Overview
"What's that behind you? Oh, wait. It's me."
Shadowstep was added as the new 41 point talent in the Subtlety tree. It teleports you behind a target and gives you a damage bonus on your next ability. The tooltip read:
"Attempts to step through the shadows, instantly reappearing behind the target. The next backstab, ambush, or garrote within 10 seconds deals 20% more damage."
Shadowstep in Patch 2.3
The ability is scheduled to be changed significantly in patch 2.3. The changes currently consist of:
- Shadowstep being useable out of stealth
- Range increased to 25 yards, with an 8 yard minimum range
- Movement speed increases by 70% for 3 secs
- Increases the damage of your next special attack by 20% (not limited to openers)
- Decreases the threat of your next special attack by 50%
- 30 second cooldown (Preparation now resets the cooldown on Shadowstep)
- You now leave combat after you Shadowstep, giving you the opportunity to Stealth behind your opponent if you were not in stealthed previously and/or in combat.
The exact wording of the 2.3 Shadowstep:
"Attempts to step through the shadows and reappear behind your enemy. The damage of your next ability is increased by 20% and the threat caused is reduced by 50%. Lasts 10 seconds." [1]
Functionality
- Cost: 10 energy
- Cooldown: 30 seconds
- Buff: Movement speed increases by 70% for 3 secs and next special attack deals 20% more damage. The buff lasts 10 seconds or for 1 special attack.
Tips
Shadowstep replaces 
[Cloak of Shadows] as the final skill in the Subtlety tree. This skill greatly increases the functionality of any rogue willing to invest 41 points in Subtlety.
- The ability to cover up to 25 yards with increase movement speed gives a defining edge against opponents who like to kite the rogue from afar. Now you can just Shadowstep behind a Mage trying to land a nasty Pyroblast on you, and stun them.
- Extremely useful for chasing down runners and mounts. Vanish (if it isn't on cooldown), then Shadowstep + Cheapshot (You can also Gouge or Shiv with
[Crippling Poison] on your OH) for a ranged stun or cripple. You can also Shadowstep while stealthed and Sap (Dirty Tricks makes this much more smooth) a mounted opponent, then do what you will with them.
- Careful when utilizing this talent near cliffs, especially in Outland. An unlucky rogue might accidentally send himself plummeting. Just cast
[Distract] or wait for their back to be more sensible to Shadowstep behind.
- As of patch 2.3, Shadowstep can be used in combat. This gives the rogue the ability to dump aggro with Shadowstep, and worry much less about grabbing aggro with a big Ambush due to the 50% threat reduction.
- As of patch 2.3.2, the talent [Preparation] now resets the cooldown on Shadowstep.
