only time I really use expose as shs is vs. priests and some warlocks.

Shadow Priest / Rogue vs. Shaman / Warrior 2v2 Arena Strategy

This team has an advantage over Priest/Rogue, but not over you!
Rogue Arena Strategy
Alright you just want to start off the combat quick in this match. Sap the warrior(Shadowstep sap if he’s like right next to his shaman partner). Open up on the shaman and unload. The warrior will probably try to lock you down so Ghostly Strike + Evasion and continue to unload on the shaman. You’ll also want to conserve energy for kicks, as they shaman will be spam healing themselves every time they don’t move

Priest Arena Strategy
Using your mount get to the shaman ASAP. Unload damage upon him, and help your rogue with interrupts via silence. Fear bomb every now and again to give your rogue or yourself some breathing room from the warrior.

Very simple match-up, have fun!

Need more strategies? Check out the full shadow priest / rogue 2v2 arena guide!

Strategy courtesy of S-Scythe