Twisting Blades Rogue Abattoir of Zir Build (Season 2)

This is a Season 2 Twisting Blades Rogue endgame build in Diablo 4 (D4) that utilizes Poison Imbuement, Vampiric Powers, and Tears of Blood for high damage and extremely high survivability. Read on for the complete list of Vampiric Powers, Skills, and Aspects you need and how to play the build for Season 2 and Abattoir of Zir.

Twisting Blades Rogue Strengths and Weaknesses

Twisting Blades Rogue Strengths

High Damage

Due to the overstack of skills from item affixes, Paragon Glyphs, and Tears of Blood, this build can achieve high damage outputs that melt Uber Bosses within seconds.

High Health and Damage Reduction

Due to the build's focus on Max Health and Damage Reduction affixes, this build can tank high burst damage from tier 100 nightmare dungeons.

Extremely Mobile

Having Dash and Shadow Step paired with the quick activation of Twisting Blades, this build is extremely mobile and can allow players to move around areas easily.

Twisting Blades Rogue Weaknesses

Build Difficulty

The build is difficult to piece together as it requires two Uber Uniques and at least a 3/4 best-in-slot affixes for all items.

Death from Pinnacle Content

Despite the high health and damage reductions stacked in this build, it can still die from high burst damage elites in the Abbatoir of Zir.

Cleansing Problems

Despite being a high-mobility build, the danger of this build is being control impaired. Players will need precise use of Shadow Step to escape control impairing effects.

Twisting Blades Rogue Build Overview

Build Summary

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Summary		Skill Progression		Vampiric Powers
Aspects & Affixes		Gems		Paragon

Skills

Aspects & Uniques

Stats & Gems

Build Overview and Summary
Twisting Blades		Tier: Focus: PVE Playstyle: Solo and Party
Active Skills
Passive Skills

Build Overview and Summary
Twisting Blades		Tier: Focus: PVE Playstyle: Solo and Party
Aspects and Uniques
Doombringer Harlequin Crest Penitent Greaves Asheara's Khanjar Aspect of Disobedience (Pants) Aspect of Might (Chest) Aspect of Corruption (Amulet) Bladedancer's Aspect (Ring) Accelerating Aspect (Crossbow) Aspect of Bursting Venoms (Ring) Aspect of Pestilent Points (Gloves)

Build Overview and Summary
Twisting Blades		Tier: Focus: PVE Playstyle: Solo and Party
Stat Priorities			Recommended Gems
・Cooldown Reduction ・Vulnerable Damage ・Dexterity ・Lucky Hit Chance ・Damage Reduction ・Maximum Life ・Attack Speed Bonus ・Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies ・Damage to Close Enemies ・Total Armor			Amethyst (Weapon) Ruby (Armor)

Twisting Blades Rogue Build Breakdown

Skill Progression

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Summary		Skill Progression		Vampiric Powers
Aspects & Affixes		Gems		Paragon

Active Skills

Skill		Upgrade Path
Puncture (5 Points)	→	Enhanced Puncture	Fundamental Puncture
Twisting Blades (13 Points)	→	Enhanced Twisting Blades	Improved Twisting Blades
Shadow Step (5 Points)	→	Enhanced Shadow Step	Methodical Shadow Step
Dash (4 Points)	→	-
Smoke Grenade (5 Points)	→	Enhanced Smoke Grenade	Subverting Smoke Grenade
Poison Imbuement (12 Points)	→	Enhanced Poison Imbuement	Mixed Poison Imbuement

This build requires the Uber Unique Helm Harlequin Crest to attain this number of skill points.

Passive Skills

Poison Twisting Blades Passives
Sturdy (3 Points)	Stutter Step (3 Points)	Concussive (3 Points)
Trick Attacks (3 Points)	Exploit (3 Points)	Malice (3 Points)
Deadly Venom (3 Points)	Debilitating Toxins (3 Points)	Frigid Finesse (3 Points)
Innervation (2 Points)	Haste (1 Point)	Impetus (1 Point)
Close Quarters Combat (1 Point)	-	-

Skill Progression

Skill Progression

Recommended Skill Progression
Lv.2	Lv.3	Lv.4	Lv.5
Puncture	Enhanced Puncture	Twisting Blades	Enhanced Twisting Blades
Lv.6	Lv.7	Lv.8	Lv.9
Improved Twisting Blades	Fundamental Puncture	Shadow Step	Twisting Blades
Lv.10	Lv.11	Lv.12	Lv.13
Twisting Blades	Twisting Blades	Twisting Blades	Smoke Grenade
Lv.14	Lv.15	Lv.16	Lv.17
Enhanced Smoke Grenade	Subverting Smoke Grenade	Enhanced Shadow Step	Methodical Shadow Step
Lv.18	Lv.19	Lv.20	Lv.21
Poison Imbuement	Deadly Venom	Debilitating Toxins	Stutter Step
Lv.22	Lv.23	Lv.24	Lv.25
Enhanced Poison Imbuement	Mixed Poison Imbuement	Sturdy	Adrenaline Rush
Lv.26	Lv.27	Lv.28	Lv.29
Haste	Haste	Haste	Frigid Finesse
Lv.30	Lv.31	Lv.32	Lv.33
Frigid Finesse	Frigid Finesse	Poison Imbuement	Poison Imbuement
Lv.34	Lv.35	Lv.36	Lv.37
Poison Imbuement	Close Quarters Combat	Poison Imbuement	Sturdy
Lv.38	Lv.39	Lv.40	Lv.41
Innervation	Innervation	Exploit	Exploit
Lv.42	Lv.43	Lv.44	Lv.45
Exploit	Sturdy	Malice	Malice
Lv.46	Lv.47	Lv.48	Lv.49
Malice	Debilitating Toxins	Debilitating Toxins	Impetus
Renown Skill Points (Lv50 Onwards)
R1	R2	R3	R4
Impetus	Impetus	Deadly Venom	Deadly Venom
R5	R6	R7	R8
Stutter Step	Stutter Step	Concussive	Concussive
R9	R10
Trick Attacks	Trick Attacks

Best Vampiric Powers

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Summary		Skill Progression		Vampiric Powers
Aspects & Affixes		Gems		Paragon

Vampiric Power Cost	Effect Explanation
Accursed Touch 0 6 0	Lucky Hit: Up to a 44% chance to inflict Vampiric Curse on enemies. Enemies with the Vampiric Curse have a 15% chance to spread it to other surrounding enemies. Accursed Souls deal 200% increased damage. Applies Vampiric Curses on enemies which is combined by Flowing Veins and Prey on the Weak vampiric powers. This vampiric power also helps with AoE damage against mobs or burst damage against bosses.
Ravenous 3 0 0	Lucky Hit: Up to a 20% chance to increase your Attack Speed by 40% of your Total Movement Speed for 6 seconds. Provides an attack speed boost that synergizes with almost every skill, aspect, and vampiric power in this build.
Undying 0 0 1	Casting Skills heals you for 3% Life. Double this bonus while below 50% Life. The Undying Vampiric power acts as a stronger replacement for Siphoning Strikes, as it heals you every time you use a skill; basic skills included.
Flowing Veins 2 2 2	You deal 60% increased Damage Over Time to enemies that are moving or affected by a Vampiric Curse. Gives a damage over time boost against enemies afflicted with Vampiric Curse which is applied by the Accursed Touch vampiric power.
Prey on the Weak 2 0 0	You deal 16% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies. Enemies are Vulnerable while affected by a Vampiric Curse from your other Vampiric Powers. Boosts damage against vulnerable enemies and synergizes with the Accursed Touch vampiric power which makes enemies vulnerable, ultimately replacing the Exploit glyph for the paragon board.
Total Pacts Required 7 | 8 | 3

Specializations

Specialization Guide

Aspects and Affixes

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Summary		Skill Progression		Vampiric Powers
Aspects & Affixes		Gems		Paragon

Best Weapons

Equipment	Aspects and Affixes
Crossbow	Accelerating Aspect Critical Strikes with Core Skills increase your Attack Speed by (15-25)% for 5 seconds. ・+ X% Vulnerable Damage (Inherent) ・+ X All Stats ・+ X% Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies ・+ X% Damage to Close Enemies ・+ X Dexterity
Dagger	Asheara's Khanjar Hits with this weapon increase your Attack Speed by (4-6)% for 4 seconds, up to (20-30)% ・+ X% Damage to Close Enemies (Inherent) ・+ X% Basic Skill Damage ・+ X% Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies ・+ X% Movement Speed for 4 Seconds after Killing an Elite ・+ X% Lucky Hit Chance
1H Sword	Doombringer Lucky Hit: Up to a (15-25)% chance to deal Shadow damage to surrounding enemies and reduce their damage done by 20% for 5 seconds. ・+ X% Critical Strike Damage (Inherent) ・+ X% Core Skill Damage ・+ X Damage ・Lucky Hit: Up to 5% Chance to Heal X Life ・+ X Maximum Life

Best Armor

Equipment	Aspects and Affixes
Helmet	Harlequin Crest Gain (10.0-20.0)% Damage Reduction. In addition, gain +4 Ranks to all Skills. ・+ X All Stats ・+ X% Cooldown Reduction ・+ X Maximum Life ・+ X% Resource Generation
Chest	Aspect of Might Basic Skills grant 20% Damage Reduction for (XX) seconds. ・+ X% Damage Reduction ・+ X% Total Armor ・+ X% Damage Reduction from Close Enemies ・+ X% Damage Reduction from Distant Enemies
Gloves	Aspect of Pestilent Points Every third cast of Puncture is Poison Imbued with (100%-150)% of normal potency. ・+ X Ranks of Twisting Blades ・+ X Dexterity ・+ X% Lucky Hit Chance ・+ X% Atack Speed
Pants	Aspect of Disobedience You gain (0.25-0.50)% increased Armor for 4 seconds when you deal any form of damage, stacking up to (66)%. ・While Injured, Potion Grants X% Max Life as Barrier (Inherent) ・+ X Max Life ・+ X% Damage Reduction ・+ X% Damage Reduction from Close Enemies ・+ X% Total Armor
Boots	Penitent Greaves You leave behind a trail of frost that Chills enemies. You deal (7-10%) more damage to Chilled enemies. ・+ Evade Briefly Grants X% Movement Speed (Inherent) ・+ X% Movement Speed ・+ X% Cold Resistance ・+ X% Crowd Control Duration ・+ X% Slow Duration Reduction

Best Jewelry

Jewelry	Aspects and Affixes
Amulet	Aspect of Corruption Your Imbuement Skill effects have (20-40)% increased potency against Vulnerable enemies. ・+ X% Resist All (Inherent) ・+ X Ranks of All Imbuement Skills ・+ X% Cooldown Reduction ・+ X% Damage Reduction ・+ X% Damage Reduction from Close Enemies
Ring	Bladedancer's Aspect Twisting Blades orbit for a short time after they return to you, dealing (10-15)% of Twisting Blades' return damage per hit. Based on the distance the blades returned, the orbit damage increases up to (20-30)% of the return damage. ・+X% Resist All (Inherent) ・+X% Element Resistance (Inherent) ・+ X% Damage to Close Enemies ・+ X% Lucky Hit Chance ・+ X% Poison Damage ・+ X Maximum Life
Ring	Aspect of Bursting Venoms Lucky Hit: Poison Imbued Skills have up to a 15% chance to create a toxic pool that deals (1.25-1.52) Poisoning damage over 3 seconds to enemies within. While standing in the pool, your Poison Imbuement Skill has no Cooldown and no Charge limit. ・+X% Resist All (Inherent) ・+X% Element Resistance (Inherent) ・+ X% Damage to Close Enemies ・+ X% Lucky Hit Chance ・+ X% Poison Damage ・+ X Maximum Life

Best Gems

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Summary		Skill Progression		Vampiric Powers
Aspects & Affixes		Gems		Paragon

Item Type	Effect Explanation
Royal Amethyst (Weapon)	+8.0% Damage Over Time Amethysts are the gems of choice for this build as it focuses on Damage Over Time which stacks on this build's favored affixes like Damage to Close Enemies and Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies.
Royal Ruby (Armor)	4.0% Maximum Life Rubies on armor give this build a boost on its survivability because of its increase to maximum life, which is a must for Rogues.
Royal Diamond (Jewelry)	5.0% Resistance to All Elements Adjust your gem slots in the jewelry section depending on the elemental resistances you need. Note that elemental resistances have a cap of 70%, but it can be boosted to 85% temporarily through various means.

Paragon Board Setup

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Summary		Skill Progression		Vampiric Powers
Aspects & Affixes		Gems		Paragon

Starting Board (Canny)

We want to get the most out of the rare nodes in this board with a minimal path to the next board while still getting the necessary stats for the Canny glyph, and boosts for damage, armor, and max health.

• Canny (Glyph): Provides an increase in non-physical damage which is a must for this poison twisting blades build.
• Prime and Skillful: Raw damage boosts along the path.
• Resilience: Provides an increase percentage on Max Life which is essential for Rogues.
• Lawless: Increase on armor for extra defense.

Cheap Shot (Tears of Blood)

This is the most optimal board for Tears of Blood with the number of core stats surrounding the glyph area. Furthermore, the magic and rare nodes in this board are one of the build's main sources of damage boost.

• Tears of Blood (Glyph): Will provide a significant damage boost that is extremely helpful for pinnacle content.
• Cheap Shot: Gives a huge damage increase for every enemy that is crowd-controlled; has great synergy with the daze from Smoke Grenades, and chill from Penitent Greaves.
• Devious and Calculated: Provides extra damage to crowd-controlled targets which synergizes well with Smoke Grenades, Puncture, and Penitent Greaves in this build.
• Spearhead: Gives a huge damage boost against healthy enemies, which should be helpful against enemies with high health.
• Wiles: Provides damage reduction from slowed enemies, which is a great pick due to Puncture.
• Safeguard:Provides damage reduction from Elites, which is a must for pushing pinnacle content.

Tricks of the Trade (Turf)

The board's magic and rare nodes that boost damage against elites and close enemies are a must for this build. Furthermore, it is the most optimal board for the Turf glyph due to the number of strength nodes in it.

• Turf (Glyph): Provides a constant damage boost against close enemies which is perfect for this melee build.
• Tricks of the Trade: A constant damage boost from the skill swap between Puncture and Twisting Blades.
• Focused: Provides damage increase against Elites, which is great for pushing pinnacle content.
• Lawless: Increase on armor for extra defense.
• Brawler: Provides a damage boost and damage reduction against close enemies, perfect for a melee build.

Exploit Weakness (Bane)

This board provides the shortest path for the last board while still having an optimal position to make the most out of the Bane glyph for increased poison damage.

• Bane (Glyph): Significantly increases the build's poison damage.
• Artifice: Increase in vulnerable damage which is great for Puncture.

Leyrana's Instinct (Control)

The final board has the most optimal position for the control glyph, giving a significant damage boost for the build against crowd-controlled targets.

• Control (Glyph):Provides increased damage against crowd-controlled enemies; synergizes with the daze from Smoke Grenades, and chill from Penitent Greaves
• Feint: Bonus damage boost along the path; allows you to gain increased damage after dodging an attack.
• Tolerance: Provides resistance to all elements; extremely useful in alll situations.

Twisting Blades Rogue Playstyle

Poison Twisting Blades Build Tips
Recommended Openers and Rotations Utilize Returning Blades You Benefit From Chill

Recommended Openers and Rotations

Trash Mob Opener and Skill Rotation

This is by far the easiest Rogue build to manage so the skill rotation can be followed partially. You no longer need to worry about life and energy sustainment for this build.

Boss Opener

Keep in mind that you do not have to wait for the cooldown of your Poison Imbuement as the Pestilent Points aspect from your Puncture can trigger Bursting Venoms; so you only need to spam Puncture if you need a cooldown reset for Poison Imbuement.

Utilize Returning Blades

After using your Twisting Blades, they will return to you and deal damage to all enemies in their path. Try to position yourself behind enemies to make sure that they get hit for additional damage.

Benefit From Chill

Using the Penitent Greaves boots, you will be able to apply a free Crowd Control using the Chill from the trail of frost. With this, you can utilize the Damage to Chilled stat and the Frigid Finesse passive.

Diablo 4 Related Guides

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Barrage (PVE)	Death Trap (PVE)	Penetrating Shot (PVE)
Rapid Fire (PVE)	Rogue Leveling (Leveling)	Twisting Blades (PVE)