RLS (Rogue / Lock / Shaman)
RLS combines Rogue burst with Warlock sustained pressure and Shaman Bloodlust for explosive kill windows. Kidney Shot into Fear chains lock down targets while both DPS unload. Bloodlust amplifies the Rogue's already devastating opener damage. The Shaman provides Earth Shield for survivability and Purge to strip enemy buffs. RLS is weaker than WLD in long games (Shaman < Druid for sustain) but stronger in the first 2 minutes thanks to Bloodlust.
General Strategy
RLS wins by combining Rogue burst with Warlock pressure during Bloodlust. Open with Rogue Sap on one target, Warlock Fears another, then Bloodlust and burst the third. The Rogue's Kidney Shot during Lust with DoTs ticking creates overwhelming damage. Win in the first 2 minutes.
Rogue Role
Sap to start CC chains. Burst during Kidney Shot + Bloodlust. Kick and Gouge to interrupt heals. Vanish for resets. Your burst is amplified by Lust — coordinate goes when Lust is active.
Warlock Role
DoTs on everything. Fear the healer during Rogue burst windows. Curse of Tongues on enemy healer. Felguard on kill target. Death Coil as finisher. Soul Link keeps you alive.
Shaman Role
Bloodlust at the right moment — when Rogue has full CC chain ready. Earth Shield the Rogue during openers. Purge enemy buffs before kill attempts. Wind Shear to interrupt enemy heals. Tremor Totem for enemy Fears.
Matchups
vs WLD (Warrior / Lock / Druid)
Tough. WLD outlasts you. Must kill during Bloodlust. Open on Druid — Sap Warrior, Fear Lock, burst Druid during Lust. If Druid survives Lust, game gets hard.
- Must kill during Bloodlust
- Open on Druid
- Sap Warrior, Fear Lock
- If Druid survives Lust, very hard
- Purge HoTs aggressively
vs RMP (Rogue / Mage / Priest)
Both burst comps. Whoever opens better wins. Your Bloodlust gives a damage edge. Open on Priest — Sap Rogue, Fear Mage. Soul Link survives their burst.
- Whoever opens better wins
- Bloodlust gives damage edge
- Open on Priest
- Soul Link survives their burst
- Fear Mage during kill go
vs Warrior / Druid / Priest
Train the Priest. Lust opener on Priest. Sap Warrior, Fear Druid. Priest is squishy under Rogue + Lock + Lust burst. Mana Burn is annoying — pressure the Priest to prevent it.
- Train the Priest with Lust
- Sap Warrior, Fear Druid
- Priest is squishy
- Pressure prevents Mana Burn
- Kill early before attrition
vs Warlock / Shaman / Warrior
Mirror-ish. Your Rogue burst > their Warrior burst during openers. Open on their Shaman. Sap Warrior, Fear Lock. Rogue burst + Lust kills Shaman.
- Open on their Shaman
- Rogue burst > Warrior burst in opener
- Sap Warrior, Fear Lock
- Lust kills Shaman
- Your opener is stronger
vs PHD (Paladin / Hunter / Druid)
Burst the Hunter during Lust. Sap Paladin, Fear Druid. Hunter is squishy and their only DPS. Without Hunter, PHD has nothing.
- Burst Hunter during Lust
- Sap Paladin, Fear Druid
- Hunter is squishy
- PHD has no DPS without Hunter
- Easy if opener connects
vs Mage / Lock / Priest
Open on Priest. Fear the Mage, Sap the Lock. Priest dies to Rogue + Lust burst. Cloak of Shadows the caster damage. Wind Shear enemy Priest heals.
- Open on Priest
- Fear Mage, Sap Lock
- Cloak caster damage
- Wind Shear Priest heals
- Lust burst kills Priest
vs Shadow Priest / Rogue / Mage
Open on Shadow Priest. Soul Link survives their burst. Fear the Mage, Sap the Rogue. Lust + Rogue burst kills Shadow Priest.
- Open on Shadow Priest
- Soul Link survives burst
- Fear Mage, Sap Rogue
- Lust burst kills SPriest
- Your sustain is better
vs Warrior / Paladin / Druid
Passive comp. Open on Druid — Sap Warrior, Fear Paladin. Lust burst on Druid. Purge Paladin buffs. They lack kill pressure against your comp.
- Open on Druid during Lust
- Sap Warrior, Fear Paladin
- Purge Paladin buffs
- They lack kill pressure
- Aggressive opener wins
vs Hunter / Shaman / Warrior
Open on Shaman. Sap Warrior, Fear Hunter. Rogue burst + Lust kills Shaman fast. Watch for Flare. After Shaman dies, cleanup.
- Open on Shaman
- Sap Warrior, Fear Hunter
- Shaman dies fast to Lust burst
- Watch for Flare
- Cleanup after Shaman