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For the game mechanic, see Stealth (mechanic). For the enchant, see Spell holy greaterheal [Stealth].
Stealth
Ability stealth
  • Stealth
  • Level 3 rogue ability
  • 2 sec cooldown
  • Instant
  • Conceals you in the shadows until cancelled, allowing you to stalk enemies without being seen.
Properties
Class Rogue
School Physical
Cooldown 2 seconds
Other information
Level learned 3
Improvements Ability warlock everlastingaffliction [Fade to Nothing], Ability criticalstrike [Master Assassin], Spell shadow charm [Master of Shadows], Ability stealth [Nightstalker], Spell shadow possession [Premeditation], Rogue shadowfocus [Shadow Focus], Ability stealth [Shadowrunner], Ability cheapshot [Shot in the Dark], Ability rogue shuriken storm [Silent Storm], Rogue subterfuge [Subterfuge], Ability rogue masterofsubtlety [Take 'em By Surprise]
Related buff
Ability stealth
  • Stealth
  • Stealthed.
Fear those that move in the shadows.[1]

Stealth is a level 3 rogue ability that prevents other creatures from detecting the stealthed player unless particularly close.

Attacking and most actions such as looting will cancel Stealth. Taking any damage will cancel Stealth, including direct, AoE and DoT damage, and environmental damage such as fires. However, Stealth does not break from falling damage, unless of course it kills the stealthed unit. You cannot enter Stealth while in combat.

Notes[]

Stealth immunity

The 'Anti-Stealth eye' over Officer Jaxon's head in Stormwind.

  • Stealth is not invisibility. You can be detected by others. Monsters that detect you may stop in their tracks and turn to face you, or attack you directly. Players that detect you will hear a sound, and will be able to target you. The chance of detection increases as you get closer, but also depends on the viewing angle (stand right in front of an enemy and you can guarantee they'll see you), the relative levels, and any perception or subtlety modifiers.
  • Taking any action such as looting or attacking will remove stealth. There are a few exceptions, such as Ability rogue distract [Distract], or Inv misc bag 11 [Pick Pocket]. However, sapping an opponent does not remove the rogue's stealth.
  • Fear AoE's and certain other AoE's will remove Stealth.
  • Enemies much higher in level will tend to see through Stealth from quite a distance.
  • Enemies you are in front of will see through Stealth as you get closer.
  • You cannot enter stealth while combat. However, rogues can use Ability vanish [Vanish] to equivalent effect. Note that if you have a DoT the Stealth will break the next time it damages you; if possible, use Spell shadow nethercloak [Cloak of Shadows] to first remove the DoT (if it's a magic effect), then Vanish.
  • Certain enemies, also called truesight, are immune to stealth. These are normally extrasensory beasts (hounds or wolves who can smell/hear the player), extremely powerful boss characters, and certain magical creatures. These anti-stealth NPCs can be recognized by a symbol over their head, of a blue sphere with a roving eye. The symbol appears once you enter stealth, but is not visible when out of stealth. These creeps will thus react to you as if you were not stealthed, and aggro normally. However, they won't be able to see you when their backs are turned, so it is possible to sap truesight humanoids, but requires skill and perfect timing.
  • Applying poisons to your weapons does not break stealth.
  • If you start eating while stealthed, it will break your stealth, but you can enter stealth while eating without canceling either one. This can be useful to reduce your chance of being seen while eating, especially during PvP, where a certain crit can be fatal, or when going afk for a few minutes while restoring health.

Tips and tactics[]

See Stealth (mechanic)#Stealth tips.

Patch changes[]

  • Shadowlands Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): Now learned at level 3 (was 5).
  • Legion Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Now has a cooldown of 2 seconds, down from 6 seconds.
  • Warlords of Draenor Hotfix (2014-10-20): Periodic healing effects should no longer occasionally cause Rogues to break out of Stealth.
  • Warlords of Draenor Patch 6.0.2 (2014-10-14): Ability rogue masterofsubtlety [Master of Subtlety]'s effects have been merged into baseline Stealth for Subtlety rogues.
  • Mists of Pandaria Hotfix (2012-09-12): Stealth has been made more effective.
  • Cataclysm Patch 4.2.0 (2011-06-28): Now once again begins its cooldown once the rogue leaves Stealth.
  • Cataclysm Patch 4.1.0 (2011-04-26): Base cooldown has been reduced to 6 seconds, down from 10, and the movement penalty from being in Stealth has been removed.
  • Cataclysm Patch 4.0.6 (2011-02-08): No longer broken by enemies using Ability warrior warcry [Demoralizing Shout] or Ability druid challangingroar [Demoralizing Roar].
  • Cataclysm Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Stealth is available at level 5 (was 1).
  • Wrath-Logo-Small Patch 3.3.0 (2009-12-08): This ability no longer has multiple ranks. While active, the single rank of this ability (available at level 1) allows rogues to move at 70% movement speed.
  • Bc icon Patch 2.3.0 (2007-11-13): If you are in Stealth and try to use an ability that may not be used while stealthed, you will leave stealth and use that ability. This can be disabled with: /console autoUnshift 0
  • Bc icon Patch 2.1.0 (2007-05-22): Will now be broken correctly by damage shield such as Inv potion 11 [Oil of Immolation].
  • Bc icon Patch 2.0.3 (2007-01-09): Resisted spells will no longer break Stealth.
  • WoW Icon update Patch 1.10.0 (2006-03-28): Applying Rogue poisons will no longer break Stealth.

See also[]

References[]

External links[]

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