Prepare to meet your new best friend, and potentially your worst enemy: Roll the Bones. If you think you’re a skilled dice-slinger from games like Yahtzee or Farkle, think again. This Outlaw Rogue ability in World of Warcraft isn’t just some fancy pirate trick; it’s a gamble that can make or break your DPS in raids and dungeons. Roll the Bones throws a handful of random buffs your way, potentially transforming you into a damage-dealing whirlwind… or leaving you with a whimper weaker than a ship lost at sea. Master its intricacies, and you’ll be swimming in high-level loot; ignore its power, and prepare to face the wrath of disappointed raid members.
Roll the Bones Buffs: A Deep Dive
Roll the Bones, that unpredictable siren of the Outlaw Rogue, blesses you with six unique buffs, each capable of changing the flow of battle in World of Warcraft. Let’s break down these potent boons:
| Buff Name | What it Does | Example in Action |
|---|---|---|
| Shark Infested Waters | Increases your critical strike chance by 40%. | You line up a devastating Between the Eyes. With Shark Infested Waters active, it’s practically guaranteed to critically strike, maximizing your damage during Adrenaline Rush. |
| Broadsides | Grants you double combo points from combo point generators. | You fire off a Pistol Shot, and instead of gaining a single combo point, you get two, rapidly reaching the required combo points to use a powerful finisher. |
| Grand Melee | Increases your attack speed by 40% and grants 10% leech. | You become a whirlwind of steel, your attack speed noticeably higher, allowing you to quickly generate combo points and cleave through enemies, while leech heals you for a portion of the damage dealt. |
| True Bearing | Reduces the cooldowns of key abilities for each combo point spent on finishers. | After a five-point finisher, True Bearing significantly reduces the cooldown on Adrenaline Rush, preparing you for another surge of powerful DPS attacks. |
| Buried Treasure | Provides a constant 40% boost to your energy regeneration. | In a drawn-out encounter, Buried Treasure shines. This steady flow of energy ensures you can maintain a relentless assault, using abilities and finishers without interruption. |
| Jolly Roger | Increases the proc chance of your Saber Slash by 40%. | You transform into a multi-target nightmare. With each attack, Jolly Roger significantly boosts the chance of Saber Slash triggering, blanketing your enemies in a flurry of extra strikes. |
How Roll the Bones Works: Mechanics Explained
Let’s demystify the inner workings of Roll the Bones and how those game-changing buffs are determined. Picture this: when you activate this signature Outlaw Rogue ability, World of Warcraft runs a hidden dice roll mechanic. Six virtual dice are cast, each side representing one of those potent buffs.
Frequency Over Flukes:
Here’s where it gets strategic. It’s not enough for a buff to merely appear on a die – it’s about dominance, about which buff reigns supreme in terms of frequency. The game tallies up the appearances of each buff, and the most frequent one (or ones) become your active buffs for a set duration.
Think of it as a rowdy pirate election, where each die represents a vote:
- One Buff: A lone wolf outcome. Only one pirate voted for Captain “Rusty” Doug, so he’s scrubbing barnacles for now. In Roll the Bones terms, you only get that single buff.
- Two Buffs: A tie at the top! Two buffs share the victory, meaning two pirates cast their lot with each candidate. You get the power of both buffs!
- Three Buffs: Shiver me timbers! Three buffs tied for the win? That’s a three-captain situation, and you reap the chaotic benefits – all three buffs are yours to command.
- All Six Buffs: Hold onto your doubloons – it’s a pirate utopia where everyone voted for themselves! This translates to the Roll the Bones jackpot – all six buffs activate, granting you unparalleled power!
From Dice Rolls to Decision Points:
Now, snagging all six buffs is about as likely as finding a kraken knitting a tea cozy (around a 1.5% chance, for those who like their odds). You’re far more likely to score one buff (around 60%) or two (around 35%). However, even a single, well-timed buff can dramatically shift the momentum of an encounter, making rerolling a key strategic decision.
Let’s visualize how these dice rolls translate to in-game outcomes:
| Dice Roll (Example) | Outcome (Buffs Granted) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 5x Shark Infested Waters, 1x Broadsides | Shark Infested Waters | A dice roll heavily favoring one buff means only that buff is activated, regardless of other buffs appearing. |
| 3x Broadsides, 3x Grand Melee | Broadsides & Grand Melee | A tie in the dice roll results in both buffs being granted to the player. |
| 2x Shark Infested Waters, 2x Broadsides, 2x True Bearing | Shark Infested Waters, Broadsides, & True Bearing | When three buffs tie for frequency, the player enjoys all three, creating potentially powerful combinations. |
| 1x Each Buff (Shark Infested Waters, Broadsides, etc.) | All Six Buffs | The rarest and most desirable outcome – all buffs are granted, maximizing potential damage output. |
| 4x Jolly Roger, 2x Buried Treasure | Jolly Roger | This dice roll demonstrates that only the most frequent buff is activated, even if others appear multiple times. |
Rerolling Strategy: Maximizing Your Roll
Deciding when to reroll those fickle Bones is where your Outlaw Rogue expertise truly shines. It’s a high-seas gamble, filled with the promise of plunder…or the sting of defeat.
The Golden Rule (and When to Break It):
Your compass should always point toward multiple buffs. If you’re facing down a single, lonely buff, hit that reroll button! The odds favor a stronger outcome with at least two buffs on your next roll.
Holding Strong: Strategic Exceptions:
- Shark-Infested Waters on the Horizon: If Shark-Infested Waters graces you with its presence, especially when powerful cooldowns like Between the Eyes or Killing Spree are nearly ready, consider holding onto it. That 40% crit chance translates to a potential explosion of damage when those cooldowns are up.
- Steady as She Goes with Buried Treasure: Never underestimate the value of a steady resource flow! Buried Treasure, with its reliable energy regeneration, can be a godsend, particularly when a high-damage phase is approaching – think of it as ensuring you have the resources to fully capitalize on those powerful cooldowns and maximize your damage output.
The Daring Double Reroll: A High-Risk, High-Reward Maneuver
Now, for you seasoned swashbucklers, there’s a more daring path: the double reroll. Yes, even with two decent buffs, that reroll button might whisper promises of untold power… but tread carefully!
- Scenario: You’ve got Broadsides and Jolly Roger – a respectable pairing. However, your major cooldowns, like Adrenaline Rush and Curse of the Dreadblades, are on cooldown. This presents a tempting opportunity to gamble.
- The Risk/Reward: You risk those two solid buffs for a chance at three or more. Imagine a world where Shark-Infested Waters, True Bearing, or another powerful buff aligns perfectly with the return of your cooldowns, amplifying your damage to new heights.
Remember: Rerolling is a balancing act, a dance between risk and reward. Before you roll the dice of fate, carefully consider your current buffs, cooldown timers, and the dynamics of the encounter. Sometimes the boldest gambits lead to the greatest triumphs!
Roll the Bones in Action: Adapting Your Strategy for Maximum Impact
Roll the Bones isn’t a passive ability – it’s a call to action, demanding you adapt your Outlaw Rogue gameplay to the ever-changing tides of combat. Each roll presents a unique puzzle: How will you leverage these buffs to dominate the battlefield in World of Warcraft?
From Single-Target Domination to Multi-Target Carnage:
Duels to the Death: When facing a single, powerful adversary, prioritize those burst damage boosting buffs:
- Shark Infested Waters: Critical strikes are your best friend, and this buff ensures they land with devastating force, making short work of even the toughest health bars, especially during your Adrenaline Rush.
- True Bearing: By reducing the cooldowns of key abilities like Between the Eyes and Killing Spree, True Bearing allows for more frequent use of these powerful attacks, translating to massive damage output.
Crowd Control Conquests: When it’s time to thin the enemy ranks, embrace the multi-target powerhouses:
- Broadsides: Double the combo points means double the finishers, each one capable of hitting multiple foes. This is your key to controlling large groups of enemies.
- Jolly Roger: Watch as the Saber Slash procs light up, transforming you into a multi-target nightmare. The more enemies, the more havoc you’ll unleash!
Beyond the Basics: Context is King
Mastering Roll the Bones goes beyond simply understanding the buffs themselves – it’s about recognizing when and where they’ll truly shine.
Dungeon Domination: In the fast-paced, frenetic world of dungeons, prioritize immediate impact:
- Buried Treasure: Energy management is key in dungeons, and Buried Treasure ensures you can keep up the pressure even during relentless encounters, providing the resources you need to survive and thrive.
- Broadsides: Rapidly generate combo points with Broadsides, unleashing a constant barrage of AoE finishers to control the battlefield.
Raiding with Precision: Raids demand a higher level of strategic thinking. Timing and awareness are everything:
- Cooldown Synergy: Holding onto key cooldowns like Adrenaline Rush and Curse of the Dreadblades until you roll a synergistic buff combination can be the difference between a good pull and a legendary one.
- Know Your Role: Are you the designated single-target expert, tasked with burning down the boss? Then maximize those critical strike buffs. Assigned to handle waves of adds? Embrace your inner AoE master with buffs like Broadsides and Jolly Roger.
Roll the Bones embodies the essence of the Outlaw Rogue: unpredictable, dynamic, and incredibly rewarding. By mastering its nuances, understanding buff synergy, and adapting to the ever-shifting demands of each encounter, you’ll become a force to be reckoned with.
