Dance of Knives Rogue Endgame Build for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)
Last update: 11/05/2024

General Notes
General Notes for the Dance of Knives Rogue Build in Vessel of Hatred
Note: This endgame build has been optimized for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6).
Dance of Knives is the new active Rogue skill added in Vessel of Hatred. It's a channeling skill where you can even move while channeling. Since it doesn't cost Energy, you won't have any Resource problems from the start.
This endgame variant of the Dance of Knives build is based on the Key Passive Victimize. It triggers explosions against Vulnerable enemies with Lucky Hits. So, on the one hand, you need a very high Lucky Hit Chance, on the other hand, you need to make all enemies permanently Vulnerable. To do that, you require very good items, otherwise the build won't work.
The build plays Preparation to increase the duration of Dance of Knives and boost your damage with the legendary paragon node No Witnesses. Preparation gets triggered by using the Yom-Rune.
Activating an Imbuement before using Dance of Knives will keep the Imbuement active for the entire duration. In addition, the type of damage dealt by the Victimize explosions depends on the element of your Imbuement. Therefore, you play with a Poison Imbuement in this variant and then trigger Poison explosions.
How well does this build perform in the Pit / Infernal Horde?
High Pits are not a problem, as the build does an enormous amount of damage, stuns all enemies and is also very mobile.
How well does this build perform against bosses?
Once a boss is staggered, it will take enormous damage from your skills in a few seconds. The more Critical Strikes Chance you have, the faster the boss will stagger. If your items are strong enough, you can take down bosses with ease.
When is the build playable and which items do I need?
To play this build well, you need well-rolled Fists of Fate, which give you an extremely high Critical Hit Chance. You also require the Chance to Make Enemies Vulnerable affix on one of your rings. Without these two mechanics, the build won't work. Otherwise, you need to rack up as much damage as possible against Vulnerable enemies, because the Victimize explosive damage scales with this affix.
Playstyle
Playstyle for the Dance of Knives Rogue Endgame Build
As soon as the first enemies are in sight, jump on them with Shadow Step, activate Poison Imbuement, and then use Dance of Knives. As long as more enemies are within range, you won't stop whirling. If you are stunned, use Shadow Step to become Unstoppable.
Dark Shroud should be used regularly to gain damage reduction and movespeed.
You should also use the Smoke Grenade against elite enemies, as it increases your damage. With one of your runewords and aspects you can pull enemies together automatically. This is very important in higher Pits to maximize damage against elite enemies.
You should consume Healing Potions every 10 seconds to gain the damage buff of Unstable Elixirs. All enemies are stunned by Healing Potions, which makes it easier to stagger bosses faster.
Against bosses, be sure to place the Totem from your unique dagger, Umbracrux, so that it is right next to the boss. The best way to do this is to use Smoke Grenades. The main damage occurs as soon as the boss is staggering. Therefore, Caltrops and Smoke Grenade should both be used shortly before.
Skills
Skills for the Dance of Knives Rogue Endgame Build
Specialization
Specialization for the Dance of Knives Rogue Endgame Build
Preparation
Spend X Energy to reduce your Ultimate Skill's Cooldown by X seconds. Ultimate Skills reset other Cooldowns and grant X% Damage Reduction for X seconds.
The build is centered around Preparation, which allows you to increase the duration of Dance of Knives and increase your damage with the legendary paragon node No Witnesses. Preparation gets triggered by using the Yom-Rune.
Aspects
Aspects for the Dance of Knives Rogue Endgame Build
Frostbitten Aspect
Enemies hit by your Stun Grenades have a chance equal to your Critical Strike Chance to be Frozen for X seconds. You deal X% increased Critical Strike Damage against Frozen or Stunned enemies.
Aspect of Noxious Ice
Chilled enemies Poisoned by Poison Imbuement will be further Chilled for X% per second. You deal X% additional Poison damage to Frozen enemies.
Coldclip Aspect
Your Basic Skills are always Cold Imbued. You deal X% increased damage to enemies who are Chilled or Frozen.
Aspect of Star Shards
Knives from Dance of Knives have a X% chance to shatter into X shards of metal on hit, dealing X% Physical damage. Dance of Knives now spends Combo Points, granting up to X additional Charges that can exceed the Maximum.
Items & Affixes
Items & Affixes for the Dance of Knives Rogue Endgame Build
General tips about your Gear
- Armor: You need a maximum of 1,000 armor. Anything above that is useless and has no effect. If you haven't reached your armor cap yet, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
- Resistances: You need at least 70% to all resistances. If you have not yet reached these values, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
- Affixes: Each item type has different properties (affixes) that are useful for this build. Some of these are mandatory, others are optional. Please pay attention to the following symbols:
Helmet
- Life
- Dexterity
- Resistances
- Armor
- Aspect of Shared Misery
Chest
- Ranks to Dark Shroud
- Life
- Dexterity
- Armor
- Resistances
- Wildbolt Aspect
Pants
- Life
- Dexterity
- Armor
- Resistances
- Aspect of Concussive Strikes
Boots
- Movement Speed
- Dexterity
- Life
- Resistances
- Frostbitten Aspect
Rogue Motion
- Movement Speed
- Movement Speed from Blade Shift
- Movement Speed per Dark Shroud Shadow
- Shadow Step Duration
- Ranks to Stutter Step
Amulet
- Ranks to Malice
- Dexterity
- Ranks to Frigid Finesse
- Ranks to Exploit
- Ranks to Unstable Elixirs
- Critical Strike Chance
- Aspect of Noxious Ice
Rings
- Chance to Make Enemies Vulnerable (1x)
- Vulnerable Damage
- Critical Strike Chance
- Lucky Hit Chance
- Dexterity
- Coldclip Aspect
- Aspect of Elements
Imbuement Abundance
- Shadow Imbue Lasts For +X Casts
- Poison Imbue Lasts For +X Casts
- Cold Imbue Lasts For +X Casts
Dagger
- Dexterity
- Life
- Vulnerable Damage
- Aspect of Star Shards
Agile Augments
- Chance for Flurry to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Dance of Knives to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Dash to Deal Double Damage
Dance of Knives damage doesn't matter, but there is no other choice.
The Umbracrux
Damage
Dexterity
Vulnerable Damage
Subterfuge Cooldown Reduction
Ranks to Innervation
Your Subterfuge Skills create an attackable Shade Totem for X seconds. Any damage it takes is replicated onto surrounding enemies at X% effectiveness. You may only have 1 Shade Totem active at a time. This damage counts as a Trap skill.
Infernal Horde
Rogue
Crossbow
- Dexterity
- Life
- Vulnerable Damage
- Aspect of Retribution
Agile Augments
- Chance for Flurry to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Dance of Knives to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Dash to Deal Double Damage
Dance of Knives damage doesn't matter, but there is no other choice.
Runewords
Runewords for the Dance of Knives Rogue Endgame Build
Note: If you are missing the required Runes, you can use Gemstones in the meantime.
1st Runeword (Chest Armor)
Noc
Gain: 10 Offering
Inflict a Crowd Control that isn't Slow or Chill.
Kry
Required: 300 Offering
Cooldown: 3 Seconds
Evoke the Spiritborn's Vortex, dealing damage and Pulling In enemies.
2nd Runeword (Pants)
Bac
Gain: 10 Offering
Travel X meters.
Yom
Required: 500 Offering
Cooldown: 5 Seconds
Evoke the Druid's Petrify, Stunning enemies and gain Resource.
Gemstones
Gemstones for the Dance of Knives Rogue Endgame Build
WeaponSapphire
Weapons: Vulnerable Damage
Armor: Willpower
Jewelry: Cold Resistance
WeaponDiamond
Weapons: Ultimate Damage
Armor: All Stats
Jewelry: Resistance to All Elements
You need 2 diamonds to reach the maximum bonus from the legendary paragon node No Witnesses.
ArmorEmerald
Weapons: Critical Strike Damage
Armor: Dexterity
Jewelry: Poison Resistance
JewelryGems
Depending on your needs, you can increase resistances with diamonds, rubies, topaz, amethysts, emeralds or sapphires. Your resistances should be at least 70% with level 100.
Paragon Board
Paragon Board for the Dance of Knives Rogue Endgame Build
Important notice:
- Glyph Radius: To increase the radius of your Glyphs, you have to level them in the Pit. The starting radius is 3 boxes. At level 15, it increases to 4 boxes. At level 45, the radius is 5 boxes.
- Skill Order: Start with the ESSENTIAL LAYOUT and rebuild it COMPLETELY to quickly access all the important Nodes and Glyphs. Only then switch to the FINAL LAYOUT and add the missing Nodes.
Rare Glyph "Control"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage to Crowd Controlled targets.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Slowed or Chilled enemies or, instead, X% increased damage to Stunned or Frozen enemies.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Crowd Controlled targets by X%.
Legendary Node "Eldritch Bounty"
When you attack with an Imbued Skill you gain X% Maximum Resistance and X% increased damage for that Imbuement’s element for X seconds.
Rare Glyph "Canny"
For every 5 Intelligence purchased within range, you deal X% increased Non-physical damage.
Additional Bonus: Non-Physical damage increases all the Non-Physical damage an enemy takes from you by X%, up to X%, for X seconds.
Legendary Bonus: Increase Non-Physical damage by X%.
Legendary Node "Cheap Shot"
You deal X% increased damage for each Nearby enemy that is Crowd Controlled, up to X%. A Nearby Staggered Boss provides the maximum bonus.
Rare Glyph "Exploit"
For every 5 Strength purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage to Vulnerable targets.
Additional Bonus: When an enemy is damaged by you, they become Vulnerable for X seconds. This cannot happen more than once every X seconds per enemy.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Vulnerable targets by X%.
Legendary Node "No Witnesses"
Your Ultimate Skills gain an additional X% damage from your Damage with Ultimate bonus and grant this bonus to all Skills for 10 seconds when cast.
Rare Glyph "Diminish"
Grants X% bonus to all Rare nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You take X% reduced Physical damage from Vulnerable enemies.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Vulnerable targets by X%.
Legendary Node "Exploit Weakness"
Lucky Hit: Hitting a Vulnerable enemy has up to a X% chance to increase your damage by X% for X seconds, up to X%. At X stacks, this bonus remains for X seconds before expiring.
Rare Glyph "Fluidity"
Grants X% bonus to all Magic nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: When you cast an Agility Skill, you deal X% increased damage and gain X% increased Energy Regeneration for X seconds.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage by X%.
Rare Glyph "Control"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage to Crowd Controlled targets.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Slowed or Chilled enemies or, instead, X% increased damage to Stunned or Frozen enemies.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Crowd Controlled targets by X%.
Legendary Node "Eldritch Bounty"
When you attack with an Imbued Skill you gain X% Maximum Resistance and X% increased damage for that Imbuement’s element for X seconds.
Rare Glyph "Canny"
For every 5 Intelligence purchased within range, you deal X% increased Non-physical damage.
Additional Bonus: Non-Physical damage increases all the Non-Physical damage an enemy takes from you by X%, up to X%, for X seconds.
Legendary Bonus: Increase Non-Physical damage by X%.
Legendary Node "Cheap Shot"
You deal X% increased damage for each Nearby enemy that is Crowd Controlled, up to X%. A Nearby Staggered Boss provides the maximum bonus.
Rare Glyph "Exploit"
For every 5 Strength purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage to Vulnerable targets.
Additional Bonus: When an enemy is damaged by you, they become Vulnerable for X seconds. This cannot happen more than once every X seconds per enemy.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Vulnerable targets by X%.
Legendary Node "No Witnesses"
Your Ultimate Skills gain an additional X% damage from your Damage with Ultimate bonus and grant this bonus to all Skills for 10 seconds when cast.
Rare Glyph "Diminish"
Grants X% bonus to all Rare nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You take X% reduced Physical damage from Vulnerable enemies.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Vulnerable targets by X%.
Legendary Node "Exploit Weakness"
Lucky Hit: Hitting a Vulnerable enemy has up to a X% chance to increase your damage by X% for X seconds, up to X%. At X stacks, this bonus remains for X seconds before expiring.
Rare Glyph "Fluidity"
Grants X% bonus to all Magic nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: When you cast an Agility Skill, you deal X% increased damage and gain X% increased Energy Regeneration for X seconds.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage by X%.
Mercenaries
Mercenaries for the Dance of Knives Rogue Endgame Build
Raheir
Valiance
When you would be damaged for at least X of your current Life at once, Raheir comes to your aid to negate the damage, Knock Down Close enemies for X seconds, and grant you Unstoppable for X seconds.
Shield Charge
Raheir rushes forward aggressively, dealing X% Physical damage and Taunting nearby enemies for X seconds. Selecting a Mercenary Core Skill alters their wielded Weapon and Basic Attack.
Weapon: Tower Shield
Basic Attack: Shield Bash
Raheir bashes enemies with a tower shield, dealing X% Physical damage and Fortifying you for X% of your Maximum Life.
Raheir's Guard
Raheir grants you X% Armor.
Vanguard
Raheir Slows surrounding enemies by X%.
Ground Slam
Raheir brutalizes the ground, dealing X% Physical damage and Slowing enemies by X% for X seconds. Targets in the center of the slam are Slowed by X% instead.
Raheir's Aegis
Raheir grants you X% Resistance to All Elements.
Draw Fire
When you use a Healing Potion, Raheir Taunts enemies around him for X seconds. Can only occur once every X seconds.
Provoke
Raheir Taunts enemies around you for X seconds. You gain X% Damage Reduction for each target, up to X%.
Mocking Lure
You deal X% increased damage to enemies Taunted by Raheir.
Iron Wolf's Ward
When Raheir's Valiance is triggered, he Knocks Back Close enemies and Taunts Distant enemies for X seconds. Raheir's Valiance Cooldown is reduced by X%.
Crater
Raheir strikes the ground 3 times, each burst dealing X% Physical damage and Pulling In enemies. The final burst additionally deals X Physical damage and Stuns enemies for X seconds.
Iron Wolf's Call
When Raheir's Valiance is triggered, your next X Core Skills within X seconds deal X% increased damage and cost no Resource. Raheir's Valiance Cooldown is reduced by X%.
Sundering Shield
Raheir's final Crater burst inflicts Vulnerable on enemies for X seconds.
Bastion
Raheir takes a protective position for X seconds, redirecting X% of the damage that would be dealt to surrounding allies to himself for X seconds. Bastion's initial cast also grants surrounding allies Unstoppable for X second.
Inspiration
Enemies affected by Raheir's Ground Slam take X% increased damage. Allies affected by Raheir's Bastion deal X% increased damage.
Iron Wolf's Virtue
When Raheir's Valiance is triggered, he Heals you for X% of your Maximum Life. Raheir's Valiance Cooldown is reduced by X%.
Shield Throw
Raheir throws his shield, dealing X% Physical damage and Taunting enemies for X seconds. The shield bounces up to X times and cannot bounce to the same target twice.
Iron Wolf's Arrival
When Raheir's Valiance is triggered, he also casts Ground Slam and Shield Throw. Raheir's Valiance's Cooldown is reduced by X%.
Consecrated Shield
Raheir's Shield Throw Consecrates enemies for X seconds. Directly damaging a Consecrated enemy Heals you for X% of your Maximum Life, once per target.
Varyana
Reinforcement
Bloodthirst
Trigger
Smore Grenade
Changelog
- 10/24/24 – Changed armor and updated aspects, skills, runewords
- 10/23/24 – Switch to Preparation: Aspect, Paragon, Runewords
- 10/08/24 – Updated for Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)