Rift Rogue Build Guide

Rogues in Rift are more complex than most other rogue classes found in other MMOs due to the unique soul tree system exclusive to Rift. This makes knowing every detail about how the rogue class works an extremely important factor if you want to succeed in Telara.

Rogues in Rift however maintain the same sneaky, high damage attitude as they do in most other MMOs attacking from the shadows, utilizing short, highly powerful bursts of damage to quickly down opponents, and dodging attacks with fantastic agility and speed.

When the class rogue is mentioned most people assume close quarter combat, leather armor, and sneaking about in the shadows waiting for the right moment to strike. While this is still true for the class in Rift, the new MMO brings a few new features to the table. Ranger and Marksman subtypes allow for ranged physical damage with bows, guns, and pets like the Hunter class in World of Warcraft. Rift Rangers can also follow the route of a Bard, a subtype which can buff and heal party members. Saboteurs can hurl bombs to deal massive area of attack damage and crowd control to mobs and other players. Riftstalkers gain power from the planes around them giving the rogue the ability to tank. All in all, the large amount of possibilities available make the rift rogue an extremely flexible and fun class to play.

So how does the class work? What are souls? And how can I find the rogue class that’s right for me?

Soul System

Rift features a unique soul system; each soul has its own set of attributes and associated play style. An example of a soul is the previously mentioned “assassin” which specializes in lurking about in the shadows. You may have a max of 3 souls active at one time. Using a combination of souls allows you to tailor your rogue to exactly the sort of play style you enjoy. You are able to learn all the souls one after another and hot swap which are active at any time you like, giving a high amount of flexibility. For example you can switch from DPS to a Tank role in a matter of seconds, just be sure you have the right gear to support it!

How do I gain new souls?

You may gain new souls by either paying gold to purchase and learn them from a rogue class trainer, or you can also receive them from certain quest rewards throughout the game.

Rogue builds and Talent Trees

What is a talent tree?

Talent trees are what come after picking your soul. Talent trees are formed after selecting a combination of soul talents, leaving your soul branching out to the talents you want. After you have configured each talent tree for each of your active souls, you’re left with what is called a “build”.

What are the best rogue talent trees?

This depends entirely on the play style you wish to achieve. Whether it is PVP, PVE, being able to deal damage from close quarter melee or from a distance, healing and supporting your allies, dodging blows or even holding aggro and tanking mobs. Check out our collection of Rift rogue talent trees

What is the best rift rogue build?

This is a hot topic at the moment given the high flexibility of the rift rogue class. It is first vital to identify the kind of play style you enjoy, and then select the right set of 3 souls to maximize its effectiveness. If you choose to sneak through the shadows waiting for the right moment to strike, then ambush your target dealing huge damage over a short period of time with precise melee attacks, then pick the three souls which associate to this; Assassin for the stealth and high burst damage capabilities and Riftstalker for the high defensive  abilities. Check out our builds page for more information on Rift rogue builds.

What is the best rift rogue build for PVE?

For taking out mobs, this depends on how you’d like to do it. If you like to deal damage from a distance and slow your targets movement giving you the opportunity to run around your opponent dealing massive amounts of damage on the move, then marksman along with a few points in ranger and assassin is the build for you. If you prefer up close and personal styles specializing in melee damage then Blade Dancer along with Riftstalker and Assassin are a good choice. Take a look at our rift rogue builds page for more information on Rift rogue builds.

What is the best rift rogue build for PVP?

The best rogue builds for player vs. player combat would have to be Assassin paired with Riftstalker as mentioned above. This class has excellent burst damage and stealth along with excellent defensive capabilities from the Riftstalker soul. for more information on PVP rift rogue builds check out Rift rogue builds.

Can Rift Rogues Tank?

They certainly can! Try specializing heavily in the Riftstalker souls defensive abilities. Rogues in Rift can make excellent tanks if they are backed with the right gear.