Assassination rogues rely on poisons to deal damage, using Mutilate as their primary combo builder and Envenom as the finisher. The assassination DPS potential is behind combat in end game, however, it can compete or even pull ahead in lower gear brackets.
Stats for Assassination Rogue Wotlk
Stat priority
9% hit* > 26 Expertise > Haste > Agility > Crit (Max 64%)* > 1400 ARP Cap
Note: Races with weapon expertise increase require 5 less expertise and the itemization is different for BIS.
Assassination Rogue Stats Overview
Hit Cap
Hit reduces the chance of missing melee hits and increases the chance of applying poisons. Melee hit cap is 8%, however, poisons require 17%, with [Precision] the amount needed is reduced by 5%, so the total amount for the hit is 12%, with a shadow priest or a Balance druid on a raid party the value is reduced by another 3%, to a total of 9% hit rating required, if one is not frequently present on raids keep hit rating at 12%.
Expertise
Expertise lowers the chance of getting dodged or parried, has a melee class 26 expertise is the amount required. Missing or getting attacks dodged, parried, or blocked will reduce the damage considerably, especially if some combo points are lost.
Haste
Haste increases the speed of the attacks. Since the damage in Assassination comes from poisons the higher speed of the attacks the more damage they will do.
Agility
It increases attack power and critical strike chance.
Critical Strike
Chance to deal double damage, increased by 30% by [Lethality], because of the tables the maximum amount of critical chance recommended is 64% for assassination rogue taken into account 12% hit rating, with 9% hit rating the maximum of critical chance is 61%, being that any amount above that might be negated.
Armor penetration (ARP)
Since assassination relies on the poisons, crit, and chance to apply them (haste), armor penetration becomes the least wanted stat.
Stats Breakdown without increasing effects
33 hit rating ≈ 1% to hit
33 expertise rating ≈ 1 expertise
33 haste rating ≈ 1% haste
45 critical chance ≈ 1% critical
1 stamina ≈ 10 Health
1 intellect ≈ 15 mana
1 agility ≈ 1 attack power
1 strength ≈ 2 attack power
1 critical chance ≈ 84 agility
14 Armor Penetration ≈ 1% Armor ignore
