I’ve been having a pretty busy couple of weeks both in life and in game. My guild has started working on 3d Sartharion and the encounter itself is easily the biggest challenge of the expansion thus far. At the same time, WOTLK is giving me a taste of the work involved in being a GM. It’s a rewarding role, but at the same time it feels like a constant battle to contain constantly swelling drama and maintain some order. Add to that task trying to do arena on live, work on videos, get a team put together for Tournament Realm, throw in some mid term exams and a bit of social r & r IRL, and this all equates to me having less time to write articles. But that’s more than enough crying for today.
Tournament Realm is up, and while I haven’t spent a ton of time there, it’s already a fun chance to play with and against some great players I wouldn’t get a chance to see otherwise. I played some RMP with Milkofamnisia and Neurological, although only briefly. RMP still feels strong, even amid the faceroll of hunters, death knights and paladins that comprise the majority of teams on TR. RMP isn’t what it was in the past, but it at least has a chance to beat the majority of popular comps. It has the versatility that most rogue teams lack. I even got a chance to run some triple rogue with Mahiko and Buddhist, which was a lot of fun.
Oh and if you missed the ESL finals, you should check out this clutch performance by Orangemarmalade of HON.
Tip / Trick Against Mages: Predicting the Blink
I don’t whether this is something new, but I never see or hear about it, and when I do see it, it’s usually being done by warriors.
In my experience, a lot of skilled or “top” mages like to throw their blink off. What I mean is that they blink over your head rather than away from you (or at least in some area behind you) in an attempt to juke you briefly. Although this is technically decreasing the maximum blink distance the mage can achieve, the time it takes for a typical rogue to figure out the mage’s position is usually worth it.
What I try to do to counter this is predict the blink. It’s pretty obvious when a blink is coming. If you are on a mage chasing them and blink is off cooldown, it means that the mage is going to blink soon. This trick generally only happens when you have cloak up. Cloak and sprint, and just as you’re about to reach the mage, run to the area you just were. If the mage tries to juke you by blinking over your head, you’ve essentially shadowstepped to him. He may not go right behind you, but as long as he’s near the area it still gives you an advantage. The strat isn’t extremely risky, because if the mage blinks normally you can simply restealth and wait out cloak. If this is the case, you may have to deadly throw the mage if he’s too close.
This trick really takes some practice and getting used to, but it can be game-breaking. I’ve only been playing around with it for a few months, but I consider it a good addition to my repertoire against mages, especially as a non-shadowstep spec. Once you get the hang of this concept, you may find it useful in arena as well when your role is to be on the mage. I’ve also started trying to apply this to hunter’s disengage but obviously it works the opposite way.
I realize this is hard to explain with words, but I intend to use this as a text reference. There will be multiple examples of this in my next arena video, showing it working against some of the best mages.
Last Arena Video Coming Soon
I’m almost done with my fourth and final video for the arena series. The video itself is about 80 percent done, so expect it some time this week. I actually put more time and editing into this than the past two, so hopefully that equates to an enjoyable finished product.What you can expect other than the afore-mentioned trick is more of the same, RM and RMP clips recorded at 2400-2500 and on tournament realm.
There will also be a lot of duels in this also, focusing a lot on frost mages and how I’ve come to deal with them as mutilate. I run a win ratio of anywhere from 40-60 percent against the best frost mages, despite the fact most will consider themselves to have a sizable advantage against rogues. Also duels against prot warrior, dwarf duel specced disc priest, and maybe others, but I’ll get into that more when the video is released.
After this, I’m going to put the arena series on hold for a while. I like making these videos, but it feels too easy to collect the clips and ultimately is a distraction from making a world pvp video. My biggest goal in game is probably still to make the best video I possibly can with the vast majority of content being World PvP, and to do that I think I’m going to have to put the arena series on hold, at least until I make some serious headway into the project. We’ll see how things go.
Related posts:
I really learn alot from your videos. I’m sure your next video will be very enjoyable, take it easy.
Comment by Akriosstudent — March 10, 2009 @ 12:37 am
First of all, I’m glad to hear you’ve been gathering clips and spending time editing. Your last 2 R/M videos have been superb, and both you and your mage are excellent players. I’ve really enjoyed watching you in WotLK, even though Eviscerate VIII was probably my favorite video.
A full-out world PvP video would be very ambitious right now, since the only time you’ll catch someone outside of Dalaran will probably be at a meeting stone or AFK in a remote place. I suggest that you focus more on lightly-edited duels and 2v2, as it’s the easiest to follow and most entertaining. I know it’s less of a challenge to gather clips of you and Aeias roflstomping people and calling it a video, but I think you’ve found your niche. There’s no other rogue that can pull this off right now, and I think you should keep making arena vids, if only for the sake of our sanity. Also, your trance selection is amazing.
Comment by Layercake — March 10, 2009 @ 12:49 am
Thx for all u’ve done and keep doing. Gl on tournament.
Comment by Rattray — March 10, 2009 @ 2:12 am
As per the 3 above.
I might add, I prefer duels and arenas to world pvp. I often feel world pvp is like ganking pve/afk people.
Even in bg people are afk, semi-afk, undergeared, played by a friend, and so on.
But hey, it is your videos and your fun
Comment by Roque — March 10, 2009 @ 3:26 am
I’ve been using that trick against frost mages since 2.4.3, predicting blinks as non shadowstep is close to gamebreaking for a mage, and even if you’re off, you can get out of range and restealth, so it’s a low risk high gain tactic.
Comment by Remnants — March 10, 2009 @ 3:56 am
thx for all of ur viedos and tips
Comment by ueno — March 10, 2009 @ 7:38 am
Hi,
Sorry if I post here but don’t know how to contact you.
I’m trying a 16/3/53 build:
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/rogue/talents.html?tal=30502010500000000000000000000300000000000000000000000005300212130302121350135031050
It’s pretty funny in BGs, and good in PvE as well (actually got better DPS compared to classical Muti build).
ShS is very useful against Hunters, Mages, and DoTs classes (usually they CC you with fear…).
I’m having fun. What do you think?
Is this that bad?
(I don’t play arena anymore even if in TBC I was around ~1950 all the seasons).
Cheers,
Comment by Emanem — March 10, 2009 @ 8:03 am
As far as rogue videos go, yours are tops. To improve on this, I’d love to see you come out with a commentary dub’d video as well. To talk a bit about your techniques and to help us all become better players about understanding why/when and how things are happening. Of all videos to watch, rogue videos tend to be the hardest to follow, especially arena’s.
Thanks and keep it up.
Comment by dabal — March 10, 2009 @ 9:07 am
The build you’re using is quite simular to the one I have been using for a while, idd the pve damage is quite the same in good HaT groups, and in pvp is fun to play, but in our BG its just not enough burst to get thrue the 2000+’s
Comment by Quo — March 10, 2009 @ 10:10 am
Wow that HON won that match really, very nice playing and surprising, anyway, looking forward for Eviscerate Arenas Vol IV and Eviscerate X
Keep up the great work
Comment by Unseen — March 10, 2009 @ 10:30 am
The predict blink tip is great, I’ve also been using it for a few months now. Despite how much I’ve been slacking in WotLK, I still roll. My rogue, currently only 73, but in full s3/4 can still roll 80s. /flex lol.
Personally, I agree with Roque. Much of World PvP are against, PvE, non-resil/PvP gear. Though I love World PvP. The thing about a good World PvP video, is the thrill of the catch, what I’m saying is, if you can find a well geared class, who wants to deck it out in Quel Dnas, let it be. It’s what makes the good videos, the good fights.
Even against the PvE, low geared players It’s still fun 1v4 lol.
I love the work Akrios, keep it up man.
Carrnage – Galakrond.
Would love to chat.
Comment by Carrnage — March 10, 2009 @ 10:33 am
Good job bro
Looking forward to your new video
Comment by Aggrø — March 10, 2009 @ 3:32 pm
Your website is a valuable resource to aspiring rogues. For people who have not played the class extensively, your videos and information on your site can quickly bring someone up to speed on the current tricks and GCD workflows. This all eventually leads to rogues understanding their class better, which in turn leads to rogues creating their own tricks, strats, and gamebreaking ideas such as blink-prediction, oversaps, etc.
We all look forward to your videos, no matter of the content, good luck and have fun. Hopefully roguerogue.com will continue to be a staple in any pvp rogue’s diet.
-Nova
Comment by Novalee — March 10, 2009 @ 5:03 pm
I love your vids akrios! but why are you stopping the arena vids here?
Comment by Noxan — March 11, 2009 @ 2:23 am
Good news, can’t wait to see the new vid.
Thanks for the website and keep up the good work!
Cheers
Comment by Mayhem — March 11, 2009 @ 2:24 am
you’re one of the greatest rogue’s ive ever seen, and the main person to inspire me to roll a rogue. I definitely prefer you’re world PvP though, as the 1vN’s are fucking epic and remind me of the pre-tbc good ol’ days. You’re duels against very well geared (but keyboard turning) warriors also make me lol.
keep your head up bro, and take it easy
-Chapter
ps. 3’s with buddhist and mahiko must have been amazing
Comment by Chapter — March 11, 2009 @ 2:31 am
Hi since i saw the video of your link to the ESL i realized that one of the rogue was a sub…i wanted to know how a good sub build spec looks like to try it out…i tried so far this one..and i kind of liek it
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/rogue/talents.html?tal=30502010500000000000000000000300000000000000000000000005300212130302121350135031050#none
P.S: i dont know alot about computers and i dont know hot to link..just copy and paste…BTW im from europe so sorry for my english..
Comment by Silencedeath — March 11, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
I heard 3 rogues can’t beat paladin/dk. Confirm/Deny?
Comment by k — March 11, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
I don’t understand people that are trying to stray you away from World PvP. World PvP is still the most exciting to watch and it brings us back to the Pre BC mentality when World PvP was heaven in a video game. Let’s bring some creativity back into this goddamn game!
<3 akrios, keep world pvp alive man.
Comment by Critler — March 11, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
I never knew PVP could be played so well. The way Om (Orangemarm) Spell stole the bubble knowing he could channel down the SK mage (sorry name avoids me right now) is amazing. Most mages would of prayed for instant poly or even blink (In my exp anyway) and hope to die well from that situation, just amazing, people who doubt H O N, or say they are boring are complete idiots. Although I still am a secret SK fan
but complete respect to H O N and all other teams.
Thanks very much for the link, almost made me want to roll a mage
Comment by Warpath — March 11, 2009 @ 5:59 pm
Can’t wait for your next video, both Eviscerate X and Arenas V4.
I do have one question though, and maybe others have this question. I am still tweaking last few clips of my 3rd video, but lately Fraps has been giving me problems. When it is on and not recording, the game runs at 60 fps (pretty good) but when I start recording, it spikes down to 5-10 fps, making it nearly impossible to PvP effectively or record good fights. Any idea on how to fix this Akrios?
Also, too bad you didn’t get “top skilled 0′8″ my votes went to you and Drakedog. Maybe next year, good luck on your next few videos!
Comment by Evolas — March 11, 2009 @ 8:23 pm
That’s an awesome news! Another great video is about to hit WCM.
Looking forward to it! I would love to see a couple of those 3’s with mahiko and buddhist too lol
Keep up the good work man, your video are inspiring! you almost made me roll a rogue
Comment by Zurge — March 12, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
[...] Posts Eviscerate Arena Volume IVTip Against Mages, Last Arena Video Comming SoonESL GLOBAL FINALS, PRM STILL A SOLID TEAM3.1 Notes Out, New Rogue Glyphs OutGive me your Votes! More [...]
Pingback by Eviscerate Arena Volume IV | Rogue-Rogue — March 12, 2009 @ 8:29 pm
Kill the 2 first drakes, portal kill the two deciples of the two dead drakes, Portal out kill last drake, kill remaining deciple. And the rest is a walk in the park.
Golden tip vs mages.
Comment by Seigman — March 13, 2009 @ 9:24 am
“What I try to do to counter this is predict the blink. It’s pretty obvious when a blink is coming. If you are on a mage chasing them and blink is off cooldown, it means that the mage is going to blink soon. This trick generally only happens when you have cloak up. Cloak and sprint…”
A good mage should not blink during this particular situation. If a rogue uses Sprint, the mage should use cast Cone of Cold reducing the rogues movement enough to allow the mage to out run the rogue. If a rogue uses both Sprint AND Cloak of Shadows, the mage should Ice Block and wait it out.
Comment by Posea — March 20, 2009 @ 9:14 am
been testing this for a week or so now, as you said it works most of the time, with the exception of mages running away
, as for your videos i find them very entertaining and educational. well done and keep up the good work 
Comment by Galeth — April 25, 2009 @ 10:19 am
Trying to be modest… but I’ve always used the blink tactic when playing a rogue, until I watched Mido (google/video.com) I didn’t even use kidney shot or blind (because of the powder requirements) and I didn’t really know my class that well! It has always just been instinct to me to run the other way for my stealth cooldown (because I didn’t CC at all lol). I started playing about 2-4 months before BC and i feel like I’ve gotten a lock on rogue combat mechanics, although I’ve never been geared enough for anything until now (never had good daggers).
But every day I learn something new about rogue tactics and different playstyles, either from videos (yours and Midos’) or respeccing enough times to pay for 2 epic flyers to try every possible way around a class move.
A lot of things in these videos can help the majority of rogues out there that did not have a clue of their combinations and macro’s that can make everything much smoother.
I myself would like to contribute to your effort in educating the rogue community about specs that are helpfull when undergeared (cause I’ve always had that issue, and like a lot of seasoned rogues can tell who obviously doesn’t know what they’re doing) or very specific specs and macro’s that I’ve created over the two some odd years I’ve been playing.
If there’s any spot I can fill on your site or make a new section I can be contacted through a /whisper in game as I don’t check my mail much. Would be much appriciated and I’m always willing to lend a hand!
Much Love,
Odim (formerly known as Telemna)
Comment by Odim - Kirin Tor — April 28, 2009 @ 9:52 am
everyone secretly loves ganking ..exspeialy us rogues :> world PVP FTW
Comment by chickenfillets — August 8, 2009 @ 2:13 am
WOTLK 80 | Leveling Guide | Horde & Alliance Guide…
MMOwned- ……
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