Introduction
The Twisting Blades Rogue build eviscerates your foes before they know what hit them. This is your guide to building a character for endgame activities in Diablo 4, with Skill Point allocation and Legendary Item Aspects. Let us go over the character progression, build mechanics and playstyle!
Twisting Blades hits hard with two sources of damage per cast. The target is first damaged with an impale, followed by an even more damaging hit when the blades are ripped out to fly back to the Rogue. The blades pierce through all enemies on the return flight, dealing more damage with proper positioning. With buffs to the opening Twisting Blades, this build is capable of one-shotting Elites and wiping out entire packs of mobs instantly.
This fast-paced burst build is perfect for players that want a more complex and involved playstyle. Fly through the battlefield with the Twisting Blades Rogue!
Skill Tree Points
The following table shows the order in which to allocate your Skill Points for the Twisting Blades Rogue build. You gain 48 points at Level 50 and 10 points from completing Renown, for a total of 58.
| Order | Skill | Cluster |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Puncture | Basic |
| 2 | Enhanced Puncture | Basic |
| 3 |  Twisting Blades | Core |
| 4 | Fundamental Puncture | Basic |
| 5 | Enhanced Twisting Blades | Core |
| 6 | Improved Twisting Blades | Core |
| 7 |  Dash | Agility |
| 8 |  Shadow Step | Agility |
| 9 | Twisting Blades Level 2 | Core |
| 10 | Twisting Blades Level 3 | Core |
| 11 | Twisting Blades Level 4 | Core |
| 12 |  Concealment | Subterfuge |
| 13 | Enhanced Stealth | Subterfuge |
| 14 | Countering Stealth | Subterfuge |
| 15 | Twisting Blades Level 5 | Core |
| 16 | Enhanced Shadow Step | Agility |
| 17 |  Shadow Imbuement | Imbuements |
| 18 | Enhanced Shadow Imbuement | Imbuements |
| 19 | Mixed Shadow Imbuement | Imbuements |
| 20 | Methodical Shadow Step | Agility |
| 21 |  Shadow Crash | Imbuements |
| 22 |  Consuming Shadows | Imbuements |
| 23 | Consuming Shadows Level 2 | Imbuements |
| 24 | Consuming Shadows Level 3 | Imbuements |
| 25 |  Exploit | Subterfuge |
| 26 | Exploit Level 2 | Subterfuge |
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| 58 |
Mechanics and Playstyle
The Twisting Blade Rogue build is more involved to play than most others. Twisting Blades damage is increased by several buffs to cause a devastating hit. Combo Points can be generated for up to +90% damage. Shadow Imbuement turns the attack into Shadow Damage. Finally, Concealment guarantees your opener to be a Critical Hit. After the first victim is impaled by Twisting Blades, Dash and Shadow Step are used to reposition around other enemies so the returning blades can hit them. The flying blades retain the damage buffs of the initial impale, including the guaranteed Critical Hit!
Status Effects
The Twisting Blades Rogue utilizes Crowd Control effects to render Elites helpless. Methodical Shadow Step Stuns for 2 seconds and closes the gap. Improved Twisting Blades Dazes for 1.5 seconds and can be reapplied continuously.
Fundamental Puncture easily applies Vulnerable to a target with a single Basic attack. In group play, apply this debuff to Elites and Bosses so your teammates deal 20% more damage. Stack Damage to Crowd Controlled and Vulnerable Enemies on gear and the Paragon Board to scale your damage further.
AoE Damage Rotation
Explode groups of mobs with the following rotation.
- (Optional) Initiate combat with Shadow Step to close the gap, targeting the toughest opponent to Stun it.
- Immediately activate both Concealment and Shadow Imbuement to buff your next attack.
- Cast Twisting Blades one or two times on the target, depending on how tough it is.
- Use Dash to move through any additional enemies so the returning blades pierce through them.
- Use Puncture to finish off any injured enemies, generate Energy and build Combo Points for your next Twisting Blades.
- Cast additional Twisting Blades on any remaining enemies with high health.
- Repeat the rotation when cooldowns are ready.
Single Target Damage Rotation with Combo Points
Use the following rotation against Bosses for high sustained single target DPS.
- (Optional) Close the gap to the target with Shadow Step.
- Rapidly cast Puncture three times to build up Combo Points. Stand close enough to the target to hit twice, applying Vulnerable.
- If not on cooldown, activate Concealment to guarantee the next Critical Hit.
- If not on cooldown, activate Shadow Imbuement for more damage.
- Cast Twisting Blades once on the target.
- Repeat the rotation. Get into the rhythm of casting 3 Basic attacks for Combo Points before each Twisting Blades.
Single Target Damage Rotation with Inner Sight
Switch the Rogue Specialization to Inner Sight to deal more single target DPS against the toughest enemies, like World Bosses.
- (Optional) Close the gap to the target with Shadow Step.
- Cast Puncture close enough to the target to hit twice, applying Vulnerable.
- If not on cooldown, activate Concealment to guarantee the next Critical Hit.
- If not on cooldown, activate Shadow Imbuement for more damage.
- Spam Twisting Blades for as long as Energy and Inner Sight allows.
- Repeat the rotation when cooldowns are ready.
Rogue Specialization
The Rogue Specialization can be unlocked at level 15. Complete the True Potential questline as soon as possible to gain access to the first Specialization option, Combo Points.
Build Combo Points with Puncture to unleash up to +90% damage for Twisting Blades. This option is preferred for general farming due to the burst damage playstyle.
The Specialization can be swapped to Inner Sight for long single target fights, like World Bosses. The harder you hit, the faster you fill up your Inner Sight Gauge to gain unlimited Energy for 4 seconds. A strong character benefits more from this Specialization, allowing for more Twisting Blades usage.
Codex of Power
Bladedancer Aspect can be unlocked in the Codex of Power by completing the campaign in Scosglen. Visit the Occultist to imprint this aspect onto an item for Twisting Blades to orbit you for a short time after they return. Imprint on a Bow or Crossbow for +100% bonus effect on two-handed weapons. You do not need to replace your ranged weapon often, as this build doesn’t use any ranged skills.
Legendary Item Aspects
Listed below are the Aspects found on Legendary items that are important for the Twisting Blades Rogue build. They are listed in order of priority.
| Aspect Name | Legendary Aspect Power |
|---|---|
| Bladedancer | Twisting Blades orbit for a short time after they return to you, dealing #% of Twisting Blades’ return damage per hit. Based on the distance the blades returned, the orbit damage increases up to #% of the return damage. |
| Edgemaster | Skills deal up to #%[x] increased damage based on your available Primary Resource when cast, receiving the maximum benefit while you have full Primary Resource. |
| Expectant | Attacking enemies with a Basic Skill increases the damage of your next Core Skill cast by #%[x], up to 50%[x]. |
| Retribution | Distant enemies have a #% chance to be Stunned for # seconds when they hit you. You deal #%[x] increased damage to Stunned enemies. |
| Ravager | Shadow Step has an additional Charge. Killing an enemy with Shadow Step refunds a Charge and increases the damage of Shadow Step by #%[x] for # seconds, up to #%[x]. |
| Might | Basic Skills grant 25% Damage Reduction for # seconds. |
| Disobedience | You gain #%[x] increased Armor for 4 seconds when you deal any form of damage, stacking up to #%[x]. |
| Rapid | Basic Skills gain #%[+] Attack Speed. |
| Unstable Imbuements | When casting an Imbuement Skill you trigger an Imbued explosion around yourself, applying the Imbuement effects and dealing # damage of the same type. |
| Wind Striker | Critical Strikes grant #%[+] Movement Speed for 1 seconds, up to 6 seconds. |
| Corruption | Your Imbuement Skill effects have a #%[x] increased potency against Vulnerable enemies. |
Gems
Listed below are the best Gems to socket into gear for each slot type.
- Weapon: Emerald for +#% Critical Strike Damage to Vulnerable Enemies.
- Armor: Ruby for +#% Maximum Life.
- Jewelry: Any Gem that gives the Resistance type you are lacking the most.
Elixirs
Visit the Alchemist in a main town to craft helpful Elixirs that increase stats and experience gain for 30 minutes. Make sure to forage plants and pick up the necessary crafting materials. Use an Elixir providing any Resistance you need most, or the Weak Assault Elixir to increase Attack Speed by 7%.
