Rogue / Priest

General Strategy

Rogue/Priest wins games in two ways: burst kills during CC chains, and Mana Burn attrition against healer teams. The Rogue controls the opener with Sap on the healer, then bursts the DPS target. If the kill doesn't happen in the opener, the Priest transitions to Mana Burning the enemy healer while the Rogue applies pressure and resets with Vanish.

Communication is everything in this comp. Every CC must be called before it happens. The Rogue calls 'Sap' → 'Cheap Shot' → 'Kidney Shot' and the Priest follows up with Psychic Scream or Mana Burn during the CC window. Overlapping CC wastes it. Chaining CC wins games.

The Opener

The opener is the most important part of Rogue/Priest. Stealth with the Rogue, find the enemy team, Sap the healer. With the healer in Sap, the Rogue opens on the DPS target with Cheap Shot → Mutilate/Backstab → Kidney Shot. During Kidney Shot, the Priest begins Mana Burning the healer (who is now out of Sap but stuck watching their partner die).

If the enemy trinkets Sap, the Rogue has Blind as backup CC on the healer. If they trinket Blind, you still have Psychic Scream. Three separate CC abilities on the healer means at least one sticks for a full duration, giving you a kill window.

Rogue Role

Your job is burst damage during CC windows and CC setup between kill attempts. Open with Cheap Shot, dump damage during Kidney Shot, and use Blind on the healer when your Priest calls for it. Track trinket cooldowns — once the enemy healer uses trinket, the next CC chain is a guaranteed kill window.

Vanish is your reset button. If the kill attempt fails, Vanish and set up another opener. Do not waste Vanish defensively unless you are about to die. Vanish → re-Sap → second opener is how Rogue/Priest wins games that go past the first minute.

Keep Crippling Poison and Wound Poison active. Wound Poison reduces healing and stacks with Mortal Strike debuffs if you face a Warrior team. Crippling Poison prevents kiting.

Priest Role

Your job splits between healing, Mana Burning, and offensive dispels. During the opener, your priority is Mana Burning the enemy healer while they are CC'd or forced to heal. Every Mana Burn that lands is a step closer to winning the attrition game.

Pain Suppression is your panic button for the Rogue. Use it when the Rogue is caught in a stun or burst window. Do not waste it on chip damage — save it for actual kill attempts on your Rogue.

Offensive dispel is massive. Dispel HoTs off kill targets before the Rogue's go. Dispel enemy buffs like Power Word: Shield, Earth Shield, or Blessing of Protection. Every dispel makes the Rogue's damage more lethal.

Mana Burn Strategy

Against healer teams that survive the opener, Mana Burn wins the game. Position behind a pillar where you can LoS the enemy DPS but still reach the enemy healer. Mana Burn has a 3 second cast — you need uninterrupted windows. Have the Rogue CC or pressure the enemy DPS while you burn mana.

Each Mana Burn removes roughly 1200-1500 mana at TBC levels. After 4-5 uncontested Burns, most healers are OOM and cannot sustain. This is when the Rogue goes for the final kill.

Matchups