The Best Rogue build in Diablo 4, Twisting Blades, is a perfect match for fast leveling and endgame activities. Fans of quick moves and blazing attacks, as well as those who like to run in stealth will definitely appreciate our Twisting Blades build with Puncture and Shadow Imbuement. This build is completely versatile and with minor adjustments you can easily rebuild it from leveling to midgame and later to endgame. And if you want to know about the features of other classes, read the Diablo 4 Classes guide.
Diablo 4 Twisting Blades Rogue Gameplay
At the beginning it will be quite difficult to play as a Rogue. The thing is that this class is more dependent on ability synergy than others, and you’ll be lacking in skill points. But, in fact, Twisting Blades build is perfect for fast leveling, single-shot wiping out elites and instantly slaying entire packs of demons. The style of play with this Rogue build is swift, sneaky and requires clear positioning.
We use insidious attacks and debuffs through Puncture and Twisting Blades skills. They will leave your enemies slowed and vulnerable. Shadow Imbuement is like a less powerful version of Necromancer’s Corpse Explosion. But in combination with Shadow Imbuement Twisting Blades infect enemies that explode upon death, dealing 40% of your normal damage to nearby enemies.
That said, the Rogue in Diablo 4 has 3 specializations, which is their unique mechanic:
- Combo Points: Each Basic attack gives combo points; each Core attack spends those combo points yet does more damage (available after level 15).
- Inner Sight: a death marker that randomly puts on the enemy and starts to fill a special scale. Once it’s filled, you get free access to all your main skills for 4 seconds. In other words, you get unlimited skill points.
- Preparation: becomes available at level 30.
It’s the synergy and features of the Rogue’s unique mechanics that we’re going to use in our best Rogue build.
Twisting Blades Rogue Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great AoE | Lacks skill points at first (class specificity) |
| High damage even from basic skills | Requires hard skill |
| Fast leveling | Vulnerable (almost no defensive skills) |
You can perfectly compensate the almost complete lack of defensive skills with dodging tactics, fast movement, and good positioning.
As an alternative to the proposed skills we suggested, you can pay more attention to the Shadow and build a similar Shadow build using Shadow Clone, Dash and Smoke Grenade.
Diablo 4 Twisting Blades Rogue Build Skills
| Skill | How it works | Cluster |
Puncture | Throw blades a short distance, dealing 21% damage. Every third cast Slows enemies by 20% for 2 seconds. Crits will always Slow. | Basic Skill |
| Enhanced Puncture | Gain 2 Energy when Puncture damages a Crowd Controlled Enemy. | Basic Skill |
Twisting Blades | Impale an enemy, dealing 57% damage and making them take 8% increased damage while impaled. After 1.5 seconds the blades return to you, piercing enemies for 74% damage. | Core Skill |
| Fundamental Puncture | Puncture now throws 3 blades in a spread, each dealing 35% of its Base damage. Hitting an enemy with at least 2 blades at once makes them Vulnerable for 2 seconds. | Basic Skill |
| Enhanced Twisting Blades | Twisting Blades deals 30% increased damage when returning. | Core Skill |
| Improved Twisting Blades | Enemies are immobilized and impaled with Twisting Blades. | Core Skill |
Dash | Dash forward and slash enemies for 37% damage. | Agility Skill |
Shadow Step | Become Unstoppable and quickly move through the shadows to stab your victim from behind for 91% damage. Gain 50% increased Movement Speed for 2 seconds afterwards. | Agility Skill |
Concealment | Vanish from sight, gaining an advanced form of Stealth for 4 seconds that will not be removed by taking damage. Concealment also makes you Unstoppable, grants 25% Movement Speed, and allows you to move freely through enemies for its duration. Using an attack Skill during Concealment will break Concealment. | Subterfuge Skill |
| Enhanced Stealth | You gain 40 Energy when you enter Concealment. | Subterfuge Skill |
| Countering Stealth | The Skill that breaks Concealment will always be a guaranteed Critical Strike. | Subterfuge Skill |
| Enhanced Shadow Step | Damaging an enemy with Shadow Step increases your crit chance against them by 8% for 3 seconds. | Agility Skill |
Shadow Imbuement | Imbue your weapons with festering shadows. Your next 2 Imbueable Skills deal Shadow damage and infect enemies that explode for up 6 seconds. Infected enemies explode on death, dealing 40% damage to all surrounding enemies. If the infection expires before the enemy dies, it will deal 40% damage to only that enemy. | Imbuement Skill |
| Enhanced Shadow Imbuement | You have 25% increased Critical Strike Chance against Injured enemies infected by Shadow Imbuement. | Imbuement Skill |
| Mixed Shadow Imbuement | Enemies damaged by Shadow Imbuement Skills take 12% increased Non-Physical damage from you for 8 seconds. | Imbuement Skill |
Shadow Crash (passive) | Shadow damage has up to a 10% chance to Stun for 0.5 seconds. | Imbuement Skill |
| Consuming Shadows | Each time you kill an enemy with Shadow Damage, you generate 10 Energy. | Imbuement Skill |
| Methodical Shadow Step | Enemies damaged by Shadow Step are stunned for 2 seconds. | Agility Skill |
Adrenaline Rush (passive) | While moving, you gain 5% increased Energy Regeneration. | Ultimate Skill |
| Haste | While at or above 50% maximum Energy, gain 5% increased Movement Speed. While below 50% maximum Energy, gain 5% increased Attack Speed. | Ultimate Skill |
Concussive | After Knocking Back or Knocking Down an enemy, you gain 5% increased Critical Strike Chance against them for 3 seconds. | Agility Skill |
| Trick Attacks | When you crit a Dazed enemy, they are Knocked Down for 0.5 seconds. | Agility Skill |
Close Quarters Combat (passive) | Damaging a Close enemy with Marksman or Cutthroat Skills each grant a 10% Attack Speed bonus for 8 seconds. While both Attack Speed bonuses are active, you deal 20% increased damage against Crowd Controlled enemies. | Key Passive |
Stutter Step (passive) | Critically Striking an enemy grants 5% Movement Speed for 4 seconds. | Core Skill |
Exploit (passive) | You deal 6% increased damage to Healthy and Injured enemies. | Subterfuge Skill |
| Malice | You deal 3% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies. | Subterfuge Skill |
Agile (passive) | Using a Cooldown increases your Dodge Chance by 3% for 2 seconds. | Subterfuge Skill |
Sturdy (passive) | You gain 4% of Close Damage Reduction. Heal for 1% of your Maximum Life when you crit Close enemies. | Core Skill |
| Siphoning Strikes | Heal for 1% of your Maximum Life when you Critically Strike Close enemies. | Core Skill |
Precision Imbuement (passive) | Imbued Skills gain 5% increased Critical Strike Chance. | Imbuement Skill |
| Impetus | After moving 15 meters, your next attack deals 7% increased damage. | Ultimate Skill |
Diablo 4 Twisting Blades Rogue Build Attributes
When choosing armor pay attention to the main Rogue’s stat – Dexterity. Its characteristics and bonuses will have priority. It’s stat will increase when you reach the endgame, so don’t look that they seem not great.
| Main Stat | Secondary Stat |
| Dexterity enhances Skill Damage by 0.1% and the Chance to Dodge attacks by 0.025% per point | Willpower increases Resource Generation (0.1% for 1), Healing Received by 0.1% and Overpower Damage (0,25%) |
| Strength raises Armor by 1 per point | |
| Intelligence increases All Resistances by 0.05% |
Diablo 4 Twisting Blades Rogue Build Equipment
Pick up all Legendary and Rare items and remember that you should give priority to the items with the main Dexterity stat in order to progress quickly and easily. Always give preference to Swords over Daggers, unless you get a Unique Dagger.
So, let’s dive into equipment specifics.
Twisting Blades Gear
At this point we can only advise you not to pass by any Rare items. You can improve them later with your leveling progression. Also, pay attention to all Legendary items with matching aspects that you come across. These can then be used to upgrade Rare items.
When choosing ranged weapons rely on affixes and give preference to crossbows, DPS is irrelevant. Also, in general, a sword will suit you better than a dagger because of the greater damage.
Stat Affixes:
- DPS value on one-handed weapons
- Rank of Twisting Blades
- All Damage
- Damage to Close, Dazed, Stunned, Healthy and Crowd Controlled Enemies
- Dual-Wielded Weapons Damage, Core and Cutthroat Skills
- Damage while Healthy
- Vulnerable Damage
- Critical Strike Chance and Damage
- Attack Speed and Basic Skill Attack Speed
- Dexterity
- Damage Reduction
- Any Elemental Resistances
- Dodge Chance
- Crowd Control Duration
- Cooldown Reduction
- Movement Speed
- Life and Healing Received
Best Unique Items for Twisting Blades Rogue
Rogue has a few Unique item options, but they are not necessarily required for our best Rogue build. The only item you really need to pay attention to is Condemnation Unique Dagger.
CONDEMNATION
The effectiveness of this Unique Dagger is linked to its interaction with Combo Points, unlocked through the Rogue Class Mechanic. It improves both the generation and damage of Combo Points. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that this Unique doesn’t require strikes with the Dagger to activate.
The dagger offers various benefits, including increased value for Combo Points, Basic Skill Attack Speed, Critical Strike Chance against Injured Enemies, increased Damage with Dual-Wielded Weapons, and Core Skill Damage, providing a well-rounded boost to one’s abilities.
Elixirs and Health Potions
At Alchemist you can craft Elixirs that increase stats and experience gain for 30 minutes. You need most any Elixirs, that provide Resistance and Assault Elixir to increase Attack Speed by 7%. Also you’d like to always have extra healing needed to survival. So, don’t forget to visit Alchemist when you reach Level 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 and so on to upgrade your potions.
Diablo 4 Twisting Blades Rogue Build Gems
You’ll definitely want these Gems to socket into gear for each slot type:
- Weapon: Emerald for Critical Strike Damage to Vulnerable Enemies.
- Armor: Topaz for 10% Damage reduction while Control Impaired .
- Jewelry: Skull for +250 Armor.
Diablo 4 Twisting Blades Rogue Aspects
Here we have listed, in order of priority, the important Aspects for Twisting Blades that you can imprint onto an item. Each Legendary item you get during the journey is important.
| Aspect | Legendary Aspect Power | Where to get |
| 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. | Jalal’s Virgil, Scosglen |
| 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. | Oldstones, Scosglen |
| Expectant | Attacking enemies with a Basic Skill increases the damage of your next Core Skill cast by #%[x], up to 30%[x]. | Underroot, Scosglen |
| Retribution | Distant enemies have a #% chance to be Stunned for # seconds when they hit you. You deal #%[x] increased damage to Stunned enemies. | Abandoned Mineworks, Kehjistan |
| 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 2 seconds, up to #%[x]. | Random Drop |
| Might | Basic Skills grant 20% Damage Reduction for # seconds. | Dark Ravine, Dry Steppes |
| Rapid | Basic Skills gain #%[+] Attack Speed. | Buried Halls, Dry Steppes |
| 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. | Whispering Vault, Dry Steppes |
| Wind Striker | Critical Strikes grant #%[+] Movement Speed for 1 seconds, up to 6 seconds. | Shivta Ruins, Kehjistan |
| Corruption | Your Imbuement Skill effects have a #%[x] increased potency against Vulnerable enemies. | Renegade’s Retreat, Kehjistan |
Diablo 4 Twisting Blades Rogue Paragon Boards
Here are the specifics for Twisting Blades Paragon boards leveling once it becomes available by reaching level 50. And you definitely should follow the same principles as in talent progression. The Paragon Board provides various bonuses, including minor stat boosts on Magic Nodes and more substantial benefits like Rare Glyphs and Legendary Nodes.
When working towards Glyph Sockets and Legendary Nodes, it’s important to prioritize Damage, Dexterity, Resistance, and Life for Normal and Magic Nodes.
Here are the Legendary Nodes recommended for the Twisting Blades Rogue build:
| Name | Effect |
|---|---|
| Tricks of the Trade | Your Marksman Skills grant your next Cutthroat Skill 25% increased damage. Your Cutthroat Skills grant your next Marksman Skill 25% increased damage. |
| Exploit Weakness | Whenever you deal damage to a Vulnerable enemy, they take 1% increased damage from you for 6 seconds, up to 15%. |
| No Witnesses | Your Ultimate Skills deal 30% increased damage and grant you 10% increased damage for 20 seconds when cast. |
Paragon Boards Distribution
And don’t forget to distribute Magic Nodes around to increase your stats and get Additional Bonus.
Starting Board
- Closer Rare Glyph
- LawlessRare Glyph
- Skillful Rare Glyph
- Resilience Rare Glyph
- Tricks of the Trade Rare Node
Tricks of the Trade (2nd Board)
- Brawler Rare Glyph
- Tricks of the Trade Rare Node
- Shadow Resilience Rare Glyph
- Lawless Rare Glyph
- Chip Rare Glyph
- Focused Rare Glyph
- Havoc. Rare Glyph
- Exploit Weakness Rare Node
Exploit Weakness (3rd Board)
- Unassailable
- Exploit Weakness Rare Node
- Exploit
- Combat
- Artifice
- Dosage
- Cold Resilience a
- Hunter Killer
- No Witnesses Rare Node
No Witnesses (4th Board)
- Ruin
- Exploit
- Training
- Knowledge
Diablo 4 Twisting Blades Rogue Glyphs
It’s important to keep in mind that as you level up Glyphs, their radius will increase. If you’re unable to meet Additional Bonus requirements at the start, just forgo allocating extra nodes for the time being. Here’re the Rare Glyphs recommended for the Twisting Blades Rogue build.
| Name | Effect |
|---|---|
| Closer | • For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, Cutthroat Skills deal +2% increased damage. • Additional Bonus (requires 40 Dexterity purchased in radius range): While wielding a Melee weapon, you take 10% reduced damage. |
| Chip | • For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal +2% increased Physical damage. • Additional Bonus (requires 40 Dexterity purchased in radius range): Physical damage increases the damage an enemy takes from you by 1%, up to 10%, for 15 seconds. |
| Combat | • For every 5 Intelligence purchased within range, Core Skills deal +4% increased Critical Strike Damage. • Additional Bonus (requires 40 Intelligence purchased in radius range): Skills that Critically Strike restore 12% of their Energy cost. |
| Exploit | • For every 5 Strength purchased within range, you deal + [3.85%] increased damage to Vulnerable targets. • Additional Bonus (requires 25 Strength purchased in radius range): When an enemy is damaged by you, they become Vulnerable for 3 seconds. This cannot happen more than once every 20 seconds per enemy. |
Well, that’s all you need to know about the Twisting Blades Rogue build to make your enemies suffer in Diablo 4. We’ll keep adding information to this guide as we get it, but in the meantime you can check out our Diablo 4 Boosting Service.
