Stealth Grenade Rogue Endgame Build Guide for Diablo 4 (Season 5)

Build Introduction

The Stealth Grenadier Rogue remains hidden until they are ready to detonate their foes with explosive firepower. Within the Rogue class, the Grenade build is likely capable of the highest burst damage possible to open up a fight. Be warned, this is also possibly the hardest build to play perfectly in Diablo 4.

The playstyle and mechanics of the Stealth Grenadier Rogue are more complex than most other builds. A cleaver synergy between Aspect of Lethal Dusk and Opportunist’s Aspect is utilized to spam Grenades as the main source of damage, while constantly disappearing back into Stealth. Check the Advanced Information section for more in-depth details.

Check the Build Requirements section before getting started with the Stealth Grenadier Rogue. Follow our Rogue Leveling Guide if you need help getting there.

Strengths and Weaknesses

To see how this build compares to the other builds on our site, you can check out our build tier lists.

Video Overview and Gameplay Footage

Build Requirements

The Stealth Grenade Rogue is an advanced endgame build that requires decent gearing to be effective. Obtain the following list of items before attempting the build.

• A high tier of Opportunist’s Aspect is necessary to increase the base damage of Grenades.
• Aspect of Lethal Dusk is required to constantly enter Stealth.
• Aspect of Surprise, Aspect of Artful Initiative, and Trickster’s Aspect are utilized mainly for the increased Grenade damage.

Skill Tree Points and Skill Bar

Skill Bar Setup for the Stealth Grenadier Rogue (order does not matter)

Flurry Heartseeker Shadow Imbuement Caltrops Concealment Dark Shroud

The Skill Tree above shows the full allocation of 58 Skill Points for the Stealth Bomber Rogue build. Make sure you obtain the 10 Skill Points available from Renown.

Note: Weapon Mastery does not work with grenades.

Season 5 Update (Patch 1.5.0): Concussion is reworked to Unstable Elixirs. Do not forget to use a Potion to activate the buff for maximum damage.

Rogue Specialization

Combo Points is the preferred Rogue Specialization for the Stealth Grenadier Rogue. Build Combo Points with Heartseeker to activate up to a +45% Attack Speed bonus by casting Flurry.

Paragon

Paragon unlocks after reaching Level 50, and the progression system offers a considerable boost to character power. The images below provide a visual of each Paragon Board setup for the Stealth Grenadier Rogue.

Important Notes:

• Make sure you select the correct Legendary Boards and rotate them into the correct orientation.
• Attach Legendary Boards in the correct order, as bonus requirements of Rare Nodes increase with their placement order.
• Additional bonus requirements on Rare Glyphs may not be obtainable until they gain increased radius range at Level 15.

1. Starting Board (Nightstalker)

Socket Nightstalker in the starting board to reduce the active Cooldown of Shadow Imbuement upon entering Stealth, which is accomplished often with the proper rotation.

2. Tricks of the Trade (Ambush)

Rotate the Tricks of the Trade board 2 times before attachment. Socket Ambush for a damage multiplier against enemies in your Caltrops. Prioritize leveling Ambush to 15 for increased radius, as it is needed to allocate enough Strength to activate the additional bonus. The Legendary Node on this board is not utilized, as Flurry damage is not relied on heavily.

3. Cheap Shot (Explosive)

Rotate the Cheap Shot board 2 times before attachment. Immediately obtain the Legendary node on this board. Socket Explosive for some valuable Damage Reduction and a massive amount of increased Stun Grenade damage, up to +594% when fully leveled.

4. Exploit Weakness (Control)

Rotate the Exploit Weakness board 2 times before attachment. Immediately obtain the Legendary Node on this board. Socket Control to gain 2 large sources of damage increases.

5. Deadly Ambush (Turf)

Rotate the Deadly Ambush board 1 time before attachment. Socket Turf for some valuable Damage Reduction. Prioritize leveling Turf to 15 for increased radius, as it is needed to obtain the additional bonus. End the route with the nearby Legendary Node.

Paragon Board images courtesy of d4builds.gg. Click this link for the Paragon planner.

Gear, Gems, Elixirs, and Stats

The following sections cover the important systems that are essential to improving the power of your character in the endgame of Diablo 4.

Legendary Aspects

Listed below are all the best-in-slot Aspects for the Stealth Grenadier Rogue build. Salvage Legendary Items with higher Aspect values to unlock them in the Codex of Power, and then imprint them onto Legendary Items with the preferred affixes.

Gear Slot	Aspect Name	Aspect Power
Ranged Weapon (+100% bonus effect)	Opportunist’s Aspect	When you enter or break Stealth, you drop a cluster of exploding Stun Grenades around you that deal [X] Physical damage and Stun enemies for 1 second. Your Grenade Skills deal [25 – 40%] more damage.
Amulet (+50 bonus effect)	Aspect of Surprise	When you Evade or Shadow Step, you leave behind a cluster of exploding Stun Grenades that deal [X] total Physical damage and Stun enemies for 1 second. Your Grenade Skills deal [25 – 40%] more damage.
Ring Slot #1 (replaced by Ring of Starless Skies)	Coldclip Aspect	Your Basic Skills are always Cold Imbued. You deal x [5 – 20%] increased damage to enemies who are Chilled or Frozen.
Dual-Wielded Weapons or Ring Slot #2	Trickster’s Aspect	Caltrops also throw a cluster of exploding Stun Grenades that deal [X] total Physical damage and Stun enemies for 1 second. Your Grenade Skills deal [25 – 40%] more damage.
Dual-Wielded Weapons or Ring Slot #2	Aspect of Artful Initiative	When you spend 100 Energy you release a cluster of exploding Stun Grenades that deal [X] total Physical damage and Stun enemies for 1 second. Your Grenade Skills deal [25 – 45%] increased damage.
Dual-Wielded Weapons or Ring Slot #2	Aspect of Retribution	Distant enemies have a 10% chance to be Stunned for 2 seconds when they hit you. You deal x [15 – 30%] increased damage to Stunned and Knocked Down enemies.
Gloves (replaced by Fists of Fate)	Accelerating Aspect	Critical Strikes with Core Skills increase your Attack Speed by [15 – 25%] for 3 seconds.
Helm (swapped with Godslayer Crown)	Aspect of Concussive Strikes	Lucky Hit: Damaging an enemy has up to a 20% chance to Daze them for 2 seconds. You deal x [5 – 20%] increased damage to Dazed enemies.
Chest (Tyrael’s Might optional)	Resistant Assailant’s Aspect	Breaking Concealment grants 10% Resistance and Maximum Resistance to all elements for 6 seconds. Killing an Elite enemy reduces Concealment’s cooldown by [6 – 12] seconds.
Pants	Aspect of Lethal Dusk	Evading through an enemy infected by Shadow Imbuement grants Stealth for 4 seconds. Breaking Stealth Heals you for [10 – 25%] of your Maximum Life.
Boots	Frostbitten Aspect	Enemies hit by your Grenade Skills have a chance equal to your Critical Strike Chance to be Frozen for 2 seconds. You deal x [10 – 25%] increased Critical Strike Damage against Frozen or Stunned enemies.

Gems

Listed below are the best Gems to socket into gear for each item type.

Weapon Gems	Armor Gems	Jewelry Gems
Royal Sapphire for increased Vulnerable Damage.	Royal Ruby for increased Maximum Life.	Any Resistance Gems needed or Royal Skull for Armor (up to the 9,230 Armor cap).

Elixirs

Visit the Alchemist in any main town to craft helpful Elixirs that increase stats and experience gain for 30 minutes. Make sure to forage plants and pick up the necessary crafting materials during your adventures; they randomly spawn around the world. Elixirs can also drop randomly from enemies and chests during many activities in Diablo 4. Listed below are the best Elixirs to consume for the Stealth Grenadier Rogue, ranked by importance.

1. Elixir of Precision provides the highest damage output increase, if not already capped at 100% Critical Strike Chance.
2. Elixir of Advantage increases damage output, if not already capped at 100% Attack Speed bonus from gear and Paragon.
3. Elixir of Fortitude is the best general-purpose option for survivability.

Return to the Alchemist again when you reach Level 20, 30, 45, 60, 70, 80, and 90, to upgrade your potion. The extra healing is essential to survival.

Stat Priority and Tempering Affixes

Listed below are the affixes to prioritize on gear for Stealth Grenadier Rogues. Each line of affixes are listed in order of importance. Affixes on the same line are considered to be equally important, but their benefits may vary depending on how much is stacked or other character stats. Attempt to obtain all affixes in each line before moving to the next line. Bolded affixes are the most important targets for Masterworking upgrades.

Boots with the implicit effect, attacks reduce Evade’s cooldown, are required to constantly drop Grenades through the Aspect of Lethal Dusk and Opportunist’s Aspect synergy.

When comparing Legendary weapons with similar item levels, Crossbows and Swords are preferred for the highest Damage per Hit for grenades.

Close Quarters Combat increases the priority of the Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies tempering affix from Natural Finesse.

The priority order of Resistances is Lightning > Poison > Fire > Cold > Shadow. Maximum Resistance is 70% by default for each element and can be increased to 85% by various sources.

Armor is only needed until capped at 9,230.

Check out our Tempering Guide for more details on Blacksmith upgrading.

Slot	Gear Affixes	Tempering Affixes
Weapons	1. Maximum Life, Dexterity, Vulnerable Damage	Trap Augments (Weapon): Caltrops Duration or Caltrops Size Specialist Evolution (Offensive): Stun Grenade Size (up to 100% cap, otherwise temper Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies from Natural Finesse)
Helm	1. Cooldown Reduction 2. Any uncapped Resistances or Armor 3. Maximum Life, Dexterity	Natural Schemes (Utility): Crowd Control Duration Worldly Endurance (Defensive): Total Armor or Maximum Life
Chest	1. Dexterity, Maximum Life 2. Any uncapped Resistances or Armor 3. Healing Received	Natural Schemes (Utility): Lucky Hit Chance to Immobilize Worldly Endurance (Defensive): Total Armor or Maximum Life
Gloves	1. Critical Strike Chance, Attack Speed 2. Any uncapped Resistances or Armor 3. Maximum Life, Vulnerable Damage	Subterfuge Expertise (Offensive): Damage per Dark Shroud Natural Schemes (Utility): Crowd Control Duration
Pants	1. Dexterity, Maximum Life 2. Any uncapped Resistances or Armor 3. Healing Received	Worldly Fortune (Utility): Lucky Hit Chance to Stun Worldly Endurance (Defensive): Total Armor or Maximum Life
Boots	Implicit Stat: Attacks Reduce Evade’s Cooldown 1. Movement Speed 2. Any uncapped Resistances or Armor 3. Maximum Life, Dexterity	Natural Motion (Mobility): Movement Speed Worldly Fortune (Utility): Lucky Hit Chance to Freeze
Amulet	1. Ranks to Frigid Finesse, Unstable Elixirs, and Exploit 2. Critical Strike Chance, Cooldown Reduction, Attack Speed	Imbuement Abundance (Resource): Shadow Imbue Additional Casts Natural Motion (Mobility): Evade Cooldown Reduction
Rings	1. Critical Strike Chance, Attack Speed 2. Any uncapped Resistances or Armor 3. Dexterity, Vulnerable Damage, Lucky Hit Chance	Imbuement Abundance (Resource): Shadow Imbue Additional Casts Specialist Evolution (Offensive): Stun Grenade Size (up to 100% cap, otherwise temper Subterfuge Expertise (Offensive): Damage per Dark Shroud)

Unique and Mythic Items

Listed below are the recommended and optional Unique Items for the Stealth Grenadier Rogue build. Each item description includes the most important affix to target for Masterworking upgrades.

• Ring of Starless Skies (recommended) is a Mythic Unique Item that provides a highly valuable 1.5x multiplier. The downside is the unique effect requires some management to ramp up and maintain the buff stacks.
  • Masterworking Priority: Critical Strike Chance
• Godslayer Crown (recommended) groups up Elites to allow grenades to hit an entire group of enemies, while also providing a high burst damage buff.
  • Masterworking Priority: Cooldown Reduction
• Fists of Fate (recommended) increases overall damage by 50% with a 300% value on the unique effect. The downside is the drastic damage range of the unique effect can cause an inconsistency in the hits required to kill enemies.
  • Masterworking Priority: Critical Strike Chance
• Cowl of the Nameless (optional) provides the highest damage output when properly Masterworked.
  • Masterworking Priority: Ranks to Unstable Elixirs or Trick Attacks
• Tyrael’s Might (optional) is the best defensive option for a Chest Armor, although this Mythic Unique Item can be difficult to obtain. The divine barrage does not contribute a significant portion of the total damage in this build.
  • Masterworking Priority: Damage Reduction

Advanced Information

Additional details are provided in the following sections for a more in-depth explanation of the Stealth Grenadier Rogue. Read this advanced information after understanding the basic overview of the build in the previous sections.

Build Mechanics

The Stealth Grenadier Rogue is likely the most difficult build to play optimally in Diablo 4, involving complex rotations and mechanics. This build focuses on dealing the most damage possible with Grenades, utilizing a cleaver interaction of repeatedly entering Stealth with Aspect of Lethal Dusk while dropping Grenades through Opportunist’s Aspect. Each Grenade has a base damage of 6,617 when dual Swords with 925 Item Power are equipped. The base damage of Opportunist Grenades is doubled when imprinted onto a Ranged Two-Handed Weapon, for a total of 13,233 damage per grenade. A total of 8 Grenades are dropped from entering and exiting Stealth, for a massive 105,864 base damage being dealt, before other multipliers are applied.

Aspect of Lethal Dusk allows the Grenade Rogue to enter Stealth rapidly by evading through enemies inflicted by Shadow Imbuement. Boots with the implicit effect, Attacks Reduce Evade’s Cooldown, and an Evade Cooldown temper are utilized for constant Evading. A well-geared character can repeatedly activate an Evade almost every second after 2 attacks.

Shadow Imbuement is made readily available at all times by the additional casts of Shadow Imbuement temper and Nightstalker to quickly refresh the skill by constantly entering Stealth. The explosions on enemy death from Shadow Imbuement help clear groups of enemies, but its primary purpose is to allow the Grenadier Rogue to enter Stealth through Aspect of Lethal Dusk.

Concealment can also drop Grenades from Opportunist’s Aspect, and it is instantly refreshed by Resistant Assailant’s Aspect after killing a pack of elite enemies.

Additional Grenades are dropped through Aspect of Surprise, Trickster’s Aspect, and Aspect of Artful Initiative.

Caltrops increase the damage enemies take from you by 45% with Enhanced Caltrops. A Caltrops Duration temper and a Caltrops Size temper prevent the effect from falling off during Boss fights.

Resource Management

Energy should not be drained as long as you do not over-cast Flurry. Weave in Heartseeker to reduce Energy consumption (see Damage Rotation). Ring of Starless Skies is an option for additional resource management.

Crowd Controls and Boss Stagger

A variety of different Crowd Controls are applied to enemies through the following sources:

• Slow from Puncture
• Stun from Opportunist’s Aspect
• Freeze from Frostbitten Aspect
• Daze from Aspect of Concussive Strikes
• Lucky Hit Chance to Crowd Control tempers

Crowd-Controlled enemies take additional damage through multipliers on Frigid Finesse, Frostbitten Aspect, Aspect of Concussive Strikes, Aspect of Retribution, and Control. These damage bonuses can be applied to normal and elite enemies immediately, but they do not apply to bosses unless they are Staggered. Repeated Crowd Controls of the same type in a short duration apply less Stagger to bosses, so separate sources of Crowd Controls are utilized within the build. Crowd Control Duration tempers are also used to increase Stagger amount. Make sure to optimize damage against Staggered bosses by building up the Enhanced Caltrops damage bonus ahead of time.

Damage Rotation

Use the following general rotation to quickly kill normal enemies.

1. Activate Shadow Imbuement.
2. Cast Flurry to apply Shadow Imbuement to enemies.
3. Use a Potion to activate the damage buff from Unstable Elixirs.
4. Evade through an enemy inflicted with Shadow Imbuement to enter Stealth through Aspect of Lethal Dusk, activating Opportunist’s Aspect to drop 4 Grenades.
5. Attack 2-3 times (depending on your Evade Cooldown) with Heartseeker to refresh Evade, breaking Stealth to drop 4 more Grenades.
6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to continuously drop Grenades, making sure to refresh Shadow Imbuement and cast Flurry when needed.

Damage Combo Against Elites

Use the following combo opening to optimize damage against Elite enemies.

1. Activate Shadow Imbuement.
2. Cast Flurry to apply Shadow Imbuement to enemies.
3. Evade through an enemy inflicted with Shadow Imbuement to enter Stealth through Aspect of Lethal Dusk, activating Opportunist’s Aspect to drop 4 Grenades.
4. Use a Potion to activate the damage buff from Unstable Elixirs.
5. Cast Flurry, breaking Stealth to drop 4 more Grenades.
6. Cast Concealment to drop 4 more Grenades.
7. Cast Caltrops to activate Deadly Ambush and Ambush, while breaking Stealth to drop 4 more Grenades.
8. Evade through an enemy inflicted with Shadow Imbuement.
9. Follow up with the general Damage Rotation.

Damage Combo Against Bosses

Use the following combo opening to optimize damage against Bosses.

1. Activate Shadow Imbuement.
2. Cast Caltrops to activate Deadly Ambush and Ambush, while building up the damage bonus on Enhanced Caltrops.
3. Use a Potion to activate the damage buff from Unstable Elixirs.
4. Repeat the following damage rotation to Stagger the Boss, and then continue repeating the rotation while the Boss is Staggered.
   1. Evade through the Boss, entering Stealth to drop 4 Opportunist Grenades.
   2. Cast Heartseeker twice to build Combo Points and refresh Evade, breaking Stealth to drop 4 Opportunist Grenades.
   3. Evade through the Boss, entering Stealth to drop 4 Opportunist Grenades.
   4. Cast Heartseeker once to obtain 3 total Combo Points, breaking Stealth to drop 4 Opportunist Grenades.
   5. Cast Flurry to spend 3 Combo Points to gain a +45% Attack Speed bonus.

Obol Gambling

Obol gambling is a great way to potentially find item upgrades or items missing from your build. Use Obols on your target equipment for a chance to receive Greater Affixes. Check out the new tool from Icy Veins for gambling Obols in the link below.

Season 5: Infernal Hordes

The following list details the changes in the Season 5 Update (Patch 1.5.0) that may pertain to Stealth Grenadier Rogues. Check the Changelog for all the other guide updates.

• Flurry
  • Damage increased from 94% to 130%.
  • Lucky Hit Chance increased from 10% to 20%.
• Enhanced Flurry
  • Previous – Each time Flurry damages a Crowd Controlled or Vulnerable enemy, you are Healed for 1% of your Maximum Life, up to 12% Maximum Life per cast.
  • Now – Each time Flurry damages an enemy, it has a 10% chance to apply Vulnerable for 3 seconds and deals 1% increased damage for 5 seconds after hitting a Vulnerable enemy, up to a total of 25%.
• Advanced Flurry
  • Previous – Evading through an enemy will cause your next Flurry to deal 30% increased damage and Stun enemies hit for 2.5 seconds.
  • Now – Successive casts of Flurry increase its damage by 10% and reduce its Energy cost by 10%, up to 3 times.
• Improved Flurry
  • Previous – Flurry deals 20% increased damage to Vulnerable targets. If Flurry hits any Vulnerable enemy, it will make all enemies hit by that cast Vulnerable for 3 seconds.
  • Now – Casting Flurry dashes you to the target and Heals 10% of your Maximum Life.
• Caltrops
  • Damage increased by 13% (0.4 to 0.45).
• Disciplined Caltrops
  • Critical Strike Chance bonus increased from 5% to 10%.
• Dark Shroud
  • You can now only lose 1 Dark Shroud shadow every 1.5 seconds.
• Enhanced Dark Shroud
  • Previous – Dark Shroud’s shadows have a 14% chance to not be Consumed.
  • Now – Each active Dark Shroud shadow grants you 5% increased Movement Speed and also has a 15% chance to not be Consumed.
• Subverting Dark Shroud
  • Previous – Each active shadow from Dark Shroud grants you 4% increased Movement Speed.
  • Now – You Heal for 10% of your Maximum Life when a Dark Shroud shadow is removed.
• Countering Dark Shroud
  • You only need 1 active shadow to get the bonus Critical Strike Chance instead of 2.
  • Critical Strike Chance increased from 8% to 10%.
• Exploit Weakness
  • Previous – Whenever you deal damage to a Vulnerable enemy, they take 1%[x] increased damage from you for 6 seconds, up to 25%[x].
  • Now – Lucky Hit: Hitting a Vulnerable enemy has up to a 60% chance to increase your damage by 1%[x] for 25 seconds, up to 25%[x]. At 25 stacks the bonus remains for 6 seconds then expires.
• Cheap Shot
  • Previous – You deal 5% increased damage for each Nearby enemy that is Crowd Controlled, up to 25%.
  • Now – You deal 5% increased damage for each Nearby enemy that is Crowd Controlled, up to 25%. A Nearby Staggered Boss provides the maximum bonus.

Changelog

• August 6th, 2024: Guide updated for Season 5 (Patch 1.5.0).
• May 29th, 2024: Guide created.