This D4 Penetrating Shot Rogue Build is a nod to the old Diablo 2 Bowazon. Our basic and core attacks are both bow abilities allowing us to delete enemies from afar.
With this build you will set up and unload, oftentimes killing everything on your screen with a single Impaling Shot. Diablo 4 Rogues are in good shape!
D4 PENETRATING SHOT ROGUE BUILD INDEX
D4 PENETRATING SHOT ROGUE PROS / CONS
- Great AOE Damage
- Easy to set up
- Easy Rotation
- Slightly Less Single Target Damage
D4 PENETRATING SHOT ROGUE VIDEO GUIDE
Something about the D4 Penetrating Shot Rogue build confusing you? Don’t sweat it, listen to me explain every piece of the build in this detailed YouTube guide!
PENETRATING SHOT ROGUE SKILLS & PASSIVES
BASIC ABILITY
The first ability your Bow Rogue will unlock, used to apply vulnerable and damage the enemy. Grab this ability and these two passives.
Forceful ArrowForceful Arrow
Lucky Hit Chance: 40%
Fire a powerful arrow at an enemy, dealing 20% damage. Every 3rd cast makes the enemy Vulnerable for 2 seconds.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
Enhanced Forceful ArrowEnhanced Forceful Arrow
Every 3rd cast of Forceful Arrow additionally has a +15% increased Critical Strike Chance.
Primary Forceful ArrowPrimary Forceful Arrow
Forceful Arrow pierces through Vulnerable enemies.
Stutter StepStutter Step
Critically Striking an enemy grants +5% Movement Speed for 4 seconds.
CORE ABILITY
Penetrating Shot will be this Rogue’s primary damage dealing ability. This ability will feel solid right away, but will really start to shine when you unlock Shadow Imbuement or a relevant legendary.
Penetrating ShotPenetrating Shot
Energy Cost: 35
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Fire an arrow that pierces through all enemies in a line, dealing 70% damage.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
Enhanced Penetrating ShotEnhanced Penetrating Shot
Penetrating Shot deals x10% increased damage per enemy it pierces.
Improved Penetrating ShotImproved Penetrating Shot
If Penetrating Shot damages at least 3 enemies, your next Penetrating Shot has a +20% increased Critical Strike Chance.
AGILITY ABILITY
Our agility ability is a gap-maker for this Diablo 4 Rogue build. It separates us from our enemies and debuffs them at the same time so we can do more damage to them.
CaltropsCaltrops
Charges: 2
Charge Cooldown: 12 seconds
Lucky Hit Chance: 25%
Charge Cooldown: 12 seconds
Lucky Hit Chance: 25%
Leap backwards and throw caltrops on the ground, dealing 30% damage and Slowing enemies by 50%. Last 6 seconds.
Physical Damage
Enhanced CaltropsEnhanced Caltrops
Enemies take x3% increased damage from you each second they are in Caltrops.
Disciplined CaltropsDisciplined Caltrops
You have +5% Critical Strike Chance against enemies inside your Caltrops. Double this amount against Vulnerable enemies.
SUBTERFUGE ABILITY
Here we’re going to grab a couple of abilities! Concealment can be use to break from from stuns, snares and other crowd control abilities that are likely to kill you. Grab this ability and these two passives.
ConcealmentConcealment
Cooldown: 20
Vanish from sight, gaining an advanced form of Stealth for 4 seconds that will not be removed by taking damage.
Concealment also makes you Unstoppable grants +30% Movement Speed, and allows you to move freely through enemies for its duration.
Using an attack Skill during Concealment will break Concealment.
Concealment also makes you Unstoppable grants +30% Movement Speed, and allows you to move freely through enemies for its duration.
Using an attack Skill during Concealment will break Concealment.
Enhanced StealthEnhanced Stealth
You gain 40 Energy when you enter Concealment.
Countering StealthCountering Stealth
The Skill that breaks Concealment will always be a guaranteed Critical Strike.
IMBUEMENT ABILITY
This D4 rogue build uses the Shadow Imbuement to create a massive chain effect of damage capable of clearing entire screens full of enemies.
Shadow Imbuement Shadow Imbuement
Cooldown: 13 seconds
Lucky Hit Chance: 33%
Lucky Hit Chance: 33%
Imbue your weapon with festering shadows. Your next 2 Imbueable Skills deal Shadow damage and infect enemies for 6 seconds. Infected enemies explode on death, dealing 40% damage to call surrounding enemies.
If the infection expires before the enemy dies, it will deal 40% damage to only that enemy.
If the infection expires before the enemy dies, it will deal 40% damage to only that enemy.
Shadow Damage
Enhanced Shadow ImbuementEnhanced Shadow Imbuement
You have +15% increased Critical Strike Chance against Injured enemies infected by Shadow Imbuement.
Blended Shadow ImbuementBlended Shadow Imbuement
Shadow Imbuement’s primary explosion makes enemies Vulnerable for 2 seconds.
ULTIMATE ABILITY
To keep with the bowazon theme, and also because it melts enemies, we’ll be taking Rain of arrows as our ultimate on this Penetrating Shot Rogue build.
Rain of ArrowsRain of Arrows
Cooldown: 60 seconds
Lucky Hit Chance: 2%
Lucky Hit Chance: 2%
Arrows rain down over a large area 2 times, each wave dealing 100% damage.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
Prime Rain of ArrowsPrime Rain of Arrows
Imbuement Skill effects applied by Rain of Arrows have x20% increased potency.
Supreme Rain of ArrowsSupreme Rain of Arrows
Rain of Arrows’ second wave Knocks Down enemies for 3 seconds.
D4 PENETRATING SHOT ROGUE CLASS MECHANIC
This build will take the Combo Point Stance from the Class Mechanic System. This will allow you to collect up to 3 points, each one adding additional damage to your Penetrating shot when you let it rip.
With 3 Combo points, your penetrating shot does nearly 200% damage!
D4 PENETRATING SHOT ROGUE SKILL POINT ORDER
You get one point every time you level. So at level 2 on your first character you will be spending point #1. At level 5 you will be spending point #4.
When you earn your first renown you will have the same number of skill points as levels.
Beyond that you will have to do some quick math to know how many points you’ve earned from renown and how many points you have earned from levels to know which part of this you are on.
POINTS 1 - 9
Forceful ArrowForceful Arrow
Lucky Hit Chance: 40%
Fire a powerful arrow at an enemy, dealing 20% damage. Every 3rd cast makes the enemy Vulnerable for 2 seconds.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
Enhanced Forceful ArrowEnhanced Forceful Arrow
Every 3rd cast of Forceful Arrow additionally has a +15% increased Critical Strike Chance.
Penetrating ShotPenetrating Shot
Energy Cost: 35
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Fire an arrow that pierces through all enemies in a line, dealing 70% damage.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
Enhanced Penetrating ShotEnhanced Penetrating Shot
Penetrating Shot deals x10% increased damage per enemy it pierces.
Improved Penetrating ShotImproved Penetrating Shot
If Penetrating Shot damages at least 3 enemies, your next Penetrating Shot has a +20% increased Critical Strike Chance.
Primary Forceful ArrowPrimary Forceful Arrow
Forceful Arrow pierces through Vulnerable enemies.
CaltropsCaltrops
Charges: 2
Charge Cooldown: 12 seconds
Lucky Hit Chance: 25%
Charge Cooldown: 12 seconds
Lucky Hit Chance: 25%
Leap backwards and throw caltrops on the ground, dealing 30% damage and Slowing enemies by 50%. Last 6 seconds.
Physical Damage
Enhanced CaltropsEnhanced Caltrops
Enemies take x3% increased damage from you each second they are in Caltrops.
Disciplined CaltropsDisciplined Caltrops
You have +5% Critical Strike Chance against enemies inside your Caltrops. Double this amount against Vulnerable enemies.
POINTS 10 - 19
Stutter StepStutter Step
Critically Striking an enemy grants +5% Movement Speed for 4 seconds.
Stutter StepStutter Step
Critically Striking an enemy grants +5% Movement Speed for 4 seconds.
ConcealmentConcealment
Cooldown: 20
Vanish from sight, gaining an advanced form of Stealth for 4 seconds that will not be removed by taking damage.
Concealment also makes you Unstoppable grants +30% Movement Speed, and allows you to move freely through enemies for its duration.
Using an attack Skill during Concealment will break Concealment.
Concealment also makes you Unstoppable grants +30% Movement Speed, and allows you to move freely through enemies for its duration.
Using an attack Skill during Concealment will break Concealment.
Enhanced StealthEnhanced Stealth
You gain 40 Energy when you enter Concealment.
Countering StealthCountering Stealth
The Skill that breaks Concealment will always be a guaranteed Critical Strike.
ExploitExploit
You deal x6% increased damage to Healthy and Injured enemies.
ExploitExploit
You deal x6% increased damage to Healthy and Injured enemies.
Shadow Imbuement Shadow Imbuement
Cooldown: 13 seconds
Lucky Hit Chance: 33%
Lucky Hit Chance: 33%
Imbue your weapon with festering shadows. Your next 2 Imbueable Skills deal Shadow damage and infect enemies for 6 seconds. Infected enemies explode on death, dealing 40% damage to call surrounding enemies.
If the infection expires before the enemy dies, it will deal 40% damage to only that enemy.
If the infection expires before the enemy dies, it will deal 40% damage to only that enemy.
Shadow Damage
Enhanced Shadow ImbuementEnhanced Shadow Imbuement
You have +15% increased Critical Strike Chance against Injured enemies infected by Shadow Imbuement.
Blended Shadow ImbuementBlended Shadow Imbuement
Shadow Imbuement’s primary explosion makes enemies Vulnerable for 2 seconds.
POINTS 20 - 29
ExploitExploit
You deal x6% increased damage to Healthy and Injured enemies.
MaliceMalice
You deal x3% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies.
MaliceMalice
You deal x3% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies.
MaliceMalice
You deal x3% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies.
Rain of ArrowsRain of Arrows
Cooldown: 60 seconds
Lucky Hit Chance: 2%
Lucky Hit Chance: 2%
Arrows rain down over a large area 2 times, each wave dealing 100% damage.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
Prime Rain of ArrowsPrime Rain of Arrows
Imbuement Skill effects applied by Rain of Arrows have x20% increased potency.
Supreme Rain of ArrowsSupreme Rain of Arrows
Rain of Arrows’ second wave Knocks Down enemies for 3 seconds.
Shadow CrashShadow Crash
Lucky Hit: Shadow damage has up to a 10% chance to Stun for 0.5 seconds.
Consuming ShadowsConsuming Shadows
Each time you kill an enemy with Shadow damage, you generate 10 Energy.
Consuming ShadowsConsuming Shadows
Each time you kill an enemy with Shadow damage, you generate 10 Energy.
POINTS 30 - 39
Consuming ShadowsConsuming Shadows
Each time you kill an enemy with Shadow damage, you generate 10 Energy.
Precision ImbuementPrecision Imbuement
Imbued Skills gain +3% increased Critical Strike Chance.
Precision ImbuementPrecision Imbuement
Imbued Skills gain +3% increased Critical Strike Chance.
Precision ImbuementPrecision Imbuement
Imbued Skills gain +3% increased Critical Strike Chance.
VictimizeVictimize
Lucky Hit: Dealing direct damage to a Vulnerable enemy has up to a 30% chance to cause an explosion, dealing 23% of the original damage to them and surrounding enemies.
Adrenaline RushAdrenaline Rush
While moving, you gain x5% increased Energy Regeneration.
ImpetusImpetus
After moving 15 meters, your next attack deals x7% increased damage.
ImpetusImpetus
After moving 15 meters, your next attack deals x7% increased damage.
ImpetusImpetus
After moving 15 meters, your next attack deals x7% increased damage.
AftermathAftermath
After using an Ultimate Skill, restore 25 Energy.
POINTS 40 - 49
AftermathAftermath
After using an Ultimate Skill, restore 25 Energy.
AftermathAftermath
After using an Ultimate Skill, restore 25 Energy.
HasteHaste
While at or above 50% maximum Energy, gain +5% increased Movement Speed. While below 50% maximum Energy, gain +5% increased Attack Speed.
HasteHaste
While at or above 50% maximum Energy, gain +5% increased Movement Speed. While below 50% maximum Energy, gain +5% increased Attack Speed.
HasteHaste
While at or above 50% maximum Energy, gain +5% increased Movement Speed. While below 50% maximum Energy, gain +5% increased Attack Speed.
Penetrating ShotPenetrating Shot
Energy Cost: 35
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Fire an arrow that pierces through all enemies in a line, dealing 70% damage.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
Penetrating ShotPenetrating Shot
Energy Cost: 35
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Fire an arrow that pierces through all enemies in a line, dealing 70% damage.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
Penetrating ShotPenetrating Shot
Energy Cost: 35
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Fire an arrow that pierces through all enemies in a line, dealing 70% damage.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
Penetrating ShotPenetrating Shot
Energy Cost: 35
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Fire an arrow that pierces through all enemies in a line, dealing 70% damage.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
AgileAgile
Using a Cooldown increases your Dodge Chance by 4% for 3 seconds.
POINTS 50 - 58
Mending ObscurityMending Obscurity
While Stealthed, you Heal for 3% Maximum Life 1 per second.
Mending ObscurityMending Obscurity
While Stealthed, you Heal for 3% Maximum Life 1 per second.
Mending ObscurityMending Obscurity
While Stealthed, you Heal for 3% Maximum Life 1 per second.
RuggedRugged
Gain 5% Damage Reduction against Damage Over Time effects.
RuggedRugged
Gain 5% Damage Reduction against Damage Over Time effects.
RuggedRugged
Gain 5% Damage Reduction against Damage Over Time effects.
Reactive DefenseReactive Defense
Gain 6% Damage Reduction while inflicted with Control Impairing Effects.
Reactive DefenseReactive Defense
Gain 6% Damage Reduction while inflicted with Control Impairing Effects.
Reactive DefenseReactive Defense
Gain 6% Damage Reduction while inflicted with Control Impairing Effects.
PENETRATING SHOT ROGUE ROTATION
1
Forceful ArrowForceful Arrow
Lucky Hit Chance: 40%
Fire a powerful arrow at an enemy, dealing 20% damage. Every 3rd cast makes the enemy Vulnerable for 2 seconds.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
Use your Forceful Arrow 3 times to charge up your 3 Combo Points
2
CaltropsCaltrops
Charges: 2
Charge Cooldown: 12 seconds
Lucky Hit Chance: 25%
Charge Cooldown: 12 seconds
Lucky Hit Chance: 25%
Leap backwards and throw caltrops on the ground, dealing 30% damage and Slowing enemies by 50%. Last 6 seconds.
Physical Damage
Throw down your caltrops to debuff the enemies and slow them down
3
Shadow Imbuement Shadow Imbuement
Cooldown: 13 seconds
Lucky Hit Chance: 33%
Lucky Hit Chance: 33%
Imbue your weapon with festering shadows. Your next 2 Imbueable Skills deal Shadow damage and infect enemies for 6 seconds. Infected enemies explode on death, dealing 40% damage to call surrounding enemies.
If the infection expires before the enemy dies, it will deal 40% damage to only that enemy.
If the infection expires before the enemy dies, it will deal 40% damage to only that enemy.
Shadow Damage
Use Shadow Imbuement on your weapon.
4
ConcealmentConcealment
Cooldown: 20
Vanish from sight, gaining an advanced form of Stealth for 4 seconds that will not be removed by taking damage.
Concealment also makes you Unstoppable grants +30% Movement Speed, and allows you to move freely through enemies for its duration.
Using an attack Skill during Concealment will break Concealment.
Concealment also makes you Unstoppable grants +30% Movement Speed, and allows you to move freely through enemies for its duration.
Using an attack Skill during Concealment will break Concealment.
You can use Conceal for the guaranteed crit coming out of it, or save it for resource regen and safety.
5
Rain of ArrowsRain of Arrows
Cooldown: 60 seconds
Lucky Hit Chance: 2%
Lucky Hit Chance: 2%
Arrows rain down over a large area 2 times, each wave dealing 100% damage.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
If you are fighting an elite or boss, fire off your Rain of Arrows. Otherwise save it for a meaty enemy.
6
Penetrating ShotPenetrating Shot
Energy Cost: 35
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Lucky Hit Chance: 50%
Fire an arrow that pierces through all enemies in a line, dealing 70% damage.
Physical Damage
Requires a Ranged weapon
Requires a Ranged weapon
Fire your Penetrating Shot into the crowd as many times as necessary.
PENETRATING SHOT ROGUE LEGENDARY ASPECTS
The best aspects and Legendaries will be listed below for the Penetrating Shot Rogue, broken into their different types. You can only benefit from one aspect at a time, so don’t try to wear two of the same aspect.
CODEX OF POWER
These Legendary Aspects can be target farmed by simply completing the Dungeon they are located in. Once completed the aspect will appear in your codex of power for you to use as any time you want.
FRACTURED PEAKS
Energizing AspectEnergizing Aspect
Damaging an Elite enemy with a Basic Skill generates 3-7 Energy.
Unlocked by completing Sanguine Chapel in Fractured Peaks
Rogue
Aspect of the ProtectorAspect of the Protector
Damaging an Elite enemy grants you a Barrier absorbing up to x damage for 10 seconds. This effect can only happen once every 30 seconds.
Unlocked by completing Lost Archives in Fractured Peaks
Every class
Eluding AspectEluding Aspect
Becoming Injured while Crowd Controlled grants you Unstoppable for 4 seconds. This effect has a 40-20 second Cooldown.
Unlocked by completing Caldera Gate in Fractured Peaks
Every class
SCOSGLEN
Aspect of Inner CalmAspect of Inner Calm
Deal 5-10% increased damage for each second you stand still, up to 30%.
Progress Campaign in Scosglen to unlock
Unlocked by completing Raethwind Wilds in Scosglen
Unlocked by completing Raethwind Wilds in Scosglen
Every class
Aspect of Arrow StormsAspect of Arrow Storms
Lucky Hit: Your Marksman Skills have up to a 10% chance to create an arrow storm at the enemy’s location, dealing x Physical damage over 3 seconds. You have up to 5 active arrow storms.
Unlocked by completing Howling Warren in Scosglen
Rogue
Aspect of the ExpectantAspect of the Expectant
Attacking enemies with a Basic Skill increases the damage of your next Core Skill cast by 5-10% up to 30%.
Unlocked by completing Underroot in Scosglen
Every class
Cheat’s AspectCheat’s Aspect
You take 15-25% less damage from Crowd Controlled enemies. Whenever a Crowd Controlled enemy deals direct damage to you, gain 15% Movement Speed for 2 seconds.
Unlocked by completing Luban’s Rest in Scosglen
Rogue
Edgemaster’s AspectEdgemaster’s Aspect
Skills deal up to 10-20% increased damage based on your available Primary Resource when cast, receiving the maximum benefit while you have full Primary Resource.
Unlocked by completing Oldstones in Scosglen
Every class
Ravenous AspectRavenous Aspect
Killing a Vulnerable enemy grants you 50-70% increased Energy Regeneration for 4 seconds.
Unlocked by completing Shifting City in Dry Steppes
Rogue
DRY STEPPES
Rapid AspectRapid Aspect
Basic Skills gain 15-30% Attack Speed.
Unlocked by completing Buried Halls in Dry Steppes
Every class
Trickster’s AspectTrickster’s Aspect
Caltrops also throw a cluster of exploding Stun Grenades that deal x total Physical damage and Stun enemies for 0.5 seconds.
Progress Campaign in Dry Steppes to unlock
Rogue
Aspect of Unstable ImbuementsAspect of Unstable Imbuements
When casting an Imbuement Skill you trigger an Imbued explosion around yourself, applying the imbuement effects and dealing x damage of the same type.
Progress Campaign in Dry Steppes to unlock
Unlocked by completing Whispering Vault in Dry Steppes
Unlocked by completing Whispering Vault in Dry Steppes
Rogue
Aspect of MightAspect of Might
Basic Skills grant 20% Damage Reduction for 2-6 seconds.
Progress Campaign in Dry Steppes to unlock
Unlocked by completing Dark Ravine in Dry Steppes
Unlocked by completing Dark Ravine in Dry Steppes
Every class
HAWEZAR
Trickshot AspectTrickshot Aspect
Whenever Penetrating Shot damages an enemy, 2 additional arrows split off to either side. These side arrows deal 10-25% of Penetrating Shot’s Base damage and do not split.
Unlocked by completing Bastion of Faith in Hawezar
Rogue
KEHJISTAN
Vengeful AspectVengeful Aspect
Lucky Hit: Making an enemy Vulnerable has up to a 40-60% chance to grant 3% increased Critical Strike Chance for 3 seconds, up to 9%.
Unlocked by completing Inferno in Kehjistan
Rogue
Aspect of CorruptionAspect of Corruption
Your Imbuement Skill effects have 20-40% increased potency against Vulnerable enemies.
Progress Campaign in Kehjistan to unlock
Unlocked by completing Renegade’s Retreat in Kehjistan
Unlocked by completing Renegade’s Retreat in Kehjistan
Rogue
LEGENDARY ITEMS
These are the legendary aspect that can only be found as a drop in the game. You must kill enemies and bosses until you get these legendary items to drop.
Accelerating AspectAccelerating Aspect
Critical Strikes with Core Skills increase your Attack Speed by 15-25% for 5 seconds.
Random drop
Every Class
Conceited AspectConceited Aspect
Deal 15-25% increased while you have a Barrier active.
Random drop
Every class
Smiting AspectSmiting Aspect
You have 10-20% increased Critical Strike Chance against Injured enemies. While you are Healthy, you gain 20-40% increased Crowd Control Duration.
Random drop
Every class
ROGUE SPECIFIC
Aspect of Cruel SustenanceAspect of Cruel Sustenance
Explosions from the Victimize Key Passive Heal you for x Life for each enemy damaged, up to a maximum of x life.
Random drop
Rogue
Toxic Alchemist’s AspectToxic Alchemist’s Aspect
Lucky Hit: Damaging a Poisoned enemy with a Shadow Imbued Skill has up to a 75% chance to create a toxic explosion that applies x Poisoning damage over 5 seconds to the target and surrounding enemies.
Random drop
Rogue
UNIQUE ITEMS
These are the unique items you should look out for. These won’t start dropping until you reach Tier 3 Difficulty, known as Nightmare.
