Subtlety is mainly a PVP spec, in PVE it doesn’t bring any buffs or utility, and it has one of the lowest DPS. However, if you feel like playing a high concentration, high speed spec in PVE, Subtlety is fun to play.

Stats for Subtlety Rogue Wotlk

Stat priority

9% hit* > 26 Expertise > 1400 ARP > Agility > Crit (Max 64%) > Haste

Note: Races with weapon expertise increase require 5 less expertise and the itemization is different for BIS.

Subtlety Rogue Stats Overview

Hit Cap

Hit reduces the chance of missing melee hits and increase the chance of applying poisons. Melee hit cap is 8%, however poisons requires 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, specially if some combo points are lost.

Armor penetration (ARP)

Armor penetration is one of the most beneficial stats, it can ignore enemy armor and after 400 armor penetration it gives the highest DPS boost, that’s why after this threshold all gems should be for armor penetration. Gem for agility below 400 and armor penetration above, depending on the gear available.

Agility

The best stat when you are bellow 400 ARP and hit/expertise capped. It increases the attack power and critical chance.

Critical Strike

Chance to deal double damage, because of the tables the maximum amount of critical chance recommended is 64% for subtlety rogue taken into account 12% hit rating, with 9% hit rating the maximum of critical chance is 61%, being that any amount above that will be negated.

Haste

Haste increases the speed of the attacks, subtetly rogues build combo points very quickly and basically are able to spam finisher moves, making haste not that great.

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