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Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred (D4)

Rogue Dance of Knives Leveling Build (Season 10)

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★ NEW: Season 10 Guide | Season 10 Release Date
┗ Seasonal Content: Chaos Rifts | New Uniques
┗ Seasonal Mechanic: List of Chaos Perks & Chaos Armor
★ Season 10 Best Builds & Best Chaos Perks
★ Check out our Vessel of Hatred expansion guide

This is a Rogue Dance of Knives leveling build and guide for Season 10 of Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred (D4). Read on to learn more about the Rogue Dance of Knives leveling build as well as tips for leveling the Rogue class in Season 10!

All Rogue Guides
Diablo 4 - RogueClass Guide Diablo 4 - Best BuildsBest Builds Diablo 4 - Rogue IconSpecialization

List of Contents

Rogue Dance of Knives Leveling Build

Dance of Knives Build Summary

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
Diablo IV - Notice IconSummary Diablo 4 - Dance of Knives Skill Progression Chaos PerksChaos Perks
AspectsAspects and Affixes GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Rogue IconPlaystyle
Build Summary
Rogue leveling BuildDance of Knives Leveling Build
Puncture Caltrops Concealment Shadow Imbuement Shadow Clone Dance of Knives
Focus: Leveling, Farming
Diablo 4 Build - ProFast Mob Clearing
Diablo 4 Build - ProHigh Mobility
Diablo 4 Build - ConLow single target DPS

This leveling build for Season 10 uses Dance of Knives together with Shadow Imbuement and Shadow Clone to quickly make work of enemy packs and speed run dungeons to level up fast.

Leveling Guide

Dance of Knives Build Skills and Passives

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
Diablo IV - Notice IconSummary Diablo 4 - Dance of Knives Skill Progression Chaos PerksChaos Perks
AspectsAspects and Affixes GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Rogue IconPlaystyle

※ More skills can be seen by scrolling vertically.

Active Skills
necro basicBasic Skill Tree
┗ Puncture Puncture (1/5)
　┗ Enhanced PunctureEnhanced Puncture
　　┗ Fundamental PunctureFundamental Puncture
necro coreCore Skill Tree
┗ Target Practice Target Practice (3/3)
┗ Sturdy Sturdy (3/3)
┗ Stutter Step Stutter Step (3/3)
Agility Skill TreeAgility Skill Tree
┗ Dance of Knives Dance of Knives (5/5)
　┗ Enhanced Dance of KnivesEnhanced Dance of Knives
　　┗ Disciplined Dance of KnivesDisciplined Dance of Knives
┗ Caltrops Caltrops (1/5)
　┗ Enhanced CaltropsEnhanced Caltrops
　　┗ Methodical CaltropsMethodical Caltrops
┗ Weapon Mastery Weapon Mastery (3/3)
Subterfuge Skill TreeSubterfuge Skill Tree
┗ Concealment Concealment (5/5)
┗ Dark Shroud Dark Shroud (5/5)
　┗ Enhanced Dark ShroudEnhanced Dark Shroud
　　┗ Subverting Dark ShroudSubverting Dark Shroud
┗ Exploit Exploit (3/3)
　┗ Malice Malice (3/3)
Imbuement Skill Tree Imbuement Skill Tree
┗ Shadow Imbuement Shadow Imbuement (5/5)
　┗ Enhanced Shadow ImbuementEnhanced Shadow Imbuement
　　┗ Blended Shadow ImbuementBlended Shadow Imbuement
┗ Shadow Crash Shadow Crash (3/3)
┗ Frigid Finesse Frigid Finesse (3/3)
┗ Precision Imbuement Precision Imbuement (3/3)
Ultimate Skill Tree Ultimate Skill Tree
┗ Shadow Clone Shadow Clone (5/5)
　┗ Prime Shadow ClonePrime Shadow Clone
　　┗ Supreme Shadow CloneSupreme Shadow Clone
┗ Adrenaline Rush Adrenaline Rush (1/3)
　┗ Haste Haste (3/3)
Diablo 4 - Key Passive Skill TreeKey Passive
┗ Victimize Victimize

Dance of Knives Build Skill Progression

At the early levels, focus on unlocking and upgrading your active skills, especially Dance of Knives and Shadow Imbuement, which will provide most of your damage. If you do not have enough skill points to reach Dance of Knives yet, you can settle for any Core Skill you're comfortable with until you unlock Dance of Knives.

Once you reach the Imbuement skill tree, prioritize maxing out Dance of Knives together with Shadow Imbuement, as the combination of those two will allow you to run dungeons more effectively.

For your passives, you'll want to prioritize Target Practice, Stutter Step, Weapon Mastery, and Haste to essentially boost your movement speed, granting you charges on your Dance of Knives as you mow down enemies.

Dance of Knives Build Specialization

Combo Points Your Basic Skills now generate Combo Points. Core Skills consume Combo Points for additional effects.

Combo Points is the best specialization for the Dance of Knives as it synergizes with the Aspect of Star Shards. This allows your Dance of Knives to shatter upon hit, allowing you to spread Shadow Imbuement to more enemies, and also grants you extra charges, allowing you to channel Dance of Knives longer.

Specialization Guide

Best Chaos Perks

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
SummarySummary Diablo 4 - Dance of KnivesSkill Progression Chaos PerksChaos Perks
AspectsAspects and Affixes GemsGems MercenaryMercenary PlaystylePlaystyle
Chaos Perks Setup
Unpredictable Alchemy Unpredictable Alchemy Accelerating Chaos Accelerating Chaos Marred Guard Marred Guard

The Chaos Perks for the Dance of Knives build focuses on boosting your Damage with Unpredictable Alchemy. This synergizes well with the unlimited Shadow Imbued Dance of Knives as the effects of Unpredictable Alchemy remain active.

Other Chaos Perks like Accelerating Chaos are chosen as a secondary damage boost, and Marred Guard is used for extra defense.

Do note that if you do not have the suggested Chaos Perks, we recommended focusing on leveling up and grinding Nightmare Dungeons and Helltides until you obtain the Chaos Perks you need for the build.

List of All Chaos Perks

Dance of Knives Build Best Aspects and Affixes

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
Diablo IV - Notice IconSummary Diablo 4 - Dance of Knives Skill Progression Chaos PerksChaos Perks
AspectsAspects and Affixes GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Rogue IconPlaystyle

※ More gear Aspects can be seen by scrolling vertically.

Gear Aspect and Affixes
Head
Aspect of Cruel Sustenance ImageAspect of Cruel Sustenance
・Armor
・Dexterity
・Cooldown Reduction
Temper:
・Defensive - Worldly Endurance
　┗ Maximum Life
・Utility - Worldly Fortune
　┗ Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze Enemies
Chest
Aspect of Disobedience ImageAspect of Disobedience
・Armor
・Maximum Life
・Dexterity
Temper:
・Defensive - Worldly Endurance
　┗ Maximum Life
・Utility - Worldly Fortune
　┗ Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze Enemies
Gloves
Aspect of Concussive Strikes ImageAspect of Concussive Strikes
・Critical Strike Chance
・Critical Strike Damage
・Attack Speed
Temper:
・Offensive - Cutthroat Finesse
　┗ Cutthroat Damage
・Utility - Worldly Fortune
　┗ Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze Enemies
Pants
Umbrous Aspect ImageUmbrous Aspect
・Armor
・Max Life
・Dexterity
Temper:
・Defensive - Worldly Endurance
　┗ Total Armor
・Utility - Worldly Fortune
　┗ Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze Enemies
Boots
Mired SharpshooterMired Sharpshooter's Aspect
・Ranks to Dance of Knives
・Armor
・Movement Speed
Temper:
・Mobility - Natural Motion
　┗ Movement Speed
・Utility - Worldly Fortune
　┗ Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze Enemies
Amulet
Rapid Aspect ImageRapid Aspect
・Damage
・Critical Strike Chance
・Movement Speed
Temper:
・Offensive - Cutthroat Finesse
　┗ Cutthroat Damage
・Utility - Worldly Fortune
　┗ Lucky Hit: Chance to Freeze Enemies
Ring
Aspect of Synergy ImageAspect of Synergy
・Critical Strike Chance
・Critical Strike Damage
・Damage
Temper:
・Offensive - Cutthroat Finesse
　┗ Cutthroat Damage
・Resource - Imbuement Abundance
　┗ Shadow Imbue Lasts for 2 Casts
Ring
TricksterTrickster's Aspect
・Critical Strike Chance
・Critical Strike Damage
・Damage
Temper:
・Offensive - Cutthroat Finesse
　┗ Cutthroat Damage
・Resource - Imbuement Abundance
　┗ Shadow Imbue Lasts for 2 Casts
Crossbow
EdgemasterEdgemaster's Aspect
・Critical Strike Damage
・Damage
・Vulnerable Damage
Temper:
・Offensive - Cutthroat Finesse
　┗ Cutthroat Damage
・Weapons - Agile Augments
　┗ Chance for Dance of Knives to Cast Twice
1-Handed Sword
Aspect of Imitated Imbuement ImageAspect of Imitated Imbuement
・Critical Strike Damage
・Damage
・Vulnerable Damage
Temper:
・Offensive - Cutthroat Finesse
　┗ Cutthroat Damage
・Weapons - Agile Augments
　┗ Chance for Dance of Knives to Cast Twice
1-Handed Sword
Aspect of Star Shards ImageAspect of Star Shards
・Critical Strike Damage
・Damage
・Vulnerable Damage
Temper:
・Offensive - Cutthroat Finesse
　┗ Cutthroat Damage
・Weapons - Agile Augments
　┗ Chance for Dance of Knives to Cast Twice

Dance of Knives Build Best Gems and Runewords

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
Diablo IV - Notice IconSummary Diablo 4 - Dance of Knives Skill Progression Chaos PerksChaos Perks
AspectsAspects and Affixes GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Rogue IconPlaystyle

Dance of Knives Best Gems

Armor Weapons Jewelry
EmeraldEmerald SapphireSapphire SkullSkull

For gems, it's best to slot in Emerald on armor slots to get more Dexterity, Sapphire on weapon slots to get Vulnerable Damage, and Skulls on Jewelry for more armor.

Dance of Knives Best Runewords

Runeword 1
FeoFeo TonTon

For our Runewords, Feo + Ton is our only recommended choice as it can provide extra damage against single targets. This allows you to cast 50 Meteorites whenever you're injured or crowd-controlled.

List of All Runewords

Dance of Knives Mercenary

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
Diablo IV - Notice IconSummary Diablo 4 - Dance of Knives Skill Progression Chaos PerksChaos Perks
AspectsAspects and Affixes GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Rogue IconPlaystyle
Mercenary Reinforcement
VaryanaVaryana RaheirRaheir

Use Varyana as Your Main Mercenary

Varyana's passive effect prolongs Dance of Knives due to the movement speed it grants, allowing you to obtain more Dance of Knives stacks while spinning through hordes of enemies.

For her skills, use Shockwave, Ancient Harpoons, and Iron Grip to synergize it with Caltrops, allowing you to deal more damage to the enemies she pulled. Reprisal is also a great passive from Varyana as it provides an extra defense against impairment.

Varyana Mercenary Guide

Use Raheir For Reinforcement

Use Raheir's Bastion to grant passive Unstoppable for 1 second and redirect 90% of damage taken to Raheir.

Have Raheir's opportunity usage to Crowd Control to apply the Unstoppable from Bastion, granting you an extra dispel against impairment effects.

Raheir Mercenary Guide

Dance of Knives Build Playstyle and Rotation

Click on a Link to Jump to a Section!
Diablo IV - Notice IconSummary Diablo 4 - Dance of Knives Skill Progression Chaos PerksChaos Perks
AspectsAspects and Affixes GemsGems MercenaryMercenary Rogue IconPlaystyle

The playstyle of the Dance of Knives Rogue revolves around buffing your Dance of Knives to make the most out of a single skill channel. The rotation is as follows:

  1. Build up Combo Points to gain extra damage and charges for Dance of Knives.
  2. Cast Concealment to gain the effects of Aspect of Synergy which will increase the damage of your Dance of Knives.
  3. Cast Shadow Clone and Shadow Imbuement then channel Dance of Knives until you kill all enemies or until your Dance of Knives charges run out.
  4. Use Caltrops against Bosses for increased damage from Enhanced Caltrops and the synergy from Methodical Caltrops and Frigid Finesse.

Rogue Leveling Tips for Season 10

Season 10 Rogue Leveling Tips
checkmarkChoose Hard Difficulty
checkmarkObtain the Aspect of Star Shards
checkmarkPlay Through the Seasonal Content

Choose Hard Difficulty

Start with Hard difficulty for 75% more Gold and XP from monster kills. Using our leveling build guarantees a breeze-through progression that makes you feel like you're simply running through enemies.

Best Difficulty Tier to Start With

Obtain the Aspect of Star Shards

We recommend getting the Aspect of Star Shards early to make your runs faster and more effective. The Aspect of Star Shards allows your Dance of Knives to split into multiple projectiles upon hit, allowing you to hit more enemies in proximity. Furthermore, it allows you to gain the effects of Combo Points on the Dance of Knives, increasing its damage and charges.

Aspect of Star Shards Effects and How to Get

Play Through the Seasonal Content and Activities

At the start of your Season 10 journey you'll want to immediately grind Nightmare Dungeons and Helltides to participate in Chaos Rifts and gain keys for Fleeting Hordes,

If you have the Vessel of Hatred expansion, you can also participate in the Kurast Undercity to level up faster and target-farm better gear.

Diablo 4 Related Guides

Diablo 4 - Builds

Best Builds Tier List

All Class Builds

All Classes
BarbarianBarbarian DruidDruid SorcererSorcerer
RogueRogue NecromancerNecromancer SpiritbornSpiritborn

All Endgame Builds

List of Endgame Builds
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TeleportSorcerer AFK Build NEW
Skills and PassivesDruid Companion Ravens NEW
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List of Leveling Builds
Rogue Dance of Knives BuildRogue Dance of Knives BuildUP
Druid Pulverize BuildDruid Pulverize BuildUP
Necromancer Sever Leveling BuildNecromancer Sever BuildUP
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Seasons List of Legacy Builds
Season 9
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Hydra Sorcerer BuildSorcerer Cosmic Anomaly Hydra
Druid Pulverize BuildDruid Pulverize Build
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Season 8
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Druid Petrify BuildDruid Petrify Build
Necromancer Exploding Minion BuildNecromancer Minion Build
Sorcerer Ball Lightning BuildSorcerer Ball Lightning Build
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Barbarian Earthquake Whirlwind BuildBarbarian Whirlwind Build
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Druid Companion BuildDruid Companion Build
Sorcerer Summoner BuildSorcerer Summoner Build
Sorcerer Fireball BuildSorcerer Fireball Build
Spiritborn Razor Wings BuildSpiritborn Razor Wings Build
Season 6
Spiritborn Orange Hulk BuildSpiritborn Orange Hulk Build
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Spiritborn Orange Quill BuildSpiritborn Orange Quill Build
Spiritborn Touch of Death BuildSpiritborn Touch of Death Build
Druid Werebear Landslide BuildDruid Werebear Landslide Build
Sorcerer Chain Lightning BuildSorcerer Chain Lightning Build
Rogue AndarielRogue Andariel's Barrage Build
Necromancer Blood Surge BuildNecromancer Blood Surge Build

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Soooooo out of date

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