Rapid Fire Rogue Endgame Build Guide for Diablo 4 (Season 4) - Icy Veins (2024)

Note: The previous Dual Core Rapid Fire Flurry build guide has been moved to another page. This article is now a pure Rapid Fire build that requires Scoundrel’s Kiss, a new Unique Ring added in Season 4 (Patch 1.4.0).

Build Introduction

The Rapid Fire Rogue creates a laser beam of multiple arrows to snipe your foes. Each cast of Rapid Fire hits 8 times to deal high single-target damage to the toughest enemies, while Scoundrel’s Kiss provides much needed Area of Effect (AoE) explosions to clear groups of enemies.

This endgame build guide requires Scoundrel’s Kiss to enable Rapid Fire to deal AoE damage, so it can be used as a main damage dealer for all activities in Diablo 4. If you do not have Scoundrel’s Kiss, Rapid Fire needs to be supplemented with another Core Skill that hits multiple enemies. Barrage can also be used as a singular Core Skill with piercing and ricocheting arrows to hit additional targets. Check the links below for the recommended ranged builds that do not have any Unique Item requirements.

If you are starting a new Rogue character, check out the recommended Rogue leveling builds.

Strengths and Weaknesses

To see how this build compares to the other builds on our site, you can check out our build tier lists.

Skill Tree Points and Skill Bar

The Skill Tree above shows the full allocation of 58 Skill Points for the Dual Core Rogue build. Make sure you obtain the 10 Skill Points available from Renown.

Alternative Skills

If a further playstyle is preferred, swap Puncture for Heartseeker for a Basic Attack with more range. Puncture is the top recommendation for the Rapid Fire Rogue, due to the faster Combo Points generation and consistent Vulnerable application.

Rapid Fire Rogue Specialization

Combo Points is the preferred Rogue Specialization for general farming due to the burst damage playstyle of the Rapid Fire Rogue. Build Combo Points with Puncture to unleash additional damage and arrows for Rapid Fire.

Paragon

Paragon unlocks after reaching Level 50, and the progression system offers a considerable boost to character power. The images below provide a visual of each Paragon Board setup for the Dual Core Rogue.

Important Notes:

• Make sure you select the correct Legendary Boards and rotate them into the correct orientation.
• Attach Legendary Boards in the correct order, as bonus requirements of Rare Nodes increase with their placement order.
• Additional bonus requirements on Rare Glyphs may not be obtainable until they gain increased radius range at Level 15.

1. Starting Board (Control)

Socket Control for a damage multiplier against Frozen enemies, which is activated by Cold Imbuement.

2. Tricks of the Trade (Turf)

Rotate the Tricks of the Trade board 2 times before attachment. Immediately obtain the Legendary node, and then Socket Turf for some valuable Damage Reduction. Prioritize leveling Turf to 15 for increased radius, as it is needed to allocate enough Strength to activate the additional bonus.

3. Cheap Shot (Canny)

Rotate the Cheap Shot board 3 times before attachment. Immediately obtain the Legendary node on this board. Socket Canny to increase non-physical damage, which includes attacks imbued by Cold Imbuement. Prioritize leveling Canny to 15 for the increased radius to obtain the additional bonus.

4. Exploit Weakness (Combat)

Rotate the Exploit Weakness board 2 times before attachment. Immediately obtain the Legendary Node on this board. Socket Combat to gain Critical Strike Damage for an increased damage bonus from Precision.

5. No Witnesses (Exploit)

Rotate the No Witnesses board 3 times before attachment. Socket Exploit for increased Vulnerable damage and additional Vulnerable application. The Legendary Node on this board is not utilized.

Paragon Board images courtesy of d4builds.gg. Click this link for the Paragon planner.

Gear, Gems, Elixirs, and Stats

Season 4 brings an incredible shift in character progression systems. The major rework to itemization and crafting in Patch 1.4.0 changes the core mechanics of Diablo 4, and the changes will remain in effect beyond Season 4. For further details, read the overview in the Tempering and Masterworking section.

Legendary Aspects

Listed below are all the best-in-slot Aspects for the Rapid Fire Rogue build. Salvage Legendary Items with higher Aspect values to unlock them in the Codex of Power, and then imprint them onto Legendary Items with the preferred affixes.

Gems

Listed below are the best Gems to socket into gear for each item type.

Elixirs

Visit the Alchemist in any main town to craft helpful Elixirs that increase stats and experience gain for 30 minutes. Make sure to forage plants and pick up the necessary crafting materials during your adventures; they randomly spawn around the world. Elixirs can also drop randomly from enemies and chests during many activities in Diablo 4. Listed below are the best Elixirs to consume for the Rapid Fire Rogue, ranked by importance.

1. Elixir of Advantage increases damage output, if not already capped at 100% Attack Speed bonus from gear and Paragon.
2. Elixir of Resource greatly helps with Energy issues, if you do not already have the appropriate Energy gear. This elixir is highly recommended for starting characters to maintain casting of Core Skills.
3. Elixir of Fortitude is the best general purpose option for survivability.
4. Elixir of Iron Barbs can provide a high amount of Physical Damage Reduction. Armor becomes more effective as you approach the Armor cap (9,320 against monster level 100 and above).
5. Specific Resistance Elixirs can be utilized to survive against Uber Bosses with elemental attacks.

Return to the Alchemist again when you reach Level 20, 30, 45, 60, 70, 80 and 90, to upgrade your potion. The extra healing is essential to survival.

Stat Priority and Tempering Affixes

Listed below are the affixes to prioritize on gear for Rapid Fire Rogues. Each line of affixes are listed in order of importance. Affixes on the same line are considered to be equally important, but their benefits may vary depending on how much is stacked or other character stats. Bolded affixes are the most important targets for Masterworking upgrades.

When comparing Legendary weapons with similar item levels, Crossbows are preferred over Bows for the Vulnerable Damage implicit stat. Daggers are preferred over Swords for the slightly stronger implicit stat and faster Combo Point generation.

Precision increases the priority of Critical Strike Damage to scale the bonus multiplier, while reducing the need for Critical Strike Chance.

Prioritize Boots with the implicit effect, attacks reduce Evade’s cooldown, for constant Evades to activate Advanced Rapid Fire.

The priority order of Resistances is Lightning > Poison > Fire > Cold > Shadow. Maximum Resistance is 70% by default for each element and can be increased to 85% by various sources.

Check the Tempering and Masterworking section for more details on Blacksmith upgrading.

Unique Items

Listed below are the recommended and optional Unique Items for the Rapid Fire Rogue build. Each item description includes the most important affix to target for Masterworking upgrades.

• Scoundrel’s Kiss is required to enable Rapid Fire to deal Area of Effect damage against groups of enemies.
  • Masterworking Priority: Ranks to Rapid Fire
• Condemnation (recommended) provides a 1.4x multiplier that works well in this Combo Points build.
  • Masterworking Priority: Basic Skill Attack Speed or Critical Strike Damage
• Harlequin Crest (recommended) provides a good amount of offense and defense, if you are lucky enough to find this Uber Unique Item.
  • Masterworking Priority: Cooldown Reduction
• Ring of Starless Skies (recommended) is an Uber Unique Item that provides a highly valued 1.4x multiplier. The downside is the unique effect requires some management to ramp up and maintain the buff stacks.
  • Masterworking Priority: Critical Strike Chance
• Fists of Fate (optional) increases overall damage by 50% with a 300% value on the unique effect. They are comparable to well-rolled Legendary Gloves with Ranks to Core Skills, Attack Speed, Critical Strike Chance, and an Offensive Aspect. The downside is the drastic damage range of the unique effect can cause an inconsistency in the hits required to kill enemies.
  • Masterworking Priority: any affix

Season 4: Loot Reborn

The following list details the changes in the Season 4 Update (Patch 1.4.0) that may pertain to Rapid Fire Rogues. Check the Changelog for all the other guide updates.

• New Unique Ring, Scoundrel’s Kiss
• Rapid Fire
  • Damage increased by 10%.
• Exploit Weakness
  • Maximum increased damage buffed from 15%[x] to 25%[x].

Advanced Information

Additional details are provided in the following sections for a more in-depth explanation of the Rapid Fire Rogue. Read this advanced information after understanding the basic overview of the build in the previous sections.

Build Mechanics

Rapid Fire has high single target damage, but normally lacks the Area of Effect (AoE) damage to clear groups of enemies. The newly added Scoundrel’s Kiss in Season 4 (Patch 1.4.0) provides the AoE explosions needed to enable Rapid Fire as a main damage dealer for all situations.

Dash is a Cutthroat Skill that activates Tricks of the Trade for additional damage on the next Rapid Fire. A Smoke Grenade is dropped at the end of Dash with Aspect of Quickening Fog, so Dash can be used offensively to land on top of enemies. Enhanced Smoke Grenade is allocated for enemies to take 25% increased damage.

Dark Shroud is not equipped on the Skill Bar. Dark Shrouds stacks are instead granted through Umbrous Aspect with the high amount of hits per cast from Rapid Fire.

Fundamental Puncture easily applies Vulnerable to an individual target with a single Basic attack. Subverting Concealment and Exploit also apply Vulnerable to multiple enemies.

Innervation should provide enough Energy generation if you are taking the time to build 3 Combo Points before casting each Rapid Fire.

Crowd Controls and Boss Stagger

Cold Imbuement is utilized to activate Mixed Cold Imbuement, Frigid Finesse, Frostbitten Aspect, and Control for additional damage. These damage bonuses do not apply to Bosses unless they are Staggered.

Chill from Cold Imbuement, Slow from Puncture, and Lucky Hit Chance to Stun/Freeze/Daze/Immobilize tempers are utilized to quickly Stagger bosses. Repeated Crowd Controls of the same type in a short duration apply less Stagger to bosses, so separate sources of Crowd Controls are tempered for maximum effect. Make sure to optimize damage against Staggered bosses by activating Cold Imbuement.

Animation Cancel Technique

An Evade can be used immediately after using Rapid Fire to cancel the casting animation. This technique is important to quickly dodge incoming attacks while activating Advanced Rapid Fire. Boots with the implicit effect, Attacks Reduce Evade’s Cooldown, allow for an animation cancel after using 3 Basic Attacks and a Core Skill. Practice hitting Evade after every Rapid Fire to build muscle memory.

Damage Rotation

Use the following rotation to optimize damage output.

1. Activate Concealment to move quickly between packs of enemies, or save it to break any Crowd Controls.
2. Use Evade to activate Advanced Rapid Fire.
3. Build 3 Combo Points with Puncture. Make sure you are close enough for Fundamental Puncture to apply Vulnerable.
4. Dash on top of enemies to apply Enhanced Dash and automatically drop a Smoke Grenade.
5. Activate Cold Imbuement for damage increases from Mixed Cold Imbuement and Frigid Finesse.
6. Cast Rapid Fire at the target.
7. Immediately animation cancel Rapid Fire with an Evade to restart the rotation.

Tempering and Masterworking

The Season 4 update (Patch 1.4.0) introduces a rework for itemization. Tempering and Masterworking brings the biggest change to itemization since the release of Diablo 4, so make sure you understand the new systems explained in this section.

The amount of affixes on items has been changed to reflect its rarity: Normal Items have no affixes, Magic Items have 1 affix, Rare Items have 2 affixes, Legendary Items have 3 affixes, and Unique Items have 4 affixes. Upgrading a Rare Item to a Legendary Item by imprinting a Legendary Aspect from the Codex of Power will not add a third affix. Therefore, Legendary Items are superior to lower rarity items for a min-maxed character.

Greater Affixes are a newly added mechanic that increases the value of an affix by 50%. Ancestral Legendary Items and Unique Items can now drop with up to 4 Greater Affixes! Search for items with your preferred Greater Affixes to upgrade with Tempering and Masterworking.

Tempering and Masterworking is an important system, even mandatory in the endgame, for character progression. You are able to add 2 additional affixes on any Rare Item or Legendary Item, exclusive to the Tempering System. An Ancestral Legendary Item can have up to 5 total affixes! Unfortunately, Unique Items cannot be tempered to add affixes.

Masterworking uses new crafting materials found in The Pit to further enhance the stats of an item. These upgrades can be applied on an Ancestral Legendary Item that has its Tempering Slots filled out. Unique Items can be upgraded with Masterworking right away, as tempering does not apply to them. Each item has 12 upgrade slots. On upgrade Ranks 4, 8, and 12, a random affix is increased in value by 25%. Every other upgrade Rank applies a 5% increase to all affixes on an item. Attempt to apply the bonus 25% upgrade to your preferred affix multiple times by resetting the Masterworking Ranks to repeat the process.

Obol Gambling

Obol gambling is a great way to potentially find item upgrades or items missing from your build. Use Obols on your target equipment for a chance to receive Greater Affixes. Check out the new tool from Icy Veins for gambling Obols in the link below.

Changelog

• May 22th, 2024: Article changed to a pure Rapid Fire build. Moved the previous Dual Core Rapid Fire Flurry Rogue build guide to another page.
• May 15th, 2024: Priority Affixes updated with game changes made since the Season 4 PTR.
• May 14th, 2024: Guide updated for Season 4 (Patch 1.4.0).
• March 5th, 2024: Guide updated for the Mid Season 3 Update (Patch 1.3.3).
• January 22nd, 2024: Guide updated for Season 3 (Patch 1.3.0).
• November 15th, 2023: Paragon Board images added.
• October 17th, 2023: Guide updated for Season 2 (Patch 1.2.0).
• July 18th, 2023: Guide updated for Season 1.