The Rogue class is a callback to the Diablo 1 class of the same name. The Rogues are a versatile and agile fighter able to eviscerate their foes with twin daggers or a bow. Rogues are also masters when it comes to making traps for their prey leaving your battlefield covered in poison and caltrops. The class allows you to feel like a merchant of death however you decide to sell it. Let’s get into the top 5 builds shall we?
#5: Twisting Blade (Starter Build):
Rogue crouched taking loot
The Twisting Blade beginner build is a D4 classic at this moment in time. Despite a few nerfs the king still stands. As the name implies the twisting blade build revolves around the skill “Twisting Blade” and is a melee centric build.
The build itself, while rather simple, is actually a very effective and speedy dispatcher of demon souls back to the Burning Hell's. You will stab enemies with your core skill twisting blades and then run away letting the blades trail spiral around you, slicing more monsters in their path. Most of your damage comes from the blades returning so be sure to stay mobile with skills like Dash and Shadow step. The faster you move, the more enemies they will hit.
In my honest opinion, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more efficient starter build for leveling. You could tweak the build and keep it around even for endgame content if you really love it. I however would recommend you check out our endgame build choice later in the article.
Where it excels:
- Killing speed is unparalleled
- High mobility allows you to avoid enemies fast
- Cut and run combat
Try this build if:
- You enjoy the speedy nature of combat
- You are a leveling rogue
- You prefer the melee aspects of the class
Build Details:
Skills:
- Puncture
- Twisting Blades
- Dash
- Shadow Step
- Shadow Imbuement
- Poison Imbuement
Gear:
- Blade Dancers Aspect
- Edgemasters Aspect
- Ravenous Aspect
Build Guide: https://maxroll.gg/d4/build-guides/twisting-blades-rogue-leveling-guide
#4: Penetrating Shot (Speed farm Build):
Rogue drawing back her bow
The Penetrating Shot build is once more named after the skill the build revolves around. While the builds are creative, clearly the naming convention is a bit on the nose. Nonetheless, it is an excellent-ranged build for any fans of the bow and arrow play style and those looking for an endgame speed farm build.
Users of this build will rush past their foes lining them up for maximum damage before unloading a long range arrow into the crowd piercing each enemy it passes through. While the skill on its own is nothing much to look at it is amplified to its legend status with aspects such as Trickshot Offensive. The aspect splits your fired arrow off into two separate directions for 10-25% of penetrating shots base damage.
While I myself have never been much of a ranged fan this build makes me want to try the play style. Its screen melting potential is one of D4’s many marvels. Will likely be running a new rogue just to test this for myself and I would suggest you do the same.
Where it excels:
- Big clear potential to quickly get through zones
- Long range
- Strong initial damage in many directions
Try this build if:
- You enjoy clearing large waves fast
- You are in need of quick play style
- You prefer the ranged aspects of the class
Build Details:
Skills:
- Forceful Arrow
- Penetrating Shot
- Shadow Step
- Shadow Imbuement
- Poison Imbuement
- Poison Trap
Gear:
- Trickshot Aspect
- Rapid Aspect
- Windstriker Aspect
- Disobedience
- Might
- Corruption
Build Guide: https://maxroll.gg/d4/build-guides/penetrating-shot-rogue-guide
#3: Rapid Fire (Endgame Build):
Rogue standing with bow
The Rapid Fire rogue build is named after… Wow, yeah. Joke still holds up. It’s named for the rapid fire skill. Some of you may have played the demon hunter in Diablo 3, but this is not like that skill. All they share is a name. This rapid fire shoots off 3 arrows in quick succession whereas D3 was a channeling skill. None of this is to say either is better, I’m just trying to cut off any possible confusion for newcomers.
This build allows you to single out enemies and get in a lot of damage in quick succession and becomes a good pack clearer as well when you factor in the Aspect of Repeating which has a 30-45% chance to ricochet rapid fire arrows to other targets.
I played a rapid fire rogue in beta. Obviously that was a very different time, but the ideas are much the same. This build is extremely fun and makes you feel like a master of archery unloading on your foes with a burst of violent speed. It is a very powerful and well-rounded endgame build.
Where it excels:
- Single Target damage
- Long range
- Quick succession of hits
Try this build if:
- You want a great overall endgame build
- You are doing boss runs
- You prefer the ranged aspects of the class
Build Details:
Skills:
- Forceful Arrow
- Rapid Fire
- Dash
- Shadow Imbuement
- Cold Imbuement
- Smoke Grenade
Gear:
- Eluding Aspect
- Rapid Aspect
- Edgemasters Aspect
- Disobedience
- Might
- Corruption
- Cheat’s
- Aspect of the Repeating
- Vengeful Aspect
- Condemnation
- Skyhunter
Build Guide: https://maxroll.gg/d4/build-guides/rapid-fire-rogue-guide
#2: Death Trap (Helltide Build):
Rogue standing with blade at side
The Death Trap rogue build is an outlier of sorts amongst the other builds. It does use Death Trap as the name would suggest, but it is not the one button warrior the name would have you believe. In fact our old friend “Twisting Blades” is at this party.
This play style revolves around dashing and or shadow stepping into combat with twisting blades spiraling about you. As soon as you get to your desired location you can begin to set up poison and or death trap. Then dash or shadow step off to another pack and use whatever trap you didn’t use last time. This allows you to melt two packs of mobs at once and seconds apart. Dash, stab, trap, repeat.
I played a poison trap rogue similar to this and it was a very fun time. Dashing around a helltide melting packs, and grabbing cinders up from a pack you left tide melt in your acid was a great experience.
Where it excels:
- Pack clearing
- Close quarters
- Quick mobility
Try this build if:
- You want a good helltide build
- You are a fan of dash and stab play style
- You prefer the melee aspects of the class
Build Details:
Skills:
- Puncture
- Twisting Blade
- Shadow Step
- Poison Trap
- Poison imbuement
- Death Trap
Gear:
- Eluding Aspect
- Bladedancer Aspect
- Edgemasters Aspect
- Disobedience
- Might
- Ghostwalker
- Cheat’s
- Explosive Verve
- Vengeful Aspect
- Asheara's Khanjar
Build Guide: https://maxroll.gg/d4/build-guides/death-trap-rogue-guide
#1: Flurry Build:
Rogue brooding in thorned armor
The Flurry Rogue is a return to form with the naming convention and my personal favorite build. Was I biased when making this list? No, of course not. Is flurry the best skill? Naturally (I tease. All of you death trap fans can calm down).
Your main objective with this build is to activate flurry with different imbuements. When one is on cooldown, activate one of your other two. Then just cycle through accordingly and watch the onslaught of daggers melt all surrounding mobs. The build can shine immediately when you get the Aspect of Encircling Blades which sends flurry all around you instead of just in front.
The opinion portion of this occurred earlier for a bit I was doing. I genuinely think this is the most fun way to play a rogue. It’s simple for a beginner to pick up and understand. It scales from low levels into endgame content. It has great clear speed and defense. Not only that, but it is a very solid build that I consider every time I'm looking at that “Create new character” button.
Where it excels:
- Quickly dispatches packs
- Close quarters
- Nightmare dungeon clear speed
Try this build if:
- You want a good nightmare dungeon build
- You are a fan of dash and stab play style
- You prefer the melee aspects of the class
Build Details:
Skills:
- Puncture
- Flurry
- Dash
- Shadow Imbuement
- Poison imbuement
- Cold Imbuement
Gear:
- Eluding Aspect
- Bladedancer Aspect
- Edgemasters Aspect
- Disobedience
- Might
- Windstriker Aspect
- Cheat’s
- Shared Misery
- Icy Alchemist Aspect
- Vengeful Aspect
- Condemnation
Build Guide: https://maxroll.gg/d4/build-guides/flurry-rogue-guide
