Can Rogues Wear Maces? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, Rogues can indeed wear maces, specifically one-handed maces. This has been a consistent feature in many iterations of the World of Warcraft (WoW) franchise, including Classic, Burning Crusade (TBC), and Wrath of the Lich King (WOTLK), as well as in other tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). However, the effectiveness and strategic value of maces for rogues have varied depending on the specific game, expansion, or edition. While often overshadowed by swords and daggers, maces can offer unique advantages depending on a rogue’s chosen specialization and playstyle. Let’s delve deeper into this weapon option for rogues.

Rogues and Maces Across Different Games

World of Warcraft (WoW)

In World of Warcraft, rogues’ weapon proficiency is fairly broad, including daggers, one-handed swords, one-handed maces, and fist weapons. They can also utilize ranged weapons such as bows, crossbows, and guns. The choice of weapon has often depended on the current expansion and the rogue’s talent tree specialization.

• Classic WoW: Rogues could use maces, but the dominant weapons were often swords and daggers, as these usually had better stat distributions and synergistic talents.
• Burning Crusade (TBC): Maces were available, but again, swords and daggers were generally favored for their damage output and relevant talents.
• Wrath of the Lich King (WOTLK): Combat rogues typically focused on axes or swords. Maces could still be used, especially for those opting for a Mace Specialization, but suitable maces were less common compared to axes and swords.
• Modern WoW (Dragonflight): Outlaw rogues have the flexibility to use any combination of daggers, swords, axes, maces, and fist weapons. The choice here is often driven by item level and secondary stats, with weapon type taking a back seat compared to earlier versions of the game.

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)

In Dungeons & Dragons, Rogues are proficient in simple weapons and a select group of melee weapons including shortswords, longswords, rapiers, and hand crossbows. While the rogue class itself isn’t directly proficient with maces, depending on edition and house rules or multiclassing, a rogue may be able to wield one. Generally, finesse weapons such as shortswords and rapiers are more advantageous for Rogues since they benefit from the Dexterity modifier, which is key to their class features.

Why Choose a Mace as a Rogue?

Despite swords and daggers being the more common choice, there are reasons why a rogue might choose to wield a mace:

• Armor Penetration (Historically): In some historical game mechanics or lore, maces were associated with bypassing or reducing armor. The force of a blunt weapon like a mace could still inflict damage even against heavily armored opponents. This is why the article mentions “Mace Rogues are Back”, due to renewed understanding of the mace mechanic.
• Specific Talents/Specs: In WoW, specific talents could enhance the effectiveness of maces. While not as prevalent as talents for swords, a dedicated Mace Specialization could make maces viable, especially during certain expansions.
• Availability: While axes and swords might be the ideal choice, sometimes better item-level maces are more readily available during leveling or in specific loot situations, which could lead a rogue to temporarily use a mace.
• Role-Playing: From a role-playing perspective, a rogue might prefer a mace for the aesthetic or thematic elements it brings to the character.

Limitations of Maces for Rogues

It’s also important to note the limitations of using maces as a rogue:

• Less Synergistic Talents: In WoW, many talents and abilities focused on swords and daggers, making them often the more mathematically sound choice. Maces were not often a part of these synergistic systems.
• Damage Type: Historically, the damage type for maces might not be as beneficial in all situations, where daggers and swords could offer greater flexibility against different enemy types.
• Availability of Good Maces: As many players know, especially in Classic and TBC, the quality of axes and swords were typically more plentiful than maces, which made them less desirable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can all rogue specializations use maces in WoW?

Yes, all rogue specializations can technically wield maces in WoW, but the effectiveness will vary based on the spec and available talents. For example, a Combat rogue using a mace in WOTLK would be at a disadvantage compared to using swords or axes.

2. Are maces as good as swords for rogues?

Generally, swords are often considered better for rogues in most WoW expansions due to more abundant gear and talents that synergize with them. However, a well-geared mace-spec rogue can be viable. In D&D, finesse weapons are often preferred over blunt weapons.

3. Do rogues get any special bonuses for using maces?

In most versions of WoW, rogues do not get specific bonuses inherent to the class for using maces. Bonuses often come from talents and spec, rather than the weapon type. In D&D, Rogues get Sneak Attack bonuses when they attack with a finesse weapon, which maces typically are not.

4. Can rogues use two-handed maces?

No, rogues cannot wield two-handed maces. They are restricted to one-handed maces. Only some classes like Warriors and Paladins can use them.

5. How do maces compare to daggers for rogues?

Daggers are generally faster and have lower base damage compared to maces. Daggers synergize with certain rogue specs like Assassination, whereas maces might be beneficial in builds utilizing other features.

6. Are maces ever the BiS (Best in Slot) weapon for a rogue?

In some rare circumstances, during specific expansions, a particular mace might become BiS for certain builds due to its unique stats and effects. However, it’s far less common than swords or daggers.

7. Are maces effective against heavily armored enemies?

Historically, maces were designed to be effective against armor, inflicting bludgeoning damage that could bypass some protections. This is why maces are able to “damage through armor”

8. Can Rogues use maces with a shield?

No, Rogues cannot use shields. They can dual-wield two one-handed weapons, but shields are not an option for them.

9. Do maces work with Rogue’s Sneak Attack ability in D&D?

Maces do not work with a Rogue’s sneak attack ability in D&D, as this ability specifically requires finesse weapons which usually means a shortsword, a rapier or a dagger.

10. Can I make a Mace-Focused Rogue work in any game?

While it’s possible to make a mace-focused rogue work in some situations, it is not the most optimized setup in either D&D or World of Warcraft. There might be specific talents or items that could favor it, but it’s generally less efficient compared to the rogue’s optimal loadout.

11. How does the weapon’s attack speed affect a rogue using a mace?

Faster attack speeds tend to be favored for rogues as this gives them more chances to apply weapon poisons or proc special effects. Maces generally have slower attack speeds, which could be a disadvantage for some rogue builds.

12. Do any specific races benefit more from using maces as rogues?

There is no race in WoW or D&D that provides a direct racial bonus to mace usage as a rogue. Racial traits might indirectly influence weapon choice but are not mace-specific.

13. Can rogues use maces in PvP (Player vs Player)?

Yes, rogues can use maces in PvP. However, as mentioned, swords and daggers are often preferred for their synergy with talents and abilities. Maces might be viable in niche circumstances.

14. Can a rogue use a greataxe in one hand in D&D?

In D&D, a rogue cannot effectively use a greataxe in one hand while attacking with a shortsword in the other. The rules about using two weapons require using a light weapon as a secondary weapon.

15. Do thrown weapons work with the same talents that affect maces?

In WoW, thrown weapons typically have separate talents and don’t usually benefit from talents that improve maces. Each weapon category often has unique talents to optimize its effectiveness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while rogues can wear maces, the choice of weapon often depends on the game system, available talents, specific stats, and the situation. While not the most common or mathematically optimal choice, maces have specific advantages and can be strategically useful in niche situations. Always consider your overall build, available gear, and personal playstyle before selecting your weapon.