Rogue Poisons in Vanilla 1.12.1: Complete Guide

The Level 20 Poison Quest

Before level 20 a rogue cannot make poisons. Access is unlocked by a class quest chain, and for both factions it requires a lockpicking skill of about 70 to open the chest in the final step. Read our lockpicking guide first and raise your lockpicking.

Alliance

1. Mathias and the Defias from Master Mathias Shaw at SI:7 headquarters in Stormwind Old Town.
2. Klaven's Tower — steal the key, sneak into the tower on the southeastern edge of Westfall and open the chest. Reward: Recipe: Thistle Tea.
3. The Touch of Zanzil — speak with Doc Mixilpixil in the cellar of the Stormwind Barracks, after which the Poisons skill opens up.

Horde

1. The Shattered Salute from Shenthul in the Cleft of Shadow, Orgrimmar.
2. Deep Cover and Mission: Possible But Not Probable — clear the Venture Co. Tower in the northern Barrens and pick Gallywix's lockbox. Reward: the same Thistle Tea recipe.
3. Hinott's Assistance — travel to Tarren Mill and see Serge Hinott, who cures the poison and teaches you to craft poisons.

The Horde chain is hard to solo at level 20, so many rogues tackle the tower at 22–23 or bring a friend. For the road to this point, see the rogue leveling guide.

The Poisons Skill: How to Level It

The skill works as a separate pseudo-profession and does not take one of your two profession slots. The skill cap equals five times your character level, maxing at 300 at level 60. There is no separate trainer: new recipes are bought from your class trainer once you meet the level and skill requirements. You level the skill by crafting poisons that still give points, so it pays to craft what you will actually use.

Poison Types and Ranks in 1.12.1

Every poison is applied to one weapon, lasts 30 minutes and is replaced when you apply another poison. Poisons do not combine with sharpening stones or weapon oils.

Deadly Poison V is not sold by trainers: the recipe comes from the Handbook of Deadly Poison V, which has to be obtained as loot.

Charges

Charges grow with rank: Instant Poison from 40 to 115, Deadly Poison from 60 to 105, Wound Poison from 60 to 105, Mind-numbing Poison from 50 to 100. Each proc spends a charge, so in long fights or raids keep spares and reapply between pulls.

◆Reagents and Where to Buy Them

• Dust of Decay — Instant I–II and Mind-numbing I–II.
• Dust of Deterioration — Instant III–VI and Mind-numbing III.
• Essence of Pain — Crippling I, Mind-numbing I–II, Wound I–II.
• Essence of Agony — Crippling II, Mind-numbing III, Wound III–IV.
• Deathweed — Deadly and Wound Poison of every rank.
• Vials: Empty Vial for low recipes, Leaded Vial for mid recipes, Crystal Vial for high recipes.

All of these are sold by poison and reagent vendors in the rogue quarters of the capitals, alongside the Flash Powder used by Vanish. Other class reagents are listed in our class reagents guide.

◆Which Poisons to Use

PvE

For a Combat rogue with swords or daggers the standard is Instant Poison on both weapons: it gives steady instant damage and takes no extra debuff slots. Deadly Poison goes on the off-hand when the raid has room for debuffs, since in 1.12.1 a target can hold only 16 debuffs. See the rogue rotation guide and the Assassination build for details.

PvP

• Crippling Poison — mandatory against fleeing warriors, hunters and mages.
• Wound Poison — against healers and paladins, it cuts every heal.
• Mind-numbing Poison — against casters, slows Fireball and Heal.
• Instant Poison — when raw burst damage matters most.

A typical setup is Crippling on the main hand and Instant or Wound on the off-hand. More tactics are in the rogue PvP guide.

◆Related Guides

• Rogue class guide
• Rogue abilities
• Lockpicking 1–300
• Rogue talent builds
• Combat rogue build

Ready to test your poisons in practice? Create an account and connect to the WoW x5 server — boosted experience gets you to level 20 and the poison quest in no time.