Rogue Darkmantle (Tier 0.5) & P5 BiS Gear Guide

Looking for the phase 5 bis list? Jump straight to it here.

Psst… I made a video guide which covers everything here and explains the gear choices and set choices in more detail:

A lot of people are already preparing for Phase 5. There’s a good reason why… shadowcraft is making a comeback under a new name – Darkmantle!

What is Darkmantle (tier 0.5) and why do I want it?

Back in Phase 1 and 2 a lot of rogues discovered the amazing power of our blue dungeon set, known as the Shadowcraft set. Shadowcraft was powerful for 1 simple reason, it had an overpowered 6 piece bonus proc effect.

Energy is dps to a rogue and Shadowcraft has the amazing 6 piece bonus of giving you +35 energy every time it procs. The Shadowcraft 6 piece proc is so good that it takes almost a full set of tier 1 Nightslayer gear to beat it in average dps gained.

Darkmantle is Shadowcraft upgraded. It takes your shadowcraft pieces, gives it better stats and lowers the amazing +35 energy proc requirement from 6 pieces down to 4 pieces instead:

If you’re a rogue heading into P5, you will want to look at picking up the Darkmantle set not only because it’s an upgrade over Phase 4 BiS, but also because it gives you a ton of flexibility in your gearing as you transition to Anh’Qiraj raid gear in phase 5.

How do I get Darkmantle?

Here’s where it kind of sucks. Ideally you’ll want to collect a full set of Shadowcraft armor because Darkmantle is made through quests that require your Shadowcraft armor as well as certain materials.

This means if you don’t have all 8/8 pieces of shadowcraft, it’s time to revisit those dungeons again. You’ll have to head back to UBRS/LBRS/Stratholme/Scholomance and start praying to the RNG gods to be kind.

Wait Sno, why do I want all 8 pieces? Didn’t you say I only need 4 pieces for the proc?

Unfortunately, the Darkmantle pieces are given in a series of quests that need to be done in order. You can’t move on to the next pieces until you finish the quest leading up to it. Darkmantle is quested in this order:

  • Quest 1: Wrists
  • Quest 2: Belt and Gloves
  • Quest 3: Pants, Shoulders, and Boots
  • Quest 4: Helm and Chest

The best pieces of Darkmantle come towards the end, particularly the helmet and the chest. There’s no skipping to the last quests without doing the first quests.

TL;DR – Start farming your shadowcraft now if you don’t have all 8 pieces and want to min/max your gear

Darkmantle quest materials cheatsheet

Start collecting these items so you’re ready to go when P5 starts:

  • 220g
  • 1x Delicate Arcanite Converter
  • 10x Stonescale Oil
  • 4x Greater Eternal Essence
  • 10x Goblin Rocket Fuel
  • 3x Dark Iron Bar
  • 3x Mooncloth
  • 20x Enchanted Leather
  • 4x Cured Rugged Hide
  • 9x Large Brilliant Shard
  • 4x Dark Rune
  • 1x Flask of Supreme Power
  • 3x Abyssal Crest
  • 1x Twilight cultist robe
  • 1x Twilight cultist mantle
  • 1x Twilight cultist cowl
  • 1x Signet of Beckoning: Fire (optional, but recommended as you will need to summon dukes until you get the fire duke if you do not have this signet to guarantee the fire duke. It’s also likely you only need 1 signet per group/raid as well)

You’ll also want to make sure you have these 2 reputation levels ready (required to get some mats/quest items):

  • Honored with Argent Dawn
  • Friendly with Cenarian Circle (silithus)

How good is Darkmantle vs current P4 BiS?

I ran spreadsheet sims to compare all the main gear combinations for p4 bis vs Darkmantle vs p5 tier 2.5.

You will roughly see a 12-14ish dps increase as daggers and a 25-26ish dps increase as swords going from p4 to p5 darkmantle set.

These sims were done as undead rogue, 90 sec fight, bis enchants, full world buffs + consumables (no Darkmoon Fair) and standard combat daggers. I also added in some sims as alliance human (same sim settings) to check if the 3 piece Bloodfang poison bonus changed any results.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to use the absolute bis Darkmantle 4 combination that I list. I list the dps losses per piece of Darkmantle so you can pick and choose yourself if you want to sub in different pieces.

DPS losses per piece of Darkmantle vs P4 BiS:

  • Darkmantle cap vs bloodfang hood = -3.23 dps
  • Darkmantle gloves vs nightslayer gloves (with death sting) = -4.61 dps
  • Darkmantle tunic vs bloodfang chest = -9.78 dps
  • Darkmantle shoulders vs nightslayer shoulders = -10.06 dps
  • Darkmantle bracers vs bloodfang bracers = -10.52 dps
  • Darkmantle belt vs bloodfang belt = -12.10 dps
  • Darkmantle boots vs boots of the shadow flame = -12.42 dps
  • Darkmantle pants vs bloodfang pants = -15.98 dps
  • Darkmantle gloves vs ACLG (no death sting)= -24.75 dps

Full set combinations of 4 piece Darkmantle using P4 BiS + earthstrike trinket where applicable:

Note: Earthstrike trinket beats Renataki’s trinket on average when you lose the 2 piece ZG set bonus

  • P4 bis (no zg 2 set gear) + death sting + darkmantle cap, tunic, shoulders, gloves + bloodfang bracers, pants, belt + earthstrike trinket instead of renataki = 1270.47 dps
  • P4 bis (no zg 2 set gear) + darkmantle cap, tunic, shoulders, boots + bloodfang bracers, pants, belt + earthstrike trinket instead of renataki = 1211.27 dps
  • P4 bis (with zg 2 set renataki + shoulders + boots of the shadow flame) using darkmantle cap, tunic, bracers, belt = 1209.08 dps
  • P4 bis (with zg 2 set renataki + shoulders) using darkmantle cap, tunic, bracer, boots = 1208 dps
  • P4 bis (no zg 2 set gear) using darkmantle cap, tunic, shoulders, bracer + earthstrike swapped in for renataki = 1207.97 dps
  • P4 bis clown set (boots of shadow flame, aclg, zg trinket + shoulders, tier 2) using no darkmantle/P5 = 1198.64 dps

DPS losses per piece of Darkmantle vs P4 BiS:

  • Darkmantle cap vs Bloodfang Hood = -3.33 dps
  • Darkmantle gloves vs Nightslayer gloves (with death sting) = -3.32 dps
  • Darkmantle boots vs Boots of the shadow flame = -8.51 dps
  • Darkmantle shoulders vs Nightslayer shoulders = -9.08 dps
  • Darkmantle tunic vs Bloodfang chest = -9.41 dps
  • Darkmantle bracers vs Bloodfang bracers = -9.6 dps
  • Darkmantle belt vs Bloodfang belt = -11.86 dps
  • Darkmantle pants vs Bloodfang pants = -15.94 dps
  • Darkmantle gloves vs ACLG (no death sting)= -20.99 dps

Full set combinations of 4 piece Darkmantle using P4 BiS + earthstrike trinket where applicable:

Note: Earthstrike trinket beats Renataki’s trinket on average when you lose the 2 piece ZG set bonus

  • P4 Bis (no zg 2 set gear) + Death Sting + Darkmantle cap, gloves, shoulders, boots + Bloodfang bracers, pants, belt + Earthstrike trinket instead of Renataki/BhB/HoJ = 1270.08 dps
  • P4 Bis (no zg 2 set gear) + Darkmantle cap, tunic, shoulders, boots + Bloodfang bracers, pants, belt + Earthstrike instead of Renataki/BhB/HoJ = 1217 dps
  • P4 BiS (with zg 2 set gear) + Darkmantle cap, tunic, bracer, boots = 1208.07 dps
  • P4 BiS (with zg 2 set gear) using Darkmantle cap, tunic, bracers, belt = 1205.15 dps
  • P4 BiS Clown Set (Boots of Shadow Flame, ACLG, ZG, Tier 2) = 1204.38 dps
  • P4 BiS (no ZG 2 set gear) + Darkmantle cap, tunic, shoulders, bracer + Earthstrike instead of Renataki/BhB/HoJ = 1203.75 dps

DPS losses per piece of Darkmantle vs P5 BiS:

  • Darkmantle gloves vs ACLG (death sting) = -1.19 dps
  • Darkmantle bracers vs qiraji execution bracers = -12.09 dps
  • Darkmantle gloves vs gloves of enforcement (death sting) = -13.26 dps
  • Darkmantle tunic vs tier 2.5 = -13.91 dps
  • Darkmantle cap vs tier 2.5 = -15.33 dps
  • Darkmantle boots vs tier 2.5 = -15.37 dps
  • Darkmantle shoulders vs tier 2.5 = -17.84 dps
  • Darkmantle pants vs. tier 2.5 = -20.59 dps
  • Darkmantle belt vs belt of never-ending agony = -22.92 dps
  • Darkmantle gloves vs ACLG (no death sting) = -27.48 dps

Full set combinations of 4 piece Darkmantle using P5 BiS and Jom Gabbar trinket:

  • P5 bis death sting (darkmantle bracer, gloves, tunic, cap) = 1337.86 dps
  • P5 bis death sting (5/5 tier 2.5 + mixed bis) = 1336.74 dps
  • P5 bis pugio x 2 (5/5 tier 2.5 + mixed bis) = 1303.12 dps
  • P5 bis pugio x 2 (darkmantle bracers, tunic, cap, boots) = 1300.93 dps

DPS losses per piece of Darkmantle vs P5 BiS:

  • Darkmantle cap vs bloodfang hood = -3.4 dps
  • Darkmantle gloves vs nightslayer gloves = -5.11 dps
  • Darkmantle tunic vs bloodfang chest = -10.94 dps
  • Darkmantle shoulders vs nightslayer shoulders = -11.37 dps
  • Darkmantle bracers vs bloodfang bracers = -11.96 dps dps
  • Darkmantle boots vs boots of the shadow flame = -13.43 dps
  • Darkmantle belt vs bloodfang belt = -13.66 dps
  • Darkmantle pants vs bloodfang pants = -18.04 dps

Full set combinations of 4 piece Darkmantle using P4 BiS + earthstrike trinket where applicable:

  • P4 bis (with 2 piece zg trinket + shoulders) + darkmantle cap, gloves, tunic, boots + bloodfang bracers, pants, belt = 1250.78 dps
  • P4 bis (no 2 piece zg set) + darkmantle cap, tunic, gloves, shoulders + earthstrike trinket = 1250.13 dps
  • P4 bis clown (with 2 piece zg trinket + shoulders) + darkmantle cap, tunic, bracers, gloves = 1248.53 dps
  • P4 bis clown set (boots of shadow flame, zg, tier 2/tier 1) = 1224.15 dps

DPS losses per piece of Darkmantle vs P5 BiS:

  • Darkmantle cap vs bloodfang hood = -3.44 dps
  • Darkmantle gloves vs nightslayer gloves = -3.67
  • Darkmantle boots vs boots of the shadow flame = -8.89
  • Darkmantle shoulders vs nightslayer shoulders = -10.06
  • Darkmantle tunic vs bloodfang chest = -10.37
  • Darkmantle bracers vs bloodfang bracers = -10.74
  • Darkmantle belt vs bloodfang belt = -13.21
  • Darkmantle pants vs bloodfang pants = -17.74

Full set combinations of 4 piece Darkmantle using P4 BiS + earthstrike trinket where applicable:

  • P4 bis (with 2 piece zg trinket + shoulders) + darkmantle cap, gloves, tunic, boots + bloodfang bracers, pants, belt = 1244.30 dps
  • P4 bis (no zg 2 piece set) + darkmantle cap, tunic, gloves, shoulders + earthstrike swapped in for renataki = 1239.27 dps
  • P4 bis (with 2 piece zg trinket + shoulders) + darkmantle cap, tunic, bracers, gloves = 1230.37 dps
  • P4 bis clown set (boots of shadow flame, zg, tier 2/tier 1) = 1218.95 dps

DPS losses per piece of Darkmantle vs P5 BiS:

  • Darkmantle gloves vs bloodfang gloves = -1.30
  • Darkmantle cap vs bloodfang hood = -3.31
  • Darkmantle boots vs bloodfang boots = -3.31
  • Darkmantle shoulders vs bloodfang shoulders = -3.31
  • Darkmantle tunic vs bloodfang chest = -10.79
  • Darkmantle bracers vs bloodfang bracers = -11.92
  • Darkmantle belt vs bloodfang belt = -13.41
  • Darkmantle pants vs bloodfang pants = -17.81

Full set combinations of 4 piece Darkmantle using P4 BiS + earthstrike trinket where applicable:

  • P4 bis (using zg 2 piece trinket + shoulders) + darkmantle gloves, cap, boots, tunic + bloodfang bracer, belt pants = 1250.78 dps
  • P4 bis (no zg 2 piece set) + darkmantle gloves, cap, boots, shoulder + earthstrike trinket = 1246.31 dps
  • P4 bis 8/8 bloodfang + earthstrike trinket = 1225.43 dps

DPS losses per piece of Darkmantle vs P5 BiS:

  • Darkmantle bracers vs qiraji execution bracers = -13.29
  • Darkmantle gloves vs gloves of enforcement = -14.21
  • Darkmantle tunic vs t2.5 = -14.85
  • Darkmantle cap vs t2.5 = -16.69
  • Darkmantle boots vs t2.5 = -16.71
  • Darkmantle shoulders vs t2.5 = -19.29
  • Darkmantle pants vs. t2.5 = -22.75
  • Darkmantle belt vs belt of never-ending agony = -24.80

Full set combinations of 4 piece Darkmantle using P5 BiS + earthstrike trinket where applicable:

  • p5 bis (darkmantle bracer, gloves, tunic, cap + mixed tier 2.5 gear) = 1316.86 dps
  • p5 bis (full 5/5 tier 2.5) = 1320.13 dps

Sno, I’m too lazy to look through the sims, just tell me the bis gear I need…

Again, please keep in mind the below lists are absolute min/max bis in a 90 second fight. There are still many viable combinations that may be within a few dps of the following lists, so don’t feel you HAVE to get the Darkmantle combinations listed.

The beauty of Darkmantle 4 set is it’s very flexible and you can swap a lot of pieces around as you gear up and get your AQ bis.

Best Darkmantle combination is a 12-13 dps increase over P4 BiS by using Darkmantle cap, tunic, shoulders, boots + Bloodfang bracer, pants and belt. You should also swap in the new Earthstrike trinket from Cenarian Hold exalted reputation as your new 1st choice active dps trinket.

This applies to both horde and alliance. The only major differences between the sims is alliance suffer bigger dps losses if they lose their 3 piece Bloodfang poison proc bonus.

Use either mixed darkmantle 4 piece set with tier 2.5 pieces or full tier 2.5. Both options sim within 1-3 dps of each other depending on weapons. Full tier 2.5 does have the advantage of gaining roughly 400 hp over the Darkmantle mixed set and it would be my recommendation.

Even if you are aiming for full tier 2.5, most rogues will still want to be using Darkmantle as they work their way towards getting all the AQ bis drops.

Best Darkmantle combination is a 25-27 dps increase over P4 BiS by using Darkmantle gloves, cap, boots, tunic + 3 piece bloodfang belt, pants, bracers + 2 piece zg from shoulders + renataki trinket.

If you don’t have Renataki’s trinket you can use earthstrike trinket instead with T1/ZG shoulders. Keep in mind active trinkets will perform better in short fights (as always).

Note: If you’re a super min/max raider you may even consider swapping to entire different sets of Darkmantle when Renataki’s trinket is on CD and swapped out (due to missing 2 piece 20 atk ZG bonus when you swap out Renataki’s).

Full tier 2.5 is bis, although mixed darkmantle set is viable still (less than 5 dps behind full tier 2.5). If you choose to use Darkmantle set then the best performing 4 piece is bracers, gloves, tunic, cap.

If given a choice/decent loot rng you should go Tier 2.5 set though, as it’s both a tad bit more dps and a decent chunk of extra hp.