The Complete Rogue Assassin Build DPS – Neverwinter Mod 30 As Above, So Below
Welcome to our Rogue Assassin Guide, updated for Mod 30: As Above, So Below
In Neverwinter, the Rogue Assassin class specializes in stealth and high-damage tactics. This class is adept at using surprise and agility to gain the upper hand in combat. With abilities focused on high damage and executing quick, decisive attacks, the Rogue Assassin is suited for players who prioritize precision and maneuverability.
The purpose of our class guides is not just to show you a build that you can copy and use on your character, but to show you a base build and teach you the mechanics and stats of the game, so you can understand and play your class to its fullest capabilities.
Try different gear, feats, and powers, and learn to tailor your own build for your playstyle. See our guide to making your own build for more info.
Basic Rogue Assassin Info
Below is all the basic information for the Assassin from race choices to stats.
Other Rogue Builds
Races
What race you play doesn’t play a huge role, but will give you a small boost. Generally, I would advise you to play a race that you enjoy.
- Human – 1% Bonus to all stats – +3 To any Ability Score
- Metallic Ancestry Dragonborn – Recieve 3% more healing and 3% more Max Hit Points – +2 to Any two Ability Score – 3% Critical Strike – 3% Power
- Dragonborn – Recieve 5% more healing – +2 to Any Ability Score – 3% Critical Strike – 3% Power
- Gith – 5% Combat Advantage – +2 Dex and +2 Str or Int – 5% Stamina Regen
- Wood Elf – 5% Critical Strike – +2 Dex and +2 Int or Wis – 20% Resistance to Slow
- Tiefling – 5% + Damage to targets below 50% health – +2 Cha and +2 Con or Int – 10% to reduce damage of target for 5 sec by 2.5%
- Half-Orc – 5% Crit Severity – +2 Dex and +2 Con or Str – 10% Movement Speed for 3 sec when entering combat
Ability Score Priority
Put all your available Ability Scores into Strength and Charisma. Alternatively, put a few points into Charisma instead of Dexterity depending on what you need.
Stat / Rating Priority
Your cap for each stat is based on your item level. To cap a stat, the numbers of the stat need to be equal to or higher than your item level.
If your stat number is higher than your item level, you are wasting stats and should try to allocate stats differently.
For every 1000 points, if a stat is lower than your item level you lose 1% in that stat.
Offensive Stats
- Power (90%)
- Combat Advantage (90%)
- Critical Strike (90%)
- Critical Severity (90%)
- Accuracy (90%)
Defensive Stats
- Defense (90%)
- Awareness (90%)
- Critical Avoidance (90%)
- Deflection (90%)
- Deflect Severity (90%)
Paragon Path Feats, Powers & Rotation
This part is all about optimizing the Assassin with the best feats, powers, and boons.
Combat Powers
At-Will Powers
- Duelist’s Flurry (ST)
- Gloaming Cut (ST) – Cloud of Steel (AoE)
Encounter Powers
- Lashing Blade
- Wicked Reminder (ST) / Path of the Blade (AoE)
- Assassinate
Daily Powers
- Whirlwind of Blades
- Shocking Execution
Class Features
- Oppressive Darkness
- Invisible Infiltrator or Skillful Infiltrator
Feats
- Toxic Blades
- Master of Shadows
- Duelist’s Expertise
- Back Alley Tactics
- Shadow’s Flurry (ST) or Execution (AoE)
Rotation
Single Target Rotation:
Stealth > Wicked Reminder > Lashing Blade > Assassinate > Shocking Execution – Use Gloaming Cut to apply the Bleed, then use Gloaming Cut, then remember to reapply Bleed with Gloaming Cut
AoE Rotation:
Stealth > Blade Flurry x2 > Path of the Blade > Assassinate > Cloud of Steel > Use Whirlwind of Blades when available
Boons
You should always choose boons based on what stats you currently need. Therefore a selection of several viable boons is available to you for each tier.
Tier 1 Boons
- Recruit’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
- Critical Strike – 0.2% Critical Strike Per Rank
- Lingering Medicine – 1% Increase effectiveness of healing potions.
- Critical Avoidance – 0.2% Critical Avoidance Per Rank
- Cultist Bulwark – 0.2% HP Per Rank
- Cultist Power – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. Cultists.
Tier 2 Boons
- Squire’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
- Armor Penetration – 0.2% Critical Severity Per Rank
- Lingering Fortification – 1% Increase effectiveness of healing potions.
- Defense – 0.2% Defense Per Rank
- Demonic Bulwark – 0.2% HP Per Rank
- Demonic Mastery – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. demons.
Tier 3 Boons
- Knight’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
- Combat Advantage – 0.2% Combat Advantage Per Rank
- Lingering Power – 1% Increase effectiveness of healing potions.
- Awareness – 0.2% Awareness Per Rank
- Dino Bulwark – 0.2 HP Per Rank
- Dino Power – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. dinos.
Tier 4 Boons
- Captain’s Training – 0.2% Power Per Rank
- Accuracy – 0.2% Accuracy Per Rank
- Deflect – 0.2% Deflect Per Rank
- Necrotic Bulwark – 0.2% HP Per Rank
- Necrotic Mastery – 1% Increased damage and damage resistance vs. undead.
Advanced Boons
- Masterclass – 1% Forte per rank
- Quick Turnaround – 1% Recharge Speed
- Call of Power – 1% Action Point Gain
Master Boons
- Blood Lust 3/3
- Life Lessons 3/3
- Blessed Advantage 3/3
- Deathly Rage 3/3
Guild Boons
- Offense – Power/Accuracy/Critical depending on what stat you need.
- Defense – Defence
- Utility – Mount Speed or Movement Speed
Weapons & Gear
If you are new to Neverwinter and need to know how to get better gear and increase your item level, check out our Gearing Up Guide.
Note that the best-in-slot for your build might vary depending on what stats you have.
The best way to gear up in Neverwinter is by making a lot of Astral Diamonds, check out our Astral Diamond Guide to learn all the secrets of AD farming.
Head
- Best-in-Slot Enchanted Depthcured Hat (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon)
- Prismatic Fractal Barbut
- Abyss Conqueror’s Healing Guard / Spellweaver’s Hood (Demonweb Pits)
- Serene Hood of the Dragon Hunter (Dragon Hunts)
- The Dark Maiden Assault Hood (Temple of the Spider / Menzoberranzan Campaign Store)
Armor
- Best-in-Slot Enchanted Depthcured Vest (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon)
- Abyss Conqueror’s Spellweaver Robe (Demonweb Pits)
- Mighty Cuirass / Tactful Leathers of the Dragon Hunter (Dragon Hunts)
Arms
- Best-in-Slot Enchanted Depthcured Wristguards (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon) AOE or Ultraviolet Elven Wristguards (The Imperial Citadel) Single-Target
- Prismatic Crystalflex Bracers
- Vinewoven Bracers
- Enchanted Depthweave Sleeves (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon)
- Abyss Conqueror’s Healing Mitts (Demonweb Pits)
- Mighty Vambraces / Tactful Gloves of the Dragon Hunter (Dragon Hunts)
Feet
- Best-in-Slot Enchanted Depthcured Boots (Master Lair of the Mad Dragon) Only in Fire Themed-Maps or Sharp Longboots of the Dragon Hunter (Dragon Hunts)
- Radiant or Ultraviolet Elven Jackboots (The Imperial Citadel)
- Starweave Slippers
- Abyss Conqueror’s Mauler Greaves
- The Dark Maiden Resolution Greaves (Temple of the Spider)
Weapons
- Living Magma Set / Encased Magma (Master of Flame Campaign Store)
- Demonweb Empowerment / Perfect Set (Northdark Campaign)
- Dark Matter / Solarium & Starcore Set (Adventures in Wildspace Campaign Store)
- Scalebreaker’s Wrath / Duergar Set (Dragonbone Vale Campaign)
Main Hand Modification:
- Duelist’s Flurry
Offhand Modifications:
- Recharge Speed
Rings
- Red Dwarf Ring of Xaryxis (The Imperial Citadel Master)
- Moondancer’s Binding of Precision (Wildspace)
- Dreadbreaker / Dreadwalker Loop
- Platinum Abyssal Loop (The Demonweb Pits)
- Sapphire Abyssal Loop (The Demonweb Pits)
- Emerald Abyssal Loop (The Demonweb Pits)
- Eilistraee’s Harmony + Elistraee’s Beauty (AOE) (Northdark Reaches)
- Soothsayer’s Ring of Absolution (Dragonbone Vale)
- Waywatchers Ring of Precision (Dragonbone Vale)
- Waywatchers Ring of Punishment (Dragonbone Vale)
- Mightbreaker’s Ring of Elegance (Dragonbone Vale)
Neck & Waist
- Masterwork of Menzoberranzan Set: Shroomwood Amulet & Shroomwood Sash
- Marilith Strike: Marilith Mask and Sash of the Marilith
- Demogorgon’s Wrath Set: Heart’s Twine & Sinous Chord
Shirt
- Ember Stiched Shirt (Lair of the Mad Dragon) Only in Fire-Themed Maps
- Ember Infused Shirt (Lair of the Mad Dragon)
- Brilliant Starwoven Shirt (Wildspace Heroic Encounters)
- Shimmering Flarefiber Shirt
- Lolth’s Embrace (Narbondellyn Heroic Encounters)
Pants
- Ember Stiched Pants (Lair of the Mad Dragon)
- Cerebral Predator Ink / Ocean’s Predator Ink
- Luminous Flarefiber Pants
- Lolth’s Embrace (Narbondellyn Heroic Encounters)
- War-Worn Pants (From the Auction House)
Artifacts
Primary Artifact
- Bloodbrass Pistol
- Demogorgon’s Reach
- Mythallar Fragment
- Halaster’s Blast Scepter
- Wyvern-Venom Coated Knives
- Crystal of Soul’s Flight
Secondary Artifacts
Choose secondary artifacts based on the stats you are lacking.
- Bloodbrass Pistol
- Jewel of Caldera
- Searing Conduit of Magma
- Astral Seed Tendril
- Portable Spelljammer Detector
- Macro’s Mystic Marker
- Xeleth’s Blast Scepter
- Scintillating Symbol of Water
- Rod of Pain
- Wand of Domination
- Marilith Mask
- Mystic Bolt
- Eye of Odran
- Assassin’s Dice
Enchantments
When getting enchantments, always get the ones with the stats you are lacking in with your gear, boons, etc in mind.
Offense Enchantments
- Ruby Enchantment
- Garnet Enchantment
- Cobalt Enchantment
- Citrine Enchantment
- Amethyst Enchantment
- Jade Enchantment
Defense Enchantments
- Garnet Enchantment
Utility Enchantments
- Garnet Enchantment
Bonus Enchantments
- Recharge Bonus
Combat Enchantments
- Lightning Flash
Overload Enchantments
- Rage of Flames or Devil’s Precision
- Various Marks from Stronghold Vendor
- Corrupt Black Ice / Lethal / Piercing
- Black / Red Dragon Glyph
Armor Reinforcement Kits
- Accuracy, Power, or Critical Strike Kit +1, Depending on what stat you need.
Jewelry Reinforcement Kits
- Combat Advantage Jewel
Consumables & Buffs
Consider getting VIP for the Power of VIP HP buff if you aren’t already. Also always stand in campfires to get the +1 ability campfire buff.
Pick one from each of the categories below depending on the stats you are lacking.
- Invocation Blessing: Grace of Battle / Gift of Awareness / Righteous Boon / Gamber’s Fortune
- Stronghold Food: Ratatouille / Seared Tuna
- Event Food: Squash Soup / Watermelon Sorbet
- Elixir: Wild Storm Elixir / Sunlord’s Gift Elixir
- Potion: Superior Flask of Potency +1
- Belt: Stone of Health / Owlbear Figurine or Dragonfire / Forger’s Box
Companions
Summoned Companion
For your summoned companion you have the choice between using Augmented companions which will make it easier to cap stats or an active combat companion which will do damage. At the moment Active/Striker companions are usually better than augment companions.
Active Companion Choices
- Black Death Scorpion
- Etrien
- Tutor
- Blaspheme Assassin
- Wiggins the Undead Intern
- Mage Slayer
- Xuna
- Paranoid Delusion
- Tomb Spider
- Greenscale Bowman
- Regis (AoE)
- Wulfgar (AoE)
- Xaryxian Defector (AoE)
- Minotaur Mercenary(AoE)
- Rimefire Golem (AoE)
Enchantment Power
- Precision
- Potency
- Perfect Vision
- Acute Senses
- Potent Precision
Companion Powers
Below is a selection of viable companion powers.
Offense Powers
- Wulfgar (Wulfgar’s Wrecking) – 4.7% Combat Advantage & Accuracy
- Drizzt (Drizzt’s Devestation) – 4.7% Critical Change & Severity
- Neverwinter Knight (Neverwinter Knight’s Discipline) – 7.5% Outgoing Damage
- Wild Hunt Rider (Wild Hunt Discipline) – 2/3/5% chance to increase damage by 10% for 5 seconds.
- Siege Master (Siege Master’s Discipline) – Combined Rating – Increases the power of your At-Will powers by 11% (Doubled on Stronghold Map)
- Black Dragon Ioun Stone (Black Dragon’s Insight) – 7.5% Critical Chance
- Staldorf (Staldorf’s Presence) – 7.5% Combat Advantage
- Razorwood (Twigblight’s Insight) – 3.8% Critical Severity & Accuracy
- Hawk (Hawk’s Insight’s) – 3.8% Critical Severity & Critical Chance
- Armored Orc Wolf (Orc Wolf’s Instincts) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Accuracy
- Batiri (Batiri’s Wisdom) – 11% Damage Versus Bosses
- Dancing Blade (Dancing Blade’s Insight) – 3.8% Critical Severity & Combat Advantage
- Flame Sprite (Flamesprite’s Insight) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Accuracy
- Golden Cat (Golden Cat’s Insight’s) – 7,5% Combat Advantage
Defense Powers
- Minsc (The Bigger They Are) – More damage against big mobs (bosses)
- Phasespider (Phasespider’s Presence) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Combat Advantage
- Fire Archon (Fire Archon’s Insight) – 10% on At-Will use to increase Combat Advantage for 10 seconds
Utility Powers
- Dark Dealer (Dark Dealings) – 3.8% Accuracy & 3.8% Combat Advantage
- Alchemist Experimenter (Alchemist’s Discipline) – 3.8% Critical Chance & Combat Advantage
- Golden Cat (Golden Cat’s Insight) – 7.5% Combat Advantage
- Book Imp (Bookimp’s Presence) – 3.8% Accuracy & 3.8% Combat Advantage
Mounts
Mount Insignia Bonuses
All classes and specs should consider using Wanderer’s Fortune and or Traveler’s Treasures before you have refined all your gear and enchantments, for extra refinement every day.
Insignia bonuses are mostly down to preference. Some boost damage a bit, and some boost survivability, while others add utility.
DPS
- Tactician’s Precision
- Enchanter’s Hex
- Warlord’s Inspiration
- Warlord’s Motivation
- Artificers Enticement
- Mender’s Covenant
- Executioner’s Covenant
- Artificers Persuasion
- Assassin’s Covenant
- Calvary’s Warning
- Gladiator’s Guile
Self Healing
- Barbarian’s Revelry
- Survivor’s Blessing
- Survivor’s Gift
- Knight’s Rebuke
- Oppressor’s Reprieve
Utility
- Wanderer’s Fortune
- Traveler’s Treasures
Insignia Type
- Insignia of Dominance
- Insignia of Brutality
- Insignia of Aggression
- Insignia of Skill
Mount Collars
- Sturdy Crescent Collar
- Wayfaring Barbed Collar
- Unified Crescent Collar
- Supportive Crescent Collar
Mount Powers
Mount Equip Power
- Dominant Force (Power)
- Ferocity (Extra Damage)
- Opportunistic ( Combat Advantage)
- Ferocious Predator (Power & Critical Severity)
- Rapid Accuracy (Accuracy)
- Armor Breaker (Critical Severity)
- Precision (Critical Strike & Severity)
- Ruthless Efficiency (Critical Strike
Mount Combat Power
- Bigby’s Hand
- Tunnel Vision (Several)
- Giant Toad
- Golden Warhorse
- Space Guppy School (For AoE)
- Pegasus (For AoE)
If you have any questions or suggestions about our Neverwinter Rogue Assassin guide, please leave a comment below!
More info about the Rogue class can be found in the Neverwinter Rogue Facebook group.
Updates
- 29.08.2024: The build has been updated for module 29: Mountain of Flame. Basic info including stat priority, skills, mounts, enchantments, artifacts, and gear has been updated. Unrelevant info and fluff have also been removed to make the guide easier to read.
- 11.02-2025: Updated with Mod 30 gear.
No reason for protectors camaraderie bonus. Augment comps dont attack.
Is there a rotation?
Is there anything at all that could make my movement faster? Or is there something I should look for that is slowing me down somehow
rogues are slower by nature, i use deft strike to mone around the battlefield injunction with rolls, goo as it gets without sacrificing power or melee damage on boots (or whatever piece) for movement speed,
I dont know what you are talking about, my rogue is fast moving.
I think this guide needs a slight update otherwise pretty good give or take
Why Survivors Gift and not Survivors Blessing?
Put all your available Ability Scores into Strength and Constitution / Charisma
Y?
is it not Strength and DEX
Um yeah I’ve Always put all stats into S and Dex with a belt and neck piece that also give me move of both I’m at like 31 Dex and like 29 or 30 S sooooo um I can see constitution if you just wanna be Tanky and charisma for XP or companion bonus but if you’re a lvl 80 like me why would I even need Charisma ?
Forte?
@Gabe, recharge speed
stat caps are for IC not mod 19
Actually Avernus zone has exact caps as IC. But my rogue did fine undercapped with 105k power when I went there just to farm legions. Maybe I’m just that good 😛
Nice done. But something could be better.
Rotation by the way all are not the best what TR can do.
With you´re Rota you dont use all Selfbuffs what you can get and in you´re AoE Rotation you can use Blade Furry 3 times if you play it correct. Not only 2 times.
Nice done. But something could be better.
Rotation by the way all are not the best what TR can do.
With you´re Rota you dont use all Selfbuffs what you can get and in you´re AoE Rotation you can use Blade Furry 3 times if you play it correct. Not only 2 times.
For AoE Build Whisperknife with active Companion Xuna could be very heavy but it needs many knowhow what gear you need and what you have to skill.
How do you do that?
Sometimes I accidentally do I think, is it just timing.
Isn’t wicked reminder better than deft strike for the 10% more damage? If the tank has the positioning right then you will be behind target for assassinate anyway.
TY for this build.
Can you make pvp build for rogue?
Is Skullcracker effecting one enemy or multiple enemies with an AOE power?
You have Lashing Blade listed in the EP list, but in the AoE Rota, you have Blade Flurry. Need to add that to the EP list.
Hi thx but what i miss by rotation is how you press r2 or l2, when do you let go, switch, or press 100x in 1 second, i see a great difference in dps with some ppl, cant figuren it out
Skullcracker is not the best choice when you got Duelist’s Expertise as an alternative.
Oppressive Darkness is a questionable choice as well.
Upgrading mounts to boost IL you should keep in mind that IL goes up drastically with mythic mounts and it causes your stats to go down bc of %, which means you’re dealing less damage and taking more damage undercapped with high IL than capped with lower IL, so stats should always be kept in mind.
Swap Dark enchantments in your Utility slots for Azures if you want additional movement speed; however, keep in mind that Forte is a bit underestimated but nevertheless important stat, as it boosts your Power as an assassin as well as Deflect Severity.
Choosing between STR and CHA as an addition to DEX depends on your playstyle and whether you prefer greater base damage and better stamina gain or like to spam encounters often, since the main bonus of CHA is Recharge Speed (as well as Forte)
Augment companions like Ioun Stones are useless in Mod21, better to have an active comp able to help you with aggro and damage rather than a decoration that does nothing but boost your stats
AOE Rotation mentioned is ridiculous, feel free to experiment and use Smoke Bomb/Path of the Blade before entering stealth, alternatively Path of the Blade > Stealth > Blade Flurry x2 > Smoke Bomb
ST Rotation has a very confusing description as to how&when to use Gloaming Cut
It’s ptw anyway just sink in a grand and buy almost everything you need
Uhmmmmm arent Forest Guardian’s Ward/Raid (Vault of Stars) and
Lion Guard’s Ward/Raid, items for other classes? when I look them up in the fandom wiki, it says in description “Requires Class: Fighter” or “Requires Class: Fighter, Paladin, Barbarian” the only armor listed that doesn’t have those class requirements is the Bone Devil’s Ribcage.
is wild hunt rider giving damage increase instead of combat advantage now?
I tried this guide, it sucks it makes the rouge slow and inadequate in both single target and aos. Strength Charisma is not bad communication but I am not sure if that’s the most appropriate combination for rouge. I do not recommend this guide.
@I, I’m new to the Neverwinter game and decided on a rogue, I’m feeling pretty squishy and my healer pulls from me so I definitely know I’m doing something wrong. Is there a better guide to use?