Comprehensive Rogue Guide II [COMPLETE!]

The Best Defense is a Good Offense

Your Gear is important.

Daggers
-Try to use crit 14 or higher
-Try to use one with high phy (+30%) at least
-Try to have (+30%) phy reinforce at least
-Try to use ones with +Str

Crossbow
-Try to use crit 14 or higher
-Try to use one with high phy (+30%) at least
-Try to have (+30%) phy reinforce at least
-Try to use ones with +Str

Defense

The Rogue is Basically a hybrid character so it was given light armor for a reason. If you sub in a Buff or Caster field don't switch to Garments. The physical defense they offer is too low. Your a Euro and your Str based so if the first magic attack doesn't kill you the second one probably will and the extra mag defense isn't worth the trade off of phy defense. Same goes for Armor its just not worth it.

-Find the highest (+##%) for phy and mag
-In later lvls +out your gear to capitalize on ^
-Rogues are best in Light Armor
-Light Armor looks 1337 except for 8D when it get boring

NOTE:The average Euro player lvls to different tiers of weapons very quickly. So while higher% are better you can just as easily get by with the % listed and not be held back, the ones i listed are the minimum. I it goes without saying that ALL characters whether euro or chinese always pimp out there final tier if they can. But you don't need higher % until you start slowing down in lvling such as in the upper 50's-80 thats when you'll be keeping your weapon for a longer period of time. However if you find yourself stuck in a degree for too long then you might as will get the best you can buy while your in it.


To Sub or Not to Sub

Some people say the Rogue is best as a solo class and that its standalone and subs are a waste of SP. Those ppl are morons ignore them. The reason why a subclass is important for rogues is because while the Rogue is amazing on its own it is incomplete. I firmly believe that a subclass is necessary to distinguish and complete the type of rogue you want to make. Rogues are full of weaknesses and limits to counter there extreme power. So the way around this is a Subclass. Filling out a subclass is like adding the details onto a rough sculpture...it'll define and complete the type of character you want to play as. This section isn't made to say which sub is the BEST. Its to let you decide what sub would benefit you the most as the type of player you are.

Im going to categorize the subclasses into 1 or more of 4

Solo-Defensive:SD = filling out a sub in this category will emphasis in buffs that heighten your defenses and increase your chance of survival without help from outside classes.

Solo-Offensive:SO = filling out a sub in this category will heighten your ability to deal damage or incapacitate other players for easier killing. The goal of this category should be maxim offensive capabilities without the help of outside classes.

Party-Defensive:PD = filling out a sub in this category will enable you better survive in and help out your party. Be prepared to forgo your role as a rogue and be able to act as a temporary if you choose this version. Meaning that your more or less be acting as whatever sub instead of as a Rogue while in party. The goal of this sub should be to increase your value to the Euro party concept by adding buffs healing or just lasting longer and being able to fill in for another class if your party should need it.

Party-Offensive:PO = this subclass does not exist because technically the Rogue is a Euro character and is not meant to lvl alone and therefore is meant to lvl in parties and since your already doing near wizard damage there'd be no way to increase your damage output.

The skillz i list are from information i've gathered over this site. Some skillz i include may last when you switch weapons others won't. If i cite the skill and theres nothing after it then its confirmed to last when you switch. If it has "NCS" then it means it may or may not be switch compatible i haven't confirmed it yet. This is a WIP and i will make it one of my priorities to clear up an "NCS" should they arise and they will. Understand all that. Lets get to work then.


Cleric
SD, PD

The Cleric sub-class is a favorable one. I labeled it under SD and PD because the most useful cleric skillz benefit you and parties. If you choose sub this class you'll have an easier time solo grinding because not only will you have access to healing spells but you'll also have access to defense boosting spells which are more beneficial to Dagger Rogues than xbow rogues in terms of PvE. The Cleric sub-class with benefit both dagger and xbow rogues in PvP. Im very sure you need a cleric rod on hand to cast any of these spells. The benefits come from the following skillz.

SD-will greatly improve your defensive capabilities while solo. If you choose this form of the build you will basically only need the buffs and should not be prepared to act as a temp-healer if your party should need it. Your a strictly focusing on the buffs that will enhance your soling abilities.
-Healing
-Healing Cycle
-Bless
-Holy Word
-Heaven Flash
-Recovery Division

PD- int affects healing but not by enough to make it useless afaik. Since this the PD version of the build your cleric rod will need to be out the majority of the time if your choosing to act as a temp-cleric or the party. So switch it between your Rod and your Daggers/Xbow depending on the situation of your party. NSC shouldn't an issue since you'll be acting as cleric for the duration of your time in the party if the party needs it. These are the core skillz that Parties will look to you to perform if your entering the party as a Cleric.
-Healing
-Healing Cycle
-Group Healing
-Bless
-Body Bless
-Soul Blessing
-Mental Blessing (NCS)
-Force Blessing (NCS)
-Reserve
-Group Reverse
-Healing Divison


Res is a skill thats useful in almost any situation so even if your focus on the SD version of the build. thanks to Mocha* for clearing up the cleric NCS

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Bard
SD, PD

I guess you could call this my bias. Alot of ppl choose bard as a subclass for the speed and to keep the aggro mobs away when in PvE. That is good but know that you get the same speed from a potion which you can buy for make. IMHO i don't think its worth investing the SP just for the speed but the speed can be useful and if you have the skill its free. The most beneficial skill is noise however thats only useful in PvE. Im not making your though but be warned Xbow users will get more out of this than Dagger users. Eventually you'll get both but until then...

SD-Will focus mainly on the buffs that stay without the harp out and while speed is useful for all rogues the Noise skill is best for Xbow rogues or any rogue whose jobbing and doesn't want to be bothered.
-Moving March
-Noise

PD- This build would be for those who plan on being able to act as a complete bard or a temporary party if the party should need it. Be prepared to join those parties that say "NEED BARD" so be prepared to basically give up acting as Rogue while your in the party so NCS shouldn't be an issue. These are the core skillz that Parties will look to you to perform if your entering the party as a Bard.
-Echo
-Music Life
-Prism
-Entire Music Pleasure Series
-Entire Melody Series
-Mana Cycle
-Noise
-Mana Wind
-Discord wave
-Beautiful Life Series (if you choose to dance)
-Dancing Concert Series (if you choose to dance)

I don't know if the benefits of dancing are extremely sought after in parties and since you won't have enough to max the entire rouge and bard tree afaik dancing shouldn't be your top priority but if you have the SP and can still fully max rogue go for it.

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Warrior
PD

There is no benefit for the Rogue by choosing the Warrior as a subclass. You may find Heavy Armor useful but I don't like it for pvp and the slowness doesn't make it much better for PvE. If you want real defense than just sub in Cleric. I haven't found anyone of the warrior skillz that last when you switch weapon which is a shame cause they have some amazing buffs. All in all your better off ignoring this tree as it will do nothing for you as a solo player. If you choose to sub Warrior so you can be a back up warrior then go for it though.

PD-This is solely for being able to basically be a warrior if your party needs one. Useless in terms of Solo but every party needs tankers and if one drops out if you choose Party build you can take there place. Since your not Subing this for solo play your subbing it for party play you should go with the best tanker in the game...the 1h-Warrior. These are the skillz that will benefit you if you plan on acting as a Warrior.
-Taunting Target
-Vital Increase
-Sprint Assault
-Iron Skin
-Mana Skin
-Howling Shout
-Entire Guard Barrier Tree
-Entire 1-H Lord Tree
-Entire 1-H sword Tree

Sure you can sub the 2H or the Axe warrior but remember your only subbing this for party play and you'll benefit your party more by being a 1-H than axe or 2h-sword
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Warlock
SO

de-buffs...De-Buffs....DE-BUFFS!!!!! The warlock is completely SO. Im not even going to make a PD version of this build because basically The party would never rely on an Str build to do int damage so just stick with the Debuffs which are just as deadly in PvE as they are in PvP.

SO-You can cast the Warlock skillz fast but switching between the WarLock Rod and your main weapon while planning an attack strategy will take thought. You'll need quick fingers and wits to deduce whats is the best skill for the situation. When combined however the Warlocks De-Buffs will put the rogue damage at unimaginable heights. ALL the effects of these skillz stay even after the weapon switch.
-Physical Raze
-Magical Raze
-Combat Raze
-Courage Raze
-Slumber
-Physical Ravage
-Magical Ravage
-Daze
-Illusion

You can all thank SoBlu for this he really came through and explained everything i need to know to complete the warlock section of this guide.

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Wizard
Useless

Subbing in wizard is absolutely a waste of SP. Your Str....need i say more. If for some reason you choose to sub in wizard you might as well get something out of it. Though im doing this only for completion and for the lulz but SERIOUSLY DON'T SUB WIZARD!!!!!!!!

Useless- Int.......but heres some skillz
-Teleport
-Sprawl detect

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Summary

After reviewing all these skillz and the way they can be applied i've come to this conclusion. If you want a Rogue that'll survive Alot longer go with Cleric Sub. If you want to deal as much damage as you can (very badass) go with Warlock. Amount of carry over skills in the other classes isn't as large and the benefits are circumstantial. If You focus on the Cleric or the Warlock sub You'll truly perfect your playing style and complete the Hybrid of your Rogue, Will you deal damage or take it, with a sub that choice is how yours.

For Extra Def- Cleric
For Extra Speed-Bard
For Extra Damage-Warlock

Take one and make it your own.
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Viewtiful Rogue!
In this section im posting links to all the Rogue videos i've found on Youtube and DivX. Some are short some are long some definitely better than others but Watching Rogues do Just about anything is cool looking imo. So Enjoy

SilkRoad Rouge Video - By chemotox0
Features a lvl 42 Xbow Rogue in Heavy Amor showcasing some PvE and a bit of PvP nice quality.

KrSRO Rogue -By Dreedzik
A nice short video showcasing 5 the Dagger Rogue skillz in normal speed and in slowmo. Its not All the dagger rogue skillz but its nice to see them in slowmo though

Silkroad Lv 72 Rogue
Skilkroad lv 72 Rogue DivX Version-By realThor
A Video Showcasing the PvP side of the Xbow Rogue. Its a good 5 min and worth watching but the quality is not so great. Bare with it though if you watching the youtube one. The DivX is alot better quality but i doesn't work for all of us.

Clon3 on Alps-By samo8989
I 5* this video. It showcases Dagger Rogue in PvP and its just amazing imo. Nicely edit together ok quality If your a rogue looking for inspiration this is the video to watch.

Sro Rogue-By silVaMoon
Its a really short video just showing off the rouge damage with Xbow and daggers during some PvE in TaklaMkan

66 Rouge Grinding at 72 Snipers- By Juey
A DivX vid showcasing rogue PvE with the Xbow grinding in Taklamakan. Definitely worth watching if your interested in how Xbow Will fare in the later lvls.

A Different Type of PvP Vid - By Juey
A nice PvP video by Huey showcasing dagger skillz and a bard sub class. A very nice watch if you want to see what a Rogue is capable of killing.

IowU Rogue Compilation Stage 6 - By IowU
This is the best Rogue video i've seen yet. The character being used is a lvl 80 Rogue wit Cleric sub-class and its done very well. If you need an example of how well Cleric Sub-classes work in PvP this is the video you need to see.

Phunkism Rogue/Warlock - by Phunky
The first Rogue/Warlock vid i've seen. Showcases the the build fighting a SunBlader wearing Protector and its very successful. We'll hope from more videos by Phunky later. If you want an idea of how the Rogue/Warlock Plays, here it is.

These are not mine i didn't make them i just enjoy them Hopefully more to come soon as i find more vids



Done
I'll be making little minor updates overtime...like pictures and stuff...adding more vids and such but it think its complete now so enjoy and thanks for putting up with me and all my zzzzzzzz ^^ enjoy

Special thx to everyone whose participating in the Rogue Subclass discussion that can be found here
Sub-Class Discussion

A special thanks to

Atsuten, Vandall, Mocha*, SoBlu whose support, contribution, and informative post do not go unnoticed in both this thread and in the Sub-Class discussion.
http://www.silkroadforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=55184