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Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
The Rogue class in Diablo 4 is perfect for players who want to take advantage of high dexterity, high agility characters as they slay their way through Sanctuary. What makes the Rogue standout from other Diablo 4 classes is their ability to inflict a variety of status conditions on enemies and their versatility as both a melee and ranged class. With all these tools available to Diablo 4’s Rogue, there are several fantastic options players can choose from when building their character. As such, we’re taking a look at the best builds for the Rogue in Diablo 4, and examining what skills and gear you’ll need to optimize these builds.
The 4 Best Rogue Builds in Diablo 4
Let’s dive right into our guide to the best builds for Rogue in Diablo 4, along with the tips and tricks necessary to play the class to its best.
Twisting Blades Rogue Build
One of the best builds for rogue in Diablo 4 for players who want to utilize melee skills is the Twisting Blades Rogue build. This build focuses on utilizing the Rogue’s powerful Twisting Blades skill along with their Agility and Subterfuge Skills to maneuver around enemies.
Skills
- Puncture – The Basic Skill for this build that deals a base 21% damage while also inflicting Slow on enemies with every third cast. This can be a great skill for building up Combo points before unleashing your Core Skill.
- Twisting Blades -The Core Skill for this build that impales enemies with your blades for damage while also increasing damage done to them while impaled. The blades return to you after 1.5 seconds and deal additional damage to the enemy when they do. Combo Points also increase damage and grant a movement speed bonus.
- Shadow Step – One of two Agility Skills on this build that allows the Rogue to become Unstoppable and deal damage to an enemy from behind. Afterwards, they gain a 50% movement speed increase for two seconds.
- Dash – The other Agility Skill on this build that allows players to dash forward and slash enemies for 32% base damage.This skill is used for inflicting damage on enemies while repositioning.
- Concealment – The sole Subterfuge Skill for this build that gives players Stealth for four seconds, as well as Unstoppable and a movement speed boost. However, using an attack skill breaks the Concealment.
- Shadow Imbuement – The sole Imbuement Skill on this build that allows the player to Imbue their next two attacks with Shadow damage that infects enemies for 6 seconds and causes them to explode upon death.
Passives
Below are the Passives players will want to invest in for this build:
| Icon | Passive |
|---|---|
 | Sturdy |
 | Siphoning Strikes |
 | Sutter Step |
 | Weapon Mastery |
 | Concussive |
 | Trick Attacks |
 | Agile |
 | Exploit |
 | Malice |
 | Shadow Crash |
 | Innervation |
 | Adrenaline Rush |
 | Haste |
 | Close Quarters Combat (Key Passive) |
Gear
The right equipment can make or break this build, so you’ll want to make sure you are picking up the gear with the appropriate affixes. For weapons, you will want to prioritize affixes like Critical Strike Damage and Vulnerable Damage to maximize your damage output. For armor, affixes like Cooldown Reduction are helpful for Shadow Imbuement, Dash, Shadow Step, and Concealment. Damage from Distant Enemies is also an important affix since this build is primarily melee-oriented. Additionally, +Ranks to Twisting Blades on Gloves is always a great option if you can find it.
Strategy
The benefit of using Twisting Blades as your Core Skill on this build is each use of the skill has two damage sources: once when the blades hit the target and once when they are removed. Where these blades travel as they return can be changed by using Dash or Shadow Step to reposition to a favorable vantage point. Puncture is great as a Basic Skill to help build Combo Points before unleashing a Twisting Blades with bonus effects. The Shadow damage inflicted by Shadow Imbuement can also help deal with groups of enemies. Starting an encounter off with Concealment is ideal to ensure you have prime positioning for your opening move.
Penetrating Shot Rogue Build
This Diablo 4 Rogue build takes advantage of the Core Skill Penetrating shot to allow the player to hit multiple enemies at a time. On top of that, it utilizes Poison skills to wear enemies down so they can easily be picked off from a distance.
Skills
- Puncture – Like the previous build, Puncture is the Basic Skill for this build that deals a base 21% damage while also inflicting Slow on enemies with every third cast. This can be a great skill for building up Combo points before unleashing your Core Skill.
- Penetrating Shot – This Core Skill fires an arrow that penetrates all enemies in a line for 70% base damage. It also increases in damage and Lucky Hit Chance with Combo Points
- Dash – The solo Agility Skill on this build that allows players to dash forward and slash enemies for 32% base damage.This skill is used for inflicting damage on enemies while repositioning.
- Smoke Grenade – One of two Subterfuge Skills on this build that has the player throw a smoke grenade that Dazes enemies for four seconds. Use this skill when first encountering a group of enemies to help with crowd control and swing the battle in your favor.
- Poison Trap – The other Subterfuge Skill on this build that places and arms a trap that applies Poison damage to enemies in the area over nine seconds when triggered. Up to four traps can be placed at a time.
- Poison Imbuement – The only Imbuement Skill on this build that applies Poison to your next two attacks that deal 100% of their base damage as Poison damage over five seconds.
Passives
Below are the Passives players will want to invest in for this build:
| Icon | Passive |
|---|---|
| Sutter Step |
| Weapon Mastery |
| Concussive |
| Trick Attacks |
| Agile |
| Exploit |
| Malice |
 | Deadly Venom |
 | Debilitating Toxins |
 | Alchemical Advantage |
| Innervation |
 | Second Wind |
| Adrenaline Rush |
| Haste |
 | Exposure (Key Passive) |
Gear
The equipment you will want for this build is mainly going to support a ranged play style but give you the mobility necessary to escape dangerous situations. For your weapon, you’ll want a Bow or Crossbow with affixes like Critical Strike Damage or Damage to Poisoned, Trapped, or Dazed enemies to take full advantage of your skills. Any armor that can provide Ranks of Penetrating Shot or add to your Dexterity is also going to be helpful for dealing the maximum damage. Support affixes like Cooldown Reduction and Trap Cooldown Reduction are also useful, as are any that give additional ranks to your Passives like Malice, Exploit, or Weapon Mastery.
Strategy
The goal of this build is to inflict enemies with Poison damage over time using skills like Poison Trap and Poison Imbuement. These enemies can then be finished off with Penetrating Shot, which is limited to hitting enemies in a straight line. As such, these skills need to work with each other to ensure all enemies are accounted for. Puncture and Dash are staples for building Combo Points and repositioning, respectively. Additionally, Smoke Grenade makes for a great opening move in order to place Poison Traps and get into the ideal position while enemies are stunned.
Barrage Rogue Build
The Barrage Rogue build takes advantage of the middle ground between a ranged and melee build. It focuses on utilizing the Barrage Core Skill to blast enemies with a barrage of arrows in a shotgun-like spread while offering movement and imbuement options.
Skills
- Forceful Arrow – A Basic Skill that fires a powerful arrow and deals 20% base damage with every third arrow applying Vulnerable to the enemy. This skill can also cause Knockback with upgrades.
- Barrage – This Core Skill fires five arrows that expand outwards dealing 20.8% damage and has a 20% chance to ricochet off an enemy one time for an additional 40% damage.
- Shadow Step – One of two Agility Skills on this build that allows the Rogue to become Unstoppable and deal damage to an enemy from behind. Afterwards, they gain a 50% movement speed increase for two seconds.
- Dash – The other Agility Skill on this build that allows players to dash forward and slash enemies for 32% base damage.This skill is used for inflicting damage on enemies while repositioning.
- Concealment – The sole Subterfuge Skill for this build that gives players Stealth for four seconds, as well as Unstoppable and a movement speed boost. However, using an attack skill breaks the Concealment.
- Shadow Imbuement – Once again, the sole Imbuement Skill on this build that allows the player to Imbue their next two attacks with Shadow damage that infects enemies for 6 seconds and causes them to explode upon death.
Passives
Below are the Passives players will want to invest in for this build:
| Icon | Passive |
|---|---|
| Sturdy |
| Siphoning Strikes |
| Stutter Step |
| Weapon Mastery |
| Agile |
| Exploit |
| Malice |
 | Precision Imbuement |
| Adrenaline Rush |
| Haste |
| Close Quarter Combat (Key Passive) |
Gear
The gear for this build should support the play style of imbuing your skills with Shadow and the using Barrage to deal high amounts of Shadow damage to enemies. As such, you will want a Bow or Crossbow with affixes like Critical Strike Damage with Imbued Skills and Damage to Close enemies. Both of these affixes benefit from the hybrid close-quarters/mid range combat style of this build. The best armor affixes for this build are Ranks of Barrage, Energy Cost Reduction, and Damage Reduction from Distant and Close enemies. Relying on Barrage as the primary damage dealing skill will use up a lot of the Rogue’s Energy, so having an affix to keep that cost as low as possible is a must.
Strategy
This build is ideally played at close to mid range since Barrage’s shotgun-like spread can quickly shred enemies from up close. Forceful Arrow’s Knockback capabilities at higher ranks help manage enemy distance while Barrage helps pick them off. Shadow Imbuement is once again the skill of choice for managing groups of enemies since enemies inflicted with Shadow explode on death. Dash and Shadow Step are vital for repositioning in this build since distance to an enemy is such an important aspect of its play style. As such, Concealment can be helpful for getting out of a bind and resetting your position entirely.
Poison Trap Rogue Build
This build takes full advantage of the Rogue’s ability to place traps and inflict status effects on groups of enemies. While the Rogue doesn’t typically excel at handling groups of enemies, this build is the best option for damaging multiple foes at once.
Skills
- Invigorating Strike – The Basic Skill for this build deals 23% melee damage while increasing Energy regeneration by 20% for 3 seconds. This skill can help keep Energy topped off for Rapid Fire.
- Rapid Fire – The Core Skill for this build that fires five arrows in a row with each dealing 30% base damage. Combo Points can increase damage dealt and number of arrows fired.
- Dash – The sole Agility Skill on this build that allows players to dash forward and slash enemies for 32% base damage. This skill is used for inflicting damage on enemies while repositioning.
- Concealment – One of two Subterfuge Skills for this build that gives players Stealth for four seconds, as well as Unstoppable and a movement speed boost. However, using an attack skill breaks the Concealment.
- Poison Trap – The other Subterfuge Skill for this build and its main focus. This skill places and arms a trap that applies Poison damage to enemies in the area over nine seconds when triggered. Up to four traps can be placed at a time.
- Death Trap – The Ultimate Skill for this build that places and arms a trap in 1.25 seconds which then triggers dealing 250% damage to all enemies in the area when an enemy moves within its range.
Passives
| Icon | Passive |
|---|---|
| Stutter Step |
| Agile |
| Exploit |
| Malice |
| Deadly Venom |
| Debilitating Toxins |
| Innervation |
| Second Wind |
 | Trap Mastery |
| Adrenaline Rush |
| Haste |
| Exposure (Key Passive) |
Below are the Passives players will want to invest in for this build:
Gear
Since this build focuses on dealing damage primarily through traps, you will want gear with affixes that improve the damage these skills do. Weapons with affixes that increase damage to Poisoned enemies are a must, as are affixes like Damage to Close enemies and Critical Strike Damage. Armor with affixes like Trap Skill Damage and Damage with Skills that Swap to New Weapons are invaluable on this build since your set of skills will have you swapping between ranged and melee weapons. Additionally affixes like Trap Cooldown Reduction and Ranks of Dash will also be very helpful for placing traps frequently while being able to maneuver around enemies.
Strategy
This build is all about utilizing the Rogue’s stealth abilities to place traps and reposition before activation. Use Concealment to place Death and Poison Traps around enemies before emerging from the shadows with an attack like Invigorating Strikes or Rapid Fire. Once the traps activate and inflict their debilitating statuses, enemies will be easy to quickly defeat with this skills. It’s still a good idea to have Dash on hand to reposition should some enemies fail to fall into these traps put you in a corner.
Join the High Ground
Hopefully you will find success with one of these best builds for Rogue in Diablo 4. Let us know which Rogue build is your favorite in the comments down below, and feel free to add any of your own tips for Rogue players there as well. While you’re down there, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss any of our upcoming guides for Diablo 4.
Happy Gaming!
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