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Diablo 4 is here and Rogue is the class you want to play! Specializing in either ranged devastation or close-quarters combat, the Rogue features versatile gameplay through diverse talents. Whether you want to be a Marksman or a Cutthroat, Rogues have interesting abilities that translate into a fun and deep playstyle. Not for the faint of heart, however, Rogues need intentional movements and flexible battle tactics to excel.

Related: Diablo 4: Tips & Tricks For Beginners

Unlike a class with high defenses or minions to hide behind, Rogues need to play smart and stay on their toes. If you want a class that can deal big damage but requires focused gameplay, Rogues reign down terror from afar and sink steel into demon flesh.

10 Penetrating Shot Or Twisting Blades

Diablo 4 Penetrating Shot Twisting Blades

As you’re leveling up it’s best to focus on building your skills around Penetrating Shot (Marksman) or Twisting Blades (Cutthroat). The Marksman will play safer, but requires you to kite enemies. Twisting Blades will bring Cutthroats closer to the action, but are more at risk of falling in combat.

With Basic and Core skills split between Marksman and Cutthroat abilities, you’ll need to decide your preferred playstyle early in the game. There’s no wrong choice here, but you’ll need to pick one and forsake the other.

9 Continually Improve Your Position

Diablo 4 Combat Positioning

Playing a Rogue in Diablo 4 requires finesse. When they’re rushed by a pack of monsters, Rogues use positioning to regain the advantage. By always working to control the terms of the fight, you can avoid danger and spend more time on the offensive.

Since Rogues have few defensive capabilities, they need to run around the battlefield and use the environment to help their efforts. Look for opportunities to group enemies up, funnel them into bottlenecks, and kite them back when you’re overwhelmed.

8 Stick & Move

Diablo 4 Hit And Run

Barbarians, Bear Druids, and Necromancer summons want to charge into battle and trade blows. Rogues want to land a couple of hits and then dodge incoming attacks. Don’t stand in one place launching off attacks. Let a couple of arrows fly or daggers slice and then reposition.

Rogues are an active class. They should always be thinking about their next move. Many spells can be used on the run. When you need to evade an enemy projectile, use that opportunity to refresh an active Imbuement and never waste a second.

7 Play With A Tank

Diablo 4 Mobility

If you don’t like the idea of continually improving your position or sticking and moving in combat, recruit a friend that plays a tank class. When Rogues are able to sit behind a fortified frontline, they’re free to forget about defensive measures.

Related: Diablo 4: Tips & Tricks For Barbarian

Adventuring through Sanctuary as a Rogue is a balance between putting out damage and using evasive maneuvers. If you play with a summoner Necro, their minions will soak up incoming attacks, and you can just fire away.

6 Gamble On Weapons

Diablo 4 Revenant Bow Of Corruption

You can only carry 500 Murmuring Obols (the currency that allows you to Gamble) to start, then you’ll miss out on any new drops. When you’re nearing capacity, visit a Purveyor of Curiosities and see if you’re lucky. In the early game, Gamble for weapons and hope to get a big boost.

Purveyors of Curiosities will turn your Murmuring Obols into an equipment type of your choosing with varying rarity. Lucky Gamblers can get Rare or Legendary items that will make combat easier. Use your Murmuring Obols to try for a Legendary weapon, as they will have the most noticeable buffs.

5 Hold On To Your Legendaries

Diablo 4 Legendary Defensives

Along your journey through the five regions of Sanctuary, you’ll start gathering Legendary items and filling out the Codex of Power. The Legendary Aspects that these collections provide will become the crux of your power in Diablo 4.

As you level up, you’ll find early-game Legendaries that will experience the full lifecycle of incredibly powerful to undercooked. Any new Legendaries you find will be in-line with your current level. Ten levels later that same Legendary will look a bit old. Hang on to old Legendary items even after you out-level them - then reuse their Aspect.

4 Complete Dungeons With Rogue Rewards

Diablo 4 Rogue Dungeon Reward

When you discover a new Dungeon throughout your travels, check the rewards that it offers for completing it. If you come across a Dungeon with a Rogue Aspect reward, drop everything and clear it. These Aspects are vital to your journey and will be valuable additions to your Codex of Power.

In certain towns around Sanctuary, a resident Occultist can imbue your Rare and Legendary items with new Legendary Aspects. Any Legendary items you own can have their Aspect taken off of them to improve another item. You can also choose any known Aspects from your Codex.

3 Don’t Forget Your Defensive Abilities

Diablo 4 You Have Died

Remember to use Evade, Caltrops, Subterfuge Skills, and whatever other tricks you have up your sleeve to stay alive. Whether you’re playing on Hardcore or not, dying in Diablo 4 is the last thing you want. Keep your health high and your defensive spells at the ready.

Related: Diablo 4: How To Equip Aspects

In the heat of combat, it can be easy to forget the unsung heroes of Diablo 4 - defensive abilities. Use your defensive spells often and make it a muscle memory to trigger them as your reaction to danger.

2 Avoid Corners And Crowd-Control

Diablo 4 Crowd Control

Getting backed into a corner or hit with a crowd-control spell are two of the deadliest situations a Rogue can deal with. Always keep an eye on the floor. Rogues have to dodge area-of-effect spells and avoid trapping themselves in a dead end.

Open space is a Rogue's best friend. When they have plenty of room, Rogues can circle their prey, kite elites, or reset their rhythm when things get out of control. Always know which paths lead to claustrophobic spaces and always break crowd control effects ASAP.

1 Keep Up Your Imbuements

Diablo 4 Rogue Imbuements

One of the largest boosts to your damage output involves having an active Imbuement up as often as possible. In the fourth tier of the Rogue skill tree, you can learn the Shadow, Poison, and Cold Imbuement skills. These spells empower your next 2 Imbueable Skills with elemental damage and increase potency.

Use these abilities on cooldown. Generally speaking, you should be reactivating these spells every 13 seconds and letting your attacks fly. Just be aware that they don’t stack. Make sure to fire off two Imbueable Skills before activating another Imbuement.

Next: Diablo 4: Tips & Tricks For Druid