Rogues are a versatile class, only really lacking in PvM skills but excelling in PvP and WoE. With their strip skills, Rogues can render most classes useless in a PvP environment. With Gank, a Rogue can obtain double the loot another class could gather in the same amount of time. Rogues can wield bows, daggers, or swords and can copy a variety of player skills to help them level, although a Rogue cannot use Intimidate to its full potential like its transcendent counterpart can. On a different note, Rogues can be excellent at soloing things in a PvM environment. Their high dodge, fast attacks, and stealthy nature make them a force to be reckoned with in a dungeon.
Changing into a Rogue from a Thief requires the player to complete a number of tasks:
A Written Test
Item collection test
Maze test
After completing these tests, the player will be transformed into a Rogue. Most of this takes place inside the Rogue Guild at the Pharos Lighthouse (cmd_fild07).
Stats-wise, high STR and high AGI will guarantee swift and powerful attacks. AGI will provide enough FLEE to dodge most attacks against single monsters, but VIT is crucial when tanking multiple monsters due to the FLEE penalty. The dagger gank rogue excels in PvM and will level quickly to achieve Stalker, should PvP or WoE be the ultimate goal.
Bow rogues can snipe enemies from afar with Vulture's Eye and Double Strafe, then deal extra damage with a copied skill via Intimidate. The bow rogue has high DEX and high AGI for quick and devastating damage via bows. Moderate INT ensures a steady SP supply for intimidated skill spamming.
While previously the Sidewinder Card was preferred for bows used by rogues (because it allows the full level 10 Double Attack to be used with bows), the Kafra Shop Chick Hat item which has the same effect, has largely made this obsolete.
Eden Group Equipment is free and a great place to start for gear to use. The Dagger or Bow are good weapons and generally a good choice for a Rogue and their future classes'.
It is recommended to look at the Equipment recommendations for the Third Class job to see what equipment to strive for, rather than to spend a lot of money on a piece of equipment that will not be used in the future as a third class. However, some equipment may have a high level requirement, or are transcendent only.
Weapons
After considering what requirement skills have (some skills can only be used with certain weapon types), the Weapon Search tool within the iRO Wiki DB site is very helpful. Generally, for physical classes (both melee and ranged), something with high ATK is best. For magic classes, something with high MATK is best.
You can use some damage reduction cards.
Bow Rogues are limited when using shields because bows are two handed weapons. You cannot attack with a bow while having a shield is equipped.
