I’m using a female pandaren model since that’s what my character Book is now. 🙂
Tier 1: Nightslayer Armor
Source: Molten Core
I hate the “soup bowl” shoulders. Overall it was a decent stab at the first tier design. The chest is quite menacing as befitting a rogue. This was back in the day of 8 piece tiers. And the 8 pc tier bonus: Vanish heals your for 500! This entire set was probably a PvP rogue’s wet dream.
Tier 2: Bloodfang Armor
Source: Blackwing Lair, Onyxia (helm) & Molten Core (pants from Ragnaros)
This is probably THE most iconic rogue tier set in the game. The blood elf rogue in Craft of War: Blind wears it. And if you haven’t seen that video you should.
Tier 2.5 : Deathdealer’s Embrace
Souce: Temple of Ahn’Qiraj
Most all of the bug carapace tiers looked horrid, but you gotta give them props for attempting to follow a theme.
Tier 3 : Bonescythe Armor
Source: Naxxramas 40 man (no longer available) & Black Market Auction House
I’ve loved this armor since I first saw a photo of it. However I started the game after it was removed and I don’t want to depend the gold to compete for it on the Black Market Auction House on my server. It’s a very simple design, but the grey and teal just really appeals to me.
Tier 4: Netherblade Armor
Source: Karazhan,
This looks like it came from Ahn’Qiraj. It looks like bug carapace. I don’t like the looks of it.
Tier 5: Deathblade Armor
Source: Serpentshrine Caverns
This is probably my favorite from the Burning Crusade era tiers.
Tier 6: Slayer’s Armor
Source: Battle for Mount Hyjal, Black Temple, Sunwell
This is my second favorite of the BC era tiers.
Tier 7: Heroes’ Bonescythe Battlegear/Valorous Bonescythe Battlegear
Source: Naxx 10/25
This was my first Tier for Book & it holds a very special place in my heart. The blue shiny gear.
Tier 8: Valorous Terrorbalde Battlegear/Conqueror’s Terrorblade Battlegear
Source: Ulduar 10/25
This was the start of some really weird helms for rogues. I kept this one hidden the whole time I had in. Granted I didn’t really do Ulduar as current content.
Tier 9: VanCleef’s Battlegear (Alliance)/ Garona’s Battlegear (Horde)
Source: Justice Points/Trial of the Crusader
This was an experiment where Horde & Alliance got different tier armor art. We didn’t get different colors for heroic/normal modes. I liked that all the basic could be earned with the current badges at the time. This was back before a Justice Points/Valor Points had weekly cap and you earned them by killing current content. Raids who got further had more badges. It was overall an experiment with the tiers. This however was my favorite
Tier 10: Shadowblade’s Battlegear/Sanctified Shadowblade’s Battlegear/ Heroic
Source: Icecrown Citadel
The Leaper. I hated this set when it was current and I had to wear it because it was my best in slot gear.
Tier 11: Wind Dancer’s Regalia / Heroic
Source: Bastion of Twilight/Blackrock Descent
This was the start of 10 man & 25 man raiding sharing the exact same loot so therefore the tier was the same color. I appreciated this because I was raiding with a bunch of alts in a 10 man. I could not commit to the guild’s normal raid schedule at that point. My favorite is the normal mode of the 2 colors.
Tier 12: Vestments of the Dark Phoenix/ Heroic
Source: Firelands
Tier 13: Blackfang Battleweave LFR/Normal/Heroic
Source: Dragon Soul
This was the start of the Raid Finder tier.
Tier 14: Battlegear of the Thousandfold Blades LFR/ Normal/Heroic
Source: Heart of Fear & Terrace of Endless Spring
Tier 15: Nine-Tail Battlegear LFR/Normal/Heroic
Source: Throne of Thunder