Gouge

Gouge
Gouge (6 ranks) Rogue ability 5 yd range 45 Energy 10 sec cooldown Instant Causes X damage, incapacitating the opponent for 4 sec, and turns off your attack. Target must be facing you. Any damage caused will revive the target. Awards 1 combo point.
Properties
Class	Rogue
School	Physical
Cooldown	10 sec
Other information
Requirements	Target must be facing you.
Improvements	Improved Gouge
Related debuff
Gouge Incapacitated. Duration: 4 sec

[[Category:rogue abilities]][[Category:rogue abilities]]

"Every being has vulnerable spots; Make it your business to know them all."
—The Assassin's Creed, Chapter 2

Gouge is a useful Rogue ability that causes damage, adds a combo point and incapacitates the target for a short period of time. Gouge costs 45 Energy and can first be acquired at level 6. Once a successful Gouge has been made, any damage will negate its incapacitation effect. Note that using Gouge will turn off auto attacks.

Rank table

Rank	Damage	Level	Cost
1	10	6	1
2	20	18	29
3	32	32	1 20
4	55	46	2 79
5	75	60	4 86
6	105	67	8 91

Notes

Gouge breaks upon receiving damage; this means that it does not work well with [Garrote] or [Rupture]. However, Gouge is useful as an interrupt. If [Kick] is on cooldown, Gouge can be used just for the purpose of interrupting a spellcast. Without [Improved Gouge] using this to recover energy is useless, since the effect lasts 4 seconds and the ability costs 45 energy. Rogues regenerate 10 energy per seconds so you end up -5 energy less than you started with. BUT if using Improved gouge, the effect will last for 5,5 seconds, which means that you regenerate 55 energy, and you end up with 10 more energy.

Talent improvement

The only talent that specifically improves Gouge is [Improved Gouge]. Some other Rogue talents do improve Gouge, however.

• [Improved Gouge] increases the duration of Gouge by X seconds.
• [Lethality] increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Gouge by X%.
• [Blade Twisting] gives your Gouge an X% chance to daze your target for 8 seconds.
• [Surprise Attacks] increases the damage of Gouge by X%.

Tips and tactics

• [Backstab] is a great skill for dealing burst damage, but you must be behind the Mob to use it. Gouge first, then move behind the mob to enable you to [Backstab]. You've got two combo points off the bat! (And if you are Seal Fate/Vigor spec and it crits, you'll have three combo points!)
• Gouge gives you an opportunity to apply a bandage, recover energy, or plan a quick escape. Also note that during those 4-5.5 seconds one can recover up to 40-60 energy, so it can be seen as a free combo point anyway.
• Facing multiple enemies can be quite difficult. Simply gouge one. This will give you time to finish one of them. This will greatly reduce the amount of incoming damage.
• In PvP, [Improved Gouge] gives you a good chance (barring diminishing returns) to leave combat and re-enter stealth without using vanish, and gives you more time to recover energy.
• In end-game raiding, Gouge has proven useful in interrupting caster enemies if they are immune to stunning with [Cheap Shot] or silencing with [Kick]. It may be expensive energy wise, but it will at least buy time and prevent extra damage to your fellow raid members.