Rogue leveling guide: Combat 1-60
Combat is the steadiest rogue tree for leveling: more hit, a stronger off-hand, 
Blade Flurry for two enemies and 
Adrenaline Rush at 40. The rest goes into Assassination for critical strikes and combo points. New to the class? Read the rogue overview first.
The build
| Talent split | Assassination 19 / Combat 32 |
| Weapons | Two one-handed swords or maces, the slower one in the main hand |
| Stats | Agility, then Stamina and Strength |
| Calculator | Open this build in the talent calculator |
In Forever the Combat tree has three 
Hack and Slash talents with different bonuses by weapon type. The build takes the axe and sword version; if you level with maces, take the mace version instead (the calculator lets you swap it).
Talent order
One point per level from 10.
| Levels | Talent | Tree | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-11 |  Efficient Strikes |
Combat | 2/2 |
| 12-14 |  Lightning Reflexes |
Combat | 3/5 |
| 15-19 |  Precision |
Combat | 5/5 |
| 20-21 |  Endurance |
Combat | 2/2 |
| 22-24 |  Deflection |
Combat | 3/5 |
| 25-29 |  Dual Wield Specialization |
Combat | 5/5 |
| 30-34 |  Hack and Slash |
Combat | 5/5 |
| 35 | Blade Flurry |
Combat | 1/1 |
| 36-37 |  Weapon Expertise |
Combat | 2/2 |
| 38-39 |  Aggression |
Combat | 2/3 |
| 40 | Adrenaline Rush |
Combat | 1/1 |
| 41 | Aggression |
Combat | 3/3 |
| 42-46 |  Malice |
Assassination | 5/5 |
| 47-49 |  Ruthlessness |
Assassination | 3/3 |
| 50-51 |  Murder |
Assassination | 2/2 |
| 52 |  Relentless Strikes |
Assassination | 1/1 |
| 53-57 |  Lethality |
Assassination | 5/5 |
| 58-60 |  Improved Slice and Dice |
Assassination | 3/3 |
Why this order. Efficient Strikes makes Sinister Strike cheaper, the button you press most. Precision lets you hit more often and opens Dual Wield Specialization, which makes the off-hand count. Endurance halves the cooldown of 
Sprint and Evasion, your escape tools. Blade Flurry and Hack and Slash give damage against one or two enemies, and Weapon Expertise and Aggression lead to Adrenaline Rush. From 42, Malice, Ruthlessness, Murder, Relentless Strikes and Lethality add critical strikes, free combo points and energy, and Improved Slice and Dice finishes the build.
Abilities by level
Levels are from the Forever client.
| Level | Ability |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sinister Strike |
| 1 |  Stealth |
| 1 |  Eviscerate |
| 4 |  Backstab |
| 4 |  Pick Pocket |
| 6 |  Gouge |
| 8 | Evasion |
| 10 | Sprint |
| 10 | Slice and Dice |
| 10 |  Sap |
| 12 |  Kick |
| 14 |  Expose Armor |
| 22 |  Vanish |
| 26 |  Cheap Shot |
| 30 |  Kidney Shot |
| 34 |  Blind |
Level by level
1 to 10. Sinister Strike to build combo points, Eviscerate at three or more. Stealth up to the enemy and open from behind. Pick Pocket humanoids before you attack.
10 to 20. Slice and Dice at 10 for longer fights, Eviscerate for short ones. Sprint and Evasion save you from bad pulls. Kick interrupts casters and healers. At 20 your class trainer offers the poisons quest in the original game; check it in Forever.
20 to 30. Vanish at 22 is your way out of a lost fight. Cheap Shot at 26 is a strong opener: stun, then build points while the enemy cannot hit back. Expose Armor helps in long fights against tough enemies.
30 to 40. Kidney Shot at 30 stuns again with a finisher. Blind at 34 takes a second enemy out of the fight. Blade Flurry kills two enemies at once.
40 to 60. Adrenaline Rush doubles energy for 15 seconds, which ends almost any fight. With Relentless Strikes and Ruthlessness your finishers come back faster.
Tips
- Keep the slow weapon in the main hand for Sinister Strike, the fast one in the off-hand for more hits.
- Eat and drink in stealth so you are ready to open again.
- Pull one enemy at a time; Blade Flurry is for when a second one joins anyway.
- Bandages are your only healing. Learn First Aid early.
The talent order and ability levels come from the Forever client files (build 1.60.1.70790); the advice per level follows the original game and will be checked in Forever.