Module 13 State of Balance: Trickster Rogues

Today I’d like to talk a little bit about the Trickster Rogue in Module 13, because it’s one of the classes that received some tweaks in Neverwinter’s Lost City of Omu. It wasn’t a full balancing pass, but enough that we can discuss the current standing in the meta and PVP. Next to a few important bug fixes, stealth capabilities got enhanced, and some powers now deal slightly more damage. So what changed for the little stabbers along the Sword Coast?

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The Trickster Rogue in PVE

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In PVE, the TR’s performance is far better than the reputation. As shown by Galactic Underwear in the video, Trickster Rogues are more than capable of carrying DPS in an endgame party right now. But then again: All “bis” DPS are when accompanied by OP/DC/DC/GF. The meta basically consists of four support toons plus whatever. The fifth slot barely moves the needle, at least not significantly. If you’re going for record runs, it might matter whether you complete the Tomb in under 15 or 20 minutes. But in the everyday farming, most parties are very much satisfied with sub-30 runs, and that can be done within a multitude of compositions. So the fact that the DPS slot is not the most important one to fill right now certainly opens up possibilities for Rogues.

Most people probably still agree that the TR needs some help in PVE. It’s not so much the endgame viability as the fact that other classes are a tad easier to play, and are more powerful on lower item levels. It however certainly feels like the sum of small fixes indeed improved the situation for the class a little bit. Especially the fixed/changed Shadow of Demise is very powerful and that skills now correctly proc all enchantments and other stuff helps a ton as well.

One thing the devs definitely have to address going forward is build diversity. In PVE there’s pretty much still only one viable one. Whisperknife is an afterthought at this point and you can’t really feat into anything else than Executioner as well. While only having one build is no TR exclusive issue, it would still be nice to have some options here. Other classes like Control Wizards and Scourge Warlocks can at least easily grow into a support role when they have trouble finding groups as DPS. Rogues are much more limited.

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The Trickster Rogue in PVP

In PVP in the meantime, the devs continue to struggle to really balance our little stabbers as well. Right now the reworked Shadow of Demise is so overpowered that it hardly makes sense to enter the arena with another class. That’s talking “bis” competition level, but the situation seems to be pretty bad nonetheless. It probably also doesn’t help that perma builds are getting more popular as well with the stealth upgrades. While the conception of Shadow of Demise obviously simply doesn’t work for PVP right now, it’s not so easy with stealth. It’s a really interesting and unique ability that should have some situational use especially in player vs. player combat. But so far I feel like the devs never have figured out how to utilize stealth in a reasonable way.

In the upcoming full balancing pass, it’s going to be pretty interesting how the devs are going to deal with TRs. The class needs more roles in PVE and a better approach in PVP as well. Especially Whisperknife requires a full revival. The concept of a “ranged” Rogues never really worked and the Paragon only had five minutes of glory, if at all. It’s especially annoying since the class has great tools to play around with. Stealth, Control, and Damage should be equally accessible without making it possible to combine them to an annoying powerhouse.


Overall I think the state of TRs has improved slightly, but there’s much uncertainty with a bigger balancing pass still on the horizon. What’s your take on Trickster Rogues in Module 13? Share your thoughts in the comments below or visit the corresponding thread on our message board!

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j0Shi

j0Shi plays the Neverwinter MMORPG since the open BETA in 2013 and is a regular contributor to the blog and the whole UN:Project. Originally a Guardian Fighter, he has built up ALTs of all classes and plays on BIS/near-BIS level.

6 thoughts on “Module 13 State of Balance: Trickster Rogues

  • March 22, 2018 at 8:32 am
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    “Especially Whisperknife requires a full revival” – maybe to support role

  • March 22, 2018 at 10:19 am
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    Whisperknife was a superb perma-stealth for a few mods. It’s a shame that both paragons only have a few party buff/enemy debuff abilities, and all the other classes have better ones.

    But I think this game relies far too much on multiple party buffers and power share with one dps. That’s why the meta exists. Better would be if no similar buffs can apply at the same time, from any Paragon or Class.
    Maybe then the needle would shift so that having 3 vhdps classes, 1 buffer/debuffer and 1 shielder/healer might actually work, instead of 1 vhdps getting multiple, overlapping, stacking buffs from the other 4 players.

    But dat’s der way dey made it….

  • March 22, 2018 at 10:24 am
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    The ability of some TRs to perform is as much about the paradigm shifting away from DF- Bleed stacks to AP gain, power stacking and Rapid use of Encounter power powers. Class theory crafters deserve a lot of credit.

  • March 22, 2018 at 4:25 pm
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    The Galatic Underoos is such a punk gets mad because i don’t want to exploit the cave in trap in tong. Then after i clear the rubble on my own he says i don’t have to be there so i leave 😀 Next thing he does is send me a PM saying i have an attitude and attempts to tell me off. When i go to reply he all ready has me on ignore. Also the whole time i am getting told by him and some useless 13 K DC zero buffs to wipe we are doing a speed run 😀 I swear if orcus could spawn 5 green balls they would have been up in the amount of time it took to kill him. Yet i have ran with so many good Buffers and DPS we have killed countless times before the balls even proc.

    Just never thought he would be the kinda person to get mad because i did not want to do some stupid exploit to save 10 seconds in a run. And then to be put on ignore that really says something about him. Yet did not have any issues the other 10 times or so i have ran tong with him but had friends along with. That time i was asked to join at 2nd boss as the other DC stopped running. I asked what happened and they would not say . All i was told is he/she did not get disconnected or was afk it was like some big secret as to why the DC left. Maybe that person did not like the idea of exploiting that cave in either . just funny that where i joined the run before is where i left on that run.

  • March 23, 2018 at 3:30 am
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    how many more platforms will u continue to think going through rubble is an exploit? get over it already.. nobody cares:)

  • March 23, 2018 at 7:38 am
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    @ dimitrios giannoulis

    Please explain how having party wipe so they end up and next campfire without doing the intended content is not an exploit. You try to say it is because the developers gave TRs the power so they can skip past intended content LMAO.

    Funny thing is i know a lot of people that think it is just stupid exploit or a cheat and wont even run with a TR unless they know them. Yet my question to you Galatic Underoos if there is nothing wrong with it then why have you not posted a video for your TR community showing how it is done ? And i thought you was all about helping your fellow Trickster Rouges on how to be the best in class 🙂 Just so sad that you have not even posted a video at all showing you do that?

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